The latest stats from the DVLA show that more and more people are applying for their provisional LGV / HGV licence, with a view to training to become a professional driver.

Industry figures reveal that the chronic driver shortage shows no signs of letting up. With an estimated 80,000 HGV vacancies in the UK alone (6,000 of those jobs can be viewed here:  www.advantagehgv.co.uk/hgv_jobs.php), training to become an HGV driver is still the career of choice for 1000’s of people.

Driver’s unions have recently campaigned to give HGV drivers a minimum wage of £36,000 - and companies such as DHL are considering these proposals. In fact, the wages of a qualified HGV driver have continued to rise way above inflation, year on year for the past 10 years.

With a Europe wide change in the rules to becoming an HGV driver (from Sep 2009 new drivers will have to complete an extra 35hrs of training), new recruits are flocking to the market. Companies such as AdvantageHGV, the UK’s largest provider of driver training courses, are bracing themselves for a ‘booking frenzy’ in the months immediately before the new rules kick in.

So, with £36,000 a year fast becoming a reality for an HGV driver and with over 80,000 jobs showing no signs of being filled in the immediate future - Summer 2008 is the year to train as an HGV driver.

James Clifford, head of Commercial Director at AdvantageHGV, had these final words to say on the subject:

‘With the fast approaching new EU laws on HGV driver training, the days of the 5 day course will soon be numbered. We advise anyone thinking of trying for their licence to book a training course ASAP - as soon it will take twice as long and cost twice as much!’

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