Getting into HGV driving: licences, CPC and what the work is really like

The licence categories in plain terms

Class 1 opens up the most work and generally pays more than Class 2. If you hold Class 2 and want to progress, tell an employer early — some will support the upgrade for a driver who's reliable.

• ▸Category C1 — smaller lorries up to 7.5 tonnes
• ▸Category C, often called Class 2 — rigid vehicles over 3.5 tonnes
• ▸Category C+E, often called Class 1 — articulated and drawbar combinations

Driver CPC and your cards

Professional drivers need to complete 35 hours of periodic Driver CPC training every five years to keep driving commercially, and carry a valid driver qualification card. You'll also need a digital tachograph card.

Keep the expiry dates somewhere you'll see them. Lapsed CPC is the single most common reason an otherwise ideal driver can't start on Monday. Full official detail is on the GOV.UK Driver CPC pages.

Types of driving work, and who they suit

• ▸Container and port work — steady runs in and out of terminals, plenty of it around Felixstowe, and gate and turnaround times shape the day
• ▸Trunking — long straight runs between depots, often nights, less handballing, predictable hours
• ▸Multi-drop — many stops a day, more customer contact and more physical work
• ▸Store and depot delivery — regular routes and regular faces, often with early starts

Hours, tachographs and what to expect

Driving is governed by drivers' hours rules and recorded on the tacho, so shift patterns are tighter than in most jobs. Ask about start times, average finish times, whether nights out are involved and how overtime is paid — those four answers tell you more about a driving job than the headline rate does.

Newly qualified? Say so

Some insurers require a period of experience, but not all employers close the door on new passes — several will take a new Class 2 driver with the right attitude. It's worth applying and being upfront about your test date rather than assuming you'll be filtered out.

What to have ready before you apply

• ▸Licence with categories and any endorsements
• ▸Driver CPC card and expiry date
• ▸Digi card
• ▸Any ADR, Moffett, HIAB or crane tickets
• ▸Recent work history with dates, including agency spells