Get HGV Lessons from the Best Lorry Driving Schools in the UK

HGV Lessons

If you ever need the services of a lawyer, you would probably want that person to have received training from one of the best law schools in the country. The same goes for all of the professionals you deal with. You know that training is what makes a worker a true professional in his or her chosen field. But did you know that training is just as essential for the HGV driver as it is the lawyer, doctor, or IT specialist? Indeed, the training organisation that a person chooses for his or her HGV lessons makes all the difference in the world.

There are lots of companies out there offering driver training to new drivers. Some are better than others. The one thing that must be understood is that not every training company offers the same level of quality and competence. At the HGV Training Centre, we have both the reputation and results that make our HGV lessons the best in the business. We are comfortable in saying that our 45 local training centres are also the best lorry driving schools in the UK.

The evidence of our success is found in the drivers we graduate from our courses. For example, our first-try pass rate for the HGV theory test is an astounding 92%. The vast majority of our students go on to become well-respected drivers working for long-distance haulage companies, local operators, tour bus operators, construction companies, etc. Make no mistake; listing the HGV Training Centre on your CV goes a long way toward helping you find a driving job.

Training for Your Needs

One of the first things you will learn when inquiring about our HGV lessons is that we do not offer a one-size-fits-all programme for every student. For example, most of our students will start training for a category C1 licence that will enable them to drive lorries of up to 7.5 tonnes with trailers of up to 750 kg. This licence will cover the vast majority of lorries, tipper trucks, bin lorries, and other HGVs in the UK.

That said, some drivers want to operate larger vehicles with heavier weights. They would train for the category C1+E licence that allows for lorries up to 7.5 tonnes and trailers in excess of 750 kg. This kind of licence enables the driver to get behind the wheel of virtually anything. We also offer training for other types of vehicles:

Trailers and caravans – light trailers and caravans requiring a C+E licence
PCV vehicles – this includes buses, coaches, and other transport vehicles
Forklift trucks – we provide both training and certification in forklift operation.

It is clear that the HGV Training Centre can provide the exact training you need for the kind of job you want to pursue. From basic lorry operation to handling hazardous materials over long distances, our professional instructors have the knowledge and experience to make you the best driver you can be. You owe it to yourself to find out more about the HGV lessons we offer at our 45 facilities.

Why Training Is Necessary

In theory, you could get your provisional entitlement and pass the HGV theory test without any help from us, then immediately book your practical skills test at an approved facility. Provided you passed that test, you would be given your commercial driving licence and be ready to look for work. But that is just theory. Practically speaking, there is a lot more to learning how to drive an HGV than just filling out some paperwork and studying a manual. You need hands-on training that will enable you to become familiar with every aspect of professional driving.

As an example, did you know that HGV drivers can be asked to stop at any time by the police or a DVSA officer? Roadside stops and checks happen all the time in the UK. Such checks are randomly conducted to make sure HGV and PCV drivers remain in compliance at all times. Officers check vehicle roadworthiness, driver logs, tachograph data, and more. If a driver or his/her vehicle is found not in compliance, then the consequences could include fixed penalties, fines, and more serious things such as licence suspension and vehicle seizure.

Part of our training involves instructing our students on legal compliance. Every driver completing HGV lessons through us is fully versed in what the law expects. As such, any driver violating the law after training with us is not doing so for ignorance and lack of instruction; he or she is acting without regard to what was learned in our classes.

Professional Driving Is Not Easy

A second reason you need training is the fact that HGV driving is not easy. You may think it is only slightly harder than getting in your car and driving down the motorway, yet it is anything but. HGV drivers do very difficult work on a daily basis. They must regularly deal with:

Size and Weight – The biggest challenge of driving an HGV is the vehicle’s size and weight. Size presents challenges in terms of cornering and backing; weight makes braking and accelerating difficult. Furthermore, the size and weight of HGVs makes them especially dangerous in accidents.
Traffic Congestion – If it is difficult enough to navigate the family car in heavily congested traffic; imagine what it must be like for the HGV driver. Professional drivers possess a tremendous amount of skill that allows them to safely make it through even the worst of traffic.
Weather Conditions – All the training in the world cannot stop the weather from changing as quickly as it does in the UK. But effective training can prepare the driver to adapt to all sorts of conditions. Adjusting to the weather is a routine part of driver safety.
Daily Challenges – The professional driver doesn’t just rely on him or herself during the workday. Drivers must also rely on shippers, receivers, other drivers on the road, police officials, and so on. The successful driver must be able to adapt to daily challenges in a way that keeps his or her employer happy without being unsafe or legally non-compliant.

Driving HGVs or PCVs for a living is not a job that anyone can do. To believe it is easy is to demonstrate one’s ignorance about what professional driving is really like. We have a tremendous amount of respect for all the drivers to complete our training and then go on to become experts in their fields. For them, what started with a few HGV lessons at our facility has become a rewarding career and a day-to-day job requiring a tremendous amount of skill and dedication.

If you would like to join the legions of highly trained HGV drivers working in the UK, your first step is to contact us. We will provide all the information you need to make an educated decision about your potential career choice. Should you decide professional driving is right for you, you need only possess a valid car licence and the ability to pass a routine medical exam to get started.

We will guide you through the process of applying for your provisional entitlement, preparing for the HGV theory test, and undergoing practical skills training in one of our centres. We will even send a trainer with you to the testing site on the day of your practical skills test. With the completion of your HGV lessons, you will have that coveted professional driving licence and an open door to a successful career.

We believe the HGVT Training Centre operates the best lorry driving schools in the UK. We invite you to discover them for yourself by enrolling in our HGV lessons.

Additional Information

To help you get a better understanding of careers in HGV we provide the following articles for your perusal: