Heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers, now called large vehicle drivers (LGV), must pass a driving test and take commercial vehicle driving lessons to obtain one of four different categories of heavy vehicle licenses. The European Union has strict laws for driving and resting heavy goods vehicles, including mandatory rest hours and breaks.
Driving heavy vehicles or heavy vehicles, is the old European term applicable to a truck or truck driver responsible for the road transport of chemicals, food, construction equipment and other heavy goods. Today, these truck drivers are called large vehicle drivers, LGV. All heavy goods vehicle truck drivers, regardless of country of origin, must take commercial vehicle driving lessons and pass a heavy vehicle driving test to obtain one of four different categories of heavy vehicle licenses. Truck drivers transporting goods across various countries must be aware of the rules of the road and regulations that determine driving and rest periods in those countries. Someone who has an HGV license usually works for a shipping or haulage company.
In the European Union, there are four categories of heavy vehicle driving licenses, all of which can be obtained when you are at least 18 years old. The HGV category C license allows the driver to operate a truck weighing more than 3,500 kg, pulling a trailer weighing up to 750 kg. The C+E category is the same as the C-category license, except that the trailer can weigh more than 750 kg (about 1,653 pounds).
The category C1 license allows a driver to drive a truck of 3,500-7,500 kg (7,716-16,535 lbs), pulling a trailer with a weight of up to 750 kg (1,653 lbs). The C1 + E category license is the same as the C1 category license, except that the trailer can weigh more than 750 kg
(about 1,653 pounds), but it shouldn’t be heavier than the empty truck itself. The combined truck and trailer weight for a category C1+E HGV license cannot exceed 12,000 kg (26,455 lbs).
The trucking industry is highly regulated in the European Union. Trucks cannot travel more than 90 kilometers per hour. In some countries, large trucks cannot pass. In most European countries, driving with heavy vehicles on Sundays is prohibited. It is very important for long-haul truckers to know the driving rules of any country they travel through, as the laws apply to all drivers, regardless of their country of origin.
To increase safety, the European Union implemented stricter laws for driving and resting heavy goods vehicles in 2007. Every 4.5 hours of driving heavy vehicles, the driver must take a 45-minute break. Each 24-hour period requires 11 mandatory rest hours, nine of which must be consecutive. All heavy vehicle drivers are required by law to take consecutive 48-hour breaks every two weeks. These are some of the minimum standards required by law across the European Union. Individual countries are free to pass stricter laws if they choose to do so.
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