HGV training and certification
With a host of great driving schools out there, such as Easy As HGV, it’s never been easier for women to get the qualifications they need to get the roles they want. Training is cheap when considering starting salaries and it can take as little as 8-10 weeks to get your initial Driver Certificate of Professional Competence qualification.
An increase in safety for female HGV drivers
Some of the main concerns for women when entering a male-centric workforce is safety. This can be especially true for the HGV sector, as drivers are often travelling alone for long periods of time and won’t have support if anything goes wrong. The good news is that there have been some worthwhile updates in the way events like breakdowns are being tackled, and where once drivers would be reliant on breakdown services, many companies are now providing in-house specialist teams to be on call for unavoidable events. There has also been a real focus on upgrading truck stops and advancements in tech now mean that drivers across the UK and Europe have access to apps that review these facilities and present reviews from real users.
Equal pay and opportunities
It can be important to know that there isn’t necessarily a gender-based pay gap in the HGV industry, as salaries are typically paid by the hour, per mile, or per job description. This will depend on the company hiring however, and some will provide set salaried instead. There are a lot of opportunities in the sector for both men and women to advance their careers and of course, there is the option for travel across the EU and further afield if that’s the end goal.
Is now the right time for women to get into HGV driving?
More and more individuals are beginning to think about their work/life balance and as the HGV industry is extremely flexible, it has some of the most attractive features when this is a consideration. For example, there are plenty of options for temporary work, agency work and even to move positions between companies if you need to change the hours or days that you work.
