What Licence do you Need to Drive a Lorry in the UK

It’s a commonly asked question in the UK, especially for those looking to improve their skills and get their lorry licence. In the UK you need a Category C licence to drive a lorry. A category C licence allows the holder to drive vehicles with a weight of up to 32 tonnes. This is the most common type of licence for heavy good vehicle drivers.

What do you need for a Category C licence?

In the UK To get your Category C HGV licence you’ll need:

- Be at least 18 years old

- Hold a UK car driving licence

- Be in good physical health

- Pass a full theory test including hazard and perception

- Pass the HGV practical tests & CPC qualification test

Some companies will sponsor employees through the training program in order to become a HGV driver for their company. The most common companies being logistics based. For these companies you’ll be driving in a fleet of lorries.

Do I need a Category C licence for a medium-sized vehicle?

Whilst you don’t need a Category C licence to drive a medium-sized vehicle, you do need a Category C1 licence. This includes vehicles of a maximum authorised mass of up to 7.5 tonnes. These vehicles are often long wheel base vans or small lorries.

Can I drive for a Fleet with a category C licence

Yes, with a category C licence you can drive for any heavy goods vehicle fleet. All logistics companies that operate within the UK require a category C licence in order to be a lorry driver. Companies like Wincanton, Eddie Stobart, and Devereux have large lorry fleets. Driving in a fleet means you have to be aware of further requirements like tachographs, telematics and DVS safety laws.

What is a Tachograph on a HGV?

A tachograph is a telematics device fitted to a HGV vehicle that records a vehicle's driving time, distance, speed, and driver activity. Tachographs are fitted mandatory in the following:

- New vehicles that transport goods and have a mass more than 3.5 tonnes.

- New vehicles that transport more than 9 people including the driver.

Tachographs telematics are essential for making sure HGV drivers are getting enough rest between driving. This crucial rest means drivers are more alert to their surroundings. Occasionally lorries are stopped by the DVSA for roadside checks. During these checks the DVSA will check a driver’s tachograph to ensure they’ve had enough rest and haven’t been driving for a long stint.

Note: They will also check the general roadworthiness of the lorry as well as the load weight.

Do All Logistics Companies Use Telematics?

Yes, almost all logistics companies use telematics like vehicle tracking, driver analytics and fuel efficiency reporting. Telematics play an essential role in the HGV fleets. Monitoring speed and fuel efficiency is key for ensuring driver and public safety as well as profit margins.

Other products like dash cams for lorries help mitigate fault when incidents occur. Dash cams can help verify driver reports of reckless drivers or obstructions when driving. These are especially useful when obstructions in the road have caused damage to HGVs.