Heavy Vehicle Operator
As an Army Heavy Vehicle Operator, you’ll play a pivotal role in the operation and management of sophisticated military vehicles in all conditions, over all kinds of terrain. You’ll be responsible for transporting cargo, personnel and dangerous goods to support training and operations in Australia and overseas.
What you'll do
You could assist with any number of tasks, from driving ambulances for combat medics, to navigating a camouflaged vehicle through or across all types of terrain including 4-wheel driving. You'll carry up to 12 tonnes on your vehicle or up to 20 tonnes on a trailer.
You’ll travel around Australia alongside your team driving a range of Army vehicles including:
- Mercedes Benz G Wagon — 4x4 and 6x6 variants
- Kenworth T909 series semi-trailers
- MAN medium 40M and heavy HX77 protected and unprotected variants
- Heavy equipment transporter/multi combination — up to 110 tonnes (to carry the Abrams main battle tank).
Your duties may include:
- loading, driving and maintaining vehicles and their associated equipment
- driving loaded and unloaded vehicles in varied conditions and on all-terrain
- delivering personnel, stores, equipment and Combat Service Support (CSS), utilising road, rail, sea and air transportation
- operating material handling equipment, such as forklifts, winches and cranes
- camouflaging a vehicle
- supervising and assisting with loading and unloading vehicles
- recovering damaged vehicles using vehicle recovery equipment
- operating radio/communications equipment fitted to a vehicle
- transporting VIPs up to Brigadier or equivalent rank
- navigating through built up areas and in the field using civil maps or military maps
- driving specialist vehicles such as Water Tankers and Fuel Tankers.
Opportunities for progression and upskilling continue throughout your career. As you progress, the Army will provide you with development opportunities to assist you with your increasing leadership responsibility, as well as further education and specialised training to strengthen your skillset. This will help you to command and run a highly skilled team of soldiers and the employment of their equipment. After 12 months, you can work as a driving instructor.
Following training, you could be posted to Army, ADF and Special Operations units domestically and internationally. Employed within most Army units across Australia, primary locations include Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Sydney and Townsville. There may be opportunities to post to other locations based on service need, career development needs and individual preferences.
Discover where the Army operates across Australia on our base locations map.
You don’t need any prior experience. All you need is a driver’s licence.
Requirements and training
You must be an Australian citizen to serve in the ADF. However, Australian permanent residents may be eligible. For more details, visit the "Citizenship" tab on the Eligibility Requirements page.
You can apply for a role in the ADF from 16.5 years of age and must be at least 17 to join. The maximum age to join is 56 years.
For this role, you’ll need an Australian state or territory full, provisional or probationary C Class licence. If your licence is suspended or cancelled, you won’t be eligible until that suspension or cancellation has been lifted or has expired.
All ADF members require a security clearance. As an ADF member, you’ll need to obtain the appropriate level of security clearance for your role. You’ll need a collection of relevant information including background checks and/or interviews so the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) can make an informed assessment to ensure the protection of Government resources and information. Your Careers Coach will explain what level of clearance is required for the career you are considering.
For more information or to learn about how security clearance will apply to you, view the eligibility requirements page.
Completion of Year 10 (or equivalent) education required with passes in English and Maths. If you haven't completed Year 10 but are interested in joining, the ADF may be able to support your application.
To join the ADF, you must be healthy and physically fit. This is partially assessed from the completion of an extensive questionnaire covering your medical history, followed by a physical examination.
You’ll also be required to successfully pass a physical fitness assessment.
Female
- Sit-ups (feet held): 20
- Push-ups: 4
- Shuttle Run Score: 6.1.
Male
- Sit-ups (feet held): 20
- Push-ups: 8
- Shuttle Run Score: 6.1.
For further details on medical and physical fitness standards, refer to physical fitness standards for entry into the ADF and medical process for entry into the ADF.
You’ll be enlisted for an Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS) of 4 years. Subsequent periods of service may be offered subject to the requirements of the ADF and your suitability for further service. You’ll have a Careers Coach who can advise on how IMPS will relate to your chosen occupation and personal situation.
You may request discharge at any time provided you do not have an outstanding IMPS obligation.
Course: Army Recruit Course
Duration: 13 weeks
Location: Kapooka, Wagga Wagga, NSW
During training, you'll take part in physical training, weapon handling, and shooting, first aid, drill, and field craft. You'll be challenged both mentally and physically.
Although it can be demanding, most recruits gain a sense of achievement, purpose, and confidence during basic training, and on completion of the course feel justifiably proud of what they have accomplished. The priority of our instructors is to help you succeed.
Key components of the course include:
- Physical Fitness: Structured training to improve strength, endurance, and overall fitness, preparing you for the physical demands of Army life.
- Field Craft: Learn how to live and operate in field conditions, including camouflage, movement techniques, and working in outdoor environments.
- Weapons Handling and Marksmanship: Safe handling, maintenance, and use of Army-issued weapons, and participating in live-fire exercises.
- Drill and Discipline: Develop attention to detail, teamwork and discipline through parade drill and military routine.
- First Aid and Battlefield Casualty Care: Gain essential life-saving skills and learn how to respond to injuries in both training and operational environments.
- Military Skills and Knowledge: Introduction to Army structure, values, customs, and basic soldier responsibilities.
- Resilience and Teamwork: Build mental resilience and learn to work effectively within a team in high-pressure situations.
On successful completion of the Army Recruit Course, you’ll participate in a Graduation Parade and have the opportunity to invite family and friends to view the parade. You’ll then move on to your Initial Employment Training (IET), where you’ll learn the specific skills required for your chosen role.
Course: Driver Training Course
Duration: 60 days
Location: Road Transport Wing, Army Logistic Training Centre, Puckapunyal, Vic
You’ll earn a Medium Rigid Truck (40M) and Heavy Rigid Truck (HX77) qualification.