55% of HGV drivers are over 55, and just 1% are female. The industry is currently made up of a cohort of drivers who will start to retire in the next five years, potentially leaving a major skills shortage. The solution is clear: the UK needs more young people and women to consider a career in professional driving.
To help inspire the next generation, Driver Hire Training spoke exclusively to professional driver, Chantelle Spencer in Leeds, about her career and to give advice for any young people, especially women, who are thinking about getting into the industry.
“All you need is to have a driving licence and complete the CPC training, and you can start driving right away”
“I’d always been interested in vehicles and driving, and as a kid, I was always around large vehicles as my grandad worked in heavy machinery and my family has a farm. I loved to drive the tractors around, and my grandad used to take me to work on the JCBs so big vehicles were something I was familiar with from a young age.”
“Before I became a driver, I’d had lots of different jobs but it wasn’t until I got a job as a stock analyst and met drivers that I learned how easy it was to become a professional driver. There are no school or college qualifications needed to start a career as a professional driver. All you need is to have a driving licence and complete the CPC training, and you can start driving right away – it’s accessible to anyone!”
“There is a government scheme where you can do the training for free, but it takes longer – I decided to pay for my training and was qualified in just a few months. Now I’ve been working as a professional HGV driver for just under a year and so far, I’ve worked for a drink supplier, a roofing company, and a pharmaceutical company.”
“You can earn a great wage by working even minimal hours, and it’s flexible – there’s so many different types of jobs and companies to suit your lifestyle and your preferences.”
“The more women we have in the industry, the more likely it is that other women will see it as a job they can do”
“It’s historically been a male dominated industry and it’s not always been welcoming for women. Jobs are often still advertised to appeal to men, and women can be deemed as not strong enough to do the work, so they aren’t being encouraged to apply – even though it’s the machines that do all the heavy lifting!”
“I have experienced misogyny from colleagues. Older male drivers would often make sexist comments about how I was a bad driver because I was a woman, and I would be given the smallest vehicle to drive, even though I was just as qualified as the men were to drive the bigger vehicles.”
“Also, women don’t want to be outnumbered by men in the workplace – if you’re the only woman, there’s no one to stick up for you. Things are changing, and I’m seeing more female drivers on the road. The more women we have in the industry, the more likely it is that other women will see it as a job they can do and female drivers will feel more comfortable in their roles.”
“There is still sexism in certain companies but the company I work for now is amazing. I’ve had no problems there and I love the job. Everyone treats each other equally, we’re all just drivers and we share the work equally. It all depends on the company you work for – you have to find somewhere with kind, open minded people, who are not stuck in the past. It’s a job women can do just as well as men, so women shouldn’t be discouraged from entering the industry.”
“We need to attract young people who have no connection with the industry and educate them on what’s possible”
“Young people don’t know where to start – they’re not aware of the steps it takes to get a HGV licence and become a professional driver, and how easy it is. As well as this, everything is going up in price, and you must pay upfront for training which can put people off initially. “
“The industry needs to promote the job to young people at school, college and university levels, especially women, with an easy step-by-step guide. Before I looked into it, I had no idea the process involved in becoming a professional driver, and how varied the jobs can be.”
“We need to attract young people who have no connection with the industry and educate them on what’s possible, and what they can get out of it. Even at university, you could work part time earning a great wage and do your degree alongside it.”
“If you want the freedom of a job where you manage yourself, I recommend anyone who is interested to have a look into a career as a professional HGV driver.”
