HGV Class 1 Training in Medway
Fast-track your HGV Class 1 (Category C+E) - Articulated Truck Training with local support across Medway. D4 medicals, fast practical dates, and direct logistics job pipelines in Kent.
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 Medway, we confirm the training centre and test centre before you book, and every DVSA test fee is included in the price.
The Medway Towns are a major centre for industrial transport. With logistics facilities across Strood, Chatham, and the London Thamesport area on the Isle of Grain, commercial drivers are in regular demand.
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 Gillingham, Rochester, Chatham, Strood, Rainham, Hoo and the wider Kent area.
Your Fast-Track Pathway in Medway
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 Medway - FAQs
Q: Where is the DVSA test centre for Medway?
The official DVSA commercial test centre is located at Medway Ambley Road. Training on the roads surrounding this facility gives Medway learners familiarity with actual test routes.
Q: Do you offer Class 1 training in Medway?
Yes. We provide complete Class 1 (C+E) articulated lorry and Class 2 (Cat C) rigid training with local medical bookings.
Q: Are there driving jobs in the Medway towns?
Yes. Between Medway City Estate, distribution facilities in Strood, and Thamesport on Grain, we provide introductions to our employer network for qualified drivers.
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 Medway
Class 1 (Artic) in Medway: the local picture
Class 1 training in Medway covers dual carriageways, roundabouts, and industrial estate navigation on real test routes.
Where you take the test
Medway Ambley Road. Medway Ambley Road test centre is in Medway, so candidates train on the roads the examiners evaluate during the test.
Getting to us from Medway
Our Sittingbourne training base is roughly 15 to 20 minutes from Gillingham along the A2 corridor.
The roads you will be working
M2 junctions 1 to 4, the A2, the A289 and the Medway Tunnel, and the A249 to Sheerness.
Who is hiring near Medway
Medway City Estate and the industrial facilities on the Isle of Grain generate steady local container, aggregate, and general haulage movements.
What Medway learners get
- Medway Ambley Road Test Centre: Train on the actual DVSA test routes.
- Local D4 Medicals: Approved doctors located across the Medway towns.
- All Licences: Class 1 (C+E), Class 2 (Cat C), 7.5T (C1), and Bus (PCV).
- Employer Network: Introductions to our employer network across Medway City Estate.
How far is the test centre from Medway?
Your practical is at Medway Ambley Road. Our Sittingbourne training base is roughly 15 to 20 minutes from Gillingham along the A2 corridor. We book the test alongside your training dates, so you are not chasing DVSA slots yourself.
Do you cover my part of Kent?
Learners come to us from Gillingham, Rochester, Chatham, Strood, Rainham, Hoo, Isle of Grain, Sittingbourne. 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.
Where you sit the theory test
Chatham. Chatham hosts the local theory test centre, making both theory and practical preparation convenient for Medway candidates.
The Medway Towns are a major centre for industrial transport. With logistics facilities across Strood, Chatham, and the London Thamesport area on the Isle of Grain, commercial drivers are in regular demand. Crucially, Gillingham hosts the primary DVSA commercial testing facility for the area. Training in Medway prepares you directly on the local road layouts, roundabouts, and dual carriageways used on test routes.
Towns and villages around Medway we train drivers from
Chatham, Cuxton, Gillingham, Halling, Hoo, Rainham, Rochester, Strood, Wainscott, Walderslade 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.