Charlotte Haye 12th September 2018

5 Signs of a Successful HGV Driver

All across the UK’s roads, there are HGV drivers at all stages of their careers. Some of them are just starting out with their HGV training, some are starting their first HGV driving gig and some are seasoned pro’s who have been driving as long as those new starters have been alive. But they all have one thing in common. The further they get through their career, the more they will understand what it takes to be a successful, professional HGV driver. This might sound odd but bear with us. As you gain more experience driving large vehicles for a living, you will realise that there are certain skills and qualities that, when mastered, will make your working day more efficient, safe and smooth. It’s these skills that employers are looking for in their fleet of drivers, so it’s worth learning them now so that you can take advantage!

Responsibility

When you load up your HGV, you might not really consider what is going inside. After all, it’s your job to drive it from point A to point B, right? Wrong. It’s also your job to make sure that your load gets there in one piece, safely and without any damage. While some HGV’s will be transporting food or fabrics, others might be transporting highly valuable or delicate cargo – like antique furniture or chinaware. To make sure your cargo stays safe, it helps to take responsibility for the contents of your HGV, and consider yourself the guardian of the load, rather than just a driver. When you can adopt this mindset, you are more likely to keep an eye out for safety issues and drive carefully to reduce damages. A successful HGV driver is one who will happily take responsibility for their load on every journey.

Organisation

Organisation is a key skill in a lot of lines of work and HGV driving is no exception. Again, you might think that organisation isn’t something you need when simply following a route with a vehicle, but again, you’d be wrong. Being a successful HGV driver means being organised. From knowing what’s in your load to planning your route, knowing where roadworks are and making sure your paperwork is all in order before you leave – all of these require a keen eye for organisation. You will always be able to tell a successful driver because they know their route, along with a few alternatives in case they run into traffic or roadworks.

Stress Management

Driving a HGV can be stressful. There are no two ways about it. Even when you’re sat behind the wheel, getting stuck in traffic, dealing with other motorists or navigating difficult, narrow roads can all take their toll. And that’s before you get to the long periods away from home, the manual labour of loading and unloading and the pressure of meeting deadlines. A good HGV driver will understand the causes and symptoms of stress and will have some techniques on hand to deal with it. That could be anything from taking regular breaks, spending more time planning or using your time in the cab to listen to relaxing music. Understand what works for you, and make sure you work it into your routine.

Knowledge

A really good HGV driver won’t just have a good understanding of how to drive a HGV safely – they will also know a lot about the mechanics of their vehicle as well. Having a few basic tools in the cab and an understanding of how your vehicle works (along with how to repair any problems) can make a drivers life on the road go much smoother. Being able to carry out your own routine maintenance not only saves money, but it avoids breakdowns and other issues on the road for you.

Professionalism

Finally, a successful driver knows about good road etiquette. They will understand the rules of the road, as well as the attitude and behaviours of other drivers towards HGV drivers. They will be prepared for it, and drive their vehicle in a professional manner. They will also know the etiquette in rest stops and will conduct themselves professionally at all times. Truly successful HGV drivers take pride in their work and are professional to the last.

All of this might sound a bit much, but it isn’t as difficult as it seems. With the right training and instruction behind you, you can become a successful, professional HGV driver as well. At Easy as HGV, we pride ourselves in providing first-rate training for aspiring HGV drivers, as well as top-up training and licence upgrades for those wanting to really push themselves. If you’d like to find out more, just get in touch with us today.

Charlotte Haye

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