Monthly Archives: May 2024

Becoming an LGV or HGV driver can be such a rewarding experience. Truck drivers get to ditch the standard 9 to 5 for a job that takes them out on the open road, gives them their independence back, and lets them earn a very impressive wage, all at the same time. 

Not to mention becoming a valued worker with in-demand skills and experience – what’s not to like?

But if you’ve been seeking training to drive HGVs or LGVs you may have become a little confused about a certain detail… what’s the difference between HGV training and LGV training? 

They’re both terms that get thrown around a lot, so it would help if you have the clearest picture possible about each of them, before deciding to dive into driver training.

At HGV Training Network, we’re home to over 50 centres for driver training, scattered across the country, so we like to think we know a thing or two about HGVs and LGVs! With this in mind, here are some of the answers you may be looking for…

Is there a difference between HGV and LGV?

In short, no! ‘HGV’ and ‘LGV’ are interchangeable terms used to describe larger, heavier commercial carrier vehicles that transport goods from A to B. Back in the day (pre-1990s) HGVs and LGVs were indeed different vehicles, with the terms used to describe large vehicles of certain weights. 

An HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) was recognised as anything that had a gross vehicle weight of 3,500kg, while an LGV (back then known as Light Goods Vehicles, now known as Large Goods Vehicles) was any large transport vehicle below this figure, to a certain size.

In 1992, the UK merged its driving licence standards with those of the EU, meaning the rules suddenly changed. Under this new guidance, in essence, there was no longer a difference between HGVs and LGVs. It’s a little confusing, especially for drivers who were around during this time and who are still driving today. 

But the point is that, from a legal standard, HGVs and LGVs now mean the same thing. And if you think about it, it actually gives you less to worry about, once you’re in the know!

*Did you know – HGVTN has over 300 5-star reviews on Google from satisfied learners, who’ve since gone on to become fully-licenced HGV drivers?

Are HGV training and LGV training different?

As you may have gathered from the previous section, because HGVs and LGVs are now classed as the same vehicle, there’s no difference in training for said vehicles. Whether you refer to it as an HGV or an LGV, you’ll still be learning to drive larger transport vehicles and will exit your training with all the same qualifications and excellent career prospects.

So, when you’re on the hunt for driving jobs after you’ve completed your training and earned your HGV licence (or LGV licence, if this is the language you prefer) be sure to look into both HGV driver jobs and LGV driver jobs – you’ll be able to apply for both!

Plus, if you’re interested in reaching even further afield and developing your driving skills even further, HGV Training Network also offers driver training for a host of other vehicle types. Be sure to check them all out on our website here.

What is the difference between an HGV licence and an LGV lorry licence?

You’ve probably guessed the answer to this by now, right? When the licence rules changed back in the 1990s, so did the technicalities involved in these licences.

The main thing you need to know is that, technically, there is no difference between an HGV licence and an LGV licence – they both mean the same thing. You will, however, have the option to earn licences that allow you to drive large vehicles belonging to different categories. 

These licences used to be broken down into ‘Classes’ – primarily Class 1 and Class 2. However, under the current language, the HGV Class 1 is now known as the Category C+E licence, while Class 2 is simply known as Category C.

• The Category C licence lets you drive commercial trucks over 7.5 tonnes and up to 32 tonnes (think of this as the standard HGV licence).
• The Category C+E licence lets you drive a large rigid vehicle that is articulated and bends in the middle – these require slightly more in-depth training.

Train to drive HGVs and LGVs at HGV Training Network

Ready to kick start your journey towards becoming a professional HGV/LGV driver? 

At HGV Training Network, we have all the resources you need and a team of experienced and reliable instructors who will guide you towards your driving dreams.

Plus, thanks to our flexible financing options, you could train now and pay later, saving you the headache of needing to pay for everything upfront – what’s not to love?

Get in touch with the HGVTN team today to get the ball – and the wheels – rolling!

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One of the most common questions among those looking to enter the fulfilling world of HGV driving is whether HGVs are automatic or not. So, we thought it would be useful to explore this!

Within this piece, our HGV training experts explain whether the HGVs you can expect to drive have automatic transmissions and how automatic HGVs compare to their manual counterparts.

What is an automatic HGV?

HGVs have a transmission, also known as a gearbox, that’s required to take power from the engine to make its wheels move. Just like in your domestic car, HGVs with a manual transmission, the gear shifts needed to move the HGV at various speeds are controlled by the driver using a clutch and gearstick.

But, with automatic vehicles, gear changes are completed automatically without any input from the HGV driver, hence the name ‘automatic HGV’. 

As such, automatic HGVs don’t feature a clutch – all the operator has to do to move this type of HGV is select D (drive) on the shifter stick, accelerate, and brake while the automatic transmission fluid conducts the gear change independently.

*Did You Know? Through our recruitment partnership with Blue Arrow, HGV Training Network can help you find your first job after completing your HGV training!

Benefits of driving an automatic HGV

HGV drivers who operate automatic lorries experience a whole host of advantages, such as:

They’re excellent in stop-and-start traffic

A significant selling point of automatic HGVs is how simple, smooth, and efficient they are to operate during congested or rush hour traffic.

In any manual vehicle, pressing the clutch repeatedly to shift up and down gears during slow-moving traffic can be tedious work and require quite a lot of focus.

However, this isn’t an issue with an automatic HGV, as they don’t feature a clutch or require manual clutch control to accelerate and stop – perfect for use in slow-moving traffic.

They’re easier to manoeuvre

Trucks have a much more complex gear system than cars as they’re much bigger and require more power to move – some large vehicles can have up to 16 gears and may operate using splitter or range change gearboxes!

But, with an automatic HGV, the stress of gear changes, splitting gears or flipping between each is removed, as the transmission does all the hard work for you!

They’re safer

Following on from above, as the HGV driver doesn’t have to use a gear stick, they can keep both hands on the steering wheel, providing greater and steadier control over the vehicle.

Plus, as there’s less to think about, you’ll feel much more focused and calm on the road and can dedicate all your attention to navigating your surroundings, avoiding potential hazards and accidents.

*Want to learn to drive professionally in an automatic HGV? Drop the team a message – we’d be more than happy to help you get your training journey started.

Advantages of a manual HGV

Manual HGV driving is still utilised amongst some companies and comes with a host of benefits:

You can drive both manual and automatic HGVs

With a manual HGV licence, you can drive both types of vehicles, meaning you can also work for companies that still use manual trucks. 

It also saves you the hassle of having to sift through job descriptions to check whether your licence applies to a particular job.

You gain the full truck driving experience

For many professional drivers, especially veterans in the industry, manually shifting gears and feeling the control you have over your lorry is a great feeling and is part of the whole trucker experience – something that is lacking with automatic transmissions.

They require less maintenance than automatic HGVs

Due to their less complex transmission instruments, manuals are considered to be more reliable and easier to maintain. As a result, you could spend more time on the job and less time with the RAC!

However, it’s important to note that this depends on the make and model of the HGV and that many automatic HGVs have become a lot more durable in recent years!

Comparing automatic and manual HGVs

Now that we’ve explored the two types of HGV transmissions, it’s time to see how they compare head-to-head.

Overall, automatic HGVs can be considered a safer choice than manuals for truckers, as their attention isn’t divided between the gearbox and the road ahead.

What’s more, they’re typically more comfortable to drive, as automatic HGV drivers don’t experience the leg ache associated with clutch control.

Plus, if manually shifting gears and experiencing ‘true driving’ isn’t something you really care for, you won’t lose much by operating automatic HGVs.

However, opportunities in the industry may be reduced for automatic-only HGV drivers when it comes to agency work, as they have to be able to drive whatever vehicle they’re given, including manuals. But there are still plenty of other roles to consider due to the ongoing driver shortage, so this may not be an issue for you.

Are HGVs automatic in the industry?

The majority of companies in the haulage and logistics industry are now operating automatic lorries instead of manuals because of the benefits explained above. Many businesses strive to make working life on the road as easy and safe as possible for their drivers, which is generally more achievable with automatic lorries over manuals.

Plus, with more focus on their driving, HGV operators are less likely to crash and damage company vehicles, saving logistic businesses their reputations and money in repairs and replacement HGVs.

Are HGVs automatic at UK driver training centres?

If many companies across the haulage industry tend to use automatic HGVs, do training providers use automatics too?

Put simply, the answer differs between UK training providers, although most lean towards using automatics.

HGV driver training courses utilise automatic HGVs as they’re much easier to learn in – students can focus more on manoeuvring a larger vehicle, becoming aware of blind spots and the rules of the road for HGV drivers.

While other HGV training centres may teach trainee HGV drivers in a manual truck so they understand the mechanics of HGV gearboxes – it really just depends.

Can I drive a manual HGV if I pass in an automatic?

Wondering if you can drive a manual heavy goods vehicle with an automatic HGV licence?

Gov.UK states that the current situation is as follows: ‘where a driver holds a car driving licence, and then takes his lorry or bus test on an automatic vehicle, his driving licence will restrict him to only being able to drive large automatic vehicles.’

This also applies if you have a standard manual car or bus licence.

Start your HGV training today

To gain your HGV licence and driver CPC, you’ll need to embark on a professional training course with a seasoned HGV instructor who has first-hand experience operating large lorries.

Here at HGV Training Network, we’ll provide you with all the essential skills you need to kickstart your driving career!

So, if you have questions such as ‘how much does HGV training cost?’, ‘what’s involved in an HGV test?’ or ‘how long do HGV training courses last?’ – our team are on hand to assist you.

To find an answer to these questions and more, get in touch with our dedicated training advisors today! They’ll explain everything you need to know about our HGV training, including our flexible financing options.

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Nowadays it seems that you can earn a living in almost any way you can think of. 

From new career paths online to being self-employed, flexibility is the name of the game. 

But, if a vocation driving HGVs has captured your interest, you may well be wondering if it’s best to join a driving fleet as an employee or embrace the freedom and work for yourself. 

So, what do you need to know about PAYE vs self-employed HGV driving to help you make a decision? 

What is the difference between PAYE vs self-employed HGV driving? 

It used to be the case that many more HGV drivers would set themselves up as self-employed, often as a Ltd company, and work with an agency to reduce the payout on things like tax and national insurance. This allowed them to keep more of the money they earned hour-by-hour. 

However, with changes brought in by HMRC in April 2021, off-payroll working (known as IR35) or being self-employed can now be less attractive. This is because changes to IR35 now mean that self-employed drivers now pay broadly the same Income Tax and National Insurance as a PAYE employee would. 

For this reason, it can be a much less attractive prospect. 

As such, the main difference between PAYE vs self-employed HGV drivers is how they are employed. 

PAYE 

PAYE stands for ‘Pay As You Earn’ and allows your employer to deduct your income tax and NI contributions before they pay your wages. 

To identify how much you pay, your tax code (a short series of numbers and letters) can be changed by HMRC each year based on how much you have earned and how much tax you have, or haven’t, paid. 

Self-employed

If you are self-employed, however, you (or your accountant) will need to file your own self-assessment tax return, using bank statements and receipts from the year before the 5^th of April. 

Based on the report you submit, HMRC will then calculate your tax and NI contributions, which you need to pay by the following January. 

For unscrupulous people, altering self-assessment tax returns is a way you can pay less tax and NI than you really should – something that the IR35 changes aim to resolve. 

*Did you know we offer HGV finance to get you on the road quicker? Just another way the experts at HGV Training Network can help.  

Benefits and considerations of PAYE vs self-employed HGV driving

Our handy table discusses some of the pros and cons that are worth considering when thinking about your employment status:

Get your new career off the ground with HGVTN

Before you can start your career, however, if you haven’t already done so, you’ll need to retrain to be an HGV driver. 

To get your HGV training started, why not reach out to speak to our experts? They have decades of experience driving the largest vehicles on our roads and can help with everything from setting up your medical to getting you through your theory and practical tests. To speak to us today, call us on 0800 254 5007 or fill in our contact form with some basic information about what you are looking for and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

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If you’re looking into becoming a fully qualified HGV driver, or a driver of similar vehicles, you may have heard of driver CPC training – also known as driver Certificate of Professional Competence training. 

But while there’s plenty of information out there about HGV training courses and the steps involved in the process, you may be scratching your head over certain aspects of driver CPC courses and the certificate itself. It’s not as talked about, but that doesn’t make it any less important if you want to get out on the open road and turn driving into an enjoyable, profitable career.

At HGV Training Network, we’re experts in driver training and helped hundreds of satisfied learners fulfil their goals and become reliable, professional drivers. With this in mind, here are a few things you might want to know about the CPC, and why it’s so essential.

Why do I need to complete CPC training?

CPC is an essential component of anyone wishing to drive large vehicles for a living, such as buses and lorries.

While the driving test you will undergo is designed to show you have the necessary skills and knowledge to drive to the minimum standard, think of the CPC as the ‘gap-filler’ of the driving test world. It is in place for you to demonstrate key knowledge and decision-making skills you will use during your driving career that will help keep yourself and others safe on the road.

Completing your CPC before becoming a driver is also a legal requirement. According to the EU directive, drivers must hold their CPC alongside their other relevant qualifications (such as an HGV licence) in order to drive professionally.

How many hours of CPC training do I need to complete?

New drivers must complete a mandatory 35 hours of CPC training before they complete their CPC exam, pass, and finally get behind the wheel.

But the same is true of existing drivers, too. Current drivers of large vehicles must also complete 35 hours of CPC training every 5 years if they want their certificate to remain valid. This is known as driver CPC periodic training.

If drivers do not complete the mandatory 35 hours of periodic CPC training, their certificate will be voided and they must re-earn it by taking the relevant exams again. As such, they will not be legally allowed to drive large vehicles until they’ve regained it.

Did you know – at HGVTN, we have over 300 5-star reviews on Google of students who’ve all undergone driving training with us, including earning their CPC!

How do I perform a drivers CPC check?

If you’re wondering precisely how many hours of CPC training you’ve completed, there is a handy online tool you can use at GOV.UK to keep track of everything making it easy to do a drivers CPC check – take a look at it here.

Not only is this great for you to view how many hours you’ve completed, but it is also helpful for your training instructors and employers (if they’re involved) to see how you’re progressing – you can create their own bespoke login on your account.

Just be aware that your chosen training centre must have registered you for your CPC training course before you’re able to view your progress using this tool.

Will CPC training be scrapped?

In short, no. Despite online rumblings that the CPC may be removed from UK driver training courses post-Brexit, CPC training remains an essential part of driver training and must be completed if you wish to drive lorries or similarly large vehicles.

Is CPC training classed as working time?

One of the many benefits of CPC training is that it can, in some instances, count towards your weekly working hours. For example, if you have been ordered to complete CPC training by your employer, so you can continue to provide your company with driving services, these hours can count towards your work hours. 

In other words, as a driver, CPC hours help you get paid. Sounds pretty good, right?

Are you an employer and want to know more about implementing driver and CPC training in your organisation? Speak with HGVTN today.

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Can you fail a CPC course?

It is possible to fail elements of your CPC course. For example, module 4 of the CPC test – which covers practical demonstrations – can be failed if you are unable to show you can properly:

• Load the vehicle following all safety rules
• Assess emergency scenarios
• Reduce physical risks to yourself and others
• Perform a walkaround check of the vehicle

Among other factors. 

The pass/fail rates of each test segment will be given to you ahead of time, so you are fully aware of your results and what they mean. If you fail, you can rebook the test for a later date.

Earn your CPC and other qualifications with HGV Training Network

If you are looking to enter the lucrative world of HGV driving and earn your HGV driving licence and CPC, speak to the team at HGV Training Network. With over 50 centres for HGV training scattered across the country, and dedicated, experienced training professionals who’ve seen it all and done it all, we can give you the skills and qualifications you need to forge a new career on the road.

Get in touch with HGVTN today to get the ball rolling.

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