HGV Driver
Also advertised as: Class 1 Driver, Class 2 Driver, Delivery Driver, HGV Driver, LGV Driver, Multi-Drop Driver
Drives heavy goods vehicles, moving freight safely and legally around the UK.
What the job involves
HGV drivers move the country's goods. You plan and complete routes, carry out vehicle checks, load safely, keep to drivers' hours rules and deal with customers at delivery points. Training is often employer funded because demand is high.
Typical responsibilities
- Carry out daily vehicle safety checks
- Plan and complete delivery routes
- Load and secure freight safely
- Keep accurate tachograph and delivery records
- Represent the company at customer sites
Common employers
- Haulage companies
- Supermarkets
- Builders merchants
- Waste firms
- Parcel networks
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£30,000 – £36,000 a year
With experience
£38,000 – £50,000 a year
Typical hours
Shift based, often 45 to 48 hours with nights out on some routes
Working environment
On the road
Remote working
on_site
Demand for this work
high
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- Safe driving
- Vehicle checks
- Route planning
- Load security
- Record keeping
Transferable skills you may already have
- Van driving
- Timekeeping
- Customer interaction
Requirements employers ask for
- Safe driving
- Vehicle checks
- Route planning
- Load security
- Record keeping
- Category C or C+E licence
- Driver CPC with 35 hours periodic training
- HGV licence
- Driver CPC card
- Digital tachograph card
Useful but not essential
- Van driving
- Timekeeping
- Customer interaction
- ADR certificate for hazardous goods
- Moffett or crane tickets
Helpful qualifications
- ADR certificate for hazardous goods
- Moffett or crane tickets
Licences and checks
- HGV licence
- Driver CPC card
- Digital tachograph card
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Large Goods Vehicle Driver (Level 2)
- Urban Driver (Level 2)
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Any
Where this career can lead
next
Driver Trainer
next
Transport Coordinator
next
Transport Manager
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Training often funded by employers
- Strong pay without qualifications
- Independence during the day
What people find hard
- Time away from home on tramping work
- Sedentary and unsocial hours
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a hgv driver?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. not_required
- How much does a hgv driver earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £30,000 to £36,000 a year, rising towards £50,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Van driving, Timekeeping, Customer interaction.
Related careers
Vehicle Technician
Services, diagnoses and repairs cars and light vehicles, including electric ones.
Rail Engineering Technician
Maintains and renews track, signalling or overhead line equipment on the railway.
Bus Driver
Drives scheduled bus services safely, on time and with good passenger care.
Delivery Driver
Delivers parcels or goods to homes and businesses on a planned route.
Airport Ground Handler
Handles baggage, aircraft turnaround and passenger assistance airside at an airport.
Rail Customer Service Assistant
Helps passengers at stations with tickets, information and accessibility needs.
Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 14 September 2026.
Read how our career data is built and reviewed, or tell us if something here is wrong.