Hi all
I’m currently a delivery driver for a small family run business on a 3.5ton tipper
I passed my test after 1997 so am not allowed to drive over 3.5 ton
I want to become LGV driver but it seems very complicated the things I need to do
Can anyone tell me the route to go down step by step as I love driving
All you need to know is in the link in my signature below
Grafter38:
Hi all
I’m currently a delivery driver for a small family run business on a 3.5ton tipper
I passed my test after 1997 so am not allowed to drive over 3.5 ton
I want to become LGV driver but it seems very complicated the things I need to do
Can anyone tell me the route to go down step by step as I love driving
Grafter38, I was passed this information when I enquired. I just started the process myself and just had my medical done after taking recommendations for some of the post here and only ended up paying £50 to the £140 at my GP.
So good luck and ask away anything you want to know, there is a wealth of experience people on the site most willing to help.
Step 1: Apply for a provisional lorry licence
Once you have your full car driving licence, then first stage of becoming a LGV driver is to apply for a provisional lorry licence. Similarly to the car driving licence, this is done through the DVLA website. This time, you require one of the forms, which is called D4, to be filled in by a registered doctor. This is because drivers of lorries must be in reasonably good health. Be aware that you will have to either pay a private company to do the medical assessment and complete the form, or for your local GP’s time required to complete the form for you. The areas that will be assessed include your eyesight, any neurological and heart conditions, mental health, alcohol and drug use, diabetes and sleep disorders. According to the Road Haulage Association, costs for this can range from £50 to £120, so they advise you to shop around.
You must send this medical assessment (D4) to the DVLA along with form D2, which you have completed yourself, along with your photocard driving licence. The DVLA will then assess whether you are fit to drive a large vehicle, and then process your application and provisional lorry licence. Make sure you’ve filled in all of the correct details; if there is missing or incorrect information this will delay getting your provisional licence. You should receive it within three weeks of the DVLA receiving your application.
Step 2: Take the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) test
The next step is a four-part theory test called the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC). You need the full driver CPC if lorry driving is the main part of your profession. You can read about all of the four driver CPC tests here, and how to book each of them through the DVLA website.
When going for the tests, make sure you take all of the required documents with you; otherwise, you can’t take the tests, and will have to pay again to rebook. Just like the car driving tests, it’s essential to prepare for your driver CPC tests. There are lots of learning tools available, which explain each theory test, and allow you to do practice questions. Start by reading all of the information the DVLA provides. The tests follow a similar format to the driving licence theory test but are longer and more extensive. Once you have booked and passed the theory tests, you will need to then find a good training provider to prepare you for the practical tests. The total cost for the driver CPC tests is £230 using the official service; this doesn’t include practical lessons or tuition.
Jake Preston, a transport administrator at Prestons of Potto in North Yorkshire, passed his driver CPC aged 19, and shares his advice: “Try to approach the process with a positive attitude and an open mind; this will make it more enjoyable, while maximising your development as a professional operator. A lot of drivers feel it’s a box-ticking exercise, where examiners are trying to tell experienced drivers how their job should be done. In reality, the programme ensures that best working practices are applied throughout the industry, which can only be beneficial to everybody.”
Once you’ve passed all parts of the driver CPC you’ll be sent a card, which you must carry at all times when driving a lorry professionally. In order to keep your driver CPC, you must take 35 hours of driver CPC training every five years to stay qualified. All of the information you need about becoming a qualified lorry driver in the UK can be found on this section of the government’s website.
Step 3: Take the Category E practical test
Now you’re a qualified Cat C LGV (Class 2 HGV) driver who is qualified to drive category C vehicles. But to become a class 1 driver, you must pass one more practical test, which adds category E to your licence. One of the benefits of going straight in to becoming a class 1 driver is that it shows your committed and driven. If you’re new to the field or have little experience, it will show employers that you’re hard-working and responsible. Some training providers let you do back-to-back training for categories C+E.
Applying for jobs
After successfully passing your full lorry driving licence, it’s time to start looking for jobs. You will find Cat C+E LGV driver vacancies on specialist jobs boards, and online on the careers page of companies’ websites. Make sure you read the full job description when writing your application and arrive a little early to your interview.
The types of people who make excellent Cat C+E LGV drivers are calm and confident on the road. You’ll need to have patience when driving, and be good at solving problems when they arise. This could include unforeseen traffic, restrictions on heavy loads, frustrating roads users or even a petrol station being unexpectedly closed. Be prepared for long hours and early starts. You will also need to be happy to work by yourself for much of the shift, and not needing someone regularly checking in on you. Being focused and having good concentration skills are also vital, to avoid road accidents and ensure you don’t get lost.
If you’re hard-working and career focused, there are lots of opportunities for progression in this industry. Jake Preston notes that although being a HGV driver can become a way of life for some, if you want more regular hours then you could look at progressing to an office-based job in the industry. “This is why some drivers retrain to become a traffic manager, who manages customer orders, and a fleet of vehicles and drivers, so that collections and deliveries can be fulfilled. Skills gained through driving are highly beneficial to this type of role, including strong understanding of the geography, knowledge of driving laws, and realistic expectation of driver performance,” he explains.
Working as a Cat C+E LGV (class 1 HGV )driver is a great job if you enjoy getting the job done and aren’t interested in office politics. The shift work can offer you flexible working patterns, meaning you can line up more than two days off in a row without using your annual leave. It can also offer the opportunity to drive abroad, or move around the country.
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Grafter , my tips are never let anyone tell you how to secure your load , fork lift drivers that are in a hurry to get you out their yard , will say the regular driver does not do this , or they have done it that way for years .
Once on a public road, the driver is responsible and gets the blame for a fallen or broken pallet of goods . Plan ahead for over night stops , without leaving it too late , when the driving or working time is ending .
Most truck stops and Msa`s are full by 18.00 .
If you end up in a lay by , it will be noisy with trucks going past all night , rocking the cab .
What he said [emoji115]
Also I studied the theory test and highway code literally ever spare minute I had; on a break, on the toilet etc etc.
I used the theory test app and case studies app and passed with flying colours first time. 
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