Professional drivers must have the correct type of licence to operate certain motor vehicles. Aspiring truck drivers must familiarize themselves with Australian laws and regulations for these vehicles before they can start driving them. The most important factor if familiarization, but they also have to obtain the right license if they want to drive a certain vehicle.
Whether a driver has the right type of licence depends on multiple factors, including the size and capacity of the vehicle in question. Those that wish to drive small trucks might be wondering if they can simply use their commercial driver's licence to operate them. There's no simple answer to this question, so we'll go over the different rules and vehicle categories most drivers should pay attention to.

Licences You Can't Use for Trucks

Drivers that don't have a commercial driver's licence are forbidden from driving any motorized vehicle, including every kind of truck.
If an individual has a learner's permit or motorcycle licence, they are also unable to drive a truck of any size.

Vehicle Categories

There are many different types of trucks, which are categorized in different ways. Important metrics for a vehicle include the passenger and cargo capacity. The most important categorization for trucks is their Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM). The GVM is the maximum weight that a vehicle can carry. This number includes the truck's own weight as well as any and all cargo that it carries.
When accounting for GVM, there are licences for the following categories: Car, Light Rigid, Medium Rigid, Heavy Rigid, Heavy Combination, and Multi Combination. Heavier vehicles require these licences to drive. Anything below 3 tonnes is considered viable for a commercial Car licence, though this number is not exact. In some states, the number can go above 4.5 tonnes as well. It's crucial that drivers familiarize themselves with local state laws before they start operating vehicles of higher weight.

Licence for Driving a Small Truck

Most professional truck drivers use the term “small truck” to refer to light duty trucks, but there's no strict definition. Drivers that want to operate a truck with a regular commercial licence must stick to vehicles that are less than 4.5 tonnes in weight including cargo, but this number depends on the state.
To operate heavier vehicles, professional drivers must go through Light Rigid training courses with the help of a driving instructor. These courses don't take long and they help increase the number of vehicles that the driver can operate. It's possible to go through a Heavy Combination training course within two days. All that's required is that the driver knows how to operate a car with manual shifting, which is the default for many car courses.
Certain driving schools offer courses for many types of vehicles, which might come in handy for a professional driver. With the right licences, a driver can operate anything from a motorcycle to a road train.

The Benefits of Training Courses

Professional drivers should strive to obtain multiple permits that will allow them to operate heavier vehicles. There are numerous reasons to aim for more permits. If their company decides to move on to bigger transport vehicles, the driver has to have an adequate licence to operate one.
With additional training, a professional driver can start operating vehicles in various industries. This improvement increases their job prospects and opens up new opportunities. With the right driving school, a driver will be able to reach new heights in their career.
If a driver has a licence to drive heavier vehicles, they are qualified to drive smaller ones by default. Holders of a Multi Combination licence can drive any vehicle from the previous categories, excluding motorcycles and trikes. These require specific types of licences.

Conclusion

In most cases, a professional driver will be able to operate a small truck with only a commercial driver's licence. Workplace managers will emphasize the need for a different licence if the vehicles are categorized differently. A light duty truck shouldn't be an issue, as they don't way too much.
If a driver is set to operate a truck with a weight of over 4.5 tonnes, they should go through the necessary courses as soon as possible. With the help of experienced driving instructors, they can earn their licence without any issue.