What to Expect During Your HGV Driving Lessons

HGV driver training gives you the knowledge and practical skills to drive a truck both efficiently and safely. They also represent the gateway to a hugely rewarding career that can earn you a very good wage, particularly when you achieve your class 1 HGV licence.

When starting your journey to becoming an HGV driver, it’s certainly an exciting time, but what’s actually involved in HGV training? In this blog, we shine a light on what you can expect to encounter when taking HGV driving lessons with a certified training provider like HGVT.

So, let’s waste no time explaining what typically happens from the outset.

You’ll usually start your training programme with a Driver Medical test and learn the HGV theory via the HGVT App. The HGV theory test involves a hazard perception and a multiple-choice element, both of which put your knowledge of road signs, traffic laws, vehicle safety, HGV-specific regulations, and driving techniques, to the test. Typically speaking, you will need to pass your HGV theory test before starting the practical part of your HGV training.

On the Day Of Practical Training

When you arrive for your driving lessons on day one, it can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. However, you shouldn’t worry, as your instructor will guide you through things. You’ll likely start with an introduction to your course overview, how it’s structured, and what you’ll learn before familiarising yourself with the vehicle, exterior inspections, pre-drive checks, and basic safety protocols.

Safety is a central theme in any kind of professional hgv training, so you should anticipate focusing much on acting safely in and out of your truck. HGVs are obviously much larger and more complex than cars, particularly when talking about your cab, so you’ll also spend time getting acquainted with the location of all your controls, dashboard and instruments.

Once you actually get behind the wheel, you’ll start by covering starting and stopping and generally learning how to handle the vehicle’s size and weight. Then, you’ll progress to simple steering manoeuvres and gear changes, potentially with a range selector and split gears.

Advanced Driving Techniques

As time progresses, your driving lessons will cover more complex matters relating to driving an HGV professionally. As such, you’ll cover aspects like:

• Reversing & Manoeuvring: Reversing an HGV, especially with a trailer, is one of the more challenging aspects of driving these vehicles. That’s why you’ll spend practice reversing into loading bays, and around tight corners.
• Coupling & Uncoupling: If you’re training for your class 1 HGV licence, you’re also going to need to learn how to safely couple and uncouple the trailer from the tractor. This is a key skill and it requires a full understanding of the vehicle’s mechanics.
• Road Awareness: Advanced HGV driving lessons will also focus on the important aspect of road awareness, including how to anticipate the actions of other road users, navigate through congested areas, and handle motorway driving.

As you approach the end of your HGV training, your instructor will prepare you to pass your practical HGV driving test. This involves a full review of everything you’ve learned, as well as mock tests to simulate the exam environment. You’ll also practice driving on routes similar to those used during the actual test, helping you become familiar with potential challenges.

Helping You Through Every Step of Your HGV Training

Our driving lessons exist to give you a comprehensive grounding on what’s required to begin your journey to becoming a fully-fledged lorry driver. From mastering basic controls to handling complex driving scenarios, each stage of your training builds on the last, ensuring you’re fully prepared for your career as an HGV driver.

With the right preparation and a commitment to learning, you’ll be on the road to success in no time and the HGVT team is here to help. Our industry-leading courses are available via our nationwide network of 70+ HGV training centres and delivered by some of the most experienced instructors in the business. What’s more, we even help you find work once qualified.

To find out more about what we offer, fill out the enquiry form, and we’ll get in touch.