The Haulier’s Essential Vehicle Kit List: What Should Every HGV Carry?

Every professional HGV driver knows the feeling of being flagged down by a DVSA examiner at a roadside check. In that moment, what you have in the cab, on the vehicle, and in your records matters considerably. Missing a document or a piece of required equipment does not just create inconvenience. Depending on what is absent, it can mean a prohibition, a fixed penalty, or a formal entry on the operator’s compliance record that follows the business to its next Traffic Commissioner review.

This guide sets out what an HGV should carry. We have organised it into three areas: documents the driver must be able to produce, equipment the vehicle must carry, and load security gear. We have also distinguished clearly between items that are required by law and items that represent established best practice, because those two categories are frequently confused in online guides, and the distinction matters when you are defending a compliance position.

This guide is written from the perspective of a standard UK domestic HGV operation. International journeys, ADR/dangerous goods carriage, and specialist vehicle types carry additional requirements beyond what is covered here. Operators working across borders or in specialist sectors should consult their transport manager and the relevant DVSA guidance directly.

Part 1: Documents the Driver Must Carry

There is a persistent grey area in discussions about what HGV drivers are strictly required to have in the cab. The short answer is that the legal list is shorter than many assume, but the practical and compliance consequences of missing even one item are significant enough that well-run operators treat the full set as non-negotiable.

Driving Licence

A driver must hold the correct category licence to drive the vehicle. For a rigid lorry, Category C is required. For an articulated lorry, Category C+E. Under the Road Traffic Act 1988, a driver asked to produce their licence by a police officer or DVSA examiner can technically do so within seven days at a nominated police station, rather than immediately at the roadside. In practice, every professional driver should carry their licence on every journey. The seven-day concession does not protect against the immediate inconvenience of a delayed check and it reflects poorly on an operator if drivers routinely cannot produce documents at the roadside.

Driver Qualification Card (DQC)

The DQC, sometimes called the Driver CPC card, must be carried at all times when driving professionally. It demonstrates that the driver has completed the required Driver Certificate of Professional Competence training: 35 hours of periodic training every five years. A fixed penalty of up to £50 can be issued for driving without a valid DQC. More significantly, a driver without a current DQC is not legally permitted to drive commercially. Operators have a legal obligation not to permit an unqualified driver to operate a vehicle, and doing so creates serious exposure in the event of an incident.

Digital Tachograph Card and Records

A driver using a digital tachograph must insert their smart card before beginning any period of work. The card records all driving, other work, availability periods, and rest, and DVSA examiners can download and review this data at the roadside. Drivers must be able to produce records for the current day and the previous 28 calendar days. For international journeys, this requirement doubles to 56 days following the changes that came into effect in April 2025.

Tachograph paper rolls: A digital tachograph unit requires a paper roll to produce printouts, and drivers must carry at least one spare roll in the cab at all times. Failing to produce tachograph records or the means to do so can be treated as a Level 4 tachograph infringement, carrying a maximum fine of £2,500 per offence. LMG Shopper stocks a range of compatible tachograph and printer rolls for both digital and analogue units.

[INTERNAL LINK: Tachograph Supplies category]

Vehicle Plating Certificate (VTG6)

The VTG6 is the vehicle’s plating certificate, confirming the authorised gross weight, axle weights, and train weights. It is a legal requirement for goods vehicles above 3.5 tonnes and must be available for inspection. In practice, this is typically kept in the cab at all times.

Operator Licence Disc

Every vehicle operating under an operator licence must display the operator licence disc on the vehicle. The disc must be displayed in the windscreen so it is visible from outside the vehicle. Discs can take up to 28 days to arrive after a new vehicle is added to the licence, but operators should ensure the correct disc is in place before the vehicle is put into service. An undisclosed vehicle on a goods vehicle operator licence is a serious compliance failure.

Defect Book or Defect Reporting System

Drivers are required to carry out a walkaround check before beginning any journey and to record the outcome. Whether the vehicle is defect-free or has a reported defect, that record must be made. The defect book or equivalent system should be available in the cab, and DVSA examiners can request to see it. A reported defect that was not acted upon before the vehicle went back onto the road is one of the most damaging records an operator can have in the event of an enforcement check or incident.

Height Indicator

Every HGV cab must display the vehicle’s current operating height in a position clearly visible to the driver. This is a fixed legal requirement under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986. The displayed height must reflect the vehicle’s actual loaded condition, since height can change depending on load. A height indicator sticker is a low-cost item that operators sometimes overlook until an enforcement check highlights its absence.

[INTERNAL LINK: Vehicle & Driver Essentials category]

Speed Limiter Information

HGVs above 7.5 tonnes are required to be fitted with a speed limiter, and the vehicle must carry a speed limiter plate or sticker confirming the setting. This is checked as part of roadside inspections and the annual test.

Part 2: Safety Equipment

The distinction between legally required safety equipment and best-practice equipment is one that trips up drivers, operators, and even some compliance guides. The table below sets this out clearly.

Item	Legal status	Notes
In-Cab Documents
Driving licence	Required by law	Category C or C+E as applicable. Produce within 7 days at roadside if not immediately available.
Driver Qualification Card (DQC)	Required by law	Must be on the driver’s person at all times when driving professionally.
Digital tachograph card	Required by law	Inserted in unit before any work begins. 28 days records must be accessible.
Tachograph paper rolls (spare)	Required by law	At least one spare roll must be carried. Failure is a Level 4 infringement.
Vehicle plating certificate (VTG6)	Required by law	Must be available for inspection. Confirms axle and gross weights.
Operator licence disc	Required by law	Displayed in windscreen, visible from outside the vehicle.
Defect report / walkaround record	Required by law	Record of pre-journey check. Must be available for DVSA inspection.
Height indicator	Required by law	Visible to driver, reflects current loaded height.
Speed limiter plate/sticker	Required by law	Confirms limiter setting. Checked on annual test and roadside.
Safety Equipment
Warning triangle	Required by law	Must be placed at least 45m behind the vehicle in the event of a breakdown or incident on the road.
Hi-vis jacket or vest	Required by law	EN ISO 20471 Class 2 minimum. Required when driver exits cab on or near a public road.
Fire extinguisher (2kg ABC dry powder)	Best practice	Not a legal requirement for non-ADR vehicles, but is an established best practice. Mandatory for ADR/dangerous goods carriage.
First aid kit	Best practice	Not a legal requirement for standard HGVs, but widely required under employer H&S duties. Contents: dressings, bandages, antiseptic wipes, foil blanket, gloves.
Load Security Equipment
Ratchet straps (webbing, EN 12195-2)	Required by law	Load must be secured to resist full load weight forward, 50% sideways/rear. Number and rating depends on load.
Edge protectors / corner pieces	Best practice	Required where straps cross sharp edges. Prevents strap damage that could compromise load security.
Friction matting	Best practice	Reduces number of lashings required. High-friction surfaces must achieve coefficient of friction of at least 0.6.
Wheel chocks (ADR vehicles)	ADR/DG only	At least two wheel chocks required per vehicle for dangerous goods carriage under ADR.
ADR / Dangerous Goods Additions (if applicable)
ADR training certificate	ADR/DG only	Must be carried when transporting dangerous goods. Carried on driver’s person.
Fire extinguisher (ADR specification)	ADR/DG only	Specific capacities depending on vehicle weight. 2kg cab unit + 6kg elsewhere for 3.5-7.5t vehicles.
Transport documentation / emergency information	ADR/DG only	Provided by consignor. Details of goods including emergency action codes. Must remain in cab.
Orange ADR hazard plates and labels	ADR/DG only	Applied to vehicle as required by ADR regulations. Specific to goods being carried.

Unpacking the Grey Areas

Is a warning triangle legally required?

Yes. Under UK law, it is a legal requirement to carry an emergency warning triangle in all commercial vehicles. It should be placed at least 45 metres behind the vehicle in the event of a breakdown, obstruction, or incident. This is one of the most commonly cited items in roadside checks and enforcement guidance, and its absence is a straightforward compliance failure. A reflective warning triangle is a low-cost, long-life item that belongs in every HGV.

[INTERNAL LINK: Warning Triangles & Equipment category]

Is a fire extinguisher legally required in a standard HGV?

This is one of the most consistently confused questions in haulage compliance. For a standard HGV not carrying dangerous goods, a fire extinguisher is not mandated by a single specific piece of primary legislation. However, it is required under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 for certain vehicle categories, and industry consensus, backed by HSE guidance, is firmly that one should be carried. The reasoning is straightforward: the cab is a workplace under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and employers have a duty to protect workers from foreseeable hazards.

For vehicles carrying dangerous goods under ADR regulations, the requirement becomes explicit and specific. A 2kg dry powder extinguisher must be carried in the cab, with additional provision required depending on the vehicle’s maximum permissible mass. For vehicles between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes carrying dangerous goods, this means 2kg in the cab and a further 6kg stored elsewhere on the vehicle.

The practical position for any well-run fleet is straightforward: carry a 2kg ABC dry powder extinguisher secured in a proper transport bracket in the cab. The cost of the extinguisher is negligible. The consequences of a cab fire without one are not.

What about the driver’s hi-vis clothing?

Hi-vis clothing is not directly addressed in the list of items the vehicle itself must carry, but it forms part of the driver’s legal obligations. Under the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations (PPER 2022), employers must provide appropriate PPE free of charge to all workers, including drivers, where a risk assessment identifies it as necessary. For any driver who will exit the cab on or near a public road, a hi-vis jacket or vest rated to EN ISO 20471 Class 2 is required at minimum.

The key operational point is that the hi-vis garment should be in the cab and accessible, not stored in the trailer or left at the depot. A driver who steps out onto a busy road verge without hi-vis is at risk, and an operator who has not ensured that every driver has accessible PPE is in breach of PPER 2022.

[INTERNAL LINK: Hi-Vis Jackets & Coats category]

Load security: what changed in December 2024?

The DVSA updated its Securing Loads on HGVs and Goods Vehicles guide in December 2024. This updated document replaced earlier guidance and introduced a number of clarifications relevant to how loads must be secured in practice:

• Attachment points must be strong enough to withstand the expected loads placed on them. The rating can often be found stamped on the anchor point itself.
• Chains may be more suitable than lashing straps for some heavy loads, but operators and drivers must not use a combination of lashing straps and chains in the same lashing. Straps and chains stretch differently and one could fail before the other.
• Loads should be placed against the headboard or within 30cm of it wherever possible, to prevent forward movement under braking.
• The wording in several areas moved from ‘should’ to ‘must’, signalling a firmer enforcement stance.

The fundamental force requirement remains unchanged: the load securing system must resist the full weight of the load in the forward direction, and 50% of the load weight sideways and to the rear. Industry data suggests around 2,000 prohibitions are issued annually for insecure loads. This is not a low-priority enforcement area.

Wheel nut indicators are not a legal requirement on standard HGVs but are widely used as a best-practice safety measure. They provide a visible sign if wheel nuts have moved or loosened since the last check, and DVSA guidance supports their use as part of a robust vehicle safety system. LMG Shopper stocks a range of wheel nut indicators for both standard and large-format fitments. [INTERNAL LINK: Wheel Nut Indicators category]

The Compliance Case for Getting This Right

The items in this guide may seem like a list of administrative details. In the context of an operator’s licence, they are considerably more than that. Every DVSA roadside check, every OCRS (Operator Compliance Risk Score) entry, and every Traffic Commissioner review is built on the accumulated record of what vehicles carry, what drivers can produce, and how loads are secured.

An operator with a consistent record of missing documents, absent safety equipment, or load security failures will find that record surfaces at the worst possible moment: a public inquiry, an insurance claim, or a prosecution following an incident. The cost of a warning triangle, a tachograph roll, and a fire extinguisher is not worth setting against the cost of a lost operator licence.

Lloyd Morgan Group works with operators across the UK on transport compliance, including DVSA-facing support and operator licence review. If you need help reviewing your current compliance arrangements, that expertise is available alongside the products stocked here.

Frequently Asked Questions

What documents must an HGV driver carry by law in the UK?

A driver must be able to produce: their valid Category C or C+E driving licence, their Driver Qualification Card (DQC), their digital tachograph card with 28 days of accessible records (56 days for international journeys), and the vehicle’s plating certificate (VTG6). The vehicle must also display a valid operator licence disc. The driver should carry a defect report for the current day’s walkaround check.

Is a warning triangle a legal requirement for HGVs?

Yes. Commercial vehicles are required by law to carry an emergency warning triangle. In the event of a breakdown or incident on the road, it should be placed at least 45 metres behind the vehicle to warn oncoming traffic.

Do I need a fire extinguisher in my HGV?

For a standard HGV not carrying dangerous goods, there is no single specific law that mandates a fire extinguisher, but HSE guidance and the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 establish a strong duty of care that makes carrying one best practice in every case. For vehicles carrying dangerous goods under ADR regulations, a specific fire extinguisher requirement applies, with minimum capacities based on vehicle weight. A 2kg ABC dry powder extinguisher secured in a transport bracket is the recommended minimum for any HGV.

How many tachograph rolls must an HGV carry?

There is no fixed number set out in law, but drivers must carry at least one spare roll in the cab at all times, in addition to the roll loaded in the tachograph unit. Failure to have the means to produce a printout is treated as a tachograph infringement and can attract a significant fixed penalty. Carrying two spare rolls is a sensible operational minimum.

What are the new load security requirements from the December 2024 DVSA update?

The DVSA updated its Securing Loads on HGVs and Goods Vehicles guidance in December 2024. Key changes include: clearer rules on attachment point strength, a requirement not to mix lashing straps and chains in the same lashing, updated guidance on loading against headboards and bulkheads, and a firmer tone in several areas with ‘should’ replaced by ‘must’. The fundamental force requirement remains that the securing system must resist the full load weight forward and 50% of load weight sideways and to the rear.

What extras are needed for ADR/dangerous goods journeys?

A driver transporting dangerous goods must additionally carry: a valid ADR training certificate, ADR-specification fire extinguishers (capacity depending on vehicle weight), transport documentation and emergency information provided by the consignor, appropriate ADR hazard plates and labels on the vehicle, and at least two wheel chocks per vehicle. ADR compliance is a distinct and detailed requirement beyond the scope of standard HGV operation; transport managers responsible for dangerous goods movements should work from the ADR regulations directly.

Products Referenced in This Guide

All of the following are stocked at LMG Shopper:

• Tachograph and printer rolls [INTERNAL LINK: Tachograph Supplies]
• Warning triangles [INTERNAL LINK: Warning Triangles & Equipment]
• Hi-vis jackets and vests for HGV drivers [INTERNAL LINK: Hi-Vis Jackets & Coats]
• Wheel nut indicators [INTERNAL LINK: Wheel Nut Indicators]
• Load security straps and restraints [INTERNAL LINK: Load Security & Restraints]
• Height indicator stickers and vehicle markers [INTERNAL LINK: Vehicle & Informational Stickers]