Top Tips for Commercial Drivers Looking for Their Next Role

Do you find yourself daydreaming about more flexible driving hours, higher pay, or better benefits? Want a more stable contract type that allows you to plan your personal and professional future with confidence?

There are thousands of trucker jobs in the UK available right now, but narrowing the search and identifying the right driver job for you takes time, focus, and a clear definition of what you'd like to have in your next role.

It's time to find your next great opportunity, and a few, simple tweaks to your job hunting strategy can help you manage it. If you're looking for a leg up in your HGV driving career, we have advice to share. Read on for our top five tips for commercial HGV drivers who are ready to move into their next role.

1. Update Your CV, driver CPC, and certifications

Any job hunt in any industry starts by dusting off your old CV and updating it with your experience, key skills, licences, and professional certifications. Microsoft Word and Google Docs both offer templates for writing a CV, so it's never been easier to draft a polished document that clearly outlines your most impressive professional skills.

As an HGV driver, one of your most important assets is a clean driving licence or driver CPC. Make sure it's up-to-date and lists your CPC driving hours, digital tachograph cards, and any specialist qualifications you've achieved (bus or crane operation, for example).

Include contact information for your references, listing the names, email addresses, and phone numbers of past employers who will happily give your professional performance a glowing review. Make sure you ask your references for permission before you include their name and contact information on your CV.

2. The right job search platforms play a crucial role

Job boards like Indeed, Reed, and industry-specific job websites are a good place to start. On those, you'll find thousands of HGV driving jobs advertised, and you can usually apply for jobs within the website or app. That makes it simple to jump on a great opportunity when you see one.

But you'll find "gold standard" jobs with driver recruitment agencies (like Driver Require). Specialised agencies have the transport industry network connections to find valuable positions for talented drivers. Plus, they'll help you narrow the list of jobs to meet the benefits and pay you want to find in your next employment.

Bring your personal network into play as well. Connect with your fellow drivers and fleet managers via LinkedIn and industry forums. When you meet others in the industry, ask questions about their employment and listen for clues that it might be a good fit for you, too. If a company you'd like to join is recruiting drivers, reach out to their driving team to learn what it takes to get a foot in the door.

3. Know what you're seeking in your next HGV driving role

Do you want to drive from one central site, or are you happy reporting to various locations? Do you want pay per hour, or would you prefer a yearly salary? Are you looking for a permanent full-time, part-time, or temporary contract type? Do you want to avoid driving at night, or have other schedule requirements?

Assess what's missing in your current role and the benefits you'd like to find in your next one. Factors like pay, work-life balance, vehicle type, and route preferences can help you narrow your search.

Look on websites like Glassdoor.co.uk to see how drivers really feel about their employer. Whatever your next role, make sure it's with a company that values its drivers via supports like overtime pay, ongoing driver training, and manageable driving hours.

4. Prepare for interviews and assessments

Don't let an interview or phone screening take you by surprise. Polish your interview skills so you feel confident and prepared to discuss your strengths, experience, and your future.

At a minimum, employers will be interested in your driving experience and record. They'll also listen for clues about your problem-solving skills, ability to operate large vehicles, rapport with customers, and ability to work in a team.

Review common interview questions that managers often ask commercial drivers so you know how questions might be phrased or what kind of information they're seeking in each answer.

You might also need to practice for driving assessments or competency tests, so if you know you have weaker skill areas, now is a good time to improve them.

5. Remain a compliant and professional HGV driver

You're an efficient, responsible driver with a clean driving record and every hope of a bright future, so your best course of action is to keep it that way. Demonstrate reliability, punctuality, and professionalism to help you stand out to employers.

Keep up with new industry regulations and safety requirements so that nothing is missing on your CV. Being in-the-know about the transport industry shows employers that you're passionate about your profession and dedicated to building a long-term career.

Find the right position faster with Driver Require

When you register as a driver with Driver Require, you tap into a country-wide network of top employers who value their driving team and show it with competitive salaries, employment perks, and ongoing training.

Our employer clients trust us to connect them with the industry's most skilled candidates. If you'd like to become one of them, register as a driver, and we'll be in touch with exciting opportunities.