HR trucks

[dom14]

Hey Guys,

Can any of you guys with HR license advise me about the possibility of getting it the first time for a bloke
with no prior "non synchromesh" experience?

At this stage I am not considering LR or MR 'cos I think(I believe) the money's better spend on HR 'cos there is not much difference in cost, and the HR is more usable.

I've driven up to three tonne single axle trucks without issues, including backing up, so I'm pretty ok with that, including manual gears.

Armstrong fellas in Thomastown kinda 'pushing' for "synchormesh" telling me it's hard to pass "non-synchromesh" or trying to discourage me from going for non-synchro.

What is your opinion on that?!! Considering the cost of it, I am thinking it's better to go with the highest possible non restricted license, but...

Do I need some prior experience with a non-synchromesh truck with a mate or something before going in for the course with folks like Armstrong or similar accredited providers?
I roughly understand non-synchromesh means 'double clutching' and as many gears as 18. When combined with other aspects of passing a big truck road test, I guess it is challenging, but with practice during a two day course, it should be ok or should it not??!!!!

Any tips, tricks, advice and warnings would be great.

Thanx
Dom

[the evil twin]

HR Trucks (Road Ranger non-synchro) are getting less common day by day.

Some Truck Schools will give students a crack at HR if you want to try it and if you aren't up to it then drop back to HR -A or HR -B.

On your HR assessment if you blow two gear changes or one gear change and have to stop and restart then thats that.

You then have to fork out extra dosh for another assessment in a different category either HR -A (auto) or HR-B (auto and synchro) or try HR again.
Most reputable schools won't let you try an assessment unless they think you are ready.

[MB]

Good on you Dom mate, earning tickets (licences) can be a great valuable thing in life!
I would say the blokes at Armstong’s are advising you correctly mate. Only MR legally still under my belt from when I was a young bloke and TBH have never found the need to go over 15T in my game.
If the cost these days for HR were the same as MR then would go for it mate!
In regards ‘crash’ non-synchro box, unless your future plans or a job offer was on the cards then again Armstrong’s would be suggesting well for a synchro licence being enough I would agree.
Have only ever mucked around in an old mates Scania on backroads and reckon dozens more hours for me to pass in this day and age would be needed.
Good luck mate, keep us posted with the good news :-) !!




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[dom14]

Good on you Dom mate, earning tickets (licences) can be a great valuable thing in life!
I would say the blokes at Armstong’s are advising you correctly mate. Only MR legally still under my belt from when I was a young bloke and TBH have never found the need to go over 15T in my game.
If the cost these days for HR were the same as MR then would go for it mate!
In regards ‘crash’ non-synchro box, unless your future plans or a job offer was on the cards then again Armstrong’s would be suggesting well for a synchro licence being enough I would agree.
Have only ever mucked around in an old mates Scania on backroads and reckon dozens more hours for me to pass in this day and age would be needed.
Good luck mate, keep us posted with the good news :-) !!




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Hey MB,

Thanx for the advice mate.
The only issue is that it was a girl that gave me the advice to go with synchromesh, not a bloke.
Since she was at the front desk dealing with guys who come for the tests(and gals occasionally I reckon for bus licenses)
her answers and warning should carry some good weight. But, when I asked her definitive questions like if she has any examples or stats in their system or her memory about guys failing the HR with nonsynchromesh, she couldn't answer, so I insisted(to her) I better go for non-synchro and get it over with since I won't have any restrictions and that would boost my chances of any truckie jobs(hopefully).
I have been considering going for HR 'cos of having to earn some part time cash while doing other things that doesn't generate any cash. I dunno whether there is such thing called part time truckie, but HR license is required to drive metro busses as well(Apparently, but probably non-synchro or synchro isn't necessary 'cos all of them are auto).

[MB]

Whoops, typing same time as ET, please do listen to ET over me :-) !


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[the evil twin]

Whoops, typing same time as ET, please do listen to ET over me :-) !


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Pffft... your post has as good info as mine Cobber

[MB]

Cheers Cobber :-) It has been a few decades since my test, up to date info is great always ;-)


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[MudRunnerTD]

Look into Government subsidies for your Truck License as a Re-skill qualifies you for subsidy. My Dad got it for free. If its free then go for Gold.

Non-Syncro is pretty basic once you have the hang of it. As ET says though plenty of Companies have moved away from Non-syncro boxes in their fleet for this reason so you need to figure out if it really is a limitation. I have unrestricted and was driving a Non Syncro HR for 8 years and really enjoyed changing gears. My Company is now moving to Auto boxes as the licenses are easier to get.

It really is Armstrongs Job to get you through and give you the skills. I would start your training with the Non-Syncro and if you havent got the hang by Lunch on day 2 then test in a Syncro box. the assessor will know what the right choice is. If you dont even try you will never know though and to go back and get that restriction removed you have to retest and retrain.

[Brissieboy]

For what it's worth, I reckon you should go for the crash box. If you are going to drive a truck, you will almost certainly come up against a crash box at some stage.
People get scared of the number of gears and the high/low range, but it really isn't rocket science. It will take a bit of practice but it will probably surprise you how easily it come to you.
Your first session(s) should be simple gear changes up and down, up and down, up and down, etc, 3, 4, 5, 6 which is the top 2 in low range then the lower 2 in high range (12 speed road ranger). There is a 'splitter' as well but that is a piece of cake. After some experience out in the real world you will probably do most of your changes without even using the clutch.
And definitely go for HR.
If you get an open licence (not auto only) you will never have to do it again. Upgrading can be done in an auto as you have already proven your ability to handle the crash box.
I have open MC and some years experience up to and including road trains.

[dom14]

For what it's worth, I reckon you should go for the crash box. If you are going to drive a truck, you will almost certainly come up against a crash box at some stage.
People get scared of the number of gears and the high/low range, but it really isn't rocket science. It will take a bit of practice but it will probably surprise you how easily it come to you.
Your first session(s) should be simple gear changes up and down, up and down, up and down, etc, 3, 4, 5, 6 which is the top 2 in low range then the lower 2 in high range (12 speed road ranger). There is a 'splitter' as well but that is a piece of cake. After some experience out in the real world you will probably do most of your changes without even using the clutch.
And definitely go for HR.
If you get an open licence (not auto only) you will never have to do it again. Upgrading can be done in an auto as you have already proven your ability to handle the crash box.
I have open MC and some years experience up to and including road trains.

Cool, thanx mate. and thanx for the encouragement.
Another thing is that if I go for auto or synchro and later wanna upgrade, the cost will be pretty much the same as doing it all over again, which is another thing that made me wanna go for HR non-synchro.
And I'm loving the term you just introduced me to, the "crash box".