HGV

HGV stands for heavy goods vehicle, a road vehicle designed for transporting goods and having a gross vehicle weight over 3.5 tonnes. In the United Kingdom and much of Europe, HGVs include rigid trucks and articulated lorries (tractor units with trailers).

Driving and operator requirements: To drive an HGV, a person must hold an appropriate driving licence: category C for rigid vehicles over 3.5 t and category CE for articulated vehicles with trailers. In addition, drivers must complete the Certificate of Professional Competence (driver CPC) and undergo periodic training; medical examinations may be required. For businesses operating goods vehicles over 3.5 t, an operator's license (O-license) is required in many jurisdictions, with rules on maintenance, financial resources, and driver hours compliance. Drivers are subject to drivers' hours rules and must use a tachograph to record work, rest, and driving time, with limits on daily and weekly duty.

Regulations and operation: HGVs are subject to weight, height, and length limits depending on road and country; urban areas may have access restrictions or low-emission zones. Vehicles with modern conversion must comply with emissions standards such as Euro 5 or Euro 6 (Euro VI) and may adopt safer features like ABS, airbags, stability control, and advanced driver-assistance systems.

Industry and context: HGVs are the backbone of freight transport in many economies, moving goods from manufacturers to retailers and distributions centers; they are also used in construction and specialized sectors; fleet management emphasizes maintenance, route planning, and compliance with safety and environmental rules.