Have you heard these 12 misconceptions about HGV drivers? There are plenty of assumptions, so what’s the truth about truck driving? These are some of the things people think of when they discuss the job, from the job prospects and pay, to who can drive an HGV.
1. Can Anyone Drive an HGV?
It’s a misconception that anyone can drive a lorry. It’s a job that requires skill to handle a heavy vehicle, make the right calls on the road and keep on schedule. You’ve got to stay sharp even after a long day on the road.
2. Do Lorry Drivers Have to Spend Nights Away from Home?
Not all lorry drivers work away from home, though it’s true that many do. Local HGV driver jobs offer regular hours on shorter routes that could work alongside family life. Common local HGV driving jobs with a regular schedule include refuse collection and delivery driving.
That means you might have to make lots of stops in a limited time, and navigate city traffic. Job site Indeed warns that you might not earn as much as a long haul driver, and it can be stressful. But in exchange you can make it home in time for tea.
3. Is HGV Driving Low Paid?
Like any job HGV driving can be well paid if you find the right employer or train for career progression. According to Glass Door, the average HGV driver salary in January 2023 was 31,715. Lower paid drivers are earning around £24,000 per year, and at the higher end salaries come in at around £43,000.
4. Is Lorry Driving for Older Drivers?
Recent statistics show that while there’s been an ageing workforce in haulage, job availability and training schemes are bringing in younger drivers. The Road Haulage Association calculated that 30% of all HGV drivers are aged over 55, so this common misconception about HGV drivers has some truth in it. But it doesn’t tell the whole story.
You’ll find drivers who have been on the road for decades working alongside new recruits from all walks of life. Not to mention recruitment drives aimed at making the job more appealing for workers looking for a new career and to younger trainees.
5. Are There Any Female HGV Drivers in the UK?
Female HGV drivers in the UK make up 1% of all drivers. ONS figures from 2022 Q2 reveal there are 305,000 haulage drivers currently on British roads. So while the percentage may not sound impressive, there are already thousands of women driving heavy good vehicles in the UK.
In 2021, the BBC interviewed some of the female lorry drivers who make up that number. The article revealed that several logistics companies have started actively encouraging women to work as HGV drivers. Incentives include evenings and weekends off, and no gender pay gap for truck drivers.
6. Lorry Driving Isn’t an Important Job
Here in the UK, 89% of all goods are delivered by road, making HGV drivers a vital part of everyday life. That’s everyone’s groceries, much-needed car parts, new sofas… the list goes on. Getting everyday essentials where they need to be is a job to take pride in.
7. Do HGV Drivers Work Long Hours?
It’s true that HGV drivers work long hours – but it’s also a misunderstood fact about lorry driving. The days can be long and tiring at times, but your working hours are strictly limited to keep you safe behind the wheel. Drivers in England, Wales and Scotland are limited to 10 hours of driving in a day, with breaks every few hours. You’ve also got to take an 11 hour rest period per 24 hours.
8. Is It Expensive to Train as an HGV Driver?
Training to drive a lorry can cost you, but it’s a common misconception about HGV drivers that training is always expensive. Since there’s a shortage of lorry drivers in the UK at the moment the government has introduced new funding. They’re also promoting affordable routes to qualifying as an HGV driver. Read more about government funding for drivers here.
9. Do HGV Drivers Respect the Rules of the Road?
It’s a misconception that because HGV drivers take up more physical space on the road, they don’t care about other drivers. Typical lorry drivers care about road safety, and want to get through the day without hassle. There are even stories of HGV drivers stepping in to help the police by halting a dangerous driver.
10. Do HGV Drivers Have Job Security?
Haulage is the UK’s 5th largest industry, and the nation’s fastest growing as well. Recent events have left the UK in need of HGV drivers, with training schemes and recruitment drives looking to hire. Online shopping has opened up even more demand for lorry drivers to transport good between depots as well as home delivery drivers.
11. Do HGV Drivers Sit Around All Day?
Far from it – it’s a common misconception that HGV drivers just sit in their lorry. You’ve got to know your vehicle, handle in it all weather and know now what to do it you get caught in bad road conditions. HGV drivers’ responsibilities include planning their delivery routes and working to a tight schedule, checking their cargo is safe and secure and getting it unloaded correctly at each stop.
12. Is It Hard to Get a Doctor’s Appointment for the D4 Medical?
You need to pass the DVLA D4 medical to apply for your Category C licence or renew it. Your GP can do this, or you can ask another fully qualified, GMC-licensed doctor. Of course, doctors can have busy schedules that restrict Whatever you do, don’t let getting an appointment for a D4 medical stand in the way of your career.
My Driver Medical in the West Midlands offer low cost HGV driver medicals to get around the problem of availability. We provide evenings, weekends and short notice appointments to fit your schedule. Contact us today if you have any questions or book now to get your driver medical done and dusted.