Your HGV Training Days at Learn2Pass: What to Expect

Most people arrive for their first morning more nervous than they need to be. Nearly every learner starts from a car licence, and nobody expects you to know your way around a lorry on day one. Here is how a training week at Learn2Pass works, from the first morning to test day.

Where you train

Our centre is at Sittingbourne Logistics Park, Swale Way, Sittingbourne, ME10 2FF, just off the A249 near junction 5 of the M2. Parking is free on site. Your practical test is at the Gillingham DVSA test centre, Kent's lorry and bus test centre, so the roads you train on are the roads you are tested on.

Start times and the length of a day

Training days usually start at 6am or 10am, and your exact times come with your booking confirmation. A typical day is around four hours of one-to-one driving with a short break in the middle. The 10am start lets you miss the morning traffic, and either way you are usually home by the afternoon. We book the days around your shifts and family where we can.

One learner, one instructor, one truck

You will not share the cab or sit in the back waiting your turn. Your DVSA-approved instructor is beside you for every hour, in our own full-size DAF and Scania trucks. Every hour you pay for is your time at the wheel.

How the days build up

Every learner is different, but most weeks follow a similar shape:

• Getting to know the vehicle. A walkaround first, so you understand the size, the mirrors, the blind spots and the air brakes. Then you get in and get a feel for the controls.
• Control and positioning. Moving off smoothly, gear changes, and placing a long vehicle on the road and through junctions.
• The reversing exercise. The part most people worry about. It is practised until it feels predictable, and our reverse test guide explains how it works.
• The test area. Real roads in real traffic around Gillingham: dual carriageways, roundabouts, industrial estates and residential streets. Our Gillingham test centre guide has more on the local roads.
• Test standard. Towards the end of the week, drives that feel like the real test, so test day holds no surprises.

What to bring

• Your photocard driving licence, with provisional lorry or bus entitlement
• Glasses or contact lenses if you need them for driving
• Comfortable, sensible footwear
• Water and something to eat for the break

Test day

You take your practical test at Gillingham in one of our vehicles, after training on the roads around the test centre. The practical is in two parts: the off-road exercises, which include the reversing exercise, and the on-road driving test. If you are going to drive for a living you also need Driver CPC Module 4, which is included in our Class 2 and Car to Class 1 prices. Our Module 4 guide explains it.

After you pass

New drivers want to know where the work is, and we introduce new drivers to employers across Kent. Our guide to finding work after your test covers the first steps.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to have driven anything big before?

No. Most of our learners start from a car licence. The training is built around that.

What if I am nervous?

That is completely normal, and it usually fades within the first session. Training is one-to-one, so you go at your pace and can ask anything.

Can I fit training around my job?

Usually, yes. Tell us your shifts when you book and we will plan your days around them.

Can I spread the cost?

Yes. Spread the cost with Snap Finance, subject to status.

Any questions before you book?

Call 01795 667 008. Lines are open 8am to 10pm, seven days a week. You can also see our courses and prices or read how fast-track training works.