Becoming an HGV Driver for a business is a good role if you enjoy driving from A to B, managing your job load, and time. You can gain your HGV licence for a Category C1, Category C or Category C+E vehicle. Businesses you can work for ranges, from supermarkets, such as Tesco, or Courier driving, for DHL, Royal Mail etc.
To become a Driver in this sector, you will need to obtain the relevant licence for the vehicle you will want to drive. You will also need the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC) which will allow you to drive as a part of your job role (for hire or reward).
Skills
Independence
You will be expected to use your initiative and handle your workload within your working hours and routine. This includes the jobs you have and locations you will need to go to. This will subsequently mean that you will be in control of your work load. From the length of driving, to not going over your drivers hours and managing your own breaks. You need to have the mindset that you are in charge of your workload, so you have no one to fall back on. This is where being an independent individual would be essential.
Time Management
Many logistic drivers have dedicated schedules, which is also inclusive of the Working Time Directive, which is specific to the number of hours you are allowed to drive. Having proficient time management skills, and understanding being aware of the schedules you are going to have will significantly help you transition into your HGV Driver career swiftly.
Problem Solving
There will come a time in your HGV Driving career where a situation will arise, or something may go wrong.
From your sat nav being unresponsive, to a mechanical error, or even having to handle confrontation from members of the public. In these cases, you will need to think on your feet and come up with solutions. The matter of fact is that even if your Transport manager guides you and provides resolutions to solve problems, if you are halfway across the country, they won’t be able to step in and intervene. Once again, you will be responsible for meeting your deadlines and completing drops and pickups.
Salary Expectations
As of January 2025, the average Salary for an HGV driver is in the bracket of £26,000-£36,000. Of course, this salary will also depend on company benefits, personal experience, and your availability. There are also avenues attached to becoming an HGV Driver, such as being able to do shift work patterns, or working nights (which means additional pay in some businesses).
You may also receive an allowance to cover costs for toiletries, parking and food if you are completing regular long-haul drives.
Career Progression
Within the road haulage sector, there are several opportunities which you become prominent after driving HGVs regularly. The longer you build on the skills needed, the more seasoned you will be, and the more confident you will be to take on more challenging roles
For example, after experience, you can look at becoming a tanker driver, carrying dangerous goods (Flammable liquids) by road. This would mean obtaining your ADR Vocational Certification. Gaining this certification will make you a valuable asset to other businesses to, as this opens up more specialist roles for you to be considered for. The salary for a tanker driver is around £29,000-£40,000 annually.
You could also become a Transport Manager, and operate a fleet of vehicles. This requires experience working within the industry, and having a great understanding of managing a fleet, including how you keep in line with the rules and regulations. This salary range as of January 2025, is between £33,000-£47,000.
