Documents HGV Drivers Must Carry at a UK Roadside Check
What this article covers
This is a driver packing list roadside checks — what you are typically asked to show. Exact asks vary by stop type and traffic. It is not a full operator compliance manual.
Almost always on you
- Driving licence (photocard) covering the categories you are driving
- Driver CPC card / DQC where required for the work
- Tachograph driver card when the vehicle and rules require it
Keep them in one place you can reach without leaving the seat if the officer asks you to stay put.
Often requested next
- Proof related to the vehicle and operator (as your company procedure requires — e.g. insurance certificate, operator contact, journey paperwork)
- Any temporary authority letters or exemptions you rely on that day
- Attestation of activities if that is how your firm covers non-driving periods
What “carry” really means
Digital copies on a phone help only when the officer accepts them and the screen is readable. Paper originals for cards and licence remain the safe default. Do not leave the only copies in a locked toolbox you cannot open at the stop.
Before you move
- Licence not expired; correct categories; correct address on DVLA if you still use paper counterpart rules for your situation
- CPC / DQC in date for the work
- Tachograph card yours, undamaged, and inserted when rules require it
If something is missing
Say so early. Do not invent a story. Call the traffic office for the document they can email or send a photo of if the officer allows that path. Lying or producing another driver’s card is far worse than a missing paper.
Driver habit
Build a fixed wallet / pouch: licence, CPC, tacho card, company emergency contacts. Check it every Monday — not at the first blue lights of the month.
