Although thousands of individuals pass them on the roads every day, not many people stop to think about what is required to become an HGV driver. Heavy Good Vehicle (HGV) drivers transport goods from suppliers to customers.
Before an employee is able to become an official HGV driver, he or she must hold a Certificate of Professional Competence, have a full vehicle driving license, and proof they are older than 18 years old. In addition, many companies require prospective drivers to undergo an apprenticeship or training course. Although there are just a few requirements for HGV drivers, they are necessary for maintaining the safety of other motorists as well as HGV drivers.
If you are thinking about becoming an HGV driver, you need to be thoroughly familiar with the job’s demands. People who are thinking about becoming an HGV driver needs to weigh both the positive and negative aspects of HGV driving before they can make an informed decision for themselves and their careers.
The following are some of the benefits that come with being an HGV driver:
- Being able to climb up the career ladder after obtaining experience
- Getting to travel and becoming familiar with various parts of the country
- Job stability and competitive pay
Although this job has a number of benefits, there are a number of negative aspects as well that need to be considered before you commit to a position. Those include:
- Having to drive in hazardous weather conditions
- The job’s unsocial nature
- Needing to deal with other drivers’ animosity while out on the road
HGV Driver Skills
In order to become an HGV driver, there are a few essential skills you should possess.
Driving Abilities: HGV drivers should all have extensive knowledge of road safety and have the ability to effectively practice safe driving.
Self Motivation: Due to the extensive driving that is required and the job’s loneliness, this profession requires self-motivated drivers who are willing to do their work without having a boss who is constantly looking over their shoulder to check on their work.
Concentration: During heavy traffic and bad weather, HGV drivers must be able to concentrate and focus on the road in order to avoid accidents.
Paperwork: When drivers are not driving, they are responsible to log information about their deliveries and trip details.
An HGV Driver’s Daily Responsibilities
Although the primary responsibility of HGV Drivers is driving, there are many other tasks that they are responsible for as well, including:
Delivery Routes: Drivers are required to plan their delivery routes in order to ensure that productivity is maximised.
Coordinating Deliveries: Drivers need to be able to communicate with customers for coordinating pick-ups and drop-offs to deliver goods.
Supervision of the Loading of Goods: HGV drivers supervise goods being loaded and unloaded.
Checking Routes: Routes must sometimes be changed if there are high levels or any traffic or accidents.
Safety Regulations: Drivers must inspect their lorries to ensure it is in compliance with legal requirements and national safety regulations.
Vehicle Maintenance: Any time a driver notices that their lorry has an issue they are responsible for ensuring it gets the necessary maintenance.
Communicate with Customers: To keep customers happy, drivers need to be able to politely interact with customers and address any concerns they might have.
The HGV driving profession is definitely underrated. Not only is HGV driving profitable, but it also bears a lot of responsibility, so start on the process of becoming an HGV driver today by beginning with an online CPC training. You will be embarking on both a professionally fulfilling and satisfying journey.
Many of us come across HGV drivers on the motorways on a daily basis, however, not many take a minute to think about what it means and what it takes to be a HGV driver. Basically, HGV drivers, or otherwise referred to as Heavy Goods Vehicle drivers are the personnel responsible for transporting goods from suppliers to customers.