Before driving a lorry, check the vehicle, load, route and your fitness to drive. This guide points to the official rules for Great Britain; it is a starting point for preparation, not a complete operational checklist.
Daily HGV walkaround checks
Use the DVSA walkaround guide for the vehicle and trailer. It covers cab controls, visibility, lights, tyres and wheels, leaks, brakes, couplings, body security and the load. Record and report defects, including a nil-defect result where appropriate. Do not drive a vehicle that is unsafe.
Tyres, brakes and trailer connections
Check tyre condition and inflation, wheel security and signs of damage as well as tread. For vehicles over 3,500 kg, DVSA specifies a minimum 1 mm tread depth in a continuous band covering at least any three-quarters of the tread width around the whole tyre. The remaining quarter must still show the base of the original tread grooves. See the DVSA tyre requirements and examples. Check brake lines and trailer connections and report leaks or damage.
Load restraints and vehicle height
Match the securing system to the load, vehicle and anchorage points. If the load may move or appears unstable, have it assessed and secured by a competent person before travel. See DVSA load-securing guidance.
Check the running height of the complete vehicle, trailer and load. The DVSA walkaround guide calls for the correct height on the cab marker where the overall height is over 3 metres. Plan a suitable route and follow bridge restrictions; a general car navigation route may be unsuitable.
Drivers’ hours, breaks and fatigue
The applicable rules depend on the vehicle and operation. Check GOV.UK drivers’ hours guidance to identify whether assimilated, AETR or GB domestic rules apply and whether an exemption is relevant. Do not apply a single driving-and-break rule to every journey. Plan required breaks and rest, and stop safely if you become too tired to drive.
HGV speed limits and stopping distance
Check the official speed-limit table for the vehicle’s maximum laden weight, road type and country. Goods vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes and those over 7.5 tonnes have different entries; heavier goods-vehicle limits also differ in Scotland. Towing and local restrictions can matter. A speed limiter does not establish the legal or safe speed for the road.
Leave enough distance to stop within the clear road ahead, allowing more for a large vehicle and poor conditions. See our following-distance guide and Highway Code Rules 125–126.
Blind spots and urban routes
Check mirrors and blind spots before moving or turning, and take particular care around people walking, cycling, riding horses or motorcycling. For London operations, check the vehicle against TfL’s Direct Vision Standard and HGV Safety Permit requirements before travel.
Motorway breakdown: reach safety and get help
If possible, leave at the next exit or stop in a service area. Otherwise move left and stop in an emergency area or on the hard shoulder if you can. Put on hazard lights. Leave by the side away from traffic only if it is safe and possible, and get well away from the vehicle and moving traffic.
If you cannot exit safely, stay in the vehicle with seat belts and hazard lights on and call 999 for the police, or use the vehicle’s SOS button. If you can leave safely, wait away from traffic, behind a barrier where available and safe. Do not attempt repairs or place a warning triangle on a motorway.
Use an emergency telephone for assistance where accessible. Before leaving an emergency area, contact the operator and follow their instructions. Read the full Highway Code breakdown guidance, Rules 275–279, including advice for disabled drivers.
Weather and planning
Check forecasts, road closures and restrictions before departure. High winds can affect high-sided vehicles; poor visibility and slippery surfaces require extra space and lower speeds. Delay or change the journey where the conditions make the planned route unsafe.
Keep the requirements separate
Driving entitlement, Driver CPC where required, operator licensing, roadworthiness and insurance each need their own checks. An insurance quotation does not establish compliance. Read our operator licensing and insurance guide for that distinction.
Official sources checked on 7 September 2026. Check the linked guidance for subsequent changes.