Life as an HGV driver

By John Parish

This blog from a Trustee of CViE shares experiences working as an HGV driver, and how God led him into the work that he had always longed for.

Here is honest insight and encouragement to any who may be considering such a career, and a testimony to God’s continuing grace.

As a child I always had an interest in trucks. My ambition was to drive trucks, the bigger the better.

I was not at all academic and had no desire to go on in further education. I could leave school at 16 and find a job. As I was at that point not able to drive, I got a job at a local plant nursery growing flowers and salad crops. I enjoyed earning a wage but was never that interested – but I could not drive a truck till I was 21.

When I was 20 I was made redundant. I looked for van driving jobs and there was a job going at a local company which involved driving a non-HGV truck. I had a car licence but little driving experience. I did pray that a door might be opened. I went to the company to enquire. The receptionist called the manager. He said, “When could you start if offered the job?” I said, “Tomorrow.” He said, “The job is yours.” As soon as I was 21 I took a week’s course on Class 1 articulated lorries and got my licence. I stayed with that company driving their rigid HGV trucks for a couple of years.

I then heard of a job going at a waste company which offered a good wage and had a fleet of trucks including articulated tankers. Again I walked into their reception and was offered the job – no formal interview. This job was local but I had a driver’s mate/loader as it involved quite heavy lifting. This loader was a Scottish man who loved drinking and gambling. His life was so different to mine and I longed to work on my own. I had to work with him for about two years. I prayed for a job to come up on a different truck but people didn’t leave very often as it was a good employer.  However, one driver was caught speeding three times in a few days and asked if he could swap with me as my job was round the town, stop and start. I felt this was an answer to prayer as I was then on my own.

I now drive all over the country. I go to places you would not normally go to – Scotland, Cornwall, Wales and into London. There are some interesting places, and some are challenging to get to but you are out on your own. Trucks are so nice today, mostly automatic, and so comfortable, like driving your car but much larger.  If anyone is interested in a driving career, there is a national shortage of HGV drivers. It is expensive to do the course but there is such a shortage you can walk from job to job. Once you have some experience many companies will give a new driver a chance.  The average age of a truck driver is 53 and only 2% are under 25. There are more retiring than young ones coming into the industry.

There are many types of driving jobs – clean shop deliveries, many trunking jobs or tramping jobs. Different shift patterns such as 4 days on/4 days off and Monday-Friday jobs. Many involve weekends but are some are Monday-Friday plus Saturday morning. Most driving jobs mean an early start and long days, often including nights away. The company want the maximum out of the truck and the driver is expected to do as much as he can do legally. It can be a lonely job. You are out on your own and have little to do with the office or other drivers. You are given a truck and a phone. The work comes to your phone, when you finish your day you log off and that is it.

Unlike many jobs you don’t have meetings about meetings. It is simply a case of “this is the job, the pay and the truck, and there’s the gate.” There is little in the way of social events or contact. You are there to drive.

I have been truck driving for 40 years now. I enjoy being out on my own. There are times I am able to listen to sermons and hymns while travelling and there is much time to meditate but sadly also distracting thoughts.