Abu Dhabi Heavy Vehicle Driving Test:

If you’re trying to get a commercial driving job in Abu Dhabi, acquiring a heavy vehicle driving license should be a priority. However, the Abu Dhabi heavy vehicle driving test process is stringent due to the strict measures implemented by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). It doesn’t just focus on road safety and your truck or bus driver’s attitude.

Even the candidates must be medically fit and have no driving offenses on their records to be considered for the heavy vehicle driving test. The RTA doesn’t take any chances since commercial drivers are in charge of heavy, big, and long vehicles that are difficult to control and maintain.

What do you need to know if you’re up for the challenge?

The Written Knowledge Test

Before proceeding to the practical training, you must prove that you understand the rules of heavy vehicle driving through a knowledge test. Nevertheless, you must read the RTA truck/bus handbook and attend nine lecture classes before scheduling a knowledge test.

Although the knowledge test is more accessible than the driving test, it shouldn’t be underestimated. Furthermore, everything you learn in preparation for the knowledge test will set the precedent for the following stages.

Practical Training

The real journey to your Abu Dhabi Driving License Category 4 begins- you are taught to drive a heavy truck weighing 2.5 tons and above during the practical lessons. Depending on your registration application, it could be a trailer, truck, or bus. An instructor will be available to guide you through the whole process and improve your confidence.

Apart from learning how to drive a heavy vehicle, you will also be taught how to inspect your heavy truck, avoid breakdowns, and fix a load. Remember that learning how to drive a heavy vehicle differs from driving a car or a motorcycle, and most instructors won’t hold back from putting you through certain difficulties to see how you can handle them. For instance, the instructor could teach you how to drive on different terrains and simulated weather conditions.

Anything you miss during your practical lessons may bite you during the driving test. Hence, you should cooperate with your driving school and prepare thoroughly.

RTA Yard Test

You can schedule the RTA yard test after completing at least 12 hours of practical training. However, before the official RTA yard test, you can do an internal parking test (no RTA involvement) with your instructor as the supervisor. The internal yard test aims to prepare you for the RTA yard test and allow you to work on your shortcomings.

Once your instructor is satisfied with your parking skills, you can proceed to do another yard test but with the involvement of an RTA personnel. Unlike the internal yard test, you can’t afford to make silly mistakes during the RTA yard test. Suffice it to say that you are asked to drive and perform different parking maneuvers during the yard test.

The Assessment Test

Even after finishing all your practical training hours, you aren’t quite ready for the finale until you complete the assessment test. It is a pre-driving test that doesn’t involve the RTA officials but is done internally by the driving school.

To complete the assessment test, you must independently navigate a truck to a setup destination without troubling issues. Afterward, the driving school will review your performance and decide whether or not you need remedial classes before the final road test.

The RTA Road Test

Eventually, everything you learned from the knowledge test, practical training, RTA yard test, and assessment test will be put to trial during the RTA road test. Even your appearance and confidence are determining factors—that’s why it is emphasized to dress nicely and avoid nervousness.

Moreover, before stepping into the truck or bus, you must inspect the vehicle while the examiner watches. Later, the examiner will instruct you to drive into the main road, where you will be evaluated depending on how you interact with the unpredictable traffic and your ability to evade hazardous situations. Regarding heavy vehicle driving in Abu Dhabi, you should know there are dedicated lanes, time restrictions, and speed limits that you should follow when driving a big truck.

Since commercial drivers are held to a higher standard than the rest- the pass rate for heavy vehicle driving tests is lower and stricter than car and motorcycle road tests. Once you’ve passed the road test, you will be granted an Abu Dhabi Driving License Category 4. But if you are unlucky to fail, you will always have another chance to retake the test.