FAQs

• What licence categories are there?
• How do I get my provisional licence?
• Practical training
• How long does it take to get my LGV licence?
• What if I fail my test?
• Where will I do my test?
• Will you help me find a job?
• What is the difference between LGV and HGV?
• Why should I have an ADR licence?
• How easy is the certificate of professional competence (CPC) exams?
• What does Driver CPC mean for me?
• What is a DTT franchise?

If you do not see the question and answer you require, please click here and ask your question on the registration form. We will send you a reply by post or email.

What licence categories are there?

Rather a lot and it can seem complicated. The following is a summary, but for a full answer visit the DVLA website:

Licence category ‘B’
Cars.

Licence category ‘C’
Goods vehicles (lorries).

Licence category ‘D’
Passenger carring vehicles (buses or coaches).

Categories which are ‘+E’ (i.e. B+E) simply means with trailer.

Categories which contain a ‘1’ (i.e. C1) simply mean smaller (7.5 tonne goods vehicle.

There used to be HGV Class 3, Class 2 and Class 1.
Nowadays the correct term is LGV (Large Goods Vehicle), not HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle).
Class 3 means category C1 (rigid goods vehicle not exceeding 7500kg).
Class 2 means Category C (rigid goods vehicle any size).
Class 1 means C+E (Rigid goods vehicle with trailer i.e articulated combination or wagon with draw bar trailer).

How do I get my provisional licence?

You need to get the relevant category provisional entitlement added to your licence. Check on your counterpart licence (A4 green paper)… the box towards top left lists your provisional categories together with validity dates.

Step 1
Obtain forms D2 and D4 (download or ask us to send them to you)

Step 2
Book a medical appointment and the doctor will fill in D4 (we can book you a medical)

Step3
Send off your application forms to DVLA (we can help you, just ask)

Step4
Allow up to three weeks for DVLA to process and send your licence

Step 5
Once you have your provisional licence we can book your theory test. You can attend our two-day theory course.

Why?

• Practice the theory questions and the hazard perception test on our computers
• Learn the secrets to getting the questions right
• Find out about drivers' hours and use of a tachograph
• Get a head start on the practical by talking with our experienced instructors

Practical training

How easy is it to pass my LGV practical test?

Like so many things you will pass easily if you perform well on test day! However nationally more than 50% of candidates fail first time. We aim to give you the very best chance of passing first time with our experienced friendly instructors.

There is a traditional approach which is to take a five day course with two students paired up and the test taken on the 5th day. Training on a 2:1 basis is highly recommended because candidates gain from 50% of their time as observers, whilst not getting over tired when driving under instruction for 50% of their time.

However this ‘one size fits all’ approach is not right for everyone. We frequently tailor training to meet your individual needs. Typically you would take two or three days ‘phase 1’ training without any pressure of a test. We would then agree ‘phase 2’ to be the number of days you agree with your instructor you would need to reach test standard. Phase 2 is then booked for the appropriate period with a test scheduled for your last day. The two-phase approach can be very cost effective because you pay for the number of days training that you need.

How long does it take to get my LGV licence?

• One week to get medical appointment and send provisional licence application off to DVLA
• Allow three weeks for DVLA to return your licence (it can be quicker but three weeks is the DVLA standard)
• One to three weeks to book LGV theory (we can anticipate arrival of your licence if you are in a rush)
• Two to five weeks for practical training (we can book your training dates anticipating when you will pass your theory)
  

Bear in mind when applying for an LGV or PCV licence you are applying for a ‘vocational’ licence and ‘higher standards’ apply. If there are medical issues or if you have a very poor driving record the issue of your licence may be delayed or refused. In the case of refusal there is an appeal process.

What if I fail my test?

You may retake theory or practical tests on an unlimited basis as long as your licence remains valid. For practical tests you must pass within two years of passing the relevant theory test. However there is only one LGV theory test so once you have passed C1 or C you don’t need to do another theory test when you attempt C1+E or C+E.
You can do your C+E test any time after passing C (i.e. you only have to wait for your licence to be returned by DVLA). You can do your C+E two or three weeks after C, alternatively you can come back for your C+E many years after passing C.

Where will I do my test?

All practical LGV and PCV tests must be taken at special DSA test centres. Many DSA test centres are for cars/bikes only. Lorry and coach/bus test centres have off road manoeuvring areas to carry out the braking and reversing exercises.

Our courses normally start each day at our training centre. Each training centre has access to an off road manouvring area to help you get started and practice the exercises such as reversing. On road training will include familiarisation in the area where your DSA test is/will be booked. We do not simply take you around test routes but we will ensure you are acquainted with important or unusual challenges in the test area.

Will you help me find a job?

Yes!

DTT Driver Training and DTT Driver Supply work together. We will help you find temporary or permanent work as a commercial driver in the type of work you wish to experience.

What is the difference between LGV and HGV?

HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicles) is the old term and the newer Euro term is LGV (Large Goods Vehicles).

• Goods vehicles greater than 2000kg MAM but not greater than 3500kg MAM are sometimes referred to as light goods vehicles (category B licence required). MAM is the maximum authorised mass. This is a characteristic of the vehicle.
• Goods vehicles greater than 3500kg MAM but not greater than 7500kg MAM are sometimes referred to as medium goods vehicles (category C1 licence required)
• Goods vehicles greater than 7500kg MAM are sometimes referred to as large goods vehicles (category C licence required) 
  

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Why should I have an ADR licence?

An ADR licence is the certificate that is required by the driver in addition to your driving licence if you wish to drive vehicles carrying hazardous goods.

There is a very long list of substances including packing and other terms and conditions that defines when an ADR licence is and is not required.

Vehicles operating under ADR conditions may be identified by the large orange rectangle carried on the front and rear of the vehicle.

An ADR licence qualifies you to undertake commercial driving work that may attract higher rates of pay commensurate with the extra responsibilities carried by the driver.

How easy is the certificate of professional competence (CPC) exams?

CPC (Transport Managers qualifications required as part of the application for a standard operators licence) is deemed to be an NVQ level 3 qualification equivalent to two A levels. DTT offers a variety of courses and hosts these public exams at OCR accredited exam centres (often our own classrooms). It might be misleading to say these exams are easy because NVQ level 3 requires that candidates draw conclusions from case studies rather than simply being required to remember facts. However, many people are able to take on board the facts and the required examination techniques that we carefully explain and are able to pass the tests with ease.

We would suggest that the interest and relevance of the CPC syllabus may be more useful than many people realise. At one level it can be said that if you wish to apply for a standard operators licence it is necessary to obtain the CPC qualification (or employ a CPC holder). At another level however, many people who are starting or considering starting a logistics related business may find that the varied business disciplines covered in the CPC syllabus are a very useful basis of knowledge and information. The course topics vary from operator licencing and maintenance to financial management and marketing and from drivers' hours and vehicle costing to social legislation and people management.

We tend to find that a typical course will include some people who have broad office experience but are new to road haulage, and some people who know a lot about trucks and haulage but have no business experience. Therefore, people bring different strengths to the classroom and tend to support each other throughout the course.

Sometimes people have difficulty applying their knowledge to the questions simply because it is many years since they were last in a learning environment, and for these people it may be preferable to look at some of the course material in advance of the course.

What does Driver CPC mean for me?

This refers to new legislation which starts in September 2008 for bus/coach drivers and September 2009 for LGV (Large Goods Vehicle) drivers. The most straightforward way of explaining it is to look at two different situations. Firstly – what does Drivers CPC mean for existing (LGV or PCV) drivers?. Secondly – what does Drivers CPC mean for new (LGV or PCV) drivers? The DTT Drivers Club is designed to help both situations.

Existing drivers: Existing licence holders will need to prove they have had at least 35 hours of accredited (i.e. official) training per five years in order to continue commercial driving work. To start off with they will not have to have show they have had the training until towards the end of the first five years (i.e. 2014). This is called ‘Periodic Training’

New drivers: People acquiring a (LGV/PCV) licence after certain dates in September 2008/2009 will need to pass a second theory test and a second practical test in order to gain their Drivers CPC. They will then be subject to the requirement for Periodic Training as above.

35 hours training per five years works out to seven hours (in practice one day) training per year. Drivers may find it is easiest to simply undertake one day training per year. In theory drivers could leave any training until the five years is nearly up but would risk difficulty in buying training if many drivers take the same view.

The DTT Drivers Club is designed to provide drivers with everything they need for a low monthly fee. Training may be taken at times most convenient to each driver and the costs will have been covered by membership. Other goods and services will be available to make membership more valuable to drivers.

What is a DTT Franchise?

A new style DTT Franchise is a chance to become a practical LGV trainer running your own business with your own training vehicle. Alternatively, existing independent LGV trainers may see an advantage, looking into the future, of becoming a DTT franchisee because new legislation may make it more difficult to successfully continue to offer practical training alone. As a DTT franchisee your candidates will have access to the full range of training offered by DTT, for which the franchisee will gain financial benefit. DTT fully supports its franchise partners in the administration, invoicing and scheduling of their work to leave the franchisee free to carry out the training and market their business.