Driving Skills at SDS LGV Driving School

Driving large goods vehicle's

We have a responsibility not only to yourselves but to all other road users to ensure your training is of the highest standard, ensuring that the vehicle you're driving is being driven with the utmost safety and regard for its size and speed capability. Ensuring you, your vehicle and eventually your load safely reaches their destination; we encourage you to drive with the courtesy you'd expect to receive from other drivers and a tolerance of other road users including those who may not understand what driving a large goods vehicle involves. A high degree of skill and self control in the handling of your vehicle is essential as other road users do make mistakes and errors. As a professional driver you have to be prepared to make allowances for this and not retaliate in an aggressive or inappropriate manner.

Through our training we provide you with the knowledge and understanding you need to start your career as a professional driver.

Career Choice

What's driving got to offer you?

Many drivers simply enjoy the lifestyle and freedom that goes with driving a large goods vehicle for a living. It's just you, the road and your own personal mobile office (vehicle).

There is something about life on the road that appeals to us and gets into the blood.

With driving the constant change of scenery and freedom of being out on your own to many is the perfect career choice. Some just do not want to be stuck in a busy office.

The transport industry has so much to offer with many different types of driving jobs available:

Recovery, Removals, Tippers, Bulkers, Skip, Containers, Refrigerated, Low loaders, Car transportation, Skeletal trailers, Wide loads, Double Decker's, Box bodies, Curtain sided, Containers, Livestock, Flat Bed, Demountable Bodies, Heavy plant and machinery, Tankers, Lorry mounted cranes (HIAB), Gritter's, Road sweepers, Road planers, Refuse collection, Traffic Management, Ambulance Paramedic and many many more.

If you're looking at driving you may already have some idea what you would like to do, some drivers like to work locally, others wish to travel.

Driving can take you all over the world should you wish to explore, make sure your passport is up to date.

Agency work, Permanent employment or becoming an Owner Driver?

The choice is yours. Firstly the most common way of gaining experience with different types of vehicles and loads is to work for a ‘Driving Agency' you would be employed by them. Driving agencies will supply drivers to many different companies so you can gain a lot of experience quickly. Very few agencies can guarantee you work on a daily basis, so sometimes it's best to sign up with a couple of agencies to widen your work offer possibilities. Flexibility is often needed as work can be offered at short notice. Working weekends can often pay more.

Many drivers prefer the financial security of working for an employer with one company. Benefits of working for an employer are guaranteed income, annual holidays, sometimes bonus's, possible promotion, and working in your chosen field of driving. The salary a driver can earn will be approximately the same with either an agency or an employer.

Some drivers choose to buy their own vehicle and become owner drivers.

How much can a truck driver expect to earn?

The more flexible you are with your hours of work including nights out, long distance work and gaining other qualifications gives you the potential to earn more. So there's no easy answer as several different factors depend on your earnings.

Factors that need to be considered are:

To give some indication though, as a newly qualified LGV driver living and working in or around a major city with a category C license you should expect to earn £18k - £25K per year.

A driver with a category CE licence could expect to earn another £5K per year. ADR tanker drivers could earn another £10k + per year As with most industries your wages will increase as you gain experience and qualifications. Professional driving standards Driving an LGV requires skill combined with knowledge and the right attitude and driving techniques. To become a professional driver you'll need Demanding driving skills The understanding and knowledge to deal with all the regulations that now apply to your work. A comprehensive knowledge of the Highway Code is needed , including the meaning of traffic signs and road markings, especially those which indicate a restriction for LGVs. From the start, you'll need to be aware and appreciate the differences between driving small and large goods vehicles. It's also essential to understand the forces at work on your vehicle and its load. As a professional driver you have a responsibility to use your vehicle in a manner which is sympathetic to the vehicle, load, road and environment. RESPECT is needed in abundance when driving. Respect your vehicle Respect your load Respect the road Respect other road users Respect the weather Initially, the most important thing to learn is that the way you drive is of great importance. Drive properly and safely so that the vehicle and goods entrusted into your care will arrive safely at their destination. Drive dangerously or even carelessly, and the potential for a disaster including death is enormous. Whether you're driving an unladen lorry of 7.5 tonnes or a fully laden articulated vehicle of 38 tonnes or more, acting hastily can have very serious consequences.