When people think of an HGV driver’s life, they think of long, hard hours staring at tarmac and taillights on the motorway. And for some part that’s true – drivers spend a long time on the road making sure products get to their destinations on time. From the outside, it might not seem that glamorous, but actually it is an incredibly rewarding and enjoyable job, if you’re built for it. So, what does the average day in the life of a HGV driver look like?
Despite the fact that they are being driven every day, your first task of the day is to check your vehicle. No matter where you are on the road, you have to make sure everything is correct and safe before you set off. The checks you need to do include tyre pressure, checking for damage to the HGV, ensuring all fluids are topped up and even checking to make sure that no one has snuck into the vehicle overnight. Criminal activity checks are an important part of a HGV drivers routine, so you can be certain that there is no trafficking or drug related transit taking place in your vehicle.
While this might not be the start to every single day, it is a fairly constant and important thing in a HGV drivers life, so we wanted to include it. A lot of firms will want you to load up your vehicle with the supplies and goods you will be transporting, as well as unpacking it on the other end. To do this you will have had extensive training in how to lift and move heavy loads without injuring yourself. You will also need to know how to operate the lifts within your vehicle, and how to best balance the load for optimum driving. So if you are starting out a new day with a new journey, a part of it will be taken up with loading up your HGV before you set off.
Now we come to one of the things that attracts a lot of people to the profession. Once you’ve checked your vehicle and loaded up, you can go out onto the open road. Now, you can be your own boss and control your own time, provided you make your delivery on time. So if you decide you’re hungry, you can stop at a burger van for some food. If you’re tired, pull over and take a power nap before you carry on. Take it a bit slower and enjoy the scenery as you drive. Listen to what you want, when you want. It’s a very liberating and powerful thing. You can do a 9-hour shift and 8 of those hours will be your own. Or you can choose to split your hours if that’s how you prefer to work. There are regulations about the amount of hours you can do in a 12 and 24 hour period, so as long as you are within those limits and the delivery arrives on time, you can take rest breaks at times to suit you.
At The LGV Training Company we pride ourselves on providing in depth training for all of our HGV driver students. Our experienced instructors have been HGV drivers themselves for a number of years, so they are able to give you the best advice and a realistic view on what your life as a HGV driver will be like. For more information or to book your training course, get in touch with us today.