HGV Class 1 Training in Birmingham
HGV Class 1 (Category C+E) - Articulated Truck Training for learners across Birmingham. One-to-one training in a full-size vehicle, your D4 medical booked near you, and introductions to our employer network once you pass.
Course Overview & local Relevance
Your Class 1 training is one-to-one in a full-size vehicle and planned around your DVSA test. For learners in Birmingham, we confirm the training centre and test centre before you book, and every DVSA test fee is included in the price.
Birmingham has its own DVSA lorry and bus test centre: Birmingham (Garretts Green), on Granby Avenue on the east side of the city, about 7 miles by road from the centre. DVSA's 2025/26 figures show 2,482 lorry tests there, the third-highest count in DVSA's table that year.
Category C+E (Class 1) is the ultimate HGV qualification. As a Class 1 driver, you'll be operating heavy articulated lorries up to 44 tonnes. This course is perfect for those seeking the highest earning potential in the industry and the freedom of long-haul driving. We specialise in fast-track Class 2 to Class 1 upgrades as well as direct-to-Class 1 pathways.
We support Class 1 learners across Erdington, Sutton Coldfield, Castle Bromwich, Yardley, Sheldon, Small Heath and the wider West Midlands area.
Your Pathway in Birmingham
Medical & Provisional
We book your D4 medical locally and manage your DVLA paperwork.
Theory & Hazard Perception
Master the exams using our AI-powered Learning Hub and mock tests.
Practical Training
Get behind the wheel with our expert instructors on modern automatic fleets.
The Jobs Hub
Pass your test and instantly unlock roles with our network partners across Kent, the South East and nationally.
Class 1 Training in Birmingham - FAQs
Q: Is there a lorry test centre in Birmingham?
Yes. Birmingham (Garretts Green), on Granby Avenue, tests lorries and buses as well as cars and motorcycles, and it is about 7 miles by road from the city centre. The other DVSA centres near the city centre, such as Kingstanding, Kings Heath and South Yardley, are for car tests. Your test centre is confirmed in writing at booking.
Q: Where will I train if I live in Birmingham?
We arrange one-to-one training in a full-size vehicle with an approved partner school near you, rather than at our Kent centre. We name the school and instructor, and confirm the test centre, dates and full all-in price in writing, before you pay anything.
Q: What lorry and bus work is there around Birmingham?
Maritime's rail freight terminal at Hams Hall Distribution Park, by M42 junction 9, has daily rail services to Felixstowe, London Gateway and Southampton. Amazon opened a fulfilment centre at Peddimore in Sutton Coldfield in 2023, and National Express West Midlands carries about 94% of the region's bus journeys. Once you qualify, we offer introductions to our employer network.
Q: Can I go straight from a car licence to a Class 1 (C+E) licence?
Yes. Following the 2021 DVSA rule changes, you no longer need to pass your Class 2 (Rigid) test first. If you hold a valid UK car licence (Category B) and are over 18, you can fast-track straight to your Class 1 (C+E) articulated licence, saving you time and money.
Q: What is the difference between an HGV Class 1 and Class 2 licence?
A Class 1 (Category C+E) licence allows you to drive articulated lorries (drawbar or articulated vehicles) up to 44 tonnes. A Class 2 (Category C) licence restricts you to driving rigid vehicles over 3,500kg. Class 1 is the highest qualification and typically offers higher earning potential and long-haul opportunities.
Q: What is the Driver CPC and is it included?
The Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) is a legal requirement for anyone driving an HGV for commercial use. Your training with the HGV Training Hub includes comprehensive preparation for your Initial CPC (Modules 2 and 4), ensuring you are completely road-legal and ready to be hired the day you pass.
Q: How much can I earn as a newly qualified Class 1 driver?
The logistics industry is facing a severe shortage of qualified drivers, pushing wages up. Newly qualified Class 1 drivers can expect starting salaries between £35,000 and £45,000 depending on the region and shift patterns. Drivers willing to do "tramping" (overnight stays) or weekend shifts can earn upwards of £50,000+.
Q: How difficult is the DVSA HGV medical (D4)?
The D4 medical is a standard health check to ensure you are fit to drive heavy vehicles. It includes an eye test, blood pressure check, and a review of your medical history. As part of our service, our Concierge team books this locally for you, removing the stress of finding an approved physician.
Q: Are the training vehicles manual or automatic, and how does it affect my licence?
Our entire training fleet uses modern automatic gearboxes, allowing you to focus on road positioning and reversing manoeuvres rather than shifting gears. Under current DVLA rules, passing your HGV test in an automatic still grants you the full entitlement to drive manual HGVs professionally.
Secure Your Slot
Class slots are highly competitive. Request a direct call back to discuss tuition financing, medical slots, and fast-track calendars.
Other Courses in Birmingham
Class 1 (Artic) in Birmingham: the local picture
Container haulage usually needs a Class 1 licence, and Maritime's Hams Hall terminal, by M42 junction 9, has daily rail services to Felixstowe, London Gateway and Southampton and its own container fleet.
Where you take the test
Birmingham (Garretts Green), about 7 miles by road. Garretts Green is the lorry and bus centre for the city, and the other DVSA centres near Birmingham city centre test cars. If you need another option, Featherstone, north of Wolverhampton, is about 19 miles by road, and your centre is confirmed in writing at booking.
Getting to us from Birmingham
We arrange one-to-one training with an approved partner school near you, so there is no trip to our Kent centre. On test day, Garretts Green is about 7 miles east of the city centre by road, out through Bordesley Green.
The roads you will be working
M6 junctions 5 to 7, with the A38(M) into the centre at junction 6, the M5 from M6 junction 8, the M42 and M6 Toll by Hams Hall, and the A45 towards Coventry.
Who is hiring near Birmingham
Maritime runs a rail freight terminal at Hams Hall Distribution Park, close to M42 junction 9 and the M6 Toll, and Amazon opened a fulfilment centre at Peddimore in Sutton Coldfield in 2023. National Express West Midlands carries about 94% of the region's bus journeys.
What Birmingham learners get
- East-Side Test Centre: Birmingham (Garretts Green) tests lorries and buses and is about 7 miles by road from the city centre.
- Third-Busiest in the Table: DVSA's 2025/26 figures show 2,482 lorry tests at Garretts Green, behind only Yeading and Featherstone.
- Training Arranged Near You: One-to-one lessons in a full-size vehicle with an approved partner school near you.
- Named Before You Pay: We name the school and instructor and confirm the test centre, dates and all-in price in writing.
How far is the test centre from Birmingham?
Your practical is at Birmingham (Garretts Green), about 7 miles by road. We arrange one-to-one training with an approved partner school near you, so there is no trip to our Kent centre. On test day, Garretts Green is about 7 miles east of the city centre by road, out through Bordesley Green. We book the test alongside your training dates, so you are not chasing DVSA slots yourself.
Do you cover my part of West Midlands?
Learners come to us from Erdington, Sutton Coldfield, Castle Bromwich, Yardley, Sheldon, Small Heath, Handsworth, Solihull. If you are just outside that list, call 01634 907 229 and we will tell you honestly whether we are the right school for you.
Birmingham has its own DVSA lorry and bus test centre: Birmingham (Garretts Green), on Granby Avenue on the east side of the city, about 7 miles by road from the centre. DVSA's 2025/26 figures show 2,482 lorry tests there, the third-highest count in DVSA's table that year. M6 junctions 5 to 7 serve the east, centre and north of the city, junction 6 carries the A38(M) into the centre and junction 8 joins the M5. Out by M42 junction 9 and the M6 Toll, Maritime runs a rail freight terminal at Hams Hall Distribution Park. We arrange one-to-one training in a full-size vehicle with an approved partner school near you, so you do not travel to our Kent centre. We name the school and instructor, and confirm the test centre, dates and full all-in price in writing, before you pay anything.
Towns and villages around Birmingham we train drivers from
Erdington, Sutton Coldfield, Castle Bromwich, Yardley, Sheldon, Small Heath, Handsworth, Selly Oak, Solihull, West Bromwich and the surrounding villages. If your postcode is not on that list it almost certainly still works: call 01634 907 229 and we will confirm in a minute.