HGV Training Bathgate and West Lothian
Bathgate once built lorries. Today it sits halfway between Scotland's two biggest cities on the M8, which makes it one of the easier places in our catchment to train from.
Drivers from Bathgate, Livingston and the rest of West Lothian train with us at our Glasgow base on Blochairn Road. The town sits on the M8, and the Airdrie to Bathgate railway gives a direct train towards Glasgow, so you can travel in by road or rail. Courses cost the same as for everyone else: C1 £995, Category C £1,695 and C+E £2,895, each including the medical, theory, in-vehicle training and test.
A town with lorry building in its history
From 1961 until 1986 Bathgate was home to the BMC and later British Leyland plant that built trucks and tractors. The factory is long closed, and the Wester Inch housing development now stands on the site, but the link between the town and heavy vehicles is part of local memory. For anyone whose family worked there, driving the kind of vehicle the town once made is a fitting route into a new career, and the licence is what opens that door.
Train or drive: two ways to reach us
From Bathgate, driving in means joining the M8 and heading west. What makes West Lothian different from much of our catchment is the railway. The Airdrie to Bathgate line runs straight towards Glasgow, so if you have no car available on training days, or would rather not pay to park, you can let the train take the strain and arrive fresh for the cab. Tell us how you plan to travel and we will set start times that work with it.
Which licence suits work in West Lothian?
Bathgate sits in a busy freight corridor. The A801 links the M8 to the M9, and Edinburgh Airport is around 13 miles away, so traffic heading north, east and west all passes close by. That mix shapes which licence makes sense for you.
| If you want to | Start with |
|---|---|
| Drive 7.5 tonne vans and light rigids | C1 at £995 |
| Drive rigid lorries for local and regional distribution | Category C (Class 2) at £1,695 |
| Drive articulated lorries on longer runs between the cities | C+E (Class 1) at £2,895 |
| Drive a minibus for community or school transport | D1 at £995 |
If you are unsure, the Class 1 vs Class 2 guide explains the difference in plain terms before you commit.
Livingston drivers
Livingston is about five miles east of Bathgate, and drivers from there take the same M8 route west to us. The courses, prices and booking process are the same whichever town you are in, and the medical and theory are arranged early so your driving days run back to back.
How a West Lothian course runs
- 1Call or get in touch with the licence you want and the days you can do.
- 2We arrange the medical and your provisional entitlement first.
- 3Theory and case study come next, with study material included.
- 4In-vehicle hours are booked as consecutive days to keep journeys down.
- 5Your practical test is included in the course price.
We are open Monday to Friday from 8am till 8pm, so you can call after a day shift to talk through your dates.
Where you train
All training runs from our base at 130 Blochairn Road, Glasgow, G21 2DU.
Questions we get asked about this
Yes. West Lothian is inside our 60 mile catchment and training runs from our Glasgow base on Blochairn Road.
Yes. The Airdrie to Bathgate line runs directly towards Glasgow. Tell us you are coming by rail and we will plan start times to suit.
No. C1 is £995, Category C £1,695 and C+E £2,895 for everyone, each including the medical, theory, training and test.
Yes. Livingston drivers follow the same M8 route west and book the same courses as Bathgate drivers.
Where to go next
- Category C training £1,695 for rigid lorries.
- Category C+E training £2,895 for articulated lorries.
- HGV training for Edinburgh for drivers further east in the Lothians.
- How long does HGV training take? plan your blocks before you book.
At a glance
- Council area
- West Lothian
- Getting here
- M8 by car or the Airdrie to Bathgate line by train
- Category C (Class 2)
- £1,695 all in
- Category C+E (Class 1)
- £2,895 all in
Travelling in from Bathgate or Livingston?
Tell us whether you will come by car or train and we will plan your training days around it.
Lines open Monday to Friday, 8am till 8pm.
Get In Touch
Not sure which licence is right for you, or just have a question? Leave your name, email, number and a few details and we'll get back to you — no pressure.
- 01413452995
- Send a WhatsApp Message
- Find us on Facebook
- pass4me1985@gmail.com
- 130 Blochairn Road, Glasgow, G21 2DU
- Monday to Friday, 8am till 8pm