Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV)

A heavy goods vehicle (HGV) is a goods vehicle whose maximum authorised weight is above the threshold that separates light commercial vehicles from heavy ones. Rigid trucks, tractor units with semi-trailers and road trains all fall into this category. Crossing that threshold changes almost everything: licences, recording equipment, working time rules, inspections and access to some roads.

What the HGV classification triggers

• Licences: drivers need a category C licence (or C1 for lighter trucks, with the E variants for trailers), plus professional qualification for most commercial driving.
• Tachograph: vehicles must carry a tachograph that records driving, work and rest periods, read with each driver's personal card.
• Driving and rest times: European rules limit daily and weekly driving and impose breaks and rest periods. See road transport regulations.
• Speed limiters and specific speed limits on roads and motorways.
• Roadworthiness: more frequent and more detailed technical inspections than for cars and vans.
• Traffic restrictions: some roads, city centres or time slots, such as weekends and public holidays, can be closed to heavy vehicles.

HGV versus light commercial vehicle

A light commercial vehicle stays under the weight threshold and can usually be driven with a standard car licence, without tachograph or professional qualification. Companies running both types, as in construction or distribution, must therefore apply two sets of rules within the same fleet, and track which drivers are qualified for which vehicles.

What HGV fleets need to track

• Driver licences, qualifications and driver cards, with their expiry dates.
• Inspection, tachograph calibration and insurance deadlines for each vehicle.
• Fuel consumption, which weighs heavily in the operating cost of a truck.
• Maintenance and downtime, since an immobilised truck means lost deliveries.
• Driving behaviour, for safety and fuel efficiency.

For an overview of the sector's needs, see our transport and logistics page.

How Dadycar helps

Dadycar is a French fleet management software covering fleet management, telematics and car sharing, suited to mixed fleets of cars, vans and trucks. Each vehicle and driver has its own file with documents, and reminders and due dates warn before licence, inspection or insurance expiries. Fuel consumption tracking, trips and mileage, work orders and driver performance help control the cost and safety of heavy vehicles. Data is hosted in France, with OVHcloud.

FAQ

Is HGV the same as a lorry or truck?
Yes. HGV is the regulatory term used in the UK and Europe; lorry and truck are everyday words for the same vehicles.

Do all HGVs need a tachograph?
Most goods vehicles above the threshold do, with a few exemptions defined by European and national rules for specific uses.

Can an HGV fleet be managed with the same software as cars and vans?
Yes, as long as the software handles driver qualifications, inspection deadlines and costs per vehicle type.