Driving and Transport Career Guide

The transport sector is a group of companies and organisations that provide the infrastructure and logistics to transport goods or people by road, air, water or rail.The surge in online retail during the pandemic has driven up demand for the delivery of goods using the UK road networks, and there is a shortfall in the number of drivers needed to meet demand. As a result, transport and logistics companies are growing their operations and hiring more drivers, making this a good time to move into a career in driving and transport.

This guide will look at three job roles within the driving and transport sector: home delivery van driver, HGV driver and transport planner.

Potential Roles in Driving and Transport

Home delivery van drivers arrive at a depot at the start of their shift, plan their delivery route, load a delivery van accordingly, then deliver parcels to customers, recording successful and failed deliveries throughout the day. At peak holiday times, especially around Christmas, you often see a rise in delivery van driver jobs as companies recruit extra staff to accommodate the increased workload.

HGV drivers must hold a special driving license to operate such large vehicles. HGV licenses fall into two categories: Class1, to drive articulated lorries, and Class 2, to drive lorries with a rigid body. You must achieve your Class 2 license before you can apply for a Class 1 license.

While looking for HGV driver jobs, you will also see LGV driver roles advertised. HGV is the older term, recently replaced by the EU term LGV, which stands for Large Goods Vehicle. Both terms are still commonly used in the UK.

Transport planners evaluate, manage and improve transport systems for private companies or government authorities. The day to day responsibilities in transport planner jobs can vary depending on the employer and location. City centre transport planning presents different challenges to coastal locations, and working for a private construction company may be vastly different from a rural county council.

Salary and Career Progression

Home delivery van drivers tend to be paid on an hourly basis. Pay rates start at around £9 per hour, with many companies paying upwards of £11 per hour. There is the possibility of additional pay for night shift work but little other chance for progression within the role itself. Ambitious workers may use this role as a stepping stone to training for more advanced driving jobs or to move into a different role within the company.

HGV drivers require a specialist license and can command a higher salary than drivers of smaller vehicles. Hourly pay starts at around £12.50 per hour for Class 2 drivers and £17 per hour for Class 1 drivers. Some companies offer payment on an annual salary basis, starting at around £27,000 per year, rising to over £50,000 with some employers.

Transport planners start their careers on an annual salary of around £25,000. More experienced and senior transport planners can expect to earn upwards of £30,000-£40,000 per year. There is often plenty of opportunity for career progression into more senior roles.

Qualifications, Education and Experience

Home delivery van drivers

Must hold a UK driving license.
Some employers specify a clean license or a maximum amount of points they are willing to accept. In many cases, minor speeding infringements are overlooked.
No specific academic or educational qualifications are required.

HGV drivers

Must have held a UK driving license for at least two years.
Must possess relevant additional HGV/LGV driving qualifications.
Some companies ask for prior experience of driving HGVs in the UK and using digital tachograph cards.
No specific educational or academic qualifications are required.

Transport planners

Can access the career through a degree or an apprenticeship.
Need suitable A’ Levels and a Bachelor’s Degree in any subject to take the postgraduate route.
To take an apprenticeship, you need at least 5 GCSEs at grades 9-4/A*-C.
Experience using dedicated software, such as Arcady, Picady or TRICS, is desirable.

Skills

Home delivery van drivers must be well organised, calm under pressure and patient. Home delivery is fast-paced and sometimes stressful, as you are working against the clock and need to meet delivery targets. You must be a confident driver and quick thinker as you manoeuvre heavy traffic and deal with awkward or challenging deliveries.

HGV drivers must be confident on the roads, with the ability to stay calm under pressure. The willingness to risk assess and comply with health and safety measures is vital for safely handling vehicles of this size. HGV drivers can drive long distances alone, so you will need to enjoy your own company. Physical fitness is beneficial as you may be expected to help load and unload goods.

Transport planners need to have excellent communication skills as they liaise with multiple departments and companies daily and carry out public consultations on transport requirements. You must be confident and competent in using technology and software systems. Organisational, analytical and problem-solving skills are all essential.

Working Hours

Home delivery van drivers tend to work during daytime hours so that customers can receive their deliveries. However, early mornings are standard as you collect and sort your parcels from the depot before starting your morning deliveries. You will often work into the evening. Other types of delivery roles may require night working, for example, delivering food products to stores.

HGV drivers are often expected to work unsociable hours, as companies use the quieter night-time road networks to transport large loads. Expect nighttime driving and early morning starts.

Transport planners typically work normal office hours of 09:00 – 17:00, Monday to Friday, with weekends and bank holidays off.

Notable Locations

Driving and transport jobs are available across the UK, as food produce and consumer goods are distributed to all inhabited areas.

Parcel companies are big employers in the driving and transport sector. Some of the UK’s biggest parcel distribution hubs are located in:

Hinckley (DPD)
Rugby (Hermes)
Hatfield (Yodel)
Shaw (Yodel)
Tilbury (Amazon)

Transport planners can work for private construction companies or local government authorities. City centres have particularly complex transport needs. City Councils that employ transport planners include:

London
Manchester
Birmingham
Leeds
Newcastle Upon Tyne

Notable Companies

DPD – operates over 10,000 vehicles, employing over 15,000 people from 84 sites.

Hermes – employs over 20,000 couriers and offers an apprenticeship for HGV drivers.

Yodel – employs HGV drivers and offers direct employment or an alternative, self-employed option for home delivery drivers.

Eddie Stobart – a well known haulage company, employing over 6,600 people and operating over 2,500 vehicles.

Aldwych Consulting – Construction and property company that employs transport planners to help with reporting, assessments and modelling.

Next Steps

If you’re interested in a career in driving and transport, sign up to receive email alerts when relevant jobs become available. In the meantime, The Ultimate Jobseeker Guide can help you decide on your next move, prepare your CV and brush up on your interview technique.

The transport industry is just one part of the supply chain. If you’re interested in working with other stages of the supply chain process, see our Logistics and Warehousing Career Guide.