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Charlotte Haye 6th August 2020

The Life of a Class 1 HGV Driver

If you’re looking at which license you should train for when becoming an HGV driver, you might be a bit overwhelmed by the options out there. But while there is a wide variety of licences, the Class 1 is undoubtedly the ultimate licence to hold. And while no HGV licence is easy to obtain, you will need to put your all into the training in order to get your Class 1. So before you start the journey, you might want to know a bit more about what it can offer you, and why you should train hard to earn it. And that’s what we would like to talk about today.

What can you Drive With a Class 1 Licence?

When it comes to HGVs, no 2 licenses are the same. Each one gives you the ability to drive a slightly different type of HGV, which means you will need to choose the right kind of license for the job you want to do. But in general, the Class 1 licence is at the top of the tree.

In order to even train for a Class 1 license, you’ll need to already have your Class 2 HGV licence (otherwise known as a Cat C). There is no minimum level of experience you need – just your Class 2. Once you have this, you can train for your Class 1, which will let you drive any vehicle that weighs over 7.5 tonnes, and those that have a separate detachable trailer. Because this licence allows you to drive some of the largest vehicles on the road, a Class 1 licence will give you access to the widest variety of jobs later down the line.

In order to get your Class 1 licence, you’ll need to have your Class 2 licence (which includes a medical exam, a theory test and your CPC test), and then underdoing extra training to pass your Cat C+E practical test. You can find out more about how to do this here.

Your Duties as a Class 1 HGV Driver

This might seem like an odd thing, given that your main responsibility will be driving. But the reality is that as a Class 1 driver, you will have a few other tasks that you will be required to do as part of your job. In a typical day, you will need to:

The planning of delivery routes to ensure optimum efficiency
Ensuring all goods to be transported are safe and secure
Supervision of loading and unloading goods
Coordinating deliveries and communicating with customers about pick up and drop off
Conducting regular ‘walk around’ inspections to ensure regulation compliance
Vehicle maintenance to ensure your HGV is roadworthy
Communicating with customers and asking questions

So, as well as being a competent driver, you will also need:

Good communication skills
Great organisation
Patience and understanding
Mechanical maintenance skills
The ability to manage stress effectively

And no matter what kind of firm you end up working for, life as a Class 1 HGV driver is almost guaranteed to give you a varied working life.

Can you Upgrade Your Licence?

When it comes to HGV licenses, the Class 1 is pretty much the ‘top tier’ license you can have. But that doesn’t mean you can’t train for other things as well – which might help you if you’re looking to get specific or specialised jobs in the industry. For example, you could do:

HIAB Training: HIAB stands for Hydrauliska Industri AB – shortened to HIAB, and this licence allows you to drive and operate any type of lorry loader crane. Because this is an enhancement, you can do this training in as little as 2-3 days, and it can help boost your earnings to £22K – £31K, depending on where in the country you’re working.

ADR Enhancement: The ADR Enhancement allows any HGV driver with a Class 1 license to transport hazardous goods across Europe. This can open up a lot of opportunities for drivers, as this kind of license is in high demand. With the ADR Enhancement, you can transport:

Flammable substances
Toxic substances
Corrosive and highly corrosive substances
Explosives
Radioactive materials

And more. There is a specific training course for this licence, and it opens up the prospect of you earning anywhere between £32K and £40K as a driver.

With either of these classifications added to your license, you’ll be able to go for some of the highest-paying jobs in the industry.

How can you Find a job as a Class 1 Driver?

Finding a job as a HGV driver is a common concern among new drivers – but it shouldn’t be. A lot of Cat C+E HGV jobs can, in fact, be found online, using agencies, job boards and recruitment websites. As there is a shortage of drivers holding Class 1 licenses at the moment, there are a lot of roles available if you know where to look. Websites like Totaljobs, Monster and Indeed are good places to start – of you can opt for using a more specialised searching service – though some of these go come with a fee.

Or, of course, you could ask us! At Easy as HGV, we not only provide full training for Class 1 licenses, but we also support new drivers in finding work. As a training and recruitment company, we can help you write and refine your CV, as well as work closely with our recruitment network to find you your ideal job. Even if we aren’t the ones who trained you – we can help you find your next HGV driving role.

If you would like to know more, just get in touch with the team today.

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