All that it takes to be a HGV driver

As a teenager you may have fancied life on the road. You may have even wanted to be a lorry driver. So here is the career for you – a heavy vehicle goods (HGV) driver. Being a part of the haulage industry lets you travel all over UK and Europe. Here are a few things you may want to know about being trained as a HGV driver.

The term HGV – Heavy goods vehicle can now also be replaced by the term LGV – Large goods vehicle. However, many people still use HGV either out of habit or preference. Nevertheless, they mean the same.

There are two classes of HGV licences – C and C+E. A ‘C’ class will permit you to drive a vehicle that weighs over 7.5 tonnes while a C+E class allows you a larger vehicle with a trailer. You require a standard UK driving licence to obtain a C class licence, only after which you can train for a C+E class licence. The minimum age required to apply for a C class licence is 18 and for a C+E class licence you need to be at least 21. A medical examination is also conducted.

You qualify for an HVG licence on passing a theory test, followed by a practical test, driver training, and maybe an additional HGV driver training course. Additional HGV driver training consists of other certificated courses which qualify you to transport goods of different types as well as earn higher wages.