HGV driver
HGV drivers transport and deliver products including bulk materials and liquids between suppliers and customers.
Typical Salary
£25,000 – £42,000
per year
Working Hours
38–52
hours per week
Day-to-day tasks
As an HGV driver, you could:
- plan deliveries and your routes
- check your vehicle for problems and report any issues you find
- help load and unload goods safely
- connect hoses or pumps when working with materials like fuel
- keep records of your deliveries and driving hours
- monitor traffic reports regularly and change your route if needed
You'll need to drive safely and follow road haulage regulations at all times.
Skills needed
- knowledge of public safety and security
- concentration skills
- customer service skills
- the ability to organise your time and workload
- the ability to operate and control equipment
- excellent verbal communication skills
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- knowledge of transport methods, costs and benefits
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
Entry requirements
To stay qualified, every 5 years you'll need to take 35 hours of driver CPC training and renew your HGV driving licence.
If you're working with hazardous goods, like chemicals, you'll also need an Advisory Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) certificate.
How to get into this role
You can get into this job through:
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- specialist training providers
Career progression
With experience, you could:
- do extra training to get an Advisory Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) certificate to carry hazardous loads like flammable liquids
- specialise in transporting particular loads, like foodstuffs
- train to become a HGV driving instructor
- become a road transport manager
- become self employed and work for different companies or set up your own transport company