Samantha Hathway 26th August 2021

Leisure and Entertainment We Wouldn’t Have Without HGVs

Training to become an HGV driver is the pathway to a truly rewarding career. But if you’re thinking all you’ll haul is supermarket and retail goods, then think again! It’s true that HGVs are vital to the UK economy. According to the Department for Transport, over 80% of goods are transported by road in the UK. In 2020, this equated to 1.27 billion tonnes of freight. Indeed, over recent weeks we’ve all seen just how important road freight is, with supermarket shelves running empty as a result of driver shortages. But there’s a whole other arena of employment that you can work in as an HGV driver. Namely, the leisure and entertainment industry.

Events may have been cancelled and postponed in 2020, due to Covid. But with restrictions easing and the economy opening up, events are once again springing up across the nation. All of these leisure activities would be impossible without the support of HGV drivers, who ferry parts and vital equipment between venues. Here’s our list of the entertainment activities we just wouldn’t have without HGVs:

Funfairs

Most towns have summer and Christmas events that include funfairs. The big wheel, the octopus, the haunted house and the house of mirrors is something most of us can recall with fond memories. Strolling from ride to ride, with candy floss in hand, you couldn’t help but spot the lorries that transport the rides from one town to another.

But this wasn’t always the case. Travelling funfairs have been around since medieval times. The funfairs themselves now no longer even closely resemble the original events, however. They’ve transformed from large centres of commerce to entertainment venues, and from displaying wonders and freak shows to the rides and game stalls we see today.

The golden age of the funfair started during the Victorian era. Electrification, mechanisation and the advent of the motor vehicle was a game changer for travelling fairs. Bigger, larger rides could now be transported and run from venues all over the country. Indeed, there are now over 200 events run in the UK every weekend, between Easter and November. None of this would be possible without the help of HGVs and their drivers.

Carnivals

Along with funfairs, carnivals have a rich history. In fact, carnivals can be traced back to the Middle Ages. They were originally a Christian event, marking Epiphany. At this time, carnival was a period of feasting and celebration before the fasting of Lent. Over the years, carnival has changed to mean something different to each country, race and culture. It now blends religious and pagan traditions; with masks, costumes and parades marking the turning of the seasons.

In towns and cities up and down the UK, carnival today involves a series of costume displays, transported on ‘floats’ around set routes. These floats are usually large enough to require a flatbed or curtain side lorry. This is where HGV driving credentials are essential. It takes a great deal of skill to carefully transport sets and people safely along a carnival route. Some will be sponsored by local businesses, some will be representing schools, but carnivals are mainly used for advertising and fund raising. While once upon time there was little red tape, carnival organisers now need to ensure that floats have insurance and drivers are fully qualified. So you can use that HGV licence to help out in your community, and bring some cheer to your town.

Circuses

Ah, who hasn’t seen The Greatest Showman? In the movie, Hugh Jackman immortalises PT Barnum and the origins of the modern circus. As you’ll see if you’ve watched the movie, the original attraction ‘Barnum’s American Museum’ was in a fixed location. It included live acts, curiosities and stuffed animal exhibitions.

Over the years, Barnum dabbled in many ventures, including an aquarium and waxworks. In 1870, at the age of 60, PT Barnum created the travelling circus. Known as ‘PT Barnum’s Grand Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan and Hippodrome’ the circus travelled by train from city to city. This was because of the undeveloped road network, but over the years, the travelling circus moved from the rail tracks to the highways. The circus we see today may not include stuffed or exotic animals or the curiosities of the original incarnation, but rather are displays of human strength, agility and athleticism. They move from town to town, transported by – yes, you’ve guessed it – lorries and trucks.

Music festivals

The popularity of food and music festivals has boomed in recent years. Once the preserve of rockers at Woodstock and Glastonbury, there are now over 240 music festivals in the UK. Many are family friendly, and they offer a variety of themes, including food and motorsports. Or a combination of the two, such as CarFest. But how do these events get set up? Who brings in the equipment, tents, toilet facilities and general goods? Yes, once again, without HGV drivers none of these events could take place. So the next time you’re getting down at the silent disco, or in the mosh pit at the main sound stage, think about how everything got to the muddy field you’re stood on. This could be thanks to an HGV driver, and if you complete your training, this could be you!

Motor racing

The motor racing season involves many races held across multiple venues. Whether we’re talking Touring Car Championships or Formula One, there’s a huge amount of logistics that goes into transporting the personnel and equipment required. Let alone transporting the racing vehicle itself. This is where the role of the HGV driver comes in. You’ll see vans and trucks transporting racing teams across the network of UK and European motorways. Without HGVs, this simply couldn’t happen for major sporting events.

However, the most herculean task has to go to Formula One. In 2021, this has involved the transportation of 10 teams to 23 races, held in 21 countries and over five continents. A combination of air, road and sea transport is used to move the cars, equipment and tools. The liveried trucks are a site to behold. They carry the cars on elevated, cushioned platforms. If you live near the Redbull or Mercedes racing team bases in the UK, you’ll doubtless have seen these trucks on nearby motorways. These HGVs are the unsung heroes of the world of motorsport.

In summary

So as you can see, obtaining your HGV licence can open up a world of possibilities working in the leisure and entertainment business. If you’re interested in learning more about gaining your HGV licence then get in touch today. We offer great value local training for all HGV licences. So whether you’re interested in gaining your Category C1 or C1+E licence, or the full Category C and Category C+E licences, we can help. We also offer horsebox and periodic CPC training, and can help you every step of the way. From applying for your provisional licence all the way to gaining employment, we can help you achieve your dream of becoming an HGV driver. So get in touch today at 0800 970 8447 and launch your HGV driving career.

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