Ipswich emerges as the leading test centre for HGV pass rates in the UK, boasting over 80% success.
- Research by Nationwide Vehicle Contracts indicates a regional variance in HGV pass rates, with Ipswich at the forefront.
- Birmingham and Wolverhampton show the lowest pass rates, falling below 45% success for HGV tests.
- Popularity of test centres does not necessarily correlate with high pass rates, as seen in Featherstone’s low success rate.
- The ongoing shortage of HGV drivers in the UK may worsen, with implications for businesses relying on logistics.
Research conducted by Nationwide Vehicle Contracts reveals that Ipswich stands out with an impressive pass rate exceeding 80% for HGV driving tests. This high success rate positions Ipswich as a favourable location for candidates. The study highlights the significant disparities in pass rates across various regions, emphasising the importance of selecting the right test centre.
Conversely, Birmingham and Wolverhampton have been identified as having the lowest pass rates for HGV tests in the UK, with only 40.1% and 43.4% of drivers passing, respectively. These figures suggest potential difficulties for candidates opting for these locations to obtain their licences.
The popularity of a test centre doesn’t always equate to a higher pass rate. Yeading in London, although the most popular with 4,708 tests conducted, doesn’t necessarily guarantee a higher success rate. Similarly, Featherstone in West Yorkshire, despite being the second most popular with 4,581 tests, records a pass rate of merely 44.6%—less than half of the candidates succeeding.
Atherton in Manchester ranks in the top three for popularity, yet the data suggests that volume does not directly influence success. Ipswich and Kilmarnock, on the other hand, excel with Ipswich’s 1,551 successful candidates out of 1,920 tests and Kilmarnock’s 75.9% pass rate.
The analysis by NVC coincides with ongoing concerns about the shortage of qualified HGV drivers in the UK. This shortage, which reached its peak in 2021, remains critical, particularly as more than half of HGV drivers are aged between 50 and 65. The situation continues to pose challenges for UK businesses reliant on efficient transport logistics.
The analysis underscores the need for potential HGV drivers to strategically select their test centres amidst varying pass rates across the UK.
