A condition on a licence dictates what type of gearbox is allowed to be driven. In the transport industry there are 3 types of conditions found on licence grades:
1). A Condition (Auto)
- Automatic Transmission Gearbox.
- Similar to an automatic car licence which does not require any manual gear changes.
2). B Condition (Synchromesh/Manual)
- Manual Transmission or Synchromesh Gearbox.
- Can be referred to as a stick shift or single clutch manual gearbox.
- Can be likened to driving a normal manual car but in a larger vehicle.
3). Open Unconditional (Crashbox/Road Ranger)
- 18 Speed Road Ranger Gearbox.
- Can also be referred to as a crashbox.
- Involves doubling the clutch and splitting the gearbox
- Requires a greater level of ability than driving a single clutch synchromesh vehicle.
- To become equipped to drive a crashbox it requires a great deal of practice, time and specialised training.
- Crashboxes are typically found in vehicles doing long haul trips or agricultural work.
- Although they still play a very important role in the transport industry today, the amount of crashboxes being used has significantly reduced in the last 5 years.
- A crashbox is only found in vehicles from a Heavy Rigid (HR) grade and above.
It is important to note also that when learning to drive in a heavy vehicle both the learner and the instructor must hold their licence on them at all times. This carries through to when the learner obtains their licence. It is a requirement of Queensland law that all heavy vehicle drivers hold their current licence on them at all times whilst in control of a heavy vehicle.