Why do you need it?
While many factors contribute to safety on the road, driver health is an important consideration and drivers must meet certain medical standards to ensure that their health status does not increase the risk of a crash in which they or other road users may be killed or injured.
Commercial vehicle driver health standards are more stringent than the private standards and reflect the increased risk associated with motor vehicle crashes involving such vehicles.
Commercial vehicle crashes present an increased risk to people (passengers, other road users and residents adjacent to the road) due to physical injury as well as potential threats in terms of spillage of chemicals, fire and other significant property damage.
How does it work?
Austroads’ guidelines, Assessing Fitness to Drive outline commercial vehicle driver medical standards. The commercial standards should be applied to drivers including operators of ‘heavy vehicles’ – those holding or applying for a licence of class MR (medium rigid), HR (heavy rigid), HC (heavy combination) or MC (multiple combination) and drivers carrying dangerous goods.
These standards require that drivers undergo regular health assessments to make sure they meet the medical criteria for commercial vehicle drivers contained in Assessing Fitness to Drive, with a particular focus on aspects such as sleep disorders, substance abuse.
The frequency at which assessments are required depends on the state you are licensed in and the type of license you have.This can be found in Assessing Fitness to Drive. We would be happy to discuss your organisations specific needs further.
These assessments can be conducted, in our clinics, via our network providers or at your site for the convenience of your organisation and your employees.
FAQs
Depends on the state you are in and the license.
| Heavy Vehicle / Multiple Combination Vehicle (MC) | ACT – MR and above | · At age 75 and annually thereafter |
| NSW | · On application · every 10 years to 40 · every 5 years to 60 · every 2 years to 70 · and annually after 70 | |
| NT | Medical assessment only when a condition is reported by a health professional or driver | |
| QLD | Medical assessment as per determination of health professional if they have a mental or physical incapacity that may affect their ability to drive safely | |
| SA | Annually after 75 years or if · Heavy vehicles annually from 70 · MC operating south of Port Augusta every three years to 40 and annually thereafter | |
| TAS | On application | |
| VIC | No prescribed | |
| WA | Annually from 80 years old | |
| Dangerous Goods | ACT | On application and every 5 years |
| NSW | On application and every 5 years | |
| NT | On application and every 5 years | |
| QLD | On application and every 3 years. Annually over the age of 75. | |
| SA | On application and every 3 years. | |
| TAS | Medical assessment on initial application, then every licence renewal period. | |
| VIC | On application and every 5 years | |
| WA | On application and every 5 years | |
| Public Passenger Vehicle | ACT | On application and annually thereafter |
| NSW | On application and every 3 years until 60 and annually thereafter | |
| NT | On application and every 5 years | |
| QLD | Every 5 years annually after 75 | |
| SA | every three years up to age 70 years, then annually thereafter. | |
| TAS | On initial application, then every three years up to age 65, then annually | |
| VIC | On application and every 3 years | |
| WA | · initial application, · ·then every five years until age 45, · then every two years until age 65, · then annually |
Assessment includes:
- Vision
- Hearing
- Cardiovascular health
- Musculoskeletal/neurological system
- As well as a detailed medical history
- Other assessment as determined by the medical practitioner
