If you’re thinking about a career in transport in New Zealand, a truck licence is the right place to start. There are several heavy vehicle licence classes, and the one you need depends on the trucks you want to drive and the licence you already hold. To help you work it out, we’ve put together what you need to know about the Class 2 and Class 4 truck licences, including who can apply, how long each stage takes and what the training involves.
Why Do You Need a Truck Licence in New Zealand?
A truck licence is a good way into industries like freight delivery, construction, logistics, farming and roading. Employers need new drivers, because Transporting New Zealand’s 2025 workforce report puts the average age of the road transport workforce at 46.5, and 35% of drivers are 55 or older. You can read more about what that means for people starting out in our article on NZ’s truck driver shortage in 2026.
You don’t need any experience driving heavy vehicles to get started. The first heavy licence, Class 2, only requires a full Class 1 car licence, and the guide below explains how to choose the right class from there.
Heavy Vehicle Licence Classes in New Zealand
New Zealand has four heavy vehicle licence classes, set by NZTA according to the weight of the vehicle and whether it is a rigid truck or a combination, such as a truck towing a trailer. Class 2 covers medium rigid vehicles, Class 3 covers medium combination vehicles, Class 4 covers heavy rigid vehicles and Class 5 covers heavy combination vehicles. Which class you need depends on the vehicle and the kind of work you want to do. If you’re also thinking about Class 5, our comparison of Class 2, Class 4 and Class 5 truck licences sets all three side by side.
Class 2 Truck Licence
A Class 2 licence lets you drive medium rigid vehicles. Under NZTA rules, that covers rigid trucks with a gross laden weight (GLW) of more than 6,000 kg and up to 18,000 kg, rigid trucks over 18,000 kg with no more than two axles, and most combination vehicles with a gross combined weight of 12,000 kg or less. You can also tow a light trailer, and you can still drive everything your Class 1 car licence covers. Class 2 is the usual starting point for delivery, local freight and entry-level transport work.
Class 4 Truck Licence
A Class 4 licence covers heavy rigid vehicles, which are rigid trucks with a GLW of more than 18,000 kg, usually with three or more axles, including when they tow a light trailer. It also covers everything you can drive on a Class 2 licence. It doesn’t cover the medium combination vehicles in Class 3, and you’ll need it before you can move on to Class 5. This licence suits drivers who want to move into heavier freight delivery or construction work. To enrol in a Class 4 course, you must have held a full Class 2 licence for the required time, which we explain in the next section.
How to Get a Truck Licence in NZ
If you’d like a truck licence but aren’t sure how to go about it, start by working out which vehicle you’ll be driving and which licence class it needs. Then check the current licensing requirements for that class and start preparing. Every heavy vehicle licence has two stages, a learner licence followed by a full licence, and the steps below walk you through both.
1. Check the Eligibility Requirements
Before you enrol in a training course, check that you meet the current requirements for the class you want. The main one is how long you’ve held your current licence. For a Class 2 learner licence, you must have held a full Class 1 car licence for at least six months. For a Class 4 learner licence, you must have held a full Class 2 licence for at least six months if you’re under 25, or at least three months if you’re 25 or over. Drivers aged 25 or over who complete an approved over-25 course for the class can skip that three-month wait.
You’ll also need a licence medical from your doctor, including an eyesight test, and the medical certificate is only valid for 60 days. The full rules are on NZTA’s heavy vehicle learner licence page, and our NZTA information page lists the prerequisites for every class.
2. Choose Suitable Training
Professional training before you go for your full licence will help you get to know the vehicle and be ready for the assessment. It can also save you time. Once you hold a learner licence, NZTA gives you two options. You can hold the learner licence for at least six months and then pass a practical test, or you can complete an approved course for that class and go straight to your full licence.
At Roadtrain, the Class 2 course in Invercargill runs over two days every Monday and Tuesday or Wednesday and Thursday, and we run Class 2 courses every week in Cromwell too. You can find every licence, endorsement and safety course on our courses page. If you’re wondering how long the whole process takes, our article on how long it takes to complete a truck driving course breaks it down.
3. Prepare for Theory and Practical Requirements
Depending on the licence class and your circumstances, you may need to sit a theory test as well as complete a practical assessment. For a Class 2 learner licence, you’ll sit a 35-question theory test at a driver licensing agent such as AA or VTNZ. It’s made up of 25 general road code questions and 10 questions specific to Class 2, and you need to get 33 right to pass. Everything in the test comes from the official New Zealand road code for heavy vehicle drivers, and you can practise with our free online quiz. If you already hold a full Class 2 licence, you won’t need to sit another theory test for your Class 4 learner licence.
For the practical side, study the road rules for heavy vehicles, learn how to carry out a walk-around safety check before you drive, and get used to driving in different road and weather conditions.
4. Complete Required Assessment
When you’re ready, the last step is your assessment. On a Roadtrain course, the assessment is part of the course, and your trainer will help you find your weak points and work on them before the day. When you pass, you receive a course certificate, which you take to a driver licensing agent such as AA or VTNZ to have your licence upgraded, with no further practical driving test required. If you hold your learner licence for six months instead, you’ll book a 30-minute practical test with a testing officer. Whichever route you take, you’ll apply at the agent by filling out an application form, showing proof of identity, passing an eyesight check and having your photo taken. Our guide on how to prepare for a heavy vehicle licence assessment covers what to expect.
Training for Class 4 Licence
Once you’ve held your full Class 2 for long enough, a Class 4 licence opens up a wider range of driving work, because it lets you drive any rigid truck on New Zealand roads. Class 4 training focuses on controlling a bigger vehicle, observation, reversing, safe loading and decision-making in traffic, which are the skills assessed under unit standard 17576.
In Invercargill, we supply the truck for the Class 4 course, or you can bring your own if it meets the required standard. If you already hold logbook unit standard 24089 from your Class 2 course, the course takes two to four hours, starting with theory and then moving to training and assessment in a Class 4 truck. If you don’t hold 24089, the course runs over a full day. You’ll need your Class 4 learner licence before you start. You can find more about Class 4 training in Invercargill and Class 4 training in Cromwell on our course pages.
What to Expect from a Training Provider?
When you’re looking for a course, take the time to compare providers. Pay attention to how experienced the instructors are, how much practical training you’ll get, the condition of the training truck and how clearly the assessment process is explained.
It’s also worth checking the course dates, what’s included and whether additional training is available if you need it. Ask whether the provider supplies the truck and whether the logbook unit standard is covered. Roadtrain supplies the truck for our Class 2, 4 and 5 courses, and our Class 2 course includes learner licence study, getting your learner licence and logbook unit standard 24089. We’ve trained drivers across Southland and Otago for over 20 years, and if you’d like to know what the first day looks like, read what to expect on your first day of truck driver training in Invercargill.
Safe Driving Practices
Getting your licence is only the first part of becoming a good truck driver, and the habits you build on the job matter as much as the test. Heavy vehicles take longer to stop and need more room to turn and manoeuvre. As the driver, you need to keep track of blind spots, the size of your vehicle, how your load is secured, road conditions and what other road users are doing. Fatigue is another risk, which is why our Class 2 course includes unit standard 24089, covering fatigue management, work time and driver logbooks.
The habits you form during training carry straight into your working life. Our managing director, Ross Rowley, believes every Kiwi deserves to get home safely after a day on the job, and that’s the standard we train to.
Choosing the Correct Licence Path
The right licence class depends on the licence you hold now, your experience and your career plans. Class 2 suits you if you’re starting out with medium rigid trucks, and it’s the first heavy licence every truck driver needs. Class 4 suits you if you already hold a full Class 2, you’ve met the waiting time and your work calls for heavier rigid trucks. Many drivers then go on to Class 5 to drive truck and trailer units.
Before you decide, check the current NZTA requirements and talk your situation through with a recognised training provider. You can call Roadtrain on 0800 66 77 44 or send us an enquiry, and we’ll help you work out which course fits.
Conclusion
A truck licence is a solid first step towards a career in New Zealand’s transport industry. Start with Class 2, check that you meet the NZTA requirements at each stage, and choose a training course that assesses you for your full licence so you can skip the six-month learner wait. Roadtrain runs Class 2 courses twice a week in Invercargill and Class 2, 4 and 5 courses every week in Cromwell. Take a look at our heavy vehicle licence courses or get in touch to check upcoming dates.