The South Australian government will be introducing a significant overhaul of its heavy vehicle licensing system, particularly aimed at MC licensing.

Two bills have been tabled in state parliament, with a petition launched by Delphine Mugridge, widow of the late Neville, backed by the signatures of more than 19,600 South Australians.

The state government is looking to establish an ongoing MC licence program, allowing drivers to participate in a structured learning program with the support of their employer.

Drivers will need to apply for the program with the support of their employer before being issued a learner’s permit for the MC class. Drivers will then be required to complete a competency-based training course through an approved Registered Training Organisation before logging a minimum number of training hours and learning components with a qualified supervising driver.

Heavy Rigid (HR) licence holders will be required to complete a minimum of 60 hours of logged supervised driving and additional learning components while those with an existing Heavy Combination (HC) licence will need to complete at least 50 hours of logged supervised driving with additional learning components. A practical driving assessment in an MC vehicle with an Authorised Examiner will then be required to obtain the MC licence.

The program will provide drivers a clear and efficient pathway for achieving the required qualifications without compromising on road safety or driver training requirements.

Drivers may still choose the traditional route of holding a HC or HR licence for 12 months before progressing to a MC licence.

“Everyone has the right to go to work and return home safely,” says state transport minister Tom Koutsantonis.

“South Australia is committed to building a safer, stronger road transport industry that prioritises the lives of everyone on our roads.

“We owe it to families like the Mugridges and to all road users to make our roads as safe as possible. These new standards not only honour Neville’s memory but respond to the needs of the industry and the calls for change from many who work on our roads daily.

“This is a critical step in ensuring that those behind the wheel of the heaviest and most complex vehicles on our roads have the necessary training and experience to drive them safely. The reforms ensure drivers meet the highest standards of competency while providing clearer pathways for achieving the required qualifications.

“I told Mrs Mugridge that South Australia would consider significant changes to its heavy vehicle licensing system very soon and I am confident these changes will lead to safer roads and ultimately help prevent tragedies like the one experienced by Mrs. Mugridge and her family.

“However it is important to note that road freight passes through South Australia and broader change must be undertaken in conjunction with other states and the federal government. This will necessarily take longer to implement, however we are doing what we can at a state level to make our roads as safe as they can be.”

As part of the proposed bills, SA will also no longer recognise overseas heavy vehicle driving experience toward obtaining a MC licence for any country other than New Zealand.

Drivers from other countries will be required to hold a South Australian HR or HC licence for a minimum of 12 months or complete the newly established MC Licence Program before progressing to a MC licence.

“These are minimum periods – some drivers will require 80 or 100 or more hours of training before they achieve the necessary competency,” SARTA executive officer Steve Shearer says.

“They’ll all have to undergo at least the above minimum hours of in-truck logged training on the job with the employer under the guidance of an experienced supervising driver, who is sitting right next to them the whole time doing real work.”

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