All about Class 1 & 2 HGVand Cat C licence

Driving a Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) or a Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) needs a relevant set of skills, talent, knowledge, and training. As a beginner, a driver would need to clear the Driver CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) training to obtain a professional licence. A driver is also supposed to finish periodic training to maintain the Driver CPC qualification. All the drivers of trucks, coaches and buses exceeding 3.5 tonesor vans carrying 9 or more people, will require the CPC and the vocational licence, without which a driver cannot drive the vehicle.

Now let us understands different terms, concepts and aspect involved here.

What is HGV or LGV training?

Training for Large Goods Vehicles (also called heavy Goods Vehicles) is prepared to provide drivers with the necessary confidence and skills required for driving these larger vehicles. However,there are two categories of licence for LGV i.e. Class C and C+E that allows the driver to drivevarious types of vehicles.

The difference in Cat C+E and Cat C licence is:

• Category Classification C (also called as Cat C,HGV 2, LGV 2 and LGV Class 2) qualification lets drivers drive vehicles over 3.5 kg (and a trailer up to 7.5 kg).

• Category Classification C+E (also called as Cat CE,HGV 1, LGV 1 and LGV Class 1) is a follow after training from LGV 2.To take this course, a driver must have cleared LGV 2 qualification first.

• The C+E qualification would allow the driver to drive category C vehicles and a trailer over 750kg.

• A Class 1 licence lets a driver drive a category C+E vehicle that is normally a segmented lorry or truck.

• A Class 2 licence lets a driver drive a category C vehicle, or which is mostly referred to as a stiff or hard.

Many training agencies offer to train and take the class 1 (C+E) test at the end. However several drivers obtain their class 2 licence first and later take their class 1 test. Though the procedure looks a little intimidating; let us see the costs involved.

How to obtain an HGV licence and the costinvolved can be as follows:

First off the candidate should obtain a provisional HGV licence and should be of 18years in age.

The candidate should already possess car licence i.e. a class B licence.

The candidate needs to obtain a D2 and a D4 form from the DVLA to obtain a provisional HGV licence although, the D2 form is free.

The D4 form is a medical form as a truck driver should clear a relevant medical test to become an HGV driver, and laterget a medical after every 5 years which a general practitioner can provide that may cost approx. £120.

However, several private companies may do the medical much cheaper like approx. £50.

After obtaining D2 and D4,a provisional licence is given within time of 3 weeks.

Then there are 4 parts to obtain a HGV licence as below:

PART 1A is a theory test wherein 100 multiple choice questions are to be answered and the minimum passing  score is 85 and it will cost £26

Part 1B – is hazard perception with 100 videos questions whereinthe hazard needs to be spotted. The minimum passing score is 67 and it will cost £11

PART 2 is the CPC case studies and it will cost £23.

PART 3 is the LGV driving test and it willcosts £115 and the cost for LGV training is mostly around £1200. After part 3, the candidate obtains HGV licence but cannot drive professionally before clearing part 4.

PART 4 is a practical exhibition and includes walking around and examining the vehicle and operating the vehicle. Part 4 will costs £55 the training for which will cost about £190.

After clearing all the four parts, the candidate has HGV Class 2 (C class) licence and could drive a stiff class 2 vehicle commercially.

Also, to be a Class 1 (C+E) driver, the candidate needs to have one more test – which is a practical test and it will cost £115.