HGV driver
HGV drivers transport and deliver products, including bulk materials and liquids, between suppliers and customers all over the country.
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
As a 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
- drive safely and follow road haulage regulations at all times
Working environment
Your working environment may be physically active and you'll travel often.
Career path and 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 or heavy vehicle technician
- become a road transport manager
- become self employed and work for different companies or set up your own haulage company
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- knowledge of vehicle and public safety and security
- concentration skills for staying focused while driving
- 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
Restrictions and Requirements
You'll need to:
- be over 18 years of age
- have a driving licence that includes HGV for lorries or PCV for buses
- have a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) known as a driver CPC
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 become
You can get into this job through:
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- specialist training providers
You could do a Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) Driver C and E Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.
This can take around 1 year to complete and combines on-the-job learning and study with a training provider.
The armed forces also offer some HGV driving apprenticeship roles.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
More Information
If you're already working for a transport operator in a non-driving role, your employer might support you through training to get your HGV driving licence.
Course
You'll need to get a professional driving qualification called the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC).
Lots of organisations offer this course. You can find training to become a HGV driver or search for training providers through the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.
You might find it useful to compare several providers before signing up to one.
The course will cover driving skills, basic mechanics and how to load items. At the end of your course you'll need to pass 4 parts of the CPC test which includes:
- a driving theory test
- online case studies
- a test of your practical driving ability
- a practical demonstration test
If you're going to work with hazardous goods, for example fuel oil, you'll also need an Advisory Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) Certificate.
Refresher course
If you're returning to work, you may need to do refresher training. Find out more about returning to be a HGV driver.
Skills Bootcamp
You might be able to apply for a place on a Skills Bootcamp for HGV driving.
Skills Bootcamps are free, flexible courses that last up to 16 weeks.
When you pass the course, you:
- are guaranteed a job interview with an employer near where you live
- can drive large vehicles
- will have a category C or category CE driving licence
Career tips
You may be able to increase your income by working overtime.
Companies often need more HGV drivers at peak times. You could look for seasonal jobs on retail and delivery company websites, or with driver recruitment agencies.
Further information
You can find out more about how to become a qualified HGV driver from GOV.UK.
The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and Generation Logistics also have details about careers in HGV driving.
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This page contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.