British companies are currently suffering from a shortage of HGV which has impacted production and deliveries in many sectors.
Because of this shortage, there is currently a recruitment drive in the sector for drivers to help lessen the blow.
If you feel like you need a career change, now is probably the best time to become a lorry driver.
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In fact, becoming a lorry driver is a lot easier than you think, especially if you have prior experience in driving large vehicles such as coaches or buses.
Here's a breakdown of everything you need to become a lorry driver.
What you need before qualifying
Before you become a lorry driver you will need to meet a few criteria.
First of all, you must have a full driver's licence, provisional licence holders will be unable to apply until they pass their driving test and obtain a full licence.
Secondly, you must be over the age of 18 - there are some exceptions to this rule though which can be checked here .
Finally, you must obtain a professional driving qualification, known as the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC).
A full driver CPC is required to drive any professional vehicle such as a bus or coach, therefore, if you already have this from a previous job the application process will be much shorter for you.
The CPC can be acquired by applying for a provisional bus or lorry licence and passing the four tests that will qualify you for a full licence.
Additionally, you will need to take 35 hours of periodic training every five years to keep your qualification.
How to apply for a full licence and take your test
To apply for a licence you must order a D2 and D4 form from the DVLA - a doctor must sign the D4 form.
Once filled in, you must send both forms and your photocard driving licence to DVLA - there’s no application fee for this.
After receiving your provisional you can start taking the CPC test which is split into four parts which are:
- Part 1 - Theory
- Part 2 - Case studies
- Part 3 - Driving ability
- Part 4 - Practical demonstration
The CPC theory test is similar to the one you need for your car licence, it involves answering 100 multiple choice questions.
With a time limit of one hour and 55 minutes, participants must get at least 85 questions correct in order to pass.
The Case studies test is done on a computer and is made up of seven case studies that go through the various situations you will likely encounter while working - over one hour and 15 minutes, participants must gain a pass mark of 40 out of 50.
The practical driving ability test last 90 minutes and will test your driving as well as off-road situations.
The practical demonstration will test your ability to interact with the lorry such as loading goods, assessing emergency situations, and safety checking your vehicle - you're scored out of 100 points and must earn at least 15 points in each area.
How much do the tests cost?
According to the government, the tests cost:
Driver CPC part 1a: theory - multiple-choice questions: Weekdays £26, evenings and weekends £26
Driver CPC part 1b: theory - hazard perception: Weekdays £11, evenings and weekends £11
Driver CPC part 2: case studies: Weekdays £23, evenings and weekends £23
Driver CPC part 3: driving ability: Weekdays £115, evenings and weekends £141
Driver CPC part 4: practical demonstration: Weekdays £55, evenings and weekends £63
The costs are the same for all categories of lorry and bus, eg C1, C, D1, and D.
