Truck Driver

Truck Drivers play a vital role within Logistics operation. Drivers are ultimately responsible for ensuring deliveries are made at the right place and on time. In many situations drivers will be the main point of contact with customers.

Large goods vehicle (LGV) drivers are employed to drive goods in commercial vehicles from one destination to another, usually from a supplier to a customer. They drive all kinds of vehicles over 7.5 tonnes, including rigid trucks, articulated lorries, and trucks pulling trailers.

Drivers may be required to plan journeys themselves and schedule their deliveries. Their routes may involve long or short distances. Drivers are responsible for the security of their cargo during the trip. The role may involve loading and unloading the goods, sometimes with the aid of an assistant. Drivers are also expected to deal with a variety of documentation.

The basic working week is usually 40 to 45 hours, but many drivers work overtime of up to 25 hours a week. Strict legislation governs the amount of hours a lorry driver can spend driving and resting. The rules that govern this are the EU Driving Hours and the Working Time / Road Transport Directive. The majority of a driver's time is spent alone in the cab, including eating and sleeping. Modern trucks are comfortable, quiet and some even have air-conditioning. Outside the lorry the work can be heavy, wet and dirty.

To be a truck driver, you should enjoy driving and have excellent practical driving skills, be happy to work alone and be able to concentrate for long periods and have patience, a sense of humor and a polite attitude towards other road-users. You should be polite to customers when picking up or dropping off loads, have a good understanding of safety, both on the road and when loading and unloading, be able to complete record sheets and paperwork accurately and have good physical fitness for working with loads.

No formal academic qualifications are required, but you should have basic ability in English and maths. You are required to hold an LGV licence and have a good driving record, as well as good eyesight and good colour vision. The LGV test includes a medical. The usual minimum age is 21, but many companies will only employ people aged 25 or over because insurance premiums are cheaper. A ''Young LGV Driver Training Scheme'' (YDS) has been introduced for those aged 18 to 20. For some work, especially carrying dangerous loads, some companies may specify that their drivers should be aged 30 or over.

It is possible to move into LGV driving from other work, such as warehouse and distribution or other road haulage jobs.

Experienced LGV Drivers can go on to take the Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) and, if they want to broaden their knowledge or move into transport management, an ADR course in transporting dangerous or hazardous goods by road. LGV Drivers can work anywhere in the country, especially experienced drivers with category C or C+E licence's. Job trends vary from region to region and there may be more near major manufacturing or warehousing areas.

Many LGV Drivers are self-employed. LGV Drivers working for a haulier or distributor could progress into self-employment, operating their own vehicles, perhaps eventually owning a fleet.

Other prospects include moving into distribution or haulage management, transport and logistics planning, LGV Instruction or a specialised area of driving, such as hazardous goods.