No matter if you’re seeking a career change or simply need to renew, securing an HGV licence is your first step towards becoming a full-time truck driver. But, are you wondering how to get a HGV licence? This blog will delve into exactly how you can get your hands on a licence, detailing the different kinds of licences available to drivers and exactly how these qualifications can be gained.
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What is a HGV licence?
This might sound self-explanatory, but securing everything you need for trucking can be complex. There are a few different kinds of truck drivers’ licences, including category C1, which allows you to drive a medium-sized goods vehicle such as an ambulance, as well as class 1 (CE+E), which permits you to drive all types of articulated lorries. Securing this licence is just one professional licence you need to carry while handling commercial vehicles.
What is a CPC card?
Standing for Certificate of Professional Competence, a CPC card is separate from a driver’s licence, but is usually obtained simultaneously. Confirming that you are professionally qualified to drive large goods vehicles, a CPC card needs to be carried by drivers at all times while they’re on the road. Valid for 5 years, a CPC card has to be renewed through 35 hours of periodic training.
Steps to gaining your HGV licence
Getting qualified to drive a car is pretty simple, requiring just a theory and a practical test, but gaining a HGV licence involves considerably more steps. In accordance with government regulations for becoming an HGV driver, you are required to be 18 years of age or older, carry a full UK car driving licence (also known as Category B), and complete the following steps:
1. Apply for a Provisional HGV Licence
First things first, you need to apply for a provisional licence, just like when you passed your car driving test! But, to do this, you’ll need to know what category of licence you actually want to obtain. The main kinds of HGV licences include:
– Class 1 (CE+E): Operate a vehicle weighing 3,500kg (3.5 tonnes) or more with a trailer over 750kg (0.75 tonnes).
– Class 2 (C): Operate a HGV that weighs over 3,500kg (3.5 tonnes).
– Category C1: Operate a vehicle weighing between 3,500 and 7,500kg (3.5 and 7.5 tonnes) with a trailer up to 750kg (0.75 tonnes).
– Category C1+E: Operate a vehicle weighing between 3,500 and 7,500kg (3.5 and 7.5 tonnes) with a trailer that weighs over 750kg (0.75 tonnes).
Once you’ve done this, get a D2 form that’s used for a licence application as well as a D4 form, a medical form that must be completed by a doctor. Take part in a medical exam, fill out and send both forms to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), and you should receive your provisional licence in approximately 3 weeks.
2. Theory
Once you have your provisional licence, you can book the first part of your CPC theory test.
This test includes a multiple-choice section and a hazard perception examination, which have to be booked independently of one another. To the test, you need to bring a valid provisional driving licence.
2b. CPC Test – Case Studies
The second part of the CPC test doesn’t actually have to be completed after the first part; you can complete it the moment you get your provisional licence. Made up of 7 different case studies based on everyday driving situations, this test is completed on a computer and involves answering 5-10 multiple-choice questions regarding each case study.
3. Off-road test
To the test, you must bring the HGV that corresponds with the category of licence you’re trying to acquire. The test itself requires you to complete an ‘S’ shaped reverse into a bay and, if appropriate for your license type, the upcoupling and recoupling process when using a trailer.
4. Practical test
The final part involves a full practical test to secure both your full HGV licence and your CPC card. The driving test involves:
4b. CPC Practical Demonstration
– Vehicle safety questions
– 1 hour of on-road driving where you’ll be tested on similar aspects as your car driving test, including controlled stops, your use of mirrors, hill starts and more.
To complete the final part of the CPC, you must have at least completed part 2 of the test. This part can be arranged with your trainer or booked online by yourself and involves the following examinations:
– Loading the vehicle carefully following safety rules
– Emergency situations assessment
– A walkaround safety check
– Checks you can put in place to stop the trafficking of illegal immigrants
5. Your HGV Licence and CP Card
When you pass the theory and practical tests, you will receive your full HGV licence. You will need to renew your licence every 5 years and every year after the age of 65. This is straightforward in most cases, but you may sometimes be required to retest if you have not driven for a significant amount of time.
As outlined earlier, CPC cards are valid for 5 years and have to be renewed if you want to carry on driving a truck professionally. There have been recent changes to Driver CPC, which mean that you can now renew in multiple ways, giving more flexibility to drivers while streamlining the sometimes complex process.
Step Six: Choose Smith Bros!
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