How To Prepare To Be A New HGV Driver

So you’re booked on one of our training courses, and you could be a fully qualified HGV driver within a week. It’s time to start thinking about the practicalities of your career as a professional new HGV driver, and that means thinking beyond simply getting your licence. We’ve put together a rundown of all the things you might want to think about once you’ve successfully got your test out of the way.

Finding a job

First thing’s first, it’s time to start looking for jobs you can apply for once you’re qualified. Thanks to a huge shortage of drivers, finding a job won’t be difficult, but it’s still good to know where to look. Browse our Job Finder service to see what’s available near you.

Prepping for winter

If you’re qualifying during the winter period, you’ll be straight into winter driving. Whilst your training means your driving skills will be absolutely excellent, there’s more to think about than just your proficiency behind the wheel. As you start to think about upcoming jobs driving in ice and snow, making sure your vehicle is properly prepared for winter is essential, and it’s something that doesn’t feature on any test.

From keeping your engine the right temperature to carrying the right items with you in case of emergency, and the reason you might want a couple of sacks in the back, there’s a lot to think about. We’ve put together a handy guide for preparing your HGV for winter.

Getting the right apps

As well as carrying sacks around, you should also be thinking about apps. There’s an app for everyone and everything these days, including HGV driving – some of them are great, and some less so. If you’re not using apps, you’re missing out on a whole world of extra help as you go about your day-to-day business.

Everything from your hours and routes to checking your vehicle and parking up for the night, loads of your daily tasks can be made faster and more efficient with the right apps. Check out our breakdown of the best apps for HGV drivers to get started.

Driving to Europe

If you think you might be driving to Europe as part of your new job, you might have all kinds of questions about exactly how that works. None of that is on your test, but it’s still good to know, so we’ve put together some basic information on driving to Europe so you know what to expect.

Adding to your skills

It’s not all about your licence, there are other things you can bring to a driving job that seem completely unrelated to driving but are actually incredibly valuable. This might be speaking another language, being good at maths, or just knowing how to look after yourself during long periods on the road.

Take a look at our guide to extra skills and knowledge to see what you could enhance or start working on outside your training.

Making your cab your own

Curtains, cooking facilities and things to help you sleep will all come in very useful during long journeys. We’ve put together a guide to making your cab your own while you’re on the road, so your jobs are less stressful and more enjoyable.