Commercial Driver's License - New Zealand

New Zealand

In New Zealand, driver licensing is controlled by the New Zealand Land Transport Safety Authority (LTSA). Broadly there are six classes of motor-vehicle licence. Class 1 governs vehicles with a GLW less than 4500 kg, and Class 6 governs motorcycles. Classes 2–5 govern heavy vehicles.

A Class 2 licence allows the holder to drive:

• any rigid vehicle (including any tractor) with a GLW of more than 4500 kg but less than 18,001 kg
• any combination vehicle with a GCW of 12,000 kg or less
• any combination vehicle consisting of a rigid vehicle with a GLW of 18,000 kg or less towing a light trailer (GLW of 3500 kg or less)
• any rigid vehicle with a GLW of more than 18,000 kg that has no more than two axles
• any vehicle covered in Class 1.

Class 3 allows the holder to drive:

• any combination vehicle with a GCW of more than 12,000 kg but less than 25,001 kg
• any vehicle covered in classes 1 and 2.

Class 4 allows the holder to drive:

• any rigid vehicle (including any tractor) with a GLW of more than 18,000 kg
• any combination vehicle consisting of a rigid vehicle with a GLW of more than 18,000 kg towing a light trailer (GLW of 3500 kg or less)
• vehicles covered in classes 1 and 2, but not Class 3.

Class 5 allows the holder to drive:

• any combination vehicle with a GCW of more than 25,000 kg
• vehicles covered by classes 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Before getting a Class 2 licence, a driver must be at least 18 years of age and have held an unrestricted Class 1 licence for at least six months. Gaining a Class 5 is not dependent on holding a Class 3. Once a driver has a Class 2 they can progress straight through to Class 4 and Class 5. Each progression (2 to 3, 2 to 4, or 4 to 5) requires having held an unrestricted licence of the preceding class for at least six months. For drivers aged 25 or over the minimum period for holding the unrestricted time is reduced to three months, or waived entirely on completion of an approved course of instruction.

Additional endorsements on an NZ driver's licence govern provision of special commercial services. The endorsements are:

• D - Dangerous Goods: transporting hazardous substances. Must be renewed every five years
• F - Forklift operator
• I - Driving Instructor: An "I" endorsement is awarded for a specific Class of licence, e.g.: 5-I
• O - Testing Officer: Driving assessors who test a person prior to being granted a particular class of licence
• P - Passenger: Transport of fare-paying passengers (bus and taxi drivers, limo-for-hire drivers, and dial-a-driver services)
• R - Roller: Special vehicle equipped with rollers
• T - Tracks: Special vehicle equipped with tracks
• V - Vehicle recovery: Operating a tow truck
• W - Wheels: Special vehicle equipped with wheels, other than fire appliances, buses, tractors, vehicle-recovery vehicles, or trade vehicles.

The F, R, T and W endorsements are for operating special types of vehicle on the road. Where the holder also has a heavy vehicle (Class 2 or Class 4) licence, they are permitted to drive heavy special vehicles. Otherwise the limits for Class 1 (4500 kg) apply.

Being granted a I, O, P and/or V endorsement requires that the applicant pass a "fit and proper person" check, to screen for people with criminal convictions or serious driving infringements. These endorsements are issued for one or five years, at the option of the applicant at the time of purchase.