If you want to qualify as a HGV Driver then you will have to take a HGV medical to prove that you are fit to drive these types of vehicles. As you will understand you will be in charge of a very large vehicle and have to be fit to drive to keep you and other road users as well as pedestrians safe Taxi medical.
What other requirements are there before you can take the HGV medical?
Firstly you have to be 18 years of age and hold a Full UK Driving Licence, after you have passed the medical you are free to apply for a Provisional HGV Licence to allow you to then take the training towards your ultimately driving goal.
A medical examination can be completed by your local GP but this is a chargeable service. The cost of this can be anywhere up to £160.00 and therefore it would be wise to ask the price before committing to the examination because you can get the same medical examination done through specialist suppliers for around £50.00-£70.00. Some people feel more comfortable going tom their own GP so you may choose to pay more due to this.
There are many areas that the medical will cover and some of them are as follows:
Eyesight
Psychiatric Illnesses
Diabetes
Blood Pressure
Cardiac problems
Epilepsy
Whatever you do, don’t get uptight about the medical as for most applicants out there it will be a simple examination to get through. We would certainly recommend keeping your prescription up to date for spectacles or contact lenses to avoid any problems in this area.
HGV Medicals for Older Drivers:
In the longer term, once you reach the age of 45, you have to complete a medical every 5 years to keep your HGV Licence. If you are still driving at the age of 65 or over then you will have to take a medical every year to keep your licence.
Once you have passed the medical you are then in a position to apply for a Provisional HGV Licence. The better news, here, is that the application for a provisional licence is free and is the next stepping stone towards getting your HGV Licence.
You can download form D4 from the Government website which will demonstrate to you the exact requirements of the medical. By familiarizing yourself with the form and the process you will go through it will help remove any of the usual worries we have about examinations we know little about.