How To Acquire Heavy Truck Driving License in the UAE

Do you want to acquire a heavy truck driving license in the UAE so you could get a job? Or maybe you just want to legally drive a vehicle that weighs more than 2.5 tons in the UAE? Whatever your objective, we’ve done our homework to tell you everything you need to know if you want to acquire a UAE driving license category 4.

Let’s get down to it, shall we?

Truck Driving License in the UAE

Enroll in a Driving School

The first thing that you need to do is enroll in a registered driving school in the UAE. However, you need to be 20 years and above to register for the UAE driving license category 4. Besides that, you will also be asked to provide the following documents based on your qualification criteria:

  1. Original Emirates ID.
  2. Passport copy with residence visa.
  3. Eye test report.
  4. Medical fitness report.
  5. Valid UAE driving license (if you possess a driving license for a car).
  6. No objection certification.

After you’ve been processed and admitted to a driving school, you will be mandated to attend at least 8 theory lectures before you’re ready for the theory test.  

Pass the Theory Test

The next thing on your to-do list after you’ve attended all the lectures is to pass the theory test. Everything that you will be asked during the theory test will be covered in your respective Emirati truck driving handbook.

To be specific, the questions that you will be asked will be derived from the following topics:

  1. Attitude and responsibilities of a truck driver.
  2. The driving environment.
  3. Hazard perception training.
  4. Traffic rules and regulations.
  5. Driver condition.
  6. Characteristics of road users.
  7. Driving on freeways, traffic violation, and route planning.
  8. Articulated vehicles.
  9. Case studies of traffic accidents and what to do during an emergency.

If you want to pass the theory test, you should correctly answer at least 70 percent of the questions.

Complete The Practical Training

After passing the theory test, you’re required to complete a minimum of 20 hours doing practical training. The practical lessons are done on the driving schoolyard and public roads under the supervision of an instructor.

Some of the things that you’re taught during the practical training include:

  1. Road markings and signal.
  2. Positioning of vehicle.
  3. Vehicle control.
  4. Starting and balancing the vehicle.
  5. Changing lanes.
  6. Anticipation and reaction.
  7. Legal restriction and obligation.
  8. Use of clutch, accelerator, brake, trafficator, and dashboards.
  9. Use of gears
  10. Road markings and signals.
  11. Legal restrictions and obligations.

Keep in mind that during the practical lessons you will be driving a heavy truck with a manual transmission that weighs 2.5 tons and above.

Pass The Yard Test

Once you’ve done at least 12 hours of practical training, you will be required to take a yard test. The purpose of the yard test is to evaluate your vehicle positioning and maneuver skills in a controlled environment. To be specific, you will be given a time limit and asked to perform basic maneuvers such as parallel parking, alley docking, three-point turn, reversing in a straight line, and moving in an incline.

Needless to say, if you hit any obstacles, cross boundary lines, or fail to successfully complete the driving maneuvers, you will fail the yard test. If that happens, you will be required to take extra practical lessons until you’re ready for another attempt.

Complete The Assessment Test

Once you’ve passed the parking or yard test, you will schedule an assessment test. Unlike the yard or road test, the assessment test is overseen by internal examiners. It’s almost like a mock test but the instructor will ask you to drive to a specific destination on a map without supervision.

If you make any silly mistakes during the assessment test that could make you fail the road test, you will be required to retake some of the practical lessons based on your weakness.

Pass The Road Test

The road test is the final hurdle you must complete before you acquire a heavy truck driving license in the UAE. However, before you start, you must do a pre-inspection on your truck. That means you must point out all the safety equipment and components in your truck and explain to the examiner how to check them.

Once you’re done with the pre-inspection, the examiner could ask you to couple and uncouple your tractor-trailer while following safety protocols. Of course, you will then be taken to public roads so that the examiner can evaluate if you’re a competent truck driver based on how many mistakes you make during the road test. The road test should last about 20 to 30 minutes depending on the evaluation process.

After the road test, you will be informed immediately if you’ve passed; this means you can acquire UAE Driving License Category 4. However, if you fail the road test, you can retake the road test at a later date.