HGV Class 1 Training in Leicester
HGV Class 1 (Category C+E) - Articulated Truck Training for learners across Leicester. 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 Leicester, we confirm the training centre and test centre before you book, and every DVSA test fee is included in the price.
Leicester sits at the midpoint of the M1 between London and Leeds, with junctions 21, 21a and 22 serving the city, and its central position helped make it a distribution centre. Your practical is close to home: Leicester (Cannock Street), on the Troon Industrial Estate in the north-east of the city, tests lorries, buses and cars and is about 4 miles by road from the centre.
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 Belgrave, Beaumont Leys, Braunstone, Evington, Humberstone, Aylestone and the wider Leicestershire area.
Your Pathway in Leicester
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 Leicester - FAQs
Q: Where is the lorry test centre in Leicester?
Leicester (Cannock Street) is on the Troon Industrial Estate, about 4 miles by road from the city centre, and it tests lorries, buses and cars. The Leicester (Wigston) centre is for cars and motorcycles only. Your test centre is confirmed in writing at booking.
Q: Where will I train if I live in Leicester?
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: Is there a Skills Bootcamp for lorry driving in Leicester?
Leicester City Council has Skills Bootcamp funding for April 2026 to September 2027, covering Leicester and Leicestershire. Its earlier rounds included HGV courses, but the council's decision does not say whether a lorry course will run this time, so check before you rely on one. Other routes are on our funding page.
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 Leicester
Class 1 (Artic) in Leicester: the local picture
Magna Park near Lutterworth, Britain's first distribution park and one of Europe's largest, is bounded by the M1, M6 and M69, so Class 1 work is within reach of Leicester.
Where you take the test
Leicester (Cannock Street), about 4 miles by road. Cannock Street tests lorries, buses and cars, while Leicester (Wigston) is for cars and motorcycles only. If you need another option, Watnall, north-west of Nottingham, is about 34 miles by road, and your centre is confirmed in writing at booking.
Getting to us from Leicester
We arrange one-to-one training with an approved partner school near you, so there is no trip to our Kent centre. Cannock Street is about 4 miles north-east of the city centre by road, so test day starts close to home.
The roads you will be working
M1 junctions 21 (M69), 21a (A46) and 22 (A50), the M69 south-west to Coventry, and the A6, A47 and A50 trunk roads.
Who is hiring near Leicester
Magna Park near Lutterworth, bounded by the M1, M6 and M69, is Britain's first distribution park and one of the largest in Europe. Leicester is moving its whole city bus network to electric, with Arriva and Centrebus among the operators taking new buses.
What Leicester learners get
- Test Centre in the City: Leicester (Cannock Street) is about 4 miles by road from the city centre, on the Troon Industrial Estate.
- Lorries, Buses and Cars: DVSA's 2025/26 figures show 1,781 lorry tests at Cannock Street, which tests buses and cars too.
- Midpoint of the M1: Junctions 21, 21a and 22 serve the city, and the M69 runs south-west to Coventry.
- Written 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 Leicester?
Your practical is at Leicester (Cannock Street), about 4 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. Cannock Street is about 4 miles north-east of the city centre by road, so test day starts close to home. We book the test alongside your training dates, so you are not chasing DVSA slots yourself.
Do you cover my part of Leicestershire?
Learners come to us from Belgrave, Beaumont Leys, Braunstone, Evington, Humberstone, Aylestone, Oadby, Wigston. 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.
Leicester sits at the midpoint of the M1 between London and Leeds, with junctions 21, 21a and 22 serving the city, and its central position helped make it a distribution centre. Your practical is close to home: Leicester (Cannock Street), on the Troon Industrial Estate in the north-east of the city, tests lorries, buses and cars and is about 4 miles by road from the centre. DVSA's 2025/26 figures show 1,781 lorry tests there. South of the city, Magna Park near Lutterworth, bounded by the M1, M6 and M69, is Britain's first distribution park. We arrange one-to-one training in a full-size vehicle with an approved partner school near you, and 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 Leicester we train drivers from
Belgrave, Beaumont Leys, Braunstone, Evington, Humberstone, Aylestone, Oadby, Wigston, Birstall, Syston 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.