How will I be sure that I’ll be issued the right driving licence?
As of now, the freight industry is booming and on an upward trajectory, given how there’s high demand for Truck and Van drivers.
In the event you are looking for a driving course to get a lorry licence, then must be slightly confused over the licence terminologies.
After researching online for driving jobs, or maybe reading up on term in brochures, trade magazines or newspaper adverts, you most likely realised that most companies in the industry uses a combo of the two subjects, some use LGV while others use HGV when inferring to a truck driving job with a gross vehicle weight of 7.5+ tonnes.
What are the differences between LGV and HGV?
For novice drivers entering the logistics and transport scene, HGV and HGV terminologies can be a tad confusing with some drivers not really sure about the license they require for the specific job or role they may want to undertake.
First of all, you need to note that the correct UK spelling for Licence has a ‘c’, but you shouldn’t worry since you can use the alternate spelling ‘License’ with an ‘s’ instead. It won’t eliminate you in the running for a driving job (but use both terminologies when researching on the Internet just in case it’s a factor)
Next, you’ll need info concerning the two abbreviations.
LGV standing for Large Goods Vehicle while HGV stands for Heavy Goods Vehicle.
As per European and UK mandates, the HGV and LGV are considered the same licence. It covers commercial trucks featuring a combined mass of 3500+kg, which includes Luton’s, fridge trucks, tippers and ADR, box vans, drop sides and many more.
Improper usage of the LGV terminology often comes with a lot of confusion since most individuals think it’s for Light Goods Vehicles which drive vans and pickup trucks with under 3500kg gross vehicle weight. Nevertheless, for category ‘B’ entitlement, you can be driving up to 3.5 tonnes (3500kg).
Where did the HGV term originate?
Taxation of vehicles in the United Kingdom is done according to their construction, weight, engine, fuel type, emissions and vehicle purpose and functionality.
Thus, HGV emerged when tax disc was introduced in the United Kingdom, which was meant to group vehicles for tax reasons.
During that time, very many years ago, vehicles below a 3500kg gross weight were considered to be light vehicle goods whereas those with 3500+kg vehicle gross weight were called heavy goods vehicles.
However, in 1992, to be collinear with EU licence categories, vehicles with a gross weight of over 3.5 tonnes were designated to be trucks and thereby changing LGV from light vehicle goods to large goods vehicles. Thus there is no difference whatsoever between LGV and HGV.
Also in the same 1992, categories of all licence were altered.
What were previously known to be HGV class 1 officially became LGV C+E and HGV Class 2 training known as LGV C.
To learn more look at the HGV Training Centre web site.
But there are still some people who use the old categorisation style to do their job. So don’t get surprised if you come by an LGV Class 1 advert or Category C HGV driving jobs while on your search.
Back in the day, you could even get an HGV Class 3 licence. Currently, the closest to that is LGV C1. Having C1 entitlement enables you to operate 3.5+ tonnes to 7.5 tonnes. It comes in handy if you’re planning on driving a restricted vehicle size like a horsebox or driving an ambulance. Most local & home delivery vehicles are C1 operated.
Drivers searching for a professional driving job to earn a living usually upgrade from using a standard car licence to LGV. This allows them to operate a rigid vehicle reaching up to 32 tonnes. Some drivers will go for Back-to-Back training that permits them to continue immediately to LGV C+E for driving vehicles with trailers like a drawbar or articulated combination reaching up to 44 tonnes.
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