You’re in for a treat if you’re thinking about a career as an HGV driver. The career has numerous advantages, including a high salary, a flexible lifestyle, and work stability. Furthermore, because there is now a severe lack of competent Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) drivers in the United Kingdom, you are more likely to find work quickly.
As you might think, enrolling in a reputable HGV driving school is a good way to start your new job.
However, picking on the right institute when they all have different programs and service levels can be difficult. It can also be difficult to cover all of the HGV training finance in UK if it is an expensive program.
Rather than going with the first HGV driving school that comes up in your search results, assess how your prospective HGV driver training school performs on these seven key criteria.
Qualified Instructors and Accreditation
Haulers frequently prefer to hire drivers who have received their LGV driver’s license from a reputable, professional HGV driving school. As a result, you should look into the credentials of the HGV driving school first.
- A recognized HGV driver training facility will:
- Provide a well-organized and well-understood curriculum.
- Enough time and attention should be given to both theoretical and practical training.
- Not only will you pass, but you will also benefit from learning important driving methods that will aid you in your future profession.
- Have a fleet of vehicles that are adequately insured, well-maintained, and well-kept.
Accredited Driver Training firms also provide qualified teachers to provide high-quality driver training. When it comes to HGV driving, this is very important. A qualified instructor will assist you in developing good driving habits and safe driving techniques, making it easier for you to meet the job requirements of your company.
Comprehensive Instructions
HGV driving is a complex topic with various important aspects. You should make sure that the HGV driving school you are considering covers all of the basic principles of operating a heavy-duty vehicle.
Look at their curriculum if it’s available on their website to get a sense of what they teach. Check to see if the themes place adequate emphasis on safety precautions.
The instructor to-Student Ratio
It is not a good idea to learn to drive an HGV in a group. If you only have one instructor, you won’t be able to cater to all of the pupils in the cab at the same time. You require individualized care.
Furthermore, each component of HGV driving is critical. Before going through the companies that the driving examiner and the employer are asking for you to deliver, you must understand the basics and establish decent competency. This will necessitate one-on-one HGV driver training suited to your individual requirements.
Reputation
Make sure you complete your research on the reputation of the HGV driving school. Look for answers to questions like:
- What is the history of the school?
- What is the success rate?
- Is there a website with a detailed list of services and prices?
- What do former clients have to say about the training company’s programs, teachers, and the way bookings are handled?
You can conduct a background check on your potential HGV driving school by doing the following:
Inquire about it
Take advice/suggestions from any delivery drivers you meet, as well as friends or family members who have just registered in an HGV driver training school.
- Employers in the area should be contacted.
- Who they’d recommend if they were sponsoring a driver or have done so in the past?
- Online reviews can be found.
Do not consider the ones on their website that are only full of praise. Go to an unbiased review site, such as a drivers’ forum, to check what other people have to say about the school.
Pricing
HGV Training finance in UK is a factor that should be considered before deciding on a training facility.
Should you go with the most affordable HGV driver training school you can find? No, that is not the case. Facilities with ridiculously low pricing models may be understaffed or employ old vehicles, causing you to rush through your training. And, in certain cases, once they get you hooked, they may surprise you with hidden expenses.
That said, you shouldn’t break the bank to enroll in an expensive HGV driving school because you can end up paying a premium price to a Broker or Agent who has exaggerated the cost of training to cover their time and salespeople’s commission.
Essentially, the institute’s fees should reflect the level of training it offers. Consider it a red flag if you realize that a pricey course isn’t as comprehensive as it should be.
Furthermore, choosing an HGV driving school that offers both course-by-course and packaged packages is generally in your best interests.
The information mentioned above will help you better understand the points you should consider before picking an HGV driving school.