A Vehicle Loading Crane licence — formally TLILIC0024, Licence to Operate a Vehicle Loading Crane — is one of the most practical High Risk Work (HRW) tickets you can hold in Australia. It’s a CV class licence, and because Hiab-style cranes are mounted straight onto trucks, it’s used every single day across freight, construction, mining and utilities. If you’re weighing up whether it’s worth the time and cost to get licensed, the honest answer is: it depends on which of the jobs below you’re aiming for. Here’s a detailed breakdown.
What a CV Licence Actually Lets You Do
Before getting into job roles, it helps to be clear on the scope of the licence. A CV licence authorises you to operate a crane mounted on a vehicle, with a capacity of 10 metre tonnes or more, for the purpose of loading and unloading that vehicle. This includes load estimation and applying slinging techniques to move a load, and it also covers full slewing (rotating) operations of the crane without needing a separate slewing mobile crane licence, as long as those operations stay within the base of the vehicle.
One thing the licence does not cover: inspecting lifting gear. That responsibility sits with a licensed dogger. If your target role involves regularly selecting, inspecting and rigging loads yourself — not just operating the crane — you’ll likely need a Dogging licence alongside your CV ticket.
1. Hiab / CV Truck Driver
This is by far the most common role attached to the licence. Transport and logistics companies across every state advertise for HR, HC and MC drivers who also hold a Hiab or CV ticket, delivering:
- Structural steel, roof trusses and timber frames to building sites
- Precast concrete products and civil construction materials
- Scaffolding, plant equipment and general freight
- Building supplies from manufacturer to merchant to site
Because you’re combining an existing truck licence with the crane ticket, this role tends to be the fastest way to put TLILIC0024 to use — and it’s consistently in demand, with many listings offering above-award hourly rates plus overtime for experienced drivers.
2. Construction Site Crane/Loading Operator
On residential and commercial construction sites, CV-licensed workers load and unload materials directly from the truck rather than relying on a separate mobile crane and crew. This role often overlaps with general labouring duties and is a common entry point toward more senior lifting roles — crane operator assistant, dogger, or eventually a slewing mobile crane operator once you add a C2 or C6 ticket.
3. Warehouse and Distribution Centre Operator
Warehouses and freight terminals use vehicle loading cranes for loads that are too heavy, long or awkwardly shaped for a standard forklift — machinery, pipe, coils, and palletised freight beyond forklift capacity. If you already work in a yard or depot environment, a CV ticket is a practical add-on that increases what you’re able to safely handle without waiting on external crane hire.
4. Mining, Resources and Utilities Support
Mining and utilities projects use CV-licensed operators for tasks like transporting and unloading equipment on site, underground power installation, and street pole erection. These roles are commonly listed as requiring a current CV ticket alongside a truck licence and site safety inductions, and they’re a regular feature of FIFO and shutdown work, where employers value operators who can drive, load and unload without needing a dedicated crane crew.
5. Shutdown and Maintenance Crews
Industrial shutdown work — planned maintenance periods at plants, refineries and processing facilities — regularly calls for multi-skilled operators who can move parts and equipment in and out of tight timeframes. A CV ticket is one of several tickets (alongside dogging, rigging, and EWP/working at heights) that make you more employable for this kind of contract-based, higher-paying work.
6. Owner-Driver / Subcontractor
Experienced CV licence holders sometimes move into owner-driver arrangements, buying or leasing their own Hiab-equipped truck and contracting to freight companies, builders or hire operators. This path takes more capital and business setup, but it removes the ceiling on hourly wage roles.
A Typical Day on the Job
Regardless of the specific role, most days follow a similar pattern:
- Pre-start checks on the crane, outriggers and lifting attachments
- Planning the route and assessing ground conditions at each drop-off point
- Positioning the vehicle and deploying stabilisers/outriggers before any lift
- Interpreting load charts to stay within the crane’s rated capacity
- Communicating with a dogger, spotter or site personnel during the lift
- Securing loads for transport and completing paperwork or delivery dockets
- Shutdown and stow procedures at the end of each job
Skills That Make You More Employable
Beyond the licence itself, employers consistently look for:
- A relevant truck licence (HR, HC or MC) for driving roles
- Physical stamina and hand-eye coordination for precise crane control
- Clear communication — hand signals and radio protocols with ground crew
- An understanding of WHS obligations and Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS)
- A White Card, since most construction and industrial sites require one for entry
Licences That Pair Well With a CV Ticket
Because the CV licence sits at the entry point of the crane licensing hierarchy, it’s common to add complementary tickets as your career progresses:
- Dogging licence — needed if you’ll be inspecting lifting gear or directing lifts, not just operating the crane
- C2 / C6 Slewing Mobile Crane — a C6 licence covers CV and CN work as well, opening up higher-capacity mobile crane roles
- Basic or Intermediate Rigging — for more complex load-shifting work on construction sites
- HR/HC/MC truck licence — essential if you’re aiming for delivery-based Hiab driving roles
Building out two or three complementary tickets is what tends to move operators from casual, single-role work into steadier, better-paid contract and shutdown positions.
What Can You Expect to Earn?
Pay varies significantly by state, industry and how many licences you’re stacking. As a general guide:
- HR/HC Hiab driver roles commonly advertise around $35–$50 per hour, with penalty rates and overtime on top in construction and mining-adjacent work
- Broader “crane operator” roles, which include higher-capacity licence classes on top of CV, show average salaries in the vicinity of $110,000–$130,000 a year on SEEK
- Entry-level and metro delivery roles tend to sit at the lower end; shutdown, FIFO and regional roles tend to pay more
These are broad industry figures rather than CV-specific averages, so it’s worth comparing current listings in your own state and sector before setting expectations.
Which Industries Are Hiring Right Now
Based on current job listings, the steadiest demand for CV-licensed workers sits in:
- Building materials and construction supply delivery (steel, timber, precast concrete, scaffolding)
- Civil and infrastructure projects, including underground utilities
- Mining and resources, particularly FIFO and shutdown contracts
- General freight and logistics companies running mixed HR/HC fleets
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a truck licence as well as a CV ticket?
Not for the CV licence itself, but almost every driving-based role will require an HR, HC or MC truck licence in addition to your crane ticket.
Can I inspect lifting gear with a CV licence?
No. Inspecting and selecting lifting gear is dogging work, and requires a separate Dogging licence.
Is a CV licence enough for mining and shutdown work?
It’s a strong foundation, but most shutdown and mining roles favour candidates who also hold dogging, rigging or a higher crane class, plus site-specific inductions.
Which pays more — a driving role or a construction site role?
It varies by region and employer. Shutdown and mining-adjacent contracts generally pay the most, followed by construction supply delivery, with metro warehouse and depot roles typically at the lower end.
For the full picture of what the course covers and how the licensing process works, see everything about the Licence to Operate a Vehicle Loading Crane, and for a broader look at where this licence can take your career, read why learning to operate a vehicle loading crane is your key to success in Australia.
Ready to Get Licensed?
Enrol in our Vehicle Loading Crane Course (TLILIC0024) and take the first step toward a nationally recognised CV High Risk Work Licence — open to roles across transport, construction, mining and logistics.
