A large goods vehicle (also heavy goods vehicle, medium goods vehicle, LGV and HGV), is the European Union term for any truck with a gross combination mass (GCM) of over 3,500 kilograms (7,716 lb). There are two sub-categories: N2 for vehicles up to 12,000 kilograms (26,455 lb) and N3 for all other LGVs as defined in Directive 2001/116/EC.
By contrast, goods vehicles of under 3,500 kilograms (7,716 lb) are referred to Light commercial vehicles and come into category N1. Confusingly though, the term 'Light Goods Vehicle' (which also has the abbreviation 'LGV') is used for these lighter goods vehicles by parts of the UK government[1] and the term 'LGV' is used on UK tax disks for Light Commercial vehicle and the term 'HGV' is still used for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes. In addition, the term 'Medium goods vehicle' is sometimes within government for goods vehicles of between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes which according to the EU are classed as 'large goods vehicles'.[2]
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It is necessary to have an appropriate European driving licence to drive a Large goods vehicle in the European Union. There are four categories:
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).
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)).[4] 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.).
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.