Career in HGV Driving - a Women's Perspective

Logistics is in the news! The national pandemic has highlighted the importance of the logistics industry – their critical input into the NHS and the required supplies, plus the increased reliance from the general public on home delivery. In fact, HGV Drivers have rightly been given Key Worker status and are a vital part of the national efforts to beat Covid19.

However, did you know that there is a driver shortage of almost 80,000 in the UK? The industry is crying out for new talent, but the likelihood is that if you are reading this and you are female, you will think that a job driving a lorry is not relevant to you. In reality, a growing number of female truck drivers would beg to differ.

Pauline Wheatley   is a female driver who is passionate about the fact that HGV driving is not just for men. She has kindly taken the time to tell us why:

What made you decide to be a HGV driver?

I have always liked the idea of driving since I was a child, I remember speaking to a careers advisor at school, stating that I wanted to be a lorry driver, and was met with a very confused stare! I was encouraged to follow a path into administration, and so that is what I did. Over the years I had a number of office jobs, none of which were particularly fulfilling or well paid.  It was after being made redundant for the second time, and a period of unemployment, I started to really assess my options. I felt disillusioned and unappreciated within the career I had chosen, and the desire to be a truck driver once again came to the fore.  I then paid a visit to the Truckfest show at Peterborough and had a conversation with a young lady Trucker who worked for a Derbyshire Company.  I had a few reservations but she gave me plenty of encouragement and basically said, "Just go for it" and so I did and never looked back!

How did you find the training to get your license?

It was really straightforward. I got onto the course with thanks to Road to Logistics, who are a non-for-profit set up by logistics professionals, to try and reduce the talent shortage whilst making roles in driving more accessible to people like me. They provided me with a huge amount of support and encouragement, allaying any fears I had.  I took my medical first as you have to pass a medical to be able to drive a HGV, and then did the theory test, my CPC and practical training. My biggest piece of advice is to practice, practice, practice! Also, to not give up. I didn’t pass first time, but actually, the feedback I got as to why I failed, helped me make the necessary improvements and I passed second time.

The feeling of passing my Class C (Class 2) in Dec 2016 – well I was overjoyed! But when I passed my Class C+E (Class 1) in May 2017 I don't mind confessing there was a big hug for my instructor and many happy tears!

How was the transition from training into an actual driving job?

Again, this was very straightforward for me. As I was on a Road to Logistics programme, they guarantee a job interview with one of their logistics partners on successful completion of my training. Not only did this motivate me to pass my test, but it also gave me confidence that there was a tangible job opportunity once I had achieved my license.

So has becoming a HGV Driver lived up to your expectations?

It has exceeded them! Don’t get me wrong, HGV driving is still a bit of a man’s world, so you need to be prepared for a bit of banter and it is important to plan your routes to ensure you can stop at Truckstops that have adequate facilities for women etc. But I have found that people go out of their way to help me. Every driver has been a newbie at some stage in their career and so there is a lot of support and a real sense of camaraderie amongst the driving community.

Like all other Lorry Drivers, I get a lot of waves from kids on bridges and smiles from fellow road users which always makes my day. There can be long hours involved, but the shortage is that great that you can pick and choose your shifts and hours of work if you work through an Agency, so flexibility is available if that is what you need.

Why would you recommend driving as a career option to other women?

Having worked in roles that are recognised more traditionally as “female” jobs, the transition to driving has been a breath of fresh air. Every day is different, your office is your cab and your view changes all the time! The money is far better than working in an office job, and in my experience, is one of the few roles where you get absolute pay parity with your male counterparts.

The job is not stressful but is still challenging and fulfilling, you have a big responsibility to ensure you are driving safely and protecting other road users, and of course, ensuring that the goods you are delivering reach the customers in perfect condition and on time.

I like the customer service element – I am the face of my business when I am dropping off goods, and I get to meet lots of different people every day and build relationships with our regular customers.

There are a variety of hours and shifts on offer across the industry. Driving doesn’t mean being in a truck from Monday to Friday and only home at weekends, there are local HGV roles as well as long-distance. In fact, there is something to suit the personal circumstances of most people which is why it is such a great career option.

Another big plus is how stable the industry is. In a time of uncertainty, Logistics and Driving are very secure, future-proofed roles. 

You do need determination – getting your license is not the easiest thing in the world to do, but if you don’t give up, you can definitely do it!

How important is the role Road to Logistics has played in your success?

The support I have had from RtL has been invaluable. To be honest, in the beginning they believed in me more than I believed in myself. They backed me 100%, not just during the training period but even after I started working. They provided access to funding so I didn’t have to pay for the license myself, and then introduced me to my employer. Essentially, the took away the obstacles that you would normally face if you were looking to become a HGV driver on your own.

To find out more about Road to Logistics and the various programmes with logistics companies across the country, visit www.roadtologistics.org or contact Jennifer Swain at [email protected]