HGV Class 1 Training in Stevenage
HGV Class 1 (Category C+E) - Articulated Truck Training for learners across Stevenage. 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 Stevenage, we confirm the training centre and test centre before you book, and every DVSA test fee is included in the price.
Stevenage lies just east of A1(M) junctions 7 and 8, and the A602 links it to Hitchin, Hertford and Ware. The Gunnels Wood Industrial Area runs between the East Coast Main Line and the A1(M), with a second industrial area at Pin Green.
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 Knebworth, Hitchin, Letchworth, Walkern, Graveley, Datchworth and the wider Hertfordshire area.
Your Pathway in Stevenage
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 Stevenage - FAQs
Q: Where will I train if I live in Stevenage?
With an approved partner school local to the area, one-to-one in a full-size vehicle, so you will not need to travel to our Kent centre. We confirm the training centre, test centre, dates and full price in writing before you pay anything.
Q: Where is the nearest lorry test centre to Stevenage?
Leighton Buzzard (Stanbridge Road), about 26 miles by road, with Enfield (Brancroft Way) close behind at about 28 miles. The Stevenage test centre is for car tests only. Your test centre is confirmed in writing at booking.
Q: What work is there around Stevenage?
Airbus Defence and Space and MBDA have major sites in Stevenage, GSK runs one of its two global research and development hubs here, and the Gunnels Wood Industrial Area sits beside the A1(M). Arriva runs the main bus depot on Babbage Road. When you pass, 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 Stevenage
Class 1 (Artic) in Stevenage: the local picture
With A1(M) junctions 7 and 8 on the edge of town, Class 1 (C+E) is the licence for articulated lorries heading north and south on the A1(M) from Stevenage.
Where you take the test
Leighton Buzzard (Stanbridge Road), about 26 miles by road. Enfield (Brancroft Way) is almost as close at about 28 miles by road, so either centre may be used. Your test centre is confirmed in writing at booking.
Getting to us from Stevenage
Stevenage learners do not travel to our Kent centre. You train one-to-one with an approved partner school local to the area, and the training centre is confirmed in writing before you pay.
The roads you will be working
A1(M) junctions 7 and 8, and the A602 to Hitchin, Hertford and Ware.
Who is hiring near Stevenage
Airbus Defence and Space and MBDA have major sites in Stevenage, and the Gunnels Wood Industrial Area lies between the East Coast Main Line and the A1(M), with a second industrial area at Pin Green.
What Stevenage learners get
- Two Test Centre Options: Leighton Buzzard (about 26 miles) and Enfield (about 28 miles) are similar distances by road, confirmed at booking.
- Local Partner School: One-to-one training with an approved partner school local to the area, not a trip to Kent.
- Written Before You Pay: Training centre, test centre, dates and the full all-in price, with DVSA test fees included.
- D4 Medical Booked: On the Full Package we arrange your medical at an approved clinic near your Stevenage home.
How far is the test centre from Stevenage?
Your practical is at Leighton Buzzard (Stanbridge Road), about 26 miles by road. Stevenage learners do not travel to our Kent centre. You train one-to-one with an approved partner school local to the area, and the training centre is confirmed in writing before you pay. We book the test alongside your training dates, so you are not chasing DVSA slots yourself.
Do you cover my part of Hertfordshire?
Learners come to us from Knebworth, Hitchin, Letchworth, Walkern, Graveley, Datchworth, Watton-at-Stone, Woolmer Green. 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.
Stevenage lies just east of A1(M) junctions 7 and 8, and the A602 links it to Hitchin, Hertford and Ware. The Gunnels Wood Industrial Area runs between the East Coast Main Line and the A1(M), with a second industrial area at Pin Green. There is no lorry test centre in the town, as the Stevenage test centre is for cars only. The nearest lorry and bus centres are Leighton Buzzard (Stanbridge Road), about 26 miles by road, and Enfield (Brancroft Way), about 28 miles. Your training is one-to-one in a full-size vehicle with an approved partner school local to the area, and we confirm the training centre, test centre, dates and full price in writing before you pay.
Towns and villages around Stevenage we train drivers from
Knebworth, Walkern, Graveley, Datchworth, Woolmer Green, Little Wymondley, St Ippolyts, Aston, Benington, Watton-at-Stone, Hitchin, Letchworth 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.