Published by Go Big Driving School | Sheffield & Rotherham | Updated June 2026

A Class 2 HGV licence — officially Category C — covers rigid lorries: vehicles where the cab and load area are one fixed unit. The maximum gross vehicle weight is 32 tonnes. This covers a wide and varied range of vehicles, and the jobs that come with them are some of the most consistently in-demand driving roles in South Yorkshire.

The Vehicles a Class 2 Licence Covers

Tipper Lorries

One of the most common Class 2 vehicles in South Yorkshire. Tippers carry and discharge loose materials — soil, aggregate, sand, rubble, waste — by hydraulically lifting the load bed. Tipper drivers work in construction, groundworks, demolition, and waste. Sheffield and Rotherham’s ongoing regeneration projects mean tipper work is in consistently high demand.

Skip Lorries

Skip trucks operate throughout Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster, and Barnsley. The driver places, retrieves, and transports skips for domestic and commercial customers. Most skip work is local, route-based, and home-by-evening — a popular choice for drivers who value predictable hours.

Curtainsider Rigids

Curtainsided rigid lorries — with soft, sliding fabric sides — are used for general haulage, palletised goods, and retail distribution. A common vehicle for regional delivery work operating from South Yorkshire’s logistics hubs.

Flatbed Lorries

Flatbeds carry unsheeted or sheeted loads: steel, timber, machinery, pipes, and building materials. Load securing is an important part of flatbed driving and is covered in both the theory test and practical training.

Box Vans (7.5t to 32t rigid)

Box-bodied rigids are used across retail distribution, courier networks, and specialist delivery operations. The enclosed body protects goods from the weather and is common in furniture, appliance, and food service delivery.

Refrigerated Lorries (Reefers)

Temperature-controlled rigid lorries used in food distribution — chilled, frozen, and ambient logistics. Supermarket and food service supply chains in South Yorkshire rely heavily on refrigerated Class 2 vehicles for store and depot deliveries.

Refuse Collection Vehicles

Local authorities and waste contractors operate refuse vehicles on Class 2 licences. This is steady, predictable, community-based work. South Yorkshire councils and their contractors employ significant numbers of Class 2 drivers.

HIAB (Crane Lorries)

HIAB trucks are fitted with a hydraulic loading crane. They are used to deliver heavy items that cannot be unloaded by hand — steel beams, plant, equipment, large pallets. HIAB driving requires an additional HIAB operator qualification beyond the Class 2 licence, but the underlying vehicle is a Class 2 rigid. HIAB-qualified Class 2 drivers command some of the highest wages in the rigid lorry sector.

Concrete Mixers and Cement Trucks

Mixer trucks on the Class 2 (rigid) configuration are a common sight on construction sites across Sheffield. The South Yorkshire construction sector employs significant numbers of mixer drivers.

Tankers (Rigid)

Rigid tankers carry liquids and bulk powders: fuel, chemicals, liquid food products, water. Tanker driving often involves an ADR (hazardous goods) qualification in addition to the Class 2 licence for fuel and chemical loads.

What a Class 2 Does Not Cover

A Class 2 (Cat C) licence does not cover articulated lorries — vehicles with a separate cab unit and detachable trailer. That requires a Class 1 (Cat CE) licence. If you want to drive an artic, you need Class 1. Many Class 2 drivers upgrade to Class 1 within a year or two of qualifying.

Category C1 (vehicles between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes) is a separate, lower entitlement. A Class 2 licence automatically includes C1 entitlement.

What Kind of Work Is Available in South Yorkshire?

There are currently over 336 HGV driver vacancies within 20 miles of Sheffield, with Class 2 roles making up a significant proportion. Local demand is particularly strong in:

  • Skip hire and waste management (Sheffield and Rotherham)
  • Construction logistics along the M1 corridor
  • Supermarket and retail distribution from South Yorkshire DCs
  • Local and regional haulage based in the S9/Tinsley area

Starting salaries for Class 2 drivers in South Yorkshire range from £30,000 to £40,000 for day work, rising to £36,000 to £42,000 for specialist roles (HIAB, nights, hazardous goods).

Ready to Start?

Call Dan on 0114 357 0000 for a no-pressure conversation about Class 2 training, what is involved, and what you could earn in South Yorkshire once qualified.

Visit our Class 2 HGV training page for full course details. Also worth reading: how much Class 2 training costs and how long it takes to get your licence.