Getting up in the morning and knowing you have a job to go to is something that should not be taken for granted. With so many people out of work across most job sectors in the UK, being in an industry where workers are in demand makes it that much easier to find employment. The haulage and transport industries are good examples. As of mid-2015, most estimates suggest haulage and transport companies are short as many as 40,000 drivers capable of driving lorries, coaches and buses, tipper trucks, bin lorries, etc.

Professional driving is an excellent career choice that should be considered by any young person just starting out. It is equally attractive for older workers who might have been made redundant or are just looking for something new. For every driver, it all begins with training. With just a few weeks in the classroom and behind the wheel, you could be ready to take your test, earn your HGV licence, and start looking for work.

Here at the HGVT Training Services (HGV Training Centre), we provide the kind of high-quality training you need to be a successful professional. And because we have dozens of training facilities located throughout the UK, attending training classes is easy and convenient. We even offer a financing option that allows you to start training today and delay paying for your courses until after you have a job. If you’re looking for a career as a well-paid professional HGV driver, the HGVT Training Services (HGV Training Centre) is the place to start.

Different HGV Jobs in the UK

The haulage industry is similar to other industries in that there are many different kinds of jobs available to drivers. Simply put, not every HGV driver is a long-haul driver regularly transporting goods all across Europe. Some drivers work locally or regionally. The industry generally recognises four different job categories as follows

• City Driving – City drivers operate lorries, tipper trucks, bin lorries, and other kinds of commercial vehicles in congested city environments. This type of driving requires a tremendous amount of skill to safely navigate road systems that were never intended to handle the volume of traffic they do now. These jobs tend to be local in nature, allowing the driver to be home every evening.
• Local and Regional – Drivers who concentrate mainly on local and regional deliveries are usually allocated to designated routes that rarely take them beyond a hundred or so miles of their base. These drivers are also home every evening, in most cases.
• UK Only – Some operators are restricted to using commercial vehicles within the confines of the UK. As such, their drivers are considered UK only. They may travel anywhere within England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland; they may be gone overnight or for several nights in a row.
• Long Distance – The industry’s long distance drivers are the ones who put in the most miles and spend the most time away from home. Their deliveries could take them literally anywhere in Europe. These drivers tend to earn the most, with a large number of them working as independent contractors rather than company employees.

Each of these four job categories obviously comes with its pros and cons. You might begin working one kind of job only to discover you would prefer something else. Or you may find a particular kind of driving perfectly suits you to the extent that you make a career of it. That’s the beauty of HGV driving. There are so many choices that there is something right for everyone.

Advantages of a Driving Career

For decades, professional drivers have been incorrectly assumed to be incapable of any other kind of work. This unfortunate perception has been further magnified in our drive to make sure as many young people go to university as possible. Even our modern emphasis on STEM programmes is causing many young people do not even consider careers as professional drivers. This is indeed unfortunate in light of the fact that professional driving has so much to offer.

To begin with, tens of thousands of current job openings make it possible for any driver to get right to work upon completion of an HGV driver training. Drivers who train with us are given access to our up-to-date jobs database covering positions all across the UK. To say there is no shortage of work in the haulage and transport industries is to state the obvious.

Here are some of the other advantages of a professional driving career:

• Good Pay – You may never become a millionaire driving a lorry, but you are not likely to become a millionaire regardless of your career choice. The fact is that professional drivers earn excellent pay. As of May 2017, the average per annum salary of a UK lorry driver was £28,046. Stiff competition and an expanding economy are continually driving wages and benefits up.
• Job Security – Plenty of industries have come and gone over the years. Where some have peaked and since faded, the haulage and transport industries have remained both stable and viable. That will not change. The UK economy is intrinsically linked to haulage and transport, meaning job security is virtually guaranteed for any driver who works hard and drives safely.
• Freedom to Work – HGV drivers routinely say one of the things they most love about their work is the fact that they are free to do what they do without supervisors constantly looking over their shoulders. The freedom of the road is something that just cannot be experienced working in an office or on a factory floor.
• Freedom to Travel – Another benefit many HGV drivers enjoy is the freedom to travel. This does not apply to city drivers, but regional and long-distance drivers get to see new places and different things all the time. Long-distance driving is the ideal career for someone who wants to see Europe while working.
• Daily Challenges – People who appreciate being challenged on a daily basis find HGV driving very suitable work. Suffice to say that no two days are identical as a professional driver. The work is extremely exciting and rewarding as well.
• Advancement Opportunities – In the haulage and transport industries, experience is everything. The longer a driver stays in a particular job, the more opportunities he or she has to advance within the company. Advancement includes better paying loads, more favourable routes, and even opportunities to transition into dispatching and management.

Plenty of young people go to university only to find out after graduation they cannot get a job in the field for which they studied for so long. After 2 to 4 years of university studies, they find themselves taking work in an area that is entirely unrelated. HGV drivers are different. Not only can they complete their studies in a matter of weeks – as opposed to years in university – they can put that training to work immediately upon completion. They do not need to take jobs in other fields while they look desperately for driving work.

Start Training Today

If you are at least 18 years old, in reasonably good health, and possess a full car licence, you can begin pursuing a career as an HGV driver today. All you need to do is contact us at the HGVT Training Services (HGV Training Centre). We will help you start the process of submitting your paperwork and preparing for the HGV theory test. Just imagine: contacting us today could mean you are ready to start looking for work within a few months.

We encourage you to consider a career as a well-paid professional HGV driver in the UK. Working as a professional driver will put you in the company of a group of elite workers with the knowledge and skills to do what most others cannot. Furthermore, you will be part of an industry on which the entire nation’s economy depends. You will have the opportunity to make a critical societal contribution while also earning an excellent living.

Some Further Reading on HGV Careers

We understand that you may have a lot of questions about choosing to become a professional HGV driver. We are here to help you make the right decision so please don’t hesitate to call or email us at any time. The articles below may also help.

• Looking For a Career as a Well Paid Professional HGV Driver?
• The Best HGV Driver Training for Less – Top Trainers – Low Prices
• HGV Driving Careers Start Here – Top UK Training and Job Advice
• UK’s Top HGV Driving Schools Revealed – Best Discounts Online!
• Get HGV Lessons from the Best Lorry Driving Schools in the UK
• A Guide to Passing the HGV Test and Driving Trucks for a Living
• Low Cost – High Quality – Nationwide The HGV Training Centre Courses
• What Does The HGV Training Centre Cost And What Do I Get For My Money?
• Find the Best The HGV Training Centre Course in Your Location Today
• Your Fast Track to a Full UK HGV Truck Licence
• UK Truck Driving Academy – The HGV Training Centre and Career Assistance
• Truck Driver Training – The Road to Your Success as an HGV Driver
• Lorry Licence Shortcut – We Show You the Best Way to Get There
• Looking for a Career in Lorry Driving? Begin your Journey with Us
• What Can You Expect From A Career as a Lorry Driver?
• HGV Theory Test Training -Practice Exams – Help and Advice
• Everything You Need To Know About the HGV Medical Exam