It’s January again, and you know what that means? You’ve taken time off work and spent Christmas with your family, enjoying days of spending your time relaxing, playing board games and eating far too much. And now you’re back to reality, work doesn’t quite have the same shine to it. Maybe you’re tired of doing the same thing, feel unfulfilled or just want a change of scenery? The January blues affect everyone in some ways. But if you do want a change, then becoming a HGV driver could be the new career for you. Step away from the 9-5 and experience a completely different lifestyle.
When it comes to flexible working, nothing can beat HGV driving. Driving a HGV is all about you and the road, so while you will have schedules to work to, you get to choose what those schedules look like. Demand for HGV drivers is so high that you don’t even have to stay in one place to work for long periods. If you don’t want to work for a company that will dictate your routes and schedules, then you can always set up on your own and experience the ultimate in job freedom – and still make a great wage, thanks to the consistent and rising need for qualified drivers. HGV driving is one of the most versatile careers out there for flexibility, so if that’s important to you, then go for it!
As you may (or may not) know, the UK is experiencing one of the worst HGV driver shortages it’s ever seen. This shortage isn’t new news – it’s been doing on for quite a while now, and with Brexit on the horizon it could soon tip from being a problem to a disaster. HGV drivers are the pillars that keep our economy going, transporting goods from all across the country and the world for businesses to make and sell. All of that means that a newly qualified HGV driver is like gold dust to retail companies. If you were to take up a career as an HGV driver, you would never be scrabbling around for work. You would be in high demand, and you would be helping keep the UK economy going in our most uncertain times. In other words – you would become an active and important part of the solution!
Speaking of demand, HGV driving doesn’t exactly pay badly either. Because the skill is in such high demand, companies are falling over themselves to provide enticing packages for new drivers. At the moment, the average HGV driver earns a minimum of £30,000 a year, with more added on for a clean licence, different licence types held and level of experience. On top of that, you can expect bonuses, pay rises and the opportunity to upskill and earn more at the same time. Pay and benefits have never been better for the modern HGV driver.
As we’ve already mentioned, there are some issues on the horizon that are causing a lot of UK workers uncertainly (Brexit being just one of them), and people are worried about their long-term job security. If any of these things do happen, then there is one industry that will survive – the haulage industry. HGV drivers will always be in demand since businesses will still need to move products around, which makes good, skilled drivers a valuable commodity.
So, how do you start your career as an HGV driver this year? Well, the first thing you need to do is get some training. That’s where we can help. At the LGV Training Company, we specialise in helping aspiring HGV drivers learn the ropes, and become competent, safe drivers of the future. We can even help place you in your first job once you qualify! To find out more about starting your GV carer, just get in touch with the team today.