If you’ve always wanted to live in the open air or have thought about becoming a truck driver since the age of a child and you’re interested in a career in Heavy Goods Vehicle (D4 Medical), the driver might be the right choice for you. Drivers of lorries working for a trucking business can travel across Europe, and the UK and Europe and the salary isn’t something to be laughed at also.
If you’re looking to become a Driver of HGVs in the UK, there are many important things to consider. HGV is an older term, whereas the more recent and official designation is LGV, also known as the Large Goods Vehicle. Both times are often used in conjunction, but most people working in the UK haulage business (myself included!) remain adamantly in favor of the term “Class 1 driver.
Don’t confuse HGV and LGV; They mean the same thing. Licenses for the most potent vehicles are split into two classes: C and C+E. A lesson is any vehicle that weighs more than 7.5 tons, while a C+E license permits you to drive an articulated car with a trailer. To get your consent, you’ll require an HGV Medical. You must have a class C license before obtaining your class C+E permit, and you’ll need an ordinary UK driving license before you can be trained for either.
There are some age limitations that you must meet. For instance, you need to be 18 or older to obtain the class C license and at least 21 to train for class C+E. Additionally, you must undergo an exam for medical that includes an eye exam to ensure that you’re in good health to be a lorry driver. The process of learning to become a driver for lorries within the UK is similar to learning to drive a car, except that there are both practices and a theoretical test medical examination.
The theory test is where you’ll be asked to answer a series of multiple-choice tests that will test your knowledge about the practical and legal aspects. A hazard perception exam follows the test to see you presented with several video clips. You’ll need to press a button whenever you notice a risk. The maximum score is 75 marks for the theoretical test, and the passing score is 50. For the practical test, you will be judged on your abilities to drive an HGV vehicle under different circumstances. It will comprise a range of turning and reverse man oeuvres in a tight space and a time of going on the road. The whole test usually will last for 90 minutes.
After you’ve passed both the practical and the theory test, you’ll get your driver’s license and be ready to work for a haulage firm. The cost of training to become an HGV driver is different. If you’re already employed in the haulage industry, you might be able to provide you with their employees at a lower cost. A rigorous course lasting four or five days will usually suffice to prepare someone to take the practical test. Beginning in September 2009, you’ll be required to complete CPC and the driver certificate of professional competence (CPC) to become a driver HGV medical. This is a three-part exam comprising two sets of multiple-choice questions and test questions. If you plan to drive a vehicle transporting dangerous substances, you’ll require a Dangerous Advisory Goods by Road (ADR) certificate. This lasts for five years, after which you need to go through a refresher course. The initial period lasts five days, while the refresher course is 3. The qualification can also increase your earnings potential since the drivers of lorries who transport dangerous products could earn higher salaries.
