Why Starting Your HGV Training During Lockdown is a Wise Move

The last 12 months have certainly been challenging for everyone and we still find ourselves very much locked down in the UK. However, nothing is ever permanent and there will come a point when things start to open up again so that life can get back to normal. Even Boris Johnson has stated that he hopes the country will be open again in time for the Summer. (Daily Express Dec 2020)

Now, most see all the extra time at home be seen as time wasted, however, one thing it could represent is the ideal time to start your professional HGV training. Why? Because eventually, test centres will reopen and the mad dash that occurs when it does is most likely to result in extended waiting times. That’s what we look at here in closer detail, as we also examine the last 12 months in the industry, the job security HGV drivers enjoy and how you can avoid the delays that so many others are likely to face going forwards. So, without further ado, let’s dig in.

Pre-Pandemic HGV Licence  Training

Before Coronavirus took hold and the world as we all remember it changed, getting your HGV licence took around 8-9 weeks – all things being well. As you would expect, Covid-19 has significantly slowed that process down and even when the lockdown is lifted, that period is expected to grow to at least 11-14 weeks, depending on the training centre you attend.

The DVLA plays a big part in arranging HGV tests and they’ve been particularly hard-hit when it comes to Covid. At some locations, those engaged in HGV training may have to wait even longer when things open up again because of the impact on the DVLA and the reduced amount of students that can be catered for at any one time. Some 500 covid cases have been found at the DVLA offices in Swansea* – something that has significantly extended waiting times for all services provided by the government organisation. For example, once open, the DVLA’s theory test capacity has been reduced by a staggering 80% thanks to social distancing rules, with the need to keep everyone 2m apart greatly reducing the amount of people that can attend. (*Source: BBC Jan 2021)

Get Training Now & Beat the Rush

The fact is that sooner or later, lockdown will be lifted and once again, test centres will reopen. The likely result of this will be everyone rushing back to book their training or their test and something of a bottleneck occurring. Limited space and huge demand are both ingredients that invariably result in greatly increased waiting times.

Where pre-covid waiting times for tests and training would have been 1-2 weeks, that could easily be extended to 4-6 weeks or more. The benefit of getting started on your HGV training now is that you can skip this queue by being super-prepared and ready to rock when everyone comes out of hibernation. At HGVT, our remote program covers all of your theory training and your medical test and ensures that you’re 100% ready to go when the time comes. Rather than having to compete with everyone else who didn’t make the move in good time, we’ll get you the earliest possible test date in your area – something that can be even quicker if you’re willing to travel to a different location.

HGV Driving – A Covid-Proof Profession

There’s little doubt that the pandemic has hit UK jobs hard. In, fact, according to figures in late 2020, over ¾ million jobs had been lost* – a number that’s surely risen since then. Many jobs have been lost across a wide range of industries, meaning that most people just don’t have anything close to what you might call job security. (*Source: Financial Times 2020)

However, when talking about job security, HGV drivers are part of one of the few groups of professionals that are largely unaffected by the chaos of the pandemic. Whilst other professions are losing jobs in large numbers, the demand for haulage providers has skyrocketed – not least because of the fact that people are ordering online more often than ever before. HGV training provides access to positions that are about as resilient and recession-proof as they come and they’re well paid too. Your average class 2 driver can up to £25,000 per annum, with those trained to class 1 level enjoying salaries in the region of £40k. In terms of feeling secure in your work – HGV drivers get the peace of mind of knowing their skills are highly sought-after.

Want to Get Started? 

As you can see, there’s a very good reason to make use of the extra time most of us have right now and HGV training opens you up to a role that’s very secure at a time when others are experiencing great uncertainty because of world events. Now’s the time to take charge and get the professional driver training you need to ensure your professional future remains very much in your own hands.

So, if you’re interested in stealing a march on others in your position and you’d like to get started on your journey to a well-paid, secure and highly rewarding career as a HGV driver, we’d love to hear from you.  Fill in the below contact form or simply give us a ring. Our friendly team is ready to help you. Things have been tough, sure, but there is light at the end of the tunnel and by preparing yourself now, you’ll be in a position to take full advantage of the opportunities that exist.

Let’s be honest, there’s only so much Netflix you can watch, so why not better use your lockdown time and really make a difference to your professional future?