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…

The Top 5 ‘On the Road’ Essentials for Every HGV Driver

So, you’ve passed your LGV and HGV training and now you’re ready to hit the road. Wherever it is you’re off to, one thing’s for certain, you’ll be needing some decent supplies to see you through. Leaving home unprepared could result in a rather miserable journey. So before you set off, make sure you’ve read through this list of top five ‘on the road’ essentials. It’ll be the difference between an average journey and a great one…

Entertainment

If you’re in for the long haul, you’d be a food to leave without any form of entertainment in your bag. Things to keep you occupied when you’re resting could include –

•    An e-reader
•    Portable DVD player
•    iPod or mp3 player
•    A good old fashioned selection of books
•    A pack of cards

It’s best not to take your most expensive gear on the road with you, due to the possibility of theft. However, make sure you pack a few items that you can fall back on if you’re really in need of a little light distraction.

Clean Up

If you can’t access a shower, or haven’t the time to make a detour to one, make sure you bring some freshening up essentials. Baby wipes have a multitude of uses – from cleaning your hands to wiping the dashboard! They’re also great to give your face a quick wipe down which could help you feel more alert. Dry shampoo is another good one – especially if you’re on a long journey where you might want to head out for a night. A quick spray of dry shampoo will ‘de-grease’ your hair and give it a new lease of life – which is just what it will need after being stuck inside for so long.

Clothing

Like we mentioned above, if you’re on a journey where you’ll be staying over before heading back home, and fancy a night out – fresh clothing is vital. Hitting a pub or two in your driving gear never feels great, so make sure you’ve packed a fresh change of clothes which you’ll feel comfortable in, heading out to try the local pubs.

Emergency Food Supplies

Throughout your LGV and HGV training, you’ll have covered how vital it is for you to stay alert and awake at the wheel. If that means resorting to snacks then so be it. Pack snacks that will give you sustained energy if you can – they’re much better than quick sugary fixes. Opt for cereal bars, bags of nuts (almonds are really good, and bananas. They may not be super-exciting but they’ll stand you in good stead for a long drive ahead.

Painkillers

Paracetamol. Ibuprofen. Aspirin – whatever works for you. Make sure you’ve got a pack handy just in case a headache hits… driving with a headache just doesn’t work.

We hope these handy hints will help you get the most out of life on the road. Every HGV driver has his or her own list of essentials so figure out what works for you and get out there!

Top Tips for HGV Drivers to Stay Alert on the Road

Driving long distance can take its toll. You’ll be concentrating for long lengths of time and you’ll be in charge of a hefty vehicle so it’s vital you’re alert and in control. There have been many horror stories of drivers falling asleep at the wheel and wreaking all sorts of havoc, so stay alert, focused, and on the ball.

Rest when you need to

We all need sleep and that’s a fact – and there’s no getting around it. Sleep gives our bodies and brains the vital down time in order for it to repair, rest and rejuvenate. You need sleep in order to function to the best of your abilities. Trying to cheat on sleep is a fool’s game so make sure you get regular rest breaks, and sleep a good 7 hours at night if at all possible.

Eat Properly

Feasting on junk food at service stations is a seriously bad habit, plus it won’t do you any favours. Not only will you put on weight (especially as you won’t be able to jog it off afterwards because you’ll be back in your cab), but it will make you feel sleepy and groggy too. If you want to stay alert on the road you need to eat smart not dumb. So ditch the carb-laden noodle pots that are sky high with salts, sugars and other nasties, and opt for fresh food as much as possible. Make your own sandwiches and that way you’ll know what’s gone in them, eat healthy snacks like –

•Fruit
•Veg sticks with hummus
•Yoghurt
•Nuts

Be Mindful

Mindfulness is a form of meditation that helps you to stay in the moment and stop your thoughts from trailing off. Driving for long distances can be hard on your brain and you may often find yourself thinking about all manner of disconnected things such as HGV training finance payments to a past relationship that’s gone wrong. If you can though, try and bring your thoughts back to what you are doing now, where you are driving to, and focus on where you are. Doing this should help keep your brain focused on the here and now which is vital for staying alert on the roads.

Think back to your HGV Training

Cast your mind back to your training course. Maybe you were worrying about meeting your HGV training finance payments, or perhaps there was something going on at home. How did you pull yourself out of it and get back to the task in hand? Maybe you left the room for a short break and came back in more determined to focus. You can do this on the road too – just pull over, refocus, and then get back to the driving.

Staying alert is vital to succeed as an HGV driver, so practice these top tips and hopefully you’ll be able to concentrate and complete your journeys calmly and alert.

How to be a Considerate HGV Driver

You’ll have covered driving etiquette in your HGV and LGV driver training courses – plus you should remember how to be a considerate driver from your car driving lessons. If you need a recap though, here are some top tips on how to ensure you’re a considerate HGV driver.

Look Around You

Lorries are huge vehicles and when there’s a number of them on the road together, this can be intimidating to car drivers. When you’re driving through towns, or out on the motorway, it’s important you know what other vehicles are around you. Keep an eye on your mirrors as much as possible, be aware of your blind spots, and don’t make any rash driving decisions. It’s all common sense stuff but it’s good to be reminded once in a while.

Signal

Think about it. How irate do you get when someone doesn’t signal? Nobody can read minds (although a few claim they can!). In the world of driving, you need to signal otherwise no one will know what you intend or want to do. Never just pull out, always signal, and make sure if you want to make a specific maneuver that there is space and time for you to carry this out without affecting other drivers. You’re bound to have covered all of these basics in your LGV driver training courses, so if in doubt, think back or look over any past notes, and see how you can improve and get out of lazy habits.

Don’t Risk it

If you’re tired and you’re wondering whether you can make the last stretch without stopping off, don’t risk it. Pull over, grab a coffee, get some fresh air and stretch your legs. Splash water on your face to revive you, and eat a snack to boost your energy levels. If you’re at all concerned about how tired you are, the most considerate thing you can do for yourself (and all the other drivers on the road) is to come off and take a break. You may just be preventing an accident.

Don’t Overtake on a Hill

The main annoyance of many car drivers would have to be HGV drivers overtaking on a hill – especially if they’re in a vehicle that’s been limited to 50mph. This results in a tailback of furious car drivers going nowhere fast, while up at the front the HGV inches forwards over the course of what seems like three hours. So if you can avoid it, try not to overtake on a hill – simply by staying in your lane you’ll be a considerate driver. Top marks!

Being a considerate HGV driver can take time and a bit of dedication, but if you want to be the best driver you can be, it’s wise to be as considerate as possible. Remember, being considerate is all about –

•    Thinking of others on the road
•    Being aware of other drivers
•    Treating yourself and them with kindness

Remember these points and put them into use, and you’ll be a considerate driver in no time!

Top Tips for HGV Drivers to not feel Lonely on the Road

So you’ve finished your driving course at the LGV training centre, and you’re about to set off on a long haul mission to the back of beyond. It’s going to be five days and you’re wondering how you’re going to cope without your usual home comforts and family interaction. To help ensure you stay as connected as possible here are some tips to help combat loneliness on the road.

•Touch base

A 5-minute phone call doesn’t take a large chunk out of your day, so make the effort to stay in touch. Complaining about being lonely works both ways – you need to actively ensure you’re doing everything you can to stay in contact. If you’ve got a smart phone or laptop with you there are loads of ways of staying in touch. Why not try – 

• Whatsapp – you can send photos, videos, and messages for free using wifi
• FaceTime – this free app on your iPhone allows you to connect with family and friends using the video facility on your phone so they can see you and you can see them
• Skype – free and easy. Use with a camera or simply use it like a phone
• Text message – if all else fails, a few text messages now and then wouldn’t go amiss and it will let your family know you’re safe and sound

Talk

Stay in contact with fellow drivers (mates you made at the LGV training centre and new ones on the road) when you can. Plus, when you stop off for breaks, make sure you get out of your cab and have a chat with someone. Whether that's the café owner, or fellow drivers – a bit of verbal interaction can help ease that feeling of isolation. And remember, all other long distance drivers will probably be feeling the same – or will have felt it at some point so they'll get where you're coming from if you just need a chat.

 Read

If you can’t interact with anyone, divert your attention to something else and read a good book. This is a great way to stop yourself thinking about issues in your own life and get absorbed in another world altogether.

Watch a Film

Likewise with the book above – forget about your own worries and lose yourself in a film. If it’s a good one, hopefully by the end of it you’ll have forgotten what you were worrying about in the first place.

Exercise

It may sound like a bit of a random one, but if you’re feeling down and a bit lonely, a bit of exercise could help boost your mood. If you’re on a break, don’t stay slumped in your cab, get out and stretch your legs. A little walk – or a brisk run – will get the endorphins going and help to bust those blues out of the water.

Being away from your loved ones can be hard work, but if you establish good habits from the off, you should be able to stop any feelings of loneliness in their tracks.

Training to be an HGV Driver? Here’s what to look for…

So you’ve crossed the first hurdle and you’ve decided you’re going to train to be an HGV driver. Give yourself a pat on the back! Making that first definite move to changing your career is often the hardest part – especially if you’re already midway through your working life and have family and other responsibilities to think of. But here’s the good bit – there are some really great HGV training centres across the UK so if you make the right choice and choose wisely you’ll be in safe hands when it comes to your training. So before you choose, what should you look out for?

First off, as with any educational institution, it’s always wise to check out their credentials. Reputable HGV training centres should be able to answer ‘yes’ to a number of the following (if not all)… They should be associates of the RHA (the Road Haulage Association), and members of the FTA (Freight Transport Association). Furthermore, HGV training centres should be regularly inspected by awarding bodies to ensure they are following correct procedures, and training people to the right standard.

Alongside all this, you should also ask to check out their pass rates of previous candidates. If a training centre is training people and getting a poor pass rate, it says something about the quality of their training. As well as the pass rate, consider the location of the training centres, and the number of training centres they own/run.

Training for a new career can be hard work, and it will take a considerable amount of time. You’ll need to study, pass tests, and be assessed. With that in mind, it’s wise to consider the location of your training centre. The closer to home, the better. You’ll save money on travel costs, and be able to fit the training in around your work and life more easily.

There are many HGV training centres around the country, and while many will work hard to train you to the best of their ability, some will work extra hard to take things even further. Look out for HGV training centres which have attached recruitment centres so that they can help you find work once you’ve gained your licence. This can ease the whole ‘job hunt’ process considerably, and should make finding work that little less painful.

So, there you have it – everything you need to think about when choosing your HGV driver training centre. One final thing to think of though is just how long your potential training centre has been training for. If it’s only been open for a few years, it may not have the level of expertise that some of the older centres have – but that’s not always the case. Before you sign up to training of any kind, always make sure you check out the institution beforehand and make sure their credentials are up to scratch. This, after all, is the most reliable way of ensuring you’ll get training that’s top-notch, accredited, and destined to get you on the road.

How to be the Best Bus Driver Ever

Nobody likes a grumpy bus driver and that’s a fact. You know the ones – they never smile, they shout down the bus for people to move down even when there’s nowhere to go, and they drive like a maniac. But bus drivers have a huge amount of responsibility and it’s no surprise that sometimes the stress gets to them. However, if they’ve undergone their PCV training in a UK centre, they should have everything in place to ensure they’re fully prepared for life as a bus driver. If you’ve already taken your PCV training in a UK centre but you’re looking for tips on how to be a better bus driver, read on…

•Be considerate

Sometimes people run late for buses, but sometimes bus drivers take great delight in closing the bus doors just as someone has screeched to a halt in front of them. The bus can’t go anywhere because it’s in a line of slow moving traffic. A thoughtful bus driver would be considerate enough to open the doors and let the passenger on. If it won’t stop you reaching your destination on time and there are no hazards associated with opening the doors, then why not make someone’s day and do it?

•Smile

We all know that sometimes smiling can feel like the hardest thing in the world – especially if you’ve got a lot going on in your head. However, a simple smile and a bit of eye contact can really be appreciated. And here’s the good bit – it can also make you feel better too. Smiling uses muscles in your face – and like every muscle, these ones need to be exercised.

•Give change if you have it

So you’ve got a passenger who only has a £10 note and their fare is just £1.10. Don’t moan at them for not having the right change, and don’t tell them you can’t give them change because you don’t have it if you do. Haven’t you been that person who was running late and forgot to make sure they had the right change? At some point in your life you must have, so be kind, find them the right change, and don’t begrudge them.

•Take a Refresher course if you need it

If you’ve got out of the habit of driving a bus, why not take a refresher course to get your confidence levels up? There is PCV training UK so there’s bound to be a centre close to you that is sure to help. A quick refresher course can make all the difference to how you feel behind the wheel.

Being a bus driver can be a great job, and if you enjoy it, others will enjoy your driving too. Bus drivers are always in demand, and the work can be regular and rewarding. You’ll need good levels of concentration, and be happy working in a customer facing environment, so if this sounds like you it’s probably time you got on the buses!