HGV Training in Preston
At Green Pass Training, we provide HGV Training in Preston to build up your skills and confidence, helping you to pass your HGV Training test. Whether you need to tow a trailer at work or are looking to go on a caravanning get-away, you need to make sure that you have the right licence to do so.
Practical HGV Training test in Preston
Your practical HGV Training test will last about 1 hour and 30 minutes and includes:
- vehicle safety questions
- practical road driving
- off-road exercises
Who can take the HGV Training test?
To take the HGV Training test for your B+E entitlement, you must already own a cat B driving licence and be at least 17 years old. Make sure you bring your photo card driving licence with you to your HGV Training test, or your passport if you have a paper driving licence.
What to expect on the day of your HGV Training test
- Important skills will be assessed during your HGV Training test, including:
- Coupling and uncoupling the trailer from the towing vehicle.
- Reversing a vehicle safely while towing a trailer.
- Driving on various road types and conditions.
- Independent driving – this portion {usually} lasts for 10 minutes.
You must also show that you know your way around a trailer, performing different safety checks on the trailer. These may include checking the tread on the tyres and ensuring the breakaway cable is secure. “Show me, tell me” style questions are also asked, similar to the standard cat B driving test.
A basic eyesight test must also be completed by reading the registration plate of a vehicle that is 20 metres away.
HGV Training Test Result
After you’ve taken the practical HGV Training test your examiner will tell you if you’ve passed and explain how you did.
You’ll pass your HGV Training test if you make:
- 15 or fewer driving faults
- no serious or dangerous faults
If you fail, you can book another HGV Training test immediately, but you can’t take it for another 3 clear working days.
HGV Training Courses in Preston
We have various HGV Training courses available depending on your needs and existing skill level. All HGV Training is conducted in our Land Rover Freelander 2 with one of our trailers. The HGV Training courses in Preston are designed for anyone wanting to drive a B+E car and trailer.
For all our HGV Training lessons and courses in Preston, you’ll complete a 2-hour assessment with one of our instructors before starting the course. This will help us get an idea of what areas you need to concentrate on and how many hours of instruction are needed to get you test-ready.
Get in touch to find out more about HGV Training in Preston and all surrounding areas and to book your initial 2-hour assessment with us.
Category B driving licence explained
Cat B is a full car driving licence. Depending on when you passed your test, this may or may not qualify you to tow a trailer.
Anyone who passed their cat B licence before 1st January 1997 should be allowed to drive a vehicle and trailer with a combined weight (MAM) of up to 8,250kg.
If you passed your category B licence on or after 1st January 1997, then you are a little more restricted. Your licence allows you to tow a 750kg trailer if your vehicle weighs up to 3,500 kg. You may also tow a trailer heavier than 750kg as long as the combined MAM does not exceed 3,500kg.
Cat B+E driving licence
If you have a cat B licence from after 1st January 1997 and wish to tow a trailer weighing more than the figures listed above, then you’ll need to take a HGV Training test.
The B+E licence allows you to tow a trailer with a vehicle weighing up to 3,500kg MAM. Again, the date you gained your licence will determine the size of trailer you can carry:
If you passed your B+E test before 19th January 2013, you can tow a trailer of any size and weight with a vehicle up to 3,500kg MAM.
If you passed your test on or after 19th January 2013, your B+E licence allows you to tow a trailer with up to 3,500kg MAM. The vehicle MAM may still be up to 3,500kg, too.
What is MAM?
MAM stands for Maximum Authorised Mass. This refers to the highest potential mass of a vehicle or trailer that you are legally allowed to drive on the road. Because it is potential mass, this also includes the mass of the load carried by the vehicle or trailer.
Depending on the licence category and its restrictions, MAM will sometimes refer to the mass of the vehicle and trailer combined, other times referring to them individually.
If you’re still unsure which category of licence you hold and what you’re legally able to drive, you can use this Gov.uk tool to check