Ready To Upgrade? Here’s Where To Go Next!

If you’re reading this, then you’re probably looking at the next step in your career as an HGV driver. Congratulations! You probably already have your Driver CPC – the most basic licence needed to become a professional driver. But there are a number of ways you can go from here, and each one will depend on what kind of vehicle you want to drive. Today, we wanted to show you some of the more popular steps you can take, and what they mean for your future as an HGV driver.

Cat C1

This category of licence is for the smallest type of haulage vehicle on the road – and is what most professional van drivers will have. So think of your man with a van, minibus or other large road vehicle. This category of licence allows you to drive anything from to 3,500kg to 7,500kg in weight, with or without a trailer that weighs up to 750kg. As with all licences, you will need to do a stint of practice driving a vehicle of this size, and pass a two-part theory exam, as well as a practical driving test.

Cat C1+E

This is the highest licence level you can achieve, and essentially means you can drive any heavy goods vehicle on the road. With the widest range of vehicles, you can take your pick of any HGV driving jobs out there, since you have the maximum qualification. You can also demand a higher salary for your work, and often get better perks and hours as well. The Cat C + E licence means you can drive any category vehicle, with a trailer over 750kg. To prepare for this licence, you will need to achieve the lower licences, and take another 2 theory tests and practical test.

Cat C

For a Cat C licence, you can either choose to upgrade from your Cat C1 or Cat C1+E, or you can upgrade directly from your standard Cat B drivers’ licence. The Cat C drivers licence allows you to drive vehicles over 3,500kg with a trailer of up to 750kg. Again, this type of licence requires a theory exam and a practical test, which you might need support to achieve.

Cat C + E

As an upgrade to the Cat 1 licence, you can opt to do the Cat 1 + E licence as well. This covered every kind of vehicle covered by the Cat 1, but adds some extra weight and size onto the kind of vehicle you can drive. With a Cat C1 + E, you can drive any vehicle over 3,500kg, but with a much larger trailer. Again, this involved a two-part theory test and a practical exam.

In short, there are a wide variety of licences you can choose from, so where you go next really depends on what kind of HGV driver you want to be. At The HGV Training Centre, we work closely with you to help you understand what all of these qualifications mean, and choose the right direction for you. We can also offer comprehensive training, practice tests and support, so you get the best chance at your new career as possible. To find out more, get in touch with us today.