What does a truck driver do?
Truck drivers are at the heart of the transport industry. Playing an important role in the supply chain, they transport materials and goods from manufacturing companies to distribution and retail centres. As part of their responsibilities, truck drivers should check the vehicle for any defects. They may also be responsible for loading the vehicle and unloading it at the designated locations. A truck driver should be fully aware of traffic laws and respect them at all times. They safeguard the goods that they are transporting and ensure error-free delivery of the goods or materials.
Truck driver skills and qualifications
A truck driver needs to be able to drive for long distances and long periods of time while maintaining constant high attention to detail. Successful truck driver applicants have the following skills to be able to best fulfil their duties and their responsibilities in the role:
- The necessary stamina to be able to drive for long hours
- Tolerance of being away from home regularly
- Adaptability and ability to handle unexpected situations, such as traffic or changing weather conditions
- Knowledge of truck driving rules and any associated regulations
- Ability to read maps and GPS indications accurately
- Reliability, politeness and trustworthiness
- Understanding of transport methods, benefits and costs
Truck driver experience requirements
In this field, demonstrating experience brings more weight to the application. Candidates for this role should build their background records of safety and reliability. Having a clean driving record is supportive of this. It may also happen that extra-large goods or hazardous materials need to be transported. When this is the case, solid driver experience is even more highly prized by employers, who are likely to look at historical records for endorsement by previous employers.
Truck driver education and training requirements
The qualifications required for this role depend on the size of the truck and its weight. There are also age limits in this field. For example, vehicles with a MAM (maximum authorised mass) of between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes can be driven from the age of 18, whereas vehicles weighing more than 7.5 tonnes require the driver to be at least 21 years of age. Generally speaking, candidates need to have a clean driving licence and should obtain a professional CPC driving qualification, such as the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence. Employers should clearly highlight their requirements for the role.
Truck driver salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a truck driver in the United Kingdom is £15.72 per hour. This salary will vary depending on the driver’s experience and the recruiting employer.
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Truck driver job description FAQs
How can you spot a good truck driver when recruiting for this position?
Finding a good truck driver is not as simple as it might seem. When recruiting for this position, employers should search for candidates who are eager to constantly enhance their skills and knowledge, staying up to date with rules, regulations and best practices. This behaviour enables truck drivers to be on the look-out for potential challenges and to address any fixes needed before something goes wrong.
Who does a truck driver work with?
In this role, candidates need to be comfortable with solitude. A truck driver does not have many interactions with others and thus needs to be able to work independently. A truck driver might have contact with warehouse workers when loading and unloading materials.
What career path can be offered to truck drivers?
Experienced truck drivers can move into educational roles and become industry trainers or ambassadors. With the appropriate training, it is also possible to get into logistics and manage other drivers’ rotas and shifts. In this move, the role may become more administrative or managerial.
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