HGV Medicals Near Me (2023)

FAQs

How strict is a HGV medical? ›

A HGV medical exam is made up of two parts; an interview about your physical health and your mental health with a physical examination, and a look at your medical history. You will also be required to provide your completed D4 HGV medical form. These requirements are essential for any HGV driving job.

It's an exam, which means by definition you can fail. In HGV terms, it's known as a 'disqualification', and the doctor can note you down as disqualified if you post a significant or serious safety risk behind the wheel of a heavy goods vehicle.

The charge for a drivers' medical examination is between £46.67 and £52.50 plus VAT, equivalent to £56-£63 including VAT. Keep an eye on the home page of this website for discount codes bringing the cost even lower.

HGV Drug Test

Throughout your HGV medical examination, your doctor will be looking to spot any signs of chronic drug or alcohol use. If they believe you are a regular drug user or chronic alcoholic, then you will not meet the HGV medical requirements and are likely not to be issued with an HGV driving licence.

Mental Health

Psychological issues such as severe chronic anxiety, severe depression, and mental conditions such as schizophrenia need to be treated before the driver can pass HGV Medicals examinations.

Talk to your driving instructor about your result. This will help them focus any more lessons you need on the right skills. You or your driving instructor have to rebook your test and pay again if you failed. You have to choose a date at least 3 working days (Monday to Saturday) from the date of your last test.

How long does it take to get DVLA medical results? Following a DVLA medical, it usually takes around 15 days before you can expect to receive the results. This could extend to 90 days if you are asked to provide further information. It also takes a further week for blood test samples to be analysed.

You can make up to 15 driving faults and still pass the test (16 or more driving faults will mean a failure). However, if you commit one serious or dangerous fault you will fail the test. If at any time your examiner considers you to be a danger to other road users, your test will be stopped.

It is a criminal offence not to inform the DVLA of a medical condition that may affect your ability to drive and anyone giving misleading information could face up to two years in prison.

While the examination will be undertaken by a doctor (whether a GP or a private doctor), it isn't the doctor who makes the decision as to whether or not a driver is fit to drive an HGV. This decision is ultimately the responsibility of the DVLA. All the doctor does is fill out the D4 form and sends it on to the DVLA.

Can GP fill D4 form? ›

Who can fill in the D4? The medical examination includes a vision assessment which must be filled in by a doctor, GP, optician or optometrist. All doctors at Just Health Clinics will be able to fill in both the vision and medical assessment.

Medical Requirements for HGV Drivers

Every new driver must undergo an HGV medical exam, existing HGV drivers are required by the DVLA to have a medical test at 45 years old, then every 5 years thereafter until 65, after which it is then required to be done once a year.

DOT and USCG regulation may prohibit you from performing your safety-sensitive functions after a positive test result or refusal to submit to testing. You should be aware that a positive, adulterated or substituted DOT drug or alcohol test may trigger consequences based on company policy or employment agreement.

Smoking in the Cab

The cab of a company vehicle is a defined “workplace” and it is therefore illegal for anyone, including drivers, attendants and shunters to smoke in the cab at any time, even when the vehicle is properly parked.

You must tell DVLA if you experience anxiety and it affects your ability to drive safely. You can be fined up to £1,000 if you don't tell DVLA about a medical condition that affects your driving. You may be prosecuted if you're involved in an accident as a result.

Severe anxiety or depression

✘- Must not drive and must notify DVLA. Particular danger would be posed by those who may attempt suicide at the wheel. ✘- Must not drive and must notify DVLA. Particular danger would be posed by those who may attempt suicide at the wheel.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), like Prozac and Zoloft, are taken in the morning and won't impair driving as they are designed to increase energy. Tricyclic antidepressants, like Elavil and Tofranil, cause sleepiness and should only be taken at night.

The examiner knows nothing about you apart from your name and your DVLA license number (unless it's the one you had before ofc). When you start the test they may make general conversation and ask if you have done the test before, but that will not influence the test that's in progress.

Is it hard to pass HGV test? ›

One of the most challenging parts of the HGV theory test is the hazard perfection. Not because it's particularly difficult, but because it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish between normal activity and genuine potential dangers – and if you identify wrongly it can affect your score.

What are the processing times for DVLA medical driving licences? The DVLA hopes to be back to 'normal' processing times for medical driving licences by September 2022. If that happens, that means 90% of cases will be processed within 90 days.

You can check the status of your medical results using the check your application status tool. If you cannot see your status, and the processing time for your medical exam has passed, use our Web form to ask about the status of your case.

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Many learners assume that hitting the kerb while performing a manoeuvre will result in an instant fail, but again it's not entirely true. While mounting the kerb – or crashing into it hard – will be marked down as a major, a simple touch or clip during a manoeuvre (like turning in the road) is only classed as a minor.

The examiner will look to see that you: Make good observations, in all directions, before emerging. Assess the speed of other vehicles accurately. Take advantage of safe gaps as they arise.

How many times can you fail your test in the UK? There is no limit to how many times you can sit the test, so don't worry if you fail. The record for the highest number of fails is 42 for the practical and a whopping 158 times for a failed driving theory test!

During the standard DVLA check-up, your doctor might not have access to your full medical history. So, it's up to you to be honest and upfront about anything in your past which might affect your ability to do your job properly. Once your check-up is complete, you need to give a declaration of consent.

To pass the DVLA medical you need to show the doctor that there isn't any evidence of persistent alcohol misuse in the last six months. You must also show that there isn't any alcohol dependency in the last 12 months.

DVLA Medical Examination Results

If there is evidence of persistent alcohol misuse within the past 6 months or alcohol dependency within the past 12 months or there is evidence of current ongoing alcohol misuse or dependency then a high risk offenders application for a driving licence will be refused.

How much does a HGV medical cost UK? ›

Hgv Medicals from £49.99. Eye test included. This is the same as a D4 medical and is for you to complete your lorry application. The price is the same.

From £49.99 HGV Medical | PCV Medical | Simply Medicals.

Yes: Drivers must have a medical when applying for a provisional licence for the C category and must renew their medical every 5 years from 45 up to 65, then annually from 65. Vehicles over 3,500kg with a trailer over 750kg.

HGV medical required for all HGV drivers' first application and renewal. Full HGV medical and eye test is only £55 at any of our nationwide locations, including on weekends.

The D4 is valid for a period of 4 months from the date the doctor and optician or optometrist signs and dates it. The eyesight examination must be undertaken using the prescription currently worn for driving.

If you are under the age of 45 your HGV medical will last until your 45th birthday, after which you will need to pass the HGV medical assessment every 5 years until the age of 65. After the age of 65 you will need to pass the HGV medical assessment every year.

There are 95,000 HGV drivers aged over 55, and they should typically retire by 65.

Category C1 is the very first basic level of HGV license. Most HGV drivers on the road will have a C1 license. A C1 allows you to drive a vehicle of 3,500 kilograms, as long as that vehicle is under 7.5 tonnes in gross weight.

You need to renew your bus or HGV licence every 5 years, and every year when you reach 65.

The DOT drug test can detect synthetic urine because it contains different compounds than real urine, although the answer is not very definite as per the current research. While all urine comes from the same area of the body, it's the other compounds that tell drug tests whether or not you're using synthetic urine.

What can accidentally cause a positive drug test? ›

Truck drivers – who are among the drugs most popular users – often soak their toothpicks in liquid methamphetamine, which gives them a mild dose as they chew on it while driving down the road.

Truck Drivers and Substance Misuse

One recent analysis of data found that 27.6% of truck-driving respondents consumed drugs.

“There are no laws prohibiting vaping, however, you need to be in full and proper control of your vehicle at all times. If you are going to vape, I advise that you open your windows and blow the vapour directly out, just ensure that you are in full control of your vehicle before doing so.”

It is all dependent on how much cannabis you have consumed. If you take an average joint, which generally contains 120mg of THC, it should take around 12 hours before your blood level drops to the 2mg limit. It is advised that you should not drive much sooner than 24 hours after consuming cannabis.

This is definitely not recommended while driving as both hands should be on the wheel with eyes on the road. While it is still legal to vape and drive, a police officer can pull you over if your vehicle is full of vapor and vision is obviously impaired.

You will fail to pass the DVLA medical if there is evidence of current alcohol misuse or dependency and this is something that can't be hidden away discreetly.

The DVLA medical will consist of an examination, a CDT blood test, a questionnaire and any other tests deemed relevant. The DVLA should send any driver who is covered by the high risk offender scheme a D27 renewal form approximately 90 days before their driving disqualification ends.

What does a driver's medical involve? ›

An HGV driver medical comes in two parts: A medical assessment: A look at your medical history and whether you have any conditions which may impact your ability to drive a lorry safely. A vision assessment: An examination of your eyesight to ensure you meet required eyesight standards.

Every new driver must undergo an HGV medical exam, existing HGV drivers are required by the DVLA to have a medical test at 45 years old, then every 5 years thereafter until 65, after which it is then required to be done once a year.

In heterozygous, or carriers of the disease, CDT levels are variable but typically are in the range 10-25%. 3) Level of alcohol consumption necessary and over what period to increase the CDT level to 3.0%. Typically the level of alcohol intake required to produce a CDT result of 3.0% is 100-150 g alcohol/day.

1) DVLA is legally responsible in deciding if someone is fit to drive. 2) As the patients doctor-it is our responsibility that the patient understands that their condition may impair their ability to drive. If a patient cannot make this decision based on competence, e.g. dementia - then you should inform the DVLA.

Dementia, multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, Parkinson's disease, stroke and a host of other conditions affecting your nervous system can all affect your ability to drive.

The driver is legally responsible for telling the DVLA or DVA about any such condition or treatment. Doctors should therefore alert patients to conditions and treatments that might affect their ability to drive and remind them of their duty to tell the appropriate agency.

An HGV driver may not exceed 90-hours over two consecutive weeks. This means, if they work the maximum 56 hours in the first week, they can only drive a maximum of 34 hours the following week.

Heart failure

For patients who hold a group 2 (HGV) licence, the heart function (ejection fraction) must be at least 40% for the licence to remain. For a standard group 1 (car) licence there are no restrictions on driving as long as the condition is stable and there are no symptoms likely to distract the driver.