Becoming a professional HGV driver offers a rewarding career, the chance to explore new horizons, and excellent job security. As HGV training experts, Easy as HGV have locations across the UK and can appreciate that there’s huge variety in the roads, network and conditions depending on where you are. So does this mean that there’s a ‘best’ or even easiest place to learn to drive an HGV?
Choosing the right training location isn’t just about convenience. It’s about finding the right environment to prepare you for the diverse challenges of the road – whether you want to drive in HGV capitals like Birmingham, or somewhere less busy. We’ll look at the HGV training process, how your surroundings can impact your training, and assess why a nationwide provider is best placed to offer the support that you need.
The HGV training process
Of course, when you choose Easy as HGV, the whole HGV training process is managed for you, so there’s very little that you need to worry about. However, part of our support is to make sure that our learners are up to speed with everything that’s going on. So it’s important to understand the process, which we’ve simply broken down here.
- Obtain a provisional HGV licence – Apply for your provisional licence for your chosen licence category such as Cat C or C+E and pass a medical examination.
- Theory tests – Consists of two parts, one involving a multiple-choice test and hazard perception test, and a second multiple-choice test based on case studies.
- Practical training and tests – Once you’ve passed your theory tests, you can take on practical testing, although obviously you can begin training before. You’ll work with an instructor to practise manoeuvring, reversing, and driving under real-world conditions. Your tests will consist of 3 parts: off road exercises, on road driving and a practical demonstration.
- Driver CPC – By passing your tests, you will be awarded your Driver Certificate of Professional Competence and be issued a Driver Qualification Card which you must carry when driving professionally.
- Ongoing CPC – Professional HGV drivers must complete 35 hours of learning over every 5 year period to retain their licence. Easy as HGV can help with this too!
Roads, infrastructure and conditions
The HGV practical test is designed to assess real world driving skills, so your training location and its surrounding geography are crucial. Unlike passenger vehicles, HGVs demand extra care, patience, and precise manoeuvring in various conditions.
Areas with varied road types can expose you to a broader range of challenges, better preparing you for what lies ahead in your career. Here’s why geography matters during training and testing:
Urban driving practice
Navigating busy city streets with an HGV requires excellent spatial awareness and precision. Training in or near cities offers crucial experience in dealing with:
- Narrow streets and busy traffic.
- Roundabouts, slip roads, and multi-lane junctions.
- Frequent stops for deliveries, mimicking the realities of long-term job tasks.
Rural and country lanes
Driving on country roads is another essential aspect of HGV training. These roads often have tight bends, inclines, and unpredictable conditions such as wildlife or tractors. Areas with access to rural lanes allow you to master:
- Manoeuvring an HGV in confined spaces.
- Reacting to changing road surfaces and visibility.
- Handling inclines and managing gear control.
Varied terrain and weather conditions
The UK is known for its unpredictable weather and diverse topography. From steep hills to blustery motorways, practising on different terrains prepares you for the unexpected. Regions with varied conditions help you:
- Gain confidence driving in rain, wind, or icy roads.
- Learn to control heavier loads on hills, minimizing rolling back.
Familiarising with freight routes
Lastly, training in areas that mimic real world freight routes, whether industrial zones or coastal motorways, can provide added confidence as you learn how to adapt to your professional environment.
The more variety you encounter during training, the more prepared you’ll feel when handling a fully loaded HGV on the job. Clearly, the nature of HGV driving means that you’ll be travelling across the country and even beyond, so you’ll definitely encounter a range of conditions. In fact, those varied days may well be what attracted you to this career in the first place!
Local HGV training advantages
Given the importance of location, does this mean long travel is necessary to find good training spots? Not always. Training locally comes with its own advantages.
Convenience and consistency
If your training centre is close to home, it’s easier to fit practice sessions into your schedule. This consistency can help you retain information and refine your skills in handling an HGV. Easy as HGV have a network of over 90 training locations, so we can ensure that you access the most convenient for your needs.
Familiar roads for confidence building
Practising on roads that you’re somewhat familiar with lessens the initial intimidation of operating a large vehicle. Once your confidence grows, you can branch out to new environments. The experienced instructors at Easy as HGV are practiced in supporting you through this process of building confidence.
Which areas of the UK are popular for HGV training?
The UK offers many excellent locations for learning to drive an HGV, each with unique advantages. Some top training locations known for diverse road access include:
- Leeds: With city roads, rural outskirts, and motorway connections, Leeds provides a great variety of training settings.
- Birmingham: The midlands offer good access to complex freight routes and residential roads.
- Southampton: Ideal for coastal terrain and industrial delivery routes.
- Manchester: A mix of city and rural roads with some heavy-traffic zones.
- Sheffield: Get a balance of city roundabouts, hilly countryside, and dual carriageways.
Choosing a location known for access to diverse driving conditions can help to put you one step ahead. Don’t forget, though, that your knowledgeable instructor will know the areas to best replicate different driving conditions wherever you are based.
A nationwide provider
If you’re unsure about nearby training options, booking through a nationwide provider like Easy as HGV can really work for you. With our 90+ locations across the UK, you can train near home or select a location with specific road types that fit your needs. Your training is personalised and is fully supported by our team of experts so there’s always answers on hand when you have a query. The whole process is designed to reduce the stress on you, maximising the value of your HGV training.
With Easy as HGV, you don’t have to compromise on quality or convenience. Our network ensures you have access to industry leading expertise wherever you are in the UK. Contact us today!