The real facts about becoming a HGV driver

Are you looking for a job as a heavy goods vehicle driver? It is a highly skilled job with excellent pay to match but it doesn't necessarily suit everybody. You not only need to be physically fit but you would need to get a category C licence at least, which would mean both theory and practical tests. You would also need some experience under a tutor so it could be quite costly and time-consuming before you could qualify.

However with pay rates of between about £28,000 and £40,000 a year, and a chance for further advancement whilst quite possibly travelling not only the length and breadth of Britain but abroad as well, it is the ideal job for very many drivers, and there is no shortage of work available.

Factors to consider

Apart from qualifying for a licence, there are a number of other factors that you would need to consider before deciding upon your career choice.

• The job can be physically demanding. Drivers are often expected to both load and unload the goods that are carried, and sometimes this may involve using specialist machinery.
• This is not a typical 9-to-5 job. Drivers often have to work evenings and weekends, and some of them may spend a considerable time away from home. This can cause problems for those with family commitments.
• HGV drivers are subject to strict laws and regulations regarding the hours that they work and their rest periods, and these must be complied with, so it is important that they understand these rules.
• Driving can be a largely sedentary job with drivers sat in a cab for much of their time at work, so a healthy lifestyle with plenty of exercise is highly advisable!

So yes, being a HGV driver could be a marvellous career for you but it would not suit everyone so you would need to think carefully about whether or not it would be the right one for you. If you already know any HGV drivers it may be a good idea to talk to them and get their views on just what the job is like and what it entails.

Is there a typical HGV driver?

At the risk of being accused of sexism, it is rarely a suitable job for females because of the physically demanding nature of the work, particularly the loading and unloading of cargoes. Nevertheless there are a number of women who have made a success of this career.

Drivers need to be physically fit with good stamina, and most of them are over the age of 25, since those under this age are unlikely to have had sufficient driving experience. They do however come from a wide variety of different backgrounds and so there is no single type of person who is likely to succeed at this career. However, in general the following characteristics are very useful:

• They need to be conscientious and reliable people who will take care of their vehicles, their cargoes and themselves.
• They need to have good communication skills since they will be dealing with people in all kinds of different jobs.
• They need to be flexible; working hours can often be long and irregular, and sometimes involve long stays away from home.
• They need to be good at planning; a heavy goods vehicle can be difficult to drive through many town and city roads and streets and so a driver should be capable of anticipating problems and working out ways of overcoming them.
• They must have good time management discipline; many deliveries are time critical.
• They must be resourceful; traffic conditions and the actions of other people on the road can cause problems and delays which can completely disrupt a well-planned journey.
• They should be able to read maps and plan routes effectively.
• They must be able to work independently and unsupervised and be capable of making decisions on their own.
• They should have good office skills and be capable of managing all the necessary paperwork that their jobs entail.
• They must have basic mechanical skills so as to be able to recognise when their vehicles are in suitable working order for the job in hand.
• An ability to recognise distances is important; many HGVs have to be manoeuvred into very tight spaces!

And above all...

A HGV driver has to stay alert and observant, because potential accident situations can crop up at any time.It is vital that these are spotted, and action taken if necessary, before a potential problem develops into an actual one.

Still want to learn?

Then read the pages under the 'More essential reading" box. There is a lot of information there but if you seriously want to become a qualified and successful HGV driver then make a cup of tea, settle down and read on!