So you want to be an HGV Driver – Here’s How

You’ve thought long and hard about your career choices and you’re now considering a life on the road as an HGV driver. You’ve made a good choice – especially seeing as there’s been a considerable shortage of drivers in recent years. What’s more, HGV driver training in the UK can be quick, affordable, and you’ll usually be able to find a training course in a location close to you. Here are our top tips on how to become a qualified HGV driver…

Research

Before you jump straight in and choose the first course you find, it’s wise to do a little research. There are a number of organizations offering HGV driver training in the UK, but some are better than others. So –

•Check their credentials
•Call them up and ask about their pass rate
•Compare the costs of training at various establishments
•Think about the time it will take (and money) for you to get to the training course and home again and factor this in
•Find out how long the training takes

Once you’ve thought (and got answers) to these things, you can make your choice wise in the knowledge that you are well informed.

Train

You can usually train to become an HGV driver in as little as a week. The courses are intensive and highly practical so you’ll need to be on the ball. To help you pass first time, it’s wise to make sure you –

1.Are well rested – get to sleep early throughout the week
2.Eat the right foods to keep your brain and body functioning (bananas, nuts, and oily fish are all good)
3.Do your homework – go over any notes you made during the class at home so you are constantly refreshing your memory

Money

If paying for your course is a problem but you want to get trained as quickly as possible, consider asking about finance. Many top training establishments are able to offer course candidates finance arrangements for their course fees. That means, instead of paying for it all in one go, you can spread the cost of the course fee over a series of months. This is helpful if you don’t have a large wad of savings in the bank or can’t siphon off that amount from your cash flow.

Stay in Touch

HGV driver training UK centres are often able to help with recruitment, so when you’ve passed your course it’s wise to stay in touch. Try and build a relationship with those responsible for recruitment and you could be first in line for any jobs that come their way. Furthermore, it’s a good idea to stay in touch with your fellow course mates as they too may hear of available jobs – so you can all help each other out if needs be.

Training to be an HGV driver is intensive and hard work, but if you set your mind to it, you should be able to pass your tests and get out on the road. The job can be rewarding, regular, and well paid so train hard and smart and you’ll get there…