Returning to HGV Driving After a Break: What You Need to Know

If you’ve spent time away from professional driving, returning to HGV driving after a break can feel like a bigger step than it actually is.

Drivers take breaks for all sorts of reasons, from changing careers or family commitments to retirement, health, relocation or simply wanting to do something different for a while. Whatever the reason, previous HGV experience can still be valuable if you decide the time is right to get back behind the wheel.

Before looking for your first assignment, however, there are a few practical things worth checking.

Check Your HGV Licence

The first step when returning to HGV driving after a break is to make sure your driving licence and HGV entitlement are current and correct. Check the categories shown on your licence and make sure your personal details are up to date. It’s also worth checking your driving record so you know exactly what information an agency or potential employer will see when carrying out the necessary licence checks. Don’t leave this until you’ve found a role you want. Getting everything in order beforehand can make your return to driving much smoother.

Check Your Driver CPC

If you’re planning to drive professionally, you’ll generally need to make sure you meet the current Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC) requirements. Depending on how long you’ve been away from professional driving and your individual circumstances, you may need to check whether your Driver CPC is current or whether further training is required before you return. Don’t assume that because you previously drove professionally everything is automatically ready to go. Check your position first and, if you’re uncertain, seek advice before accepting professional driving work.

Check Your Digital Tachograph Card

You’ll also need a valid digital tachograph driver card where the work and vehicle require one. If yours has expired while you’ve been away from driving, you’ll need to deal with this before undertaking work that requires the card. It’s worth checking all your professional driving documentation together rather than discovering individual issues as you start looking for work.

Refresh Your Knowledge

Even experienced drivers can benefit from refreshing their knowledge after spending time away from the industry. Rules, procedures, technology and individual operator requirements can change, while things that were once second nature may take a little time to become familiar again.

Areas worth revisiting can include:

• Drivers’ hours
• Working Time rules
• Tachograph use
• Daily vehicle checks
• Defect reporting
• Load security
• Road safety
• Current Driver CPC requirements

A refresher doesn’t diminish your previous experience. It’s simply a sensible way of making sure you’re confident and up to date before returning to professional driving.

Be Realistic About Your First Assignment

Your first shift back doesn’t necessarily need to be the most demanding work available. Think about the type of driving you previously did and how comfortable you feel returning to it. You may prefer familiar vehicle types, routes or shift patterns initially. Alternatively, you might decide that your return is an opportunity to look for a completely different type of HGV work.

If you’re working with an agency, be open about the fact that you’ve had a break and discuss the type of assignment you’d feel comfortable taking. The aim isn’t simply to get you onto a shift. It should be to find work that’s appropriate for your experience and current circumstances.

Think About What You Want From HGV Driving Now

Your priorities may have changed since you last worked as an HGV driver. Perhaps you previously worked full time but now want fewer shifts. You may want to avoid nights away, work closer to home or choose assignments that fit around other commitments. Agency driving can be particularly useful for experienced drivers who want more choice over when and how they work. Depending on the opportunities available, you may be able to consider days, nights, weekends, temporary assignments or regular ongoing shifts.

Being clear about what you want makes it easier for a recruitment agency to identify suitable opportunities.

Don’t Undervalue Your Previous Experience

A break from the industry doesn’t erase the experience you built beforehand. If you’ve spent years driving professionally, understanding transport operations, dealing with different sites and customers and managing the responsibilities that come with HGV driving, that experience still matters. When registering with an agency, provide a clear picture of your previous work, including the vehicles you’ve driven and the types of assignments you’ve undertaken.

If you’re unsure about the registration process itself, our guide to What to Expect When You Register With a Driver Recruitment Agency explains what happens and what information you’ll normally be asked to provide.

Finding HGV Work After a Break

Returning to HGV driving after a break doesn’t mean you have to commit immediately to the same working pattern you had before. Working through a specialist HGV driver agency can give you access to different types of assignments and allow you to discuss your experience, availability and preferences before deciding which opportunities are right for you.

Employ Recruitment works with experienced professional drivers across a number of locations throughout the UK.

If you’re considering returning to HGV driving, register with Employ Recruitment and speak to our team about your previous experience, the type of work you’re looking for and the opportunities currently available in your area