Thinking of venturing into lorry driving? Well, becoming a lorry driver is not as simple as waking up and driving a saloon car. It has a few details to it. Luckily, whatever your motivation for becoming a lorry driver is, whether it’s financial, personal, nostalgic, or even desperate, we can help you through the procedure. First and foremost, we have to put out a disclaimer: The profession of a lorry driver is not for everyone! But of course, that’s not news. All careers are better suited to some people other than others. That said, here are some characteristics that are beneficial to anyone interested in becoming one: • You must enjoy driving. • You must be highly safety conscious. • You must be very patient. • You must be self-disciplined. • You must be at ease in your own company for extended periods of time. • You should be in decent physical shape.
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What Exactly Will You Do as a Lorry Driver?
Once you decide the job fits you, expect to be driving commercial vehicles weighing more than 7.5 tonnes. These include trailer wagons, transporters, tankers and articulated trucks. As such, you’ll work out of depots, distribution centres, ports, and warehouses, transporting goods across the United Kingdom and perhaps the larger Europe. But besides being behind the wheel, other responsibilities come with lorry driving. These include: • Planning delivery schedules and routes with transport managers • Monitoring traffic reports and modifying your route if necessary • Ensuring that loads are safely secured • Supervising or assisting with the loading and unloading of goods • Basic vehicle maintenance, such as oil, tyres, and brake checks, may also be required before and after trips.
How Much Does a Lorry Driver Earn?
When it comes to income, a lorry driver’s salary ranges from £18,500 to £35,000 per year (these figures are purely a guide). Comprehensively, it’s as follows: • £18,500 to £22,000 – Beginners • £23,000 to £28,000 – Moderately Experienced • £27,000 to £35,000- Highly Experienced Candidates Expect to work up to 42 hours per week on average, with the possibility of overtime. The number of hours you can drive between breaks is strictly regulated. That said, it’s apparent that most truck drivers spend most of their time on the road, driving at all hours of the day and night in all kinds of weather. It’s in fact, possible that frequent overnight stays will be required. Do you still want to become a truck driver? Well, if you’ve made it this far and still want to be a truck driver, let us walk you through the process. how to do it:
STEP 1: Obtaining Certification
To meet the requirements by law to become a truck driver, you must be: • At least 18 years old • Have a valid driver’s license If you match the above requirements, you must then: • Obtain a provisional lorry driver’s license • Complete a Driver CPC course
STEP 2: Obtaining a Provisional Lorry Driver’s License
To begin, you must choose the type of car you want to drive. There are a few possibilities, including trailer wagons, flatbeds, tankers, and articulated lorries. These are both for vehicles weighing less than or more than 7.5 tonnes. To drive a vehicle that carries dangerous goods then you will need an ADR licence. After deciding on the types of vehicles you want to run, you must apply for the appropriate license as follows:
Medium-sized automobiles
Category C1 – This is the lowest license class, allowing you to drive commercial vehicles weighing 3.5 to 7.5 tonnes MAM* (with a trailer up to 750kg). You’ll be allowed to drive Luton vans, cargo vans, and lightbox trucks with this license. Category C1E – This class of license allows you to drive C1 category commercial vehicles with a trailer weighing more than 750kg, but not more than the vehicle when fully loaded. If you want to drive cars with huge, heavy utility trailers, this class is for you. Both of these categories’ combined MAM* cannot exceed 12 tonnes. Becoming a truck driver is a terrific career choice, especially when there are so many advantages to the work. First, you explore the world, second, you get a steady income and lastly, you’re guaranteed a job! If you’re thinking about a career as a truck driver, this guide will come in handy.
