Driving a car doesn’t take much learning. It’s fairly easy once you get started, as evidenced by the vast number of people who can drive cars and the fact that you can start learning – and technically driving on real roads with other drivers – at the age of 17. 

However, just because you can drive a car that doesn’t mean you will necessarily be a good HGV driver. HGV drivers are special. There is a lot more training involved and certain personality traits that are required if you’re going to be good at this specific job. Read on to find out more.

Image from Pixabay

An Independent Worker 

One of the major factors you need to think about when you are considering becoming an HGV driver is that you will be working alone a lot of the time. You’ll be driving for potentially many hours, with only yourself for company. If this idea scares you and isn’t something you’re comfortable with, you won’t enjoy driving lorries, even if you love the idea of getting behind the wheel of a big rig. 

As well as being alone a lot of the time, you’ll also need to be a motivated and independent worker. You’ll have your routes and your deliveries set out, but you’ll need to do a lot of thinking for yourself, especially if roads are closed or there are delays. Your set of instructions won’t get you very far by itself, which is why you need to be happy making your own decisions too whether you’re moving a motorcycle or you’ve got a full load of foodstuff to deliver. 

Cool-Headed 

Are you a cool-headed driver? Do you stay calm even if people do what you might consider to be crazy things on the road or make mistakes that you would never make but that cause you to react? If so, you could make a great HGV driver since you need to be able to stay calm, rational, and cool-headed at all times on the road.  

If you are the kind of person who finds their blood pressure rises when watching other drivers, or if traffic jams cause you to lose your cool, HGV driving isn’t going to work for you. You simply won’t enjoy your job, and you’ll get frustrated every time you’re behind the wheel. Not only that, but when you’re driving you are representing the haulage company, and your behviour reflects on them. 

Stamina 

Driving is tiring, and there is no way of getting around that. HGV driving is even more tiring, especially when you need to consider that you will also be loading and unloading your lorry at each destination. This can be exhausting work, and you need to be capable and strong to be able to do it. 

Stamina is a trait that is definitely required when you are an HGV driver. As mentioned above, you’ll be working alone and there is no guarantee that there will be anyone to help with your loading or unloading at any of your stops.

HGV Driver

About the Author: John Loughran