9 Signs You Should Invest in HGV Driver Training


If you’re wondering whether to invest in HGV driver training then the answer is probably yes. Both employer and employee benefit from an ongoing training and development philosophy so you really have nothing to lose and lots to gain.
 
For the employer it can help them achieve a greater level of efficiency and effectiveness in their business. Their workers, properly trained, make fewer mistakes and work smarter and more efficiently. It also prevents legal conflicts that can arise from having untrained staff.
 
For the employee it helps improve job performance, gain new skills (which make you more hireable), and become more effective at your job. On top of this, for many people learning new skills is fun and rewarding too (not just financially!).
 
So, with that in mind, we’ve come up with 9 signs that it’s time for you to invest in some extra training.
 

1. It’s just time

Some training is mandatory. The main one of these is your DCPC. You need to complete 35 hours of Driver CPC driver training every 5 years to maintain your entitlement. You can spread it out however you like, so long as you complete all 35 hours within a 5 year period. After 5 years, any unused modules will expire so you’ll need to re-do them.
 
However, if its coming to the end of your five years and you haven’t yet completed your routine training, this is a sure sign you need to invest some time and money and get that done, otherwise you won’t be driving anything.
 
If you do let your CPC lapse, don’t panic. You just need to complete the 35 hours to renew it.
 

2. You’ve been getting less work recently

There are many possible reasons for this, but amongst them could be that you simply don’t stand out on paper.
 
Whether or not other people are better drivers than you is pretty hard for a new employer to tell, so the more impressive you look on paper the better the odds you will get that call for the next job.
 
The more qualifications and experience you have, the better you look to a potential employer. New opportunities are never far behind.
 

3. You were passed up for a pay rise

Again there could be numerous reasons for this. However, one reason could be that you aren’t showing your employer that you’re as invested as they want.
 
By continuously putting yourself forward for development training you show that you care about what you do, you are interested in learning and staying on top of your game, and that you are self-motivated.
 
These are all great qualities for a lorry driver to have. And an employer will surely take note.
On top of that, learning new nuances of the trade can only help you in the future (see point 2).
 

4. Your company recently got new machinery in

Whenever a company introduces new machinery, whether it’s a new lorry loader, or even new lorries, it’s worth getting yourself familiar with it as quickly as possible.
 
Investing in a small amount of training will show your employer that you care about their business and that you have the sense and forethought to make sure you can safely operate any and all machinery that you might be handling.
 
Many employers will offer to pay for additional training like this, so ask them about it before you book yourself in. Even just asking the question will give a positive impression.
 

5. You’re feeling restless

You may just be bored. Maybe you’ve been doing the same job or route for too long. Months, or even years? It’s convenient to you but the initial enthusiasm you had for driving has died down and the monotony is kicking in.
 
If you’re feeling like this, then it is time to invest in your future again.
 
What do you want to do? Do you want to travel internationally? Drive bigger vehicles? Work in management?
 
Have a think about what direction you want your career to take and then start training for it. It’s a sure-fire way to banish those work blues!
 

6. You’ve heard that [x,y,z] can help your career

As the saying goes, there’s no smoke without fire. If experienced drivers are telling you that having a particular ticket will be beneficial, there’s a good chance that they’re right.
 
Check out the available jobs in your area before you invest, however. This will both give you an idea about what you can be doing after your training but also what you’ll be earning.
 

7. Money, money, money!

Well, we all want it, don’t we? You want a higher paid job? Then get more qualifications. It’s that simple.
 
The more you can do, the more you can prove you can do, coupled with your years of experience will inevitably lead to more challenging & higher paid work.
 
More job satisfaction and a better standard of living are rewards we can all look forward to if we keep pushing on.
 

8. You enjoy sharing your wisdom

Perhaps you’ve decided to put the long haul journey or multi-drop days behind you. It’s time, you think, to pass on some of the wisdom that you’ve gained over the years.
 
You might decide to train as an instructor or take on some new logistics skills that don’t involve the hard miles. There are loads of training opportunities out there if you’re looking to push your career in a new direction.
 

9. You want to climb the ladder

All jobs have their ups and downs, but dare I say it, most of us enjoy at least something about our work.
 
If we didn’t we would look to be doing something else. Over time though, something that we loved to begin with might begin to lose the glisten that once attracted us.
 
However, after years of service to a career it would seem a waste to start a new one. This is where development training comes in. It’s time to move up the ladder.
 
HGV drivers have a huge option of careers out there so there’s no need to be stuck in that same cab for ever.
 
Training you Can Undertake to help you develop you career further: