Why Choosing a Career as an HGV Driver in 2020 is a Savvy Move

If like many people, you’re looking for a career in professional driving, rather than just a job to make ends meet, you’re likely to have considered many options. The driving career routes you can take are almost as numerous as the roles you’ll find on the job market, so it can be difficult to identify precisely what kind of role suits you best. Whether you’re talking about a career as a multi-drop delivery driver, taxi driver or HGV driver, indecision can leave you wondering which way to turn.

To help you make your choice, we’re now going to take a look at just a few of the driving career paths you can set out on. We’ll cover both the pros and the cons to give you an idea of what’s involved in the day to day of each job. We think that being an HGV driver is one of the best driving careers around, but we thought we’d give you an overview of a selection of roles and let you decide for yourself.

So, without further delay, let’s get started.

Driving Career #1 – Taxi Driver

When you choose a career as a taxi driver, the pros include being out and about all day (or night), being able to work unsupervised and getting to meet lots of people. Depending on where you operate, you can make a good living and each day is invariably different. The ways you can be a taxi driver are pretty flexible too, as you can either work for a firm, as a contractor or as a sole operator. Many who work as taxi drivers love the freedom and flexibility that the job provides.

There are a number of cons to being a taxi driver too, however, chief amongst which is the fact that the income you can make is far from guaranteed. Sure, you’ll likely be busy at peak times, but this is generally late at night and often involves ferrying drunk people around town. This can make you the target for abuse and/or robbery…so it’s not for everyone.

Pros: Varied work, flexible hours

Cons: Insecure income, unsociable hours, dealing with drunks

Driving Career #2 – Courier/Multidrop Delivery Driver

Another role that takes you out on the road is that of the multi-drop delivery driver. The pros of a career in this line of work are that whilst you still have people to report to, you’re essentially your own boss when out doing your job. It’s also a role that offers flexible working hours and allows you to meet lots of different people – although never for very long.

Being a multi-drop delivery driver, however, does also come with a host of cons. The main one is that it’s a very stressful job. Most companies ask a lot of their courier drivers, giving them a lot of drops to complete in what is often a restrictive amount of time. It can also get a little repetitive, as many of the drop points are the same every day. It can also involve working very unsociable and long hours.

Pros: Your own boss, flexible hours

Cons: Stressful, repetitive work, unsociable hours

Driving Career #3 – Trade Plate Driver

Car leasing and car sales companies also offer job for professional drivers, as they regularly need cars moving around the country. One of the pros of the job is that it takes you to lots of different places and offers flexible working hours. The pay is pretty good too with wages of £500 per week not uncommon, so if you’re willing to put the hours in, you could be making a good living.

However, there a few cons associated with being a trade plate driver, with the main one being that the work isn’t always consistent. Some weeks you’ll have plenty of work and the next, maybe not so much, so depending on the company, you may not have much job security. Some firms also don’t pay you for the hours when you’re not actually driving their cars, meaning that all the time you spend getting back from wherever you’ve dropped off is on your own time.

Pros: Flexible hours, good pay per job

Cons: Inconsistent levels of work, not much job security, not paid for all your hours away

Driving Career #4 – HGV Driver

So, now we come to the role of HGV Driver, which offers all of the pros we’ve mentioned in the careers above such as flexible hours, lots of travel in the UK and abroad, ever-changing scenery and the feeling of being your own boss. It’s a well-paid profession too, as the average wage for an HGV class 2 driver in the UK is a healthy £25k per annum. That’s just for starters too, as when experienced and more qualified, an HGV driver can earn as much as £45k a year (With Class 1 and ADR Licence), which is certainly not to be sniffed at.

It’s also a role that has a lot of job security, as not only is there plenty of work available for LGV and HGV drivers in the UK, there’s actually a shortage of qualified drivers available for the jobs available. Being an HGV driver is a career in every sense of the word and you get to play your part in keeping the UK’s commerce moving.

In terms of cons, there aren’t too many. Sure there’s the sometimes long hours and time away from home, but you’re well compensated for it and you’ll typically enjoy a healthy amount of time off in a permanent role. There’s a misconception out there that it takes a long time to become qualified as an HGV driver, however, that’s really not the case, as, with the right HGV trainers, you can be fully trained and earning in just a few weeks.

Pros: Well paid, secure work, can train quickly, freedom, a real career

Cons: Time away from home (on long haul)

Get Trained Fast, Start Earning Fast

All things considered, HGV driving offers all of the benefits of being a professional driver with hardly any of the drawbacks. You get job security, varied working life and an excellent salary. What’s more, if you choose a reputable HGV training company, you can learn everything you need to know in a surprisingly short period of time.

At HGVT, we have 60 approved HGV training centres around the UK and our highly experienced instructors will provide you with professional training for your HGV Class 2 Licence (Cat C), Cat C1, Cat C+E and Cat C1+E. We even help you find a job once qualified, putting you in touch with our many contacts within the industry. If you’d like to find out more about our HGV career programme and enjoying everything the role offers, get in touch.