Route to the Road
At JLD, we’re committed to making the process of gaining your licence as simple and stress-free as possible. To help you get started, we’ve put together this step-by-step guide to walk you through every stage of the journey.
Alternatively, you can book a training package with JLD, where our experienced team will guide and support you every step of the way — from your initial enquiry right through to achieving your licence with confidence. This is the preferred option for most of our learners. Once you’ve chosen the licence you want to pursue, you can then create a personalised training package that fits your goals and experience.
Choose Your Licence:
Car to C+E
(Class 1 / Artic)
Cat c (class 2 / rigid)
C to c+e (upskill)
C1 (up to 7.5 tonnes)
C1+E (7.5 Tonne + TRAILER)
FAQ’s
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✅ Yes — you can!
Since the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) changed the rules in November 2021, drivers can now go straight from a car licence (Category B) to the Category C+E licence (the full articulated lorry licence) without first passing Category C.
This is often called “direct access” or “fast track” to C+E.
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The time it takes to gain your HGV (or LGV) licence depends on how quickly you complete each stage — but on average, most drivers can qualify in 6 to 12 weeks from start to finish.
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Yes — there are plenty of opportunities for new HGV drivers.
While some companies prefer experienced drivers, the UK logistics industry continues to face a driver shortage, meaning many employers are actively recruiting newly qualified drivers and offering in-house training or mentorship to help them gain experience.
Once you gain 6–12 months of driving experience, even more opportunities open up — including long-haul, specialist transport, and international work.
