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A large goods vehicle (LGV), is the formal generic term in the European Union for goods motor vehicles (i.e. trucks / lorries) with a maximum allowed mass (MAM) or gross combination mass (GCM) of over 3.5 tonnes - 3,500 kilograms (7,716 lb). LGVs are officially classed into two categories - N2 and N3. Category N2 is up to 12 tonnes - 12,000 kilograms (26,455 lb), and category N3 is greater than 12 tonnes.
The former term heavy goods vehicle (HGV) is still very commonly (but informally) used. The term was changed from heavy goods vehicle to large goods vehicle - as not all countries in Europe had a word for 'heavy' with the same uniform contextual meaning.[citation needed]
Driver's licencing
European Union
In the European Union, the LGV driver's licence is divided into four categories:
- Category C1
- effectively the new HGV Class 3 in the UK, the old HGV Class 3 being any two-axle goods vehicle over 7.5 tonnes - 7,500 kilograms (16,535 lb); allows the holder to drive a vehicle with a maximum authorised mass (gross vehicle weight) between 3.5 tonnes to 7.5 tonnes (3,500 to 7,500 kilograms (7,716 to 16,535 lb)) with a trailer up to 750 kilograms (1,653 lb) maximum authorised mass. This licence can be obtained at 18 years of age.
- Category C1+E
- allows the holder to drive a vehicle with a maximum authorised mass (gross vehicle weight) between 3.5 tonnes - 7.5 tonnes (3,500 to 7,500 kilograms (7,716 to 16,535 lb)) with a trailer over 750 kilograms (1,653 lb) maximum authorised mass, provided that the maximum authorised mass of the trailer does not exceed the unladen mass of the vehicle being driven, and the combined maximum authorised mass of both the vehicle and trailer does not exceed 12 tonnes (12,000 kilograms (26,455 lb)).
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- Example: A vehicle with an unladen mass of 2,650 kilograms (5,842 lb), and a MAM of 4,005 kilograms (8,830 lb), with a trailer MAM of 2,200 kilograms (4,850 lb) will give a combined MAM of 6,205 kilograms (13,680 lb) - but the Unladen Mass of the vehicle being driven (2650 kg) is greater than the MAM of the trailer (2200 kg) so is acceptable. However, a vehicle with an unladen mass of 2650 kg and a MAM of 4005 kg, with a trailer MAM of 2,700 kilograms (5,952 lb) will give a combined MAM of 6,705 kilograms (14,782 lb) - but because the MAM of the trailer (2700 kg) exceeds the Unladen Weight of the vehicle being driven (2650 kg), you would need a Category C+E licence to drive that vehicle.
- Category C
- effectively the new HGV Class 2 in the UK, the old HGV Class 2 being any rigid goods vehicle with more than two axles; allows the holder to drive a vehicle weighing over 3.5 tonnes (3,500 kilograms (7,716 lb)) with a trailer up to 750 kilograms (1,653 lb) maximum authorised mass.
- Category C+E
- the new Class 1; allows the holder to drive a vehicle weighing over 3.5 tonnes (3,500 kilograms (7,716 lb)) with a trailer over 750 kilograms (1,653 lb) maximum authorised mass. This licence could only be obtained after 6 months experience of a Class 2 truck, but more recently the law has changed to the effect that you can now do back to back tests, i.e. Category C first then C+E the following week.
UK
Drivers who passed a Category B (car) test before 1 January 1997, will have received Categories C1 and C1+E (Restriction Code 107: not more than 8,250 kilograms (18,188 lb)) through the Implied Rights issued by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) (more commonly known as Grandfather Rights).
Canada
In Canada's province of Ontario, drivers holding a Class A licence can drive tractor-trailers where the gross weight of the towed vehicle exceeds 4.6 tonnes (4,600 kilograms (10,141 lb)).[1] Drivers holding a Class B (school bus), C (regular bus) or D (heavy truck) licence can drive trucks weighing 11 tonnes (11,000 kilograms (24,251 lb)), with the towed vehicle weighing a maximum of 4.6 tonnes (Ibid.).
See also
References
- ^ "Licence Types". Government of Ontario - Ministry of Transportation. MTO.gov.on.ca. 23 January 2009. http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/driver/classes.htm. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
External links
- 88/77/EEC
- Ontario Ministry of Transportation, Licence Types
- Combating the HGV blind-spot and side swipe accidents
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