If youíre a young, new recruit to the workforce in the UK and in search of a challenging, rewarding career path; or if youíre stuck in a career from which you want to change ñ then have you ever considered the appeal of becoming an HGV driver?
The answer, for many, is probably not.
However, for those who are seeking a new career path, the HGV and freight industry in the UK currently represents a chance for a secure, engaging and financially rewarding job with ample opportunities for progression.
Driver Shortage
The UK HGV industry is currently in the midst of a fairly hefty driver shortage. Over the past decade the average age of employed drivers has risen, to the point that there have been considerably more long-term drivers retiring from the industry than younger drivers joining it.
Current estimates on the actual shortfall vary from anywhere between 30,000 and 60,000. Either way, thatís a lot of jobs waiting to be filled by the right, suitably trained new candidates.
With less than 2% of the current workforce under the age of 25 thereís a major drive (if youíll excuse the pun) within the industry to recruit from this section of society, offering an alternative and attractive option for those seeking a more vocational career.
Competitive Starting Salary
If the profile of the industry needs to be raised then itís worth noting that a newly qualified HGV driver has the potential to find work with a more than competitive starting salary. Filling one of the vacancies at a major local or national freight company can mean a starting wage upwards of £25,000 per year for a new driver, a figure thatís at least comparable to, and in a lot of cases more than, a graduate training programme at an accountancy firm or other more academic career.
Development of New and Transferable Skills
Believe it or not, thereís more to being an HGV driver than simply sitting behind the steering wheel and heading from A to B. There are the obvious skills associated with the driving itself, and once youíre a qualified driver you have the opportunity to carry these into a variety of different driving careers, albeit with continual development along the way. Additionally, there are other ancillary skills attached to the work, such as planning and logistics. So if you do move your career in another direction in the future, youíll have developed a sound skillset upon which to move.
Career Progression
That being said, one of the appeals of the HGV industry is that it provides a generally good pathway for progression within the sector. As a driver, with greater experience and continual development, there are the opportunities to earn higher salaries for working with specialist vehicles; sensitive or dangerous goods transport for instance. Also, as you develop in your work there are opportunities to move into more managerial roles, working on the logistics side of the industry, providing a pathway for a long, stable and well-paid career.
It’s a cool job
You have your own wagon, your days are spent out on the open road with your own playlist accompanying you in the cabin. And every day you might be heading off around the country, possibly even around the continent, seeing new places and enjoying a sense of freedom and independence in your daily routine, while being paid a more than healthy salary to do so. Compare that to the relative same old, same old, routine of working in a call centre or office admin job.