Stuck in a job with rubbish pay and zero prospects? Yeah, we’ve all been there. But here’s something worth considering – the view from an HGV cab offers more than just a higher vantage point. With the logistics sector practically begging for qualified drivers, your timing couldn’t be better to switch lanes career-wise.
Making that call to join HGV licence training mightn’t seem straightforward. Many people hesitate, wondering if they’re cut out for it or if they’ll waste their hard-earned cash. Most who’ve done it kick themselves for not starting earlier. While other industries go through their ups and downs, HGV driving remains in stubborn demand across Britain.
First Things First: Ticking the Basic Boxes
Before you get anywhere near a vehicle, there’s paperwork and prerequisites to sort out. You need to be 18+ years (though some more oversized vehicles need you to be 21), hold a proper UK car licence, and pass a medical check that proves you won’t be a hazard on the motorway.
That medical bit makes people needlessly twitchy. It’s not some impossible hurdle—just a straightforward once-over to check that your eyes work properly, your blood pressure isn’t going through the roof, and you’re generally fit enough to handle a massive vehicle without keeling over. It’s common sense stuff, really.
Brains Before Brawn
Nobody jumps straight behind the wheel. First comes the theory test – multiple choice questions and those tricky hazard clips. Many wannabe drivers come unstuck here because they reckon it’ll be a doddle. The ones who sail through? They bothered to crack open the study materials and practised until spotting hazards became second nature.
The hazard perception bit catches out even old hands who’ve driven for donkey’s years. Spotting trouble brewing takes practice, no matter how long you’ve had your car licence. Wouldn’t you sleep better knowing the 44-tonne lorry behind you is driven by someone who can spot danger a mile off?
Getting Your Hands Dirty: The Practical Bit
This is where the serious money gets spent, but it’s also where the rubber meets the road. You’ll be paired with instructors who’ve seen it all and will teach you how to handle these beasts safely, from reversing in tight spots to navigating roundabouts without causing chaos.
Most training outfits crash courses (poor choice of words, perhaps) lasting from one day to a working week, depending on your previous experience and which licence you’re after. It all builds up to the practical test – your chance to prove you can handle the vehicle without giving your examiner heart palpitations.
CPC Faff: Necessary Evil
Got your licence? Brilliant. But hold your horses – you’ll still need that Driver CPC qualification to work. That means 35 hours of additional training every five years, which might sound like a pain in the backside, but it keeps standards up.
Grumble all you want about the extra hoops, but would you fancy sharing road space with drivers who haven’t brushed up their skills since Oasis was still together? Didn’t think so.
What Happens Next?
Once you’ve jumped through all the hoops, doors start opening. From local deliveries that get you home for tea to long-haul European routes for those who fancy a bit of adventure, there’s usually something to match what you’re after.
The process typically takes 8-10 weeks from first enquiry to passing your test, though this can stretch if testing centres are backed up or if life gets in the way. Each step ticked off brings you closer to joining a profession that offers decent money, proper independence, and the satisfaction of knowing the country would grind to a halt without people like you.
Why waste another Monday morning dreading work? The open road has a much better view than a cubicle wall.
Featured Image Source: https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/11/05/14/01/truck-2920533_1280.jpg
