How Flexible Is Being a HGV Driver?

When you’re choosing your career, there are a lot of things you need to take into account. Some things will be essential to you, and some will just be a nice bonus. One of the things you may want to consider is how flexible the job is. In previous years, flexibility wasn’t necessarily something you looked for – but now it’s almost essential. Particularly with the pandemic still causing chaos with the current workforce, being able to find a job that gives you the flexibility to work when you want, where you want, is a huge bonus. But of course, some jobs are easier to make ‘flexible’ than others – which might leave you wondering, how flexible is being a HGV driver?

Dictate Your Time Off

Being able to dictate when you take your holiday is always nice, but it’s something that most jobs will offer. As a HGV driver you will be able to choose your working hours and working days to fit your own preferences, and that means you have some control over the time off you get in the week as well. So if you need to be home on certain days of the week, or you want to move your shifts around to fit in with a function, then more often than not you will have the flexibility to do that. It’s a perk a lot of drivers don’t really talk about, but it can make a huge difference.

Not a 9-5

If you want to work a standard 9-5 job, then being a HGV driver probably isn’t for you. That’s because you will probably only work 9-5 once in a blue moon. The rest of the time, your hours and work days will change regularly, depending on the day, the time of year or even the weather. No two days look the same for a lorry driver. You will be delivering different things to different places on different days, and this will take different lengths of time. So one day you might be running deliveries in your home town, and the next you might be driving across the country – and the next crossing the channel to do a foreign delivery. And you do have some control over what days and hours you work, depending on who you work for.

Job Security

If you want both flexibility and security in your job, being a HGV driver can definitely do this for you. There is currently a massive shortage of HGV drivers in the UK, and companies from independent retailers to logistics giants are desperate for qualified drivers. Which means you have a whole world of choice in front of you to help you pick a company that fits your needs. HGV driving offers a high level of job security, alongside a huge number of opportunities, so you can be flexible and in control.

Control Your Working Environment

Yes, if you work in an office you can decorate your office a little to reflect yourself. But ultimately, you don’t have a lot of control over your working environment. There will be limits on what you can do, what you can display and what equipment you can have, and this can leave you feeling a little restricted. Not as a HGV driver. As long as your décor doesn’t impact the safety or integrity of the vehicle, you can do whatever you want to make yourself feel comfortable and at home. You can decorate your living space within the cab, put in a mini fridge, hang decorations (that don’t interfere with your vision) and generally make it a nice place to spend time. You can also play whatever music, podcasts or audiobooks you want (as loud as you want), wear whatever you want, and have whatever snacks you want stocked up in your cab, without worrying about office snack theft. You really do have ultimate control over your working environment.

Go it Alone

Of course, the ultimate flexibility in being a HGV driver is that you can also go it alone, and not work for anyone else at all. Freelance HGV drivers are also in high demand, and you aren’t tied to a specific retailer or logistics company. Setting up your own business in the current climate might seem like a risky move, but in this industry your risk is minimal. You also get all of the flexibility above, as well as the ability to dictate exactly when and how you work, and who you work with.

So yes – being a HGV driver is a very flexible job. And right now, it’s one of the better options for people looking to switch careers, or for a new start. Training can be done in as little as 6 weeks, which means you could be on the road before you know it. If you would like to find out more, just get in touch with us today.