Train Routes

Driving a Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) is certainly a lot different than driving a car.  The size of the Lorry alone is very intimidating to the new LGV driver.  Once you are in the cab of the vehicle, you will notice the vast number of controls at your fingertips as well as you will be sitting up higher then you were when you were driving a car.  The following are some basic general tips that you should use to avoid the great intimidation when you start out as an LGV driver.  Following these tips may also prevent any unwanted accidents while on the road.The very first thing you should be aware of when you are driving a Lorry is that you will need to break earlier and more often then you would while driving a car.  The LGV that you are driving is well over two times the weight of a car that you normally drive, so your stopping distance in the Lorry will be longer, especially when you are carrying a full load.    The same adjustments will also apply when you need to turn.  The Lorry is longer than your car, so you will need to adjust your times accordingly to turn to avoid possibly clipping a vehicle or running over the curb.The next tip that the beginning driver should be aware of is the acceleration of the Lorry.   The acceleration on the Lorry is far slower than the acceleration for a car.  Initially starting out, the Lorry is slower than most of the cars out on the road.  Remember, cars are built for speed, and the Lorry is built for transporting heavy materials over the road.The third thing that you need to be made aware of while driving a large goods vehicle is that you need to be absolutely aware of the overall dimensions of your Lorry.  Pay close special attention to the height and weight of your vehicle, as many underpasses and bridges may not accommodate the weight and height of the Lorry.   You will need to plan your route ahead of time to avoid a potential accident.  Also, many vehicles have a trailer that is wider than the cab.  You will need to consistently drive towards the center lane than you would when you drive a car.  By doing this will ensure that your trailer is in a good safe position while driving to your destination.Finally, take great care in securing your load as well as placing the load in your trailer.  An unsecure load may break loose and fall out of the trailer causing a possible accident with the driver or drivers behind you.  Driver’s should get into the habit of always checking the status of the load after each stop—even when you stop to get something to eat.By following these basic tips, a beginning LGV driver will gain the confidence that he or she needs to become a successful driver.  Many careers as an LGV driver have been cut short due to negligence by the driver.

Despite the many misconceptions about the HGV industry, there are many people who still consider a career in the HGV industry.  As much as the HGV drivers don’t reflect an attractive lifestyle, they earn very hefty salaries for their hard work and have very good chances of moving into advanced positions once they prove their capability.There are many misconceptions about the HGV industry, the most outstanding one being that a career in the HGV industry is meant for men only which is not the case. As much as the number of female drivers in the HGV industry is less than that of men, it does imply that HGV industry is only for men. The number of female HGV drivers is slowly but steadily on the rise. This number could have been much higher if only the current generation could look beyond the gender factor and initiate a paradigm shift as far as the HGV industry gender misconception is concerned.Despite HGV industry facing certain challenges, it enjoys several advantages that other industries can only imagine. Some of the benefits of working in the HGV industry include your own prerogative to decide the amount of work you can handle, when you want to work. The other advantage is the flexibility of the working hours. For those without families, they can work for long hours and earn more money. On the other hand, for those with families, they are free to balance their time between work and family so that they are not kept way from their families for long because of work.Another advantage of working in the HGV industry is that the number of working hours have been reduced to 48 from the previous 65 hours a week with a minimum pay of 26,000 and a maximum of 34,000 pounds annually. This pay is far much better than the national average in other industries. With the technological advancement, the working conditions of HGV drivers have tremendously improved through the introduction of new trucks which are not only comfortable but also come music for your entertainment. The trucks also come with air-conditioning as well as GPS system that makes it much easier for the driver to select the best routes for his deliveries.Once you have had sufficient experience as a HGV driver, there are opportunities in the HGV industry for you to move advance your career in the HGV industry. After you have proved yourself as a competent HGV driver for a sufficient period of time, you can be promoted to the position of an instructor to train learners who want to become HGV drivers as well as teaching them all the skills as well as how to drive safely to successfully make it in their HGV tests.As an instructor, you will plan customized lessons for every student after assessing the student’s knowledge as well as skills so that after successfully completing the lessons, the student should be able to:•    Check the vehicle for basic maintenance•    Control the vehicle with confidence•    Comprehend the driving law and Highway Code•    Understand road safety •    Know how to deal with emergenciesAfter acquiring good experience as an instructor, you will be qualified to become a specialist instructor, which is a higher rank in the HGV industry. This position involves training other employees for the company on site instead of hiring one from somewhere else or training one of the employees for the job.A career in the HGV industry is not a dead end career as most people think. There are a lot of opportunities to move up your career ladder in the HGV industry once you have decided to be a HGV driver. Apart from advancing your career, you will not only be compensated adequately at every stage of your career ladder but also retain your working hours as well as a very flexible workday. HGV industry has a lot of potential of becoming a lucrative career as time goes by especially with the technological advancement in the HGV industry.

Short LGV training courses can be completed in as little as 5 days. You might be wondering what doors of opportunity such a short training course opens. To look at this issue in the right perspective, it would be enlightening to know what components are attached to these types of programs. Perhaps the most important components are the instructors themselves. 5-day LGV training courses are only conducted by highly qualified and experienced instructors. In fact, these instructors have clocked numerous hours as LGV drivers, making them well versed not only in the job itself but also with the various intricacies that are associated with it.Aside from the instructors, the institutions that offer these programs are committed to supporting you every step of the way as you proceed in your career as an LGV driver. This means that their services do not end with the course. They will see to it that you pass the exams, the interviews and prosper in your career.Now, what type of career does such a profession hold? As is mostly the case, when one talks of a career it is difficult to separate the issue of compensation. In this particular case, the salary that is in question is somewhere within the range of £2,200 per month. Needless to say, this should be considered high by practically any standard.Aside from high salaries, there are benefits such as pension schemes, holidays that run up to 25 days a year, and hospitalization plans. The working schedule is one of the most flexible in the country as you are allowed to choose when you want to work. If you are more comfortable getting up late then you may start your day accordingly.Perhaps the most desirable attribute of this job is its security. Goods will always have to be transported and thus LGV drivers will always have work to do. As a benchmark, it is noteworthy to know that in the present scenario, businesses in the UK stand to lose over £1 billion if the supply of drivers does not improve. It is therefore expected that these businesses will continue have attractive offers for interested applicants in order to prevent such losses.There are also other training courses that last for months. While graduates of these programs also end up as LGV drivers, there is one obvious advantage if you take the shorter route. It won’t take long for job seekers to discover this golden opportunity. Therefore, being able to submit your application earlier would give you a head-start advantage. What’s more, many of the 5-day courses are run by well-established companies that are well informed in the industry. They also have the right linkages. Hence, if a job opening is posted, they will be one of the first to know. By knowing who hires and who is looking for a job, these companies will also be able to provide the right match-ups.