- MC covers B-doubles, road trains and any combination over the HC limit.
- You must hold an HC or HR licence for at least 12 months.
- Training costs $3,000–$4,500 and runs 5–7 days.
- Top MC drivers in WA mining and remote linehaul earn $120k–$180k+.
What an MC covers
Multi Combination (MC) is the highest road transport class in Australia. It covers B-doubles, B-triples (where permitted), and road trains up to 53.5 metres in specific regions. If you want to chase the highest pay rates in mining haulage or remote linehaul, this is the licence.
Eligibility and pathways
You must have held an HC or HR licence for at least 12 months. Some states accept HR experience for the MC course, but in practice most carriers expect at least 6–12 months of HC linehaul work before they'll trust you with B-doubles.
The training course
Expect 5–7 days of intensive training: theory on combinations and weight distribution, advanced coupling, low-speed manoeuvring, reversing two trailers, freeway driving and load restraint. Final assessment is conducted on a real combination — usually a B-double.
Costs
MC training typically costs $3,000–$4,500. Mining and resources operators in WA, QLD and NT often sponsor MC upgrades for proven HC drivers — a great way to avoid the cost personally.
Earning potential
MC drivers in metro general freight earn $70k–$95k. Linehaul MC is typically $90k–$120k. Remote mining haulage (Pilbara, Kalgoorlie, Bowen Basin) and FIFO road train work routinely pays $140k–$180k+ for experienced drivers willing to do FIFO rosters.