Quick takeaway
A strong CV for HGV driving jobs puts your licence and Driver CPC near the top, keeps to two pages, and shows that you are safe, reliable and ready to work. Match it to each advert, back up your claims with examples, and download our free template to start from a clean structure.
Table of Contents
What an HGV driving CV needs to include
Write a personal statement that gets read
If you are new to HGV driving, lead with transferable skills
Licences, CPC and skills that matter
What your CV doesn’t need
Download the template and match it to the job
Frequently asked questions
If you think writing a CV is dull, picture the recruiter on the other side, reading through a stack of almost identical ones to fill a single HGV driving vacancy. That’s exactly why yours has to stand out. There are details you have to include, like how to reach you, and a basic format that employers expect to see. Outside of that, it’s getting noticed that will win you the interview.
At Easy as HGV, we help people get behind the wheel and stay there for the long haul. We provide a fully managed HGV training service, coordinating the entire process on your behalf, and that support carries on into your job search.
Getting started with your recruitment means structuring your CV. So, here we’ll show you how to write a distinctive CV, what to include, what not to include, and we’ll give you a template to get you started.
What an HGV driving CV needs to include
Your CV needs seven clear sections, each one easy for a recruiter to scan in seconds. Here is what belongs in each.
|
Section |
What to put in it |
|---|---|
| Contact details | Your name, phone, email and the town or city you’re based in |
| Personal statement | Two to four lines about your licence, experience and the driving you want |
| Licences and CPC | Details of your categories, Driver CPC and your Driver card for tachograph machines |
| Skills | Six to eight that match the advert, mixing driving with reliability |
| Work experience | Recent roles first, with short bullet points and numbers |
| Education and training | Including school and your HGV training and certificates, kept brief |
| References | “Available on request” is fine, with details ready if asked |
Write a personal statement that gets read
Your personal statement is the first thing a recruiter reads, so lead with your licence and experience. Keep it to two to four lines and point it straight at the role in the advert.
Here is an example for an experienced driver:
Reliable Category C+E driver with six years on multi-drop and trunking work. Clean licence, valid Driver CPC and digital tacho card. Strong on route planning, load security and on-time delivery. Looking for a regional HGV role with a company that welcomes career development.
If you are unsure which category suits the work you want, our guide on which HGV licence is right for you will help to demystify the industry.
When new to HGV driving, lead with transferable skills
Everyone starts somewhere, and plenty of employers will take on a newly qualified driver who shows the right attitude. With no HGV experience yet, use your work history to show transferable skills from delivery, warehouse, driver’s mate, forklift or customer facing roles.
Here is an example for a new driver:
Newly qualified Category C driver with a clean licence and a strong focus on safety. Background in multi-drop delivery, with solid route planning, timekeeping and customer service. Keen to build a career in HGV driving and happy to start with regional work.
Then send your CV to as many employers and agencies as you can. Working with Easy as HGV means that you’ll be matched with organisations who have genuine vacancies. Landing your first HGV driving jobs is partly a numbers game, so apply widely and follow up. The industry is experiencing a driver shortage, and many places are actively encouraging new drivers of all ages and backgrounds, which is good news whether you are starting your first career or changing direction.
Licences, CPC and skills that matter
Recruiters and applicant tracking systems look for your licences and Driver CPC first, so put them high on the page. List the categories you hold, then back them up with the skills employers trust drivers for.
The credentials worth featuring:
- Your driving licence categories, such as Cat C for rigid lorries or Cat C+E for articulated work
- A valid Driver CPC and digital tachograph card, and you can check your Driver CPC is up to date online
- Cat C1 if you drive smaller lorries, plus any ADR or HIAB tickets you hold
The skills worth showing:
- Safe, fuel-efficient driving and a clean record
- A solid grasp of drivers’ hours, working time and tachograph rules
- Load security, daily walk-around checks and basic vehicle care
- Timekeeping, accurate paperwork and good customer service
What your CV doesn’t need
A short, focused CV beats a padded one every time. Leave out anything that does not help an employer say yes:
- Long, waffling paragraphs that bury the useful detail
- Jobs and hobbies with no link to driving (if you have more relevant experience)
- Anything you cannot stand behind, since it may come up at interview
- A photo, your date of birth and your full home address
- Spelling errors, so read it through twice before you send it
Download the template and match it to the job
Our free CV template gives you a clean, ready-to-edit structure built around what employers look for. Replace the bracketed prompts with your own details, delete the grey notes, and you have a tidy two page CV.
Possibly the most important thing you can do on your CV is targeting it. Do this by changing a few lines for each advert so your CV relates to that specific role. Match your personal statement and your top skills to the words used in the job description. It takes a few minutes, and it pays off in how often you hear back.
If you need to get your licence sorted first, we coordinate local HGV training across the UK with DVSA-approved instructors, including a fast-track route to Cat C+E for drivers who want to qualify quickly. So call to find out how Easy as HGV can arrange your training and support you every step of the way into employment
Frequently asked questions
How long should a CV for HGV driving be?
Keep it to one or two pages. Recruiters scan quickly, so use clear sections, short bullet points and plenty of white space. Two well organised pages will always beat four cramped ones.
Do I need experience to apply for HGV driving jobs?
Not always. Many employers welcome newly qualified drivers, especially when you show the right attitude and transferable skills. Lead with your licence and Driver CPC, then highlight any delivery, warehouse or customer-facing work you have done.
What file format should I send my HGV CV in?
Send a PDF unless the advert asks for something else. A PDF keeps your layout intact on any device, so your CV looks the same to the recruiter as it does to you. Our template is a word document that is simple to fill in and save as a PDF.