Driving & Industrial

What is an HGV/LGV driver?

HGV and LGV are the European terms used to describe Heavy Goods vehicles and Large Goods Vehicles respectively. There is no difference between the two.

There is currently a high demand for drivers of all classes of HGV/LGV vehicles in the UK.

Depending upon the class of licence you hold an HGV driver can drive vehicles ranging from 3.5T to 44T in unladen weight.

HGV/LGV drivers transport goods across the country or into Europe. Drivers are strictly regulated in regard to the size of vehicle they can drive, the goods they can carry and the hours they can work.

Goods transported can be almost anything from fresh foods delivered to supermarkets, components delivered to factories or concert gear being moved from venue to venue.

Depending upon the class of licence they hold an HGV driver can drive vehicles ranging from 3.5T to 44T in unladen weight.

HGV/LGV drivers enjoy a high level of autonomy and therefore need to be able to work with limited supervision and be able to make decisions for themselves.

Drivers can choose to work days, nights or ‘Tramping’ which involves being on the road several days, sleeping in the wagon.

As well as driving the vehicle, professional drivers must also undertake regular checks to ensure the safety of their vehicle and closely monitor their hours to ensure they are safe to drive.

What do they earn?

One of the great benefits of entering this industry is that experience gives you a higher salary. The following is a guide for salary expectations:

• Starter: £18,000-£22,000 per annum

• Experienced: £23,000-£28,000 per annum

• Highly Experienced: £29,000-£35,000 per annum

Extra income can sometimes occur through un-social hours pay and shift covers.

What are the typical hours of work and rules?

HGV drivers’ hours are very strictly regulated. The hours you can drive will depend on several factors such as the type of vehicle you’re driving, and where you’re driving it. For drivers of larger vehicles hours are recorded on a digital tachograph that will track your total hours, driving hours, rest periods and other data such as driving speeds and distances.

There really are no ‘typical hours’. However, many drivers start early in the morning whilst others prefer to drive through the night. The rules are the same regardless of when you are driving.

The main EU rules on HGV driving hours state that drivers should not drive more than:

• Nine hours per day (this can be extended to 10 hours twice a week)

• 56 hours in any single week

• 90 hours in any two consecutive weeks

The EU rules also include several requirements on rest breaks. HGV drivers must take:

• At least 11 hours rest every day – they can reduce this to nine hours rest three times in a week

• An unbroken break of 45 hours every week – they can reduce this to 24 hours every other week

• Their weekly rest after six days of working

• A break or breaks which total at least 45 minutes after no more than 4.5 hours driving

How do you become an HGV/LGV Driver?

You will need to be at least 18 years of age and already in possession of a full licence to drive a car. 

In order to become an HGV driver in the UK of any class, you need to apply for your provisional licence, take a medical exam, theory test, get the driver CPC certification, get your training from a DVLA approved instructor & then take the Practical test,  and then clock up 35 hours of additional training every 5 years. 

Once you’re over 45, you need to renew your licence every 5 years until you’re 65, at which point your renewal needs to be annual.

You will need to pass different tests in order to qualify to drive different types of vehicles.

Briefly, the licence categories are:

HGV / LGV Cat 'C+E' (Class 1)

Any vehicle over 7.5t and up to 44t that has a detachable or separate trailer, Cat 'C+E' licences can only be applied for once you have taken and passed your Cat 'C'.

HGV / LGV Cat 'C' (Class 2)

A Category ‘C’ licence is required for vehicles in a rigid-based body that is over 7.5t and any HGV, providing the vehicle is all one unit (i.e. the cab does not separate from the trailer).

Training costs vary as does the way in which you can learn. Some organisations offer courses running over 5-6 consecutive days whilst others spread the training over several weeks. On average training will cost circa £1,000 plus fees for the tests.

A full training course will enable to qualify for both a licence and the Drivers Certificate of Competance (CPC) which is a requirement for all drivers. Modules will include:

Module 1a

Theory test consisting of 100 multiple choice questions. Must get at least 85 correct answers.

Module 1b 

Hazard perception theory test. 20 hazard clips. Each clip consists of 2 to 3 hazards. Must get at least 67 (out of 100) points to be awarded a pass.

Module 2

50 multiple choice questions based on 7 different scenarios. The scenarios are designed to reflect situations a professional LGV driver will encounter in his or her working life. Must get at least 40 answers correct to be awarded a pass.

Module 3

A 1.5-hour practical driving test.  This will include 'tell me, show me' questions, reversing exercise and approximately 1 hour driving on the public highway

Module 4

Practical associated knowledge exam. No driving is required for this part as It’s all about what a driver does whilst not driving.

This may include checking the vehicle is not incorrectly loaded or overloaded, securing a load with the correct restraining devices, checking a vehicle is safe and in good working order before taking it on the public highway etc.

Once qualified Class 2 drivers earn circa £22,000 on average.

Cat C1

A category C1 licence is a requirement for driving any goods vehicle that is above 3.5t and below 7.5t in weight. However,  If you gained your driving licence before 1997, you will automatically have this category on your licence. If you gained your driving licence after 1997, you will have to take a test.

​There are also additional licences required to handle certain equipment found on some trucks and also for loads that are considered to be high risk.

Training takes 3-5 days on average and whilst costs can vary expect to pay circa £1,000.

You will also need a CPC certificate in order to be able to drive a C1 vehicle

C1 jobs often tend to be localised, business to business deliveries. This may entail making up to 15 drops in a day and may include some manual handling.

ADR Licence

An ADR (Agreement to carry Dangerous goods by Road) is required to transport certain goods such as gases, flammable liquids or solids, corrosives or toxic material.

HIAB Licence

HIAB Licence qualifies the driver to load and offload the platform to which the HIAB crane is attached hence the name Lorry Mounted Loader.

In addition to your driving licence, you will also need to gain a Drivers CPC qualification.

The CPC acronym stands for 'Certificate of Professional Competence'. You cannot obtain a commercial driving licence without completing this initial qualification.

Drivers CPC covers topics that include:

• Drivers Hours and Tachograph

• Vehicle Maintenance and Defect Reporting

• First on the Scene (accident prevention and first aid)

• Highway Code + Understand and Protect your Driving Licence

• Loads and Loading (HGV Only)

• The School Run and Safeguarding (PSV Only).

There are excellent prospects for career progression for those who are willing to gain experience and study. Experience also allows drivers to move to higher paying positions, such as a Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) instructor, freight transport planner, or even a manager for an HGV company.

Class 1 jobs we typically have

Across our branches, we offer a wide range of HGV/LGV roles ensuring drivers enjoy variety and flexible working hours that fit around family life and other commitments.

Roles may include transporting containers from docks to customers, palletised goods from depot to customers or moving containers around the docks using tugs.

We offer day shifts, night shifts and tramping where the driver sleeps in the cab for several nights whilst driving longer distances around the country.

Whilst most bookings tend to be Monday – Friday some weekend shifts are available.

We also have roles requiring an ADR licence moving hazardous goods or materials.

Many of our class 1 drivers choose to work through a Limited Company however, we are equally happy to accommodate drivers on a PAYE basis.

Class 2 jobs tend to be local business to business deliveries with the majority of bookings (but not all) being for day shifts.