About the licence
LGV CE (Class 1) is the largest goods vehicle category you are able to attain.
This licence will allow you to drive a large goods vehicle with a gross weight over 7500kg combined with a trailer over 750kg.
This vehicle is commonly referred to as an articulated lorry, typically made up of either a conventional tractor unit and trailer or lorry and draw-bar trailer (wagon and drag).
Prerequisites
To enrol on the LGV CE Upgrade course you must already hold your LGV C (Class 2) licence. If you do not hold this already then please look at our direct entry option (car to CE) by clicking here.
There is no requirement to complete any additional driver medicals or theory tests before you can attend this course.
The Course
At Heads of the Valleys Training, we use fully automatic LGV’s for training purposes. By passing in a vehicle with an automatic transmission, you will still be issued a full manual LGV C entitlement.
Our LGV CE driver training is completed using a conventional tractor unit and trailer combination, as opposed to a draw-bar trailer. Our vehicles have been carefully sourced and selected, to ensure your driver training is as straight forward as possible. As of 2022, the majority of our LGV training fleet has been ordered from new.
Our driver training course is split into two parts:
Module 3A: an ‘S shaped’ reverse exercise into a loading bay + uncouple/re-couple procedure
This is 1 day in duration, completed approximately one week prior to Module 3B training start date.
You will learn and practice these exercise at our private test facility throughout this 1 day (7 hour) course. When you feel ready, our in-house delegated assessor will conduct and sign-off this part of the test.
Module 3B: on-the-road driver training + test
Once 3A is complete you will return to us for 2 full days (14 hours) of 1-to-1 on-the-road driver training, with practical test conducted by a DVSA driving examiner on the third and final day.
At Heads of the Valleys Training we have our own private DVSA test facility on site, meaning that your practical test would start and finish from our centre. This provides a huge advantage as you will be taking your test within the local area where you will have been training throughout the duration of your course. It also means that you can practice the tricky reverse exercise at our centre each day that you are training – the same place you will be completing it on your test.
Please note that if you intend on using your LGV licence professionally (i.e. use your licence for work purposes/to be paid as a driver), you must hold a valid Driver CPC qualification. You can read more about this by clicking here.
Why choose Heads of the Valleys Training?
✅ We are a ‘one-stop-shop’ and can therefore arrange ALL elements of driver training on your behalf, including medical, theory tests and comprehensive revision materials, if required. Read more about our LGV Starter Pack by clicking here.
✅ We are a private DVSA test centre, meaning you will take your practical test using the same local roads you will have trained on. No more travelling to and from the test routes to prepare, and no busy city centres to worry about on your test!
✅ We have one of the highest pass rates in the country at 84.43% over a total of 533 DVSA tests conducted in 2019
✅ All of our vehicles are selected purely with training in mind, to make your practical training and test as easy as possible
✅ We have a dedicated training centre with on-site offices, training rooms, classrooms and amenities – feel free to call in and take a look around without appointment.
Ready to get started?
The quickest and easiest way to begin is to call our bookings team on 01873 832000.
Alternatively, complete the form below and someone will be in touch.
