There are loads of Careers out there today which require a lot of driving, and none more so than being a Large Goods Vehicle Driver, or LGV driver. I have been performing some research into this unexpectedly varied career with a view to giving individuals who could be hunting for New careers to move into an idea on what they will get should they embark on a New career as an LGV driver. As I pointed out there are actually a few Careers you can advance into from this particular role, so I am going to look at how you can become an LGV driver, the kinds of hours you will need to work and the salary you will get, and then a quick look at the various Careers you can then progress into as you gain more experience.
Now to start a career as an LGV driver, you don’t require any official qualifications, though English and Maths at G.C.S.E. are always beneficial. You do of course, however, need the proper driving licence which will permit you to lawfully drive larger vehicles. Now there are various different kinds of driving licence in existence, which determine the size of the vehicle that you can drive. The licence which can cover you for all heavy vehicles is the category C+E licence, and you must be at least 21 to take this licence test. It will cover you to drive LGVs over 3,500kg in weight, which covers the great majority of goods vehicles across the UK. Many businesses provide training for this particular licence, but you must always pay for it with funds from your own pocket, and it can be somewhat pricey to take the test as well as undertake the training.
Once licensed, drivers generally earn anywhere from £15,000 to £30,000 per annum, which is quite a respectable pay to be earning. Working hours generally range from 40 to 48 hours in a single week, however legally you are not authorised to drive for anymore than 9 hours in a single day for health and safety reasons. Quite often, the LGV driver will work along with their supervisor and plan routes on a daily basis, depending on the type of delivery being undertaking. LGV drivers will be responsible for making sure that their vehicle is correctly loaded, and they will undertake any checks required before starting on long journeys. There will also be some paperwork required, as drivers must ensure that the proper paperwork is completed prior to delivering goods. As an LGV driver, it is very important that you can focus over long periods of time, and stay alert at all times.
Once you have gained some experience as an LGV driver, you could then begin thinking about other New careers that you may wish to move into. A common choice is to move into the role of instructor, and pass your knowledge onto other people looking to start a New career in this role. Other options include training for specialist vehicle driving, such as a transporter for hazardous chemicals, or moving into executive and logistics jobs. So as you can see, there is a lot more to this particular role than meets the eye initially, and it has good prospects for the dedicated individual.
