If you are thinking about a change of career or want to boost your current job prospects then training to become a truck driver could be a great choice of career for you.
Due to the nature of the job and the specialist training you must undergo to get your licence, HGV truck drivers are in strong demand. This is because there is currently a shortage of licenced category C+E drivers in the UK.
Which means that when you have completed your training and have passed the driving tests you could start working as a HGV driver and could expect to be paid around £30,000 per year.
And when you consider the fact that almost all the goods you buy have had to have been transported from one place to another and that usually means by lorry, you can see that being a hgv driver is a career that’s not going to disappear anytime soon. Which hopefully should give you a good level of job security, that is in short supply in this day and age.
Sounds good, eh? But what does this site have to do with all this I hear you ask?
Well, throughout this website we hope to bring you the most up to date information and resources that you’ll need if you’re interested in getting trained as a heavy goods vehicle driver in the UK.
From guiding you through the different categories of lorry, to the process of application and on to the examination process. With luck you should get a clearer idea of the path you’ll need to take to get your HGV licence.
We’ll also try and show you where the nearest training centres are where you live on our directory of HGV training centres.
We basically hope you’ll find our site a useful resource in planning out your new career!
Get Your Licence With An Intensive Hgv Training Course
HGV training centres are widely available throughout UK and are an excellent way for you to learn how to drive heavy goods vehicles. They can offer you a full-time training schedule that could see you get your licence in a matter of a few months, or if you wish to learn around your current commitments you can opt for a more flexible option of part-time courses to suit your own needs.
The courses will at first take place at a HVG training centre, before you’ll be taken out onto the open road when you’ve begun to get a handle on it. The length of your training will be depend on how well you can pick up the training, so it could range anywhere from one to four weeks or more depending on how well you can pick it up.
You’re instructors should be very experienced drivers that will be use to putting new trainees at ease and instructing them on how to drive large goods vehicles. You’re instructors will teach you on all aspects of operating a heavy goods vehicle including: driving skills, safety, basic mechanics, loading and securing loads and more.
This training is designed to get you up to the required driving standard to be able to confidently go on and pass the driving tests, which are made up of a theory and practical test.
On successful completion you should be standing there with your shiny new HGV/LGV drivers licence and the keys to a new career. Huzzah!
Truck Driver Training Requirements
There are a few requirements you must meet before you can start to train as a HGV driver.
Firstly, you must be 18 years old or over (this has been dropped from the previous minimum age of 21 to help younger people into the industry. However, in some cases it’s 21 years old).
Secondly, you’ll need a full driver’s licence (I know, duh! This really should go without saying, but there, I’ve said it anyway). You cannot train to drive a HGV without first having the standard UK driving licence.
Thirdly, before you can start the practical training at a training centre you’ll first have to apply for a provisional licence which also requires a medical certificate which you can arrange to have with your GP.
Some training providers will include this in their overall training package for you so check with them first for more information.
Another thing you could consider is if you are currently out of work and claiming job seekers allowance you could be eligible for a back to work training scheme, where your training costs are paid for by the government. So it could be worth your while asking at your local job centre if this is available where you live.
Okay, that’s it for this welcome/home page, take a look around the site for more detailed articles explaining various aspects of HGV training and qualification process.
All the best to you in your training!