Are you thinking of switching your professional life or want to advance your career?
Heavy goods vehicle (HGV) driver training could be the right step toward your new professional career.
Imagine yourself delivering cargo across the country or maybe internationally when you get your first driving job. The job of HGV drivers is one of the most important jobs when it comes to delivering heavy important goods promptly.
To become a professional cargo delivery driver, there are a lot of things you need to work on for hours. You will have to work with all your potential for several hours whilst lugging commodities to and from retail locations and manufacturing plants.
As we all know that HGV drivers are in high demand today, it is the best time to get qualified in HGV driver training.
The Main Characteristics and Skills You Will Need
Before switching to your new job and a new career, we want to ensure that it is as smooth as possible. From the very beginning, when it is your first day, and you meet your new team, here are a few skills you will need:
- Capacity to focus on work for a longer period
- Calmly driving at all times of the day and night
- Skill to complete all the paperwork and deliveries on time
- Excellent communicating skills while delivering goods
- Right education on road safety rules and all the knowledge on heavy goods vehicles including the unloading and loading of goods safely
- Ability to work independently and solve problems without any panic
Experience Required in Becoming a Professional HGV Driver
More years of experience will play an important role when it comes to being employed as a professional HGV driver. Though some companies only look out for skills that are mentioned above most of the companies look for experienced drivers. The minimum number of experience is considered around 1 year.
It might vary from company to company so before applying to any, check out their details and requirements.
Working Hours of an HGV Driver
Before becoming an HGV driver, you should know that you will have to work at irregular hours of the day and night. Though keeping the nature of the industry in mind, there are a few regulations to ensure that the drivers aren’t overloaded with the work.
- Total working hours in a day: 9 hours
- Drivers are permitted to drive 10 hours a day but only twice a week.
- Drivers may only work 90 hours in a fortnight or for 56 hours in any week.
Also, you will be glad to know that there are regulations on the rest times and hours of work for drivers. You should take at least 45 hours of rest in a week or 45 minutes every four and a half hours of drive.
The Training Process for HGV Driver Training
So do you want to have your HGV licence? Here are a few steps which can lead you to your main goal.
Step 1. Meet the requirements
To gain the licence you need to meet some of the minimum requirements like:
- Make sure that you have made your way across the age of eighteen
- Make sure that you already have a category B car licence
Step 2. Gain your provisional licence and complete your medical
The D4 medical form filled out with the help of a doctor will help you clear your medical, and then you can get your provisional HGV licence.
Step 3. Theory tests and hazard perception
So after finally gaining your provisional HGV licence, you need to book your multiple choice HGV tests and hazard perception.
Step 4. Tests and practical training
Once you are done with your theory tests, the time for practical training and tests has come.
Things to Remember
So with the help of these steps, you can qualify for your HGV driver training course and finally get your licence. Though you might face some difficulties when you decide to become an HGV driver, what can you get without hard work?
