Safety Tips for New HGV Drivers

The HGV industry is one of the most challenging environments to work in. Not only will you be away from your family for long periods of time, but you will also end up having to spend all this time alone. One of the most dangerous things about this job is that since you are driving for long periods of time, sometimes with not enough sleep, there is a danger of falling asleep and getting into an accident. Whether you just got your HGV licence or you're a seasoned HGV driver, here are some safety tips for you:

1.     While it may be tempting to work longer hours than you can healthily manage, you have to realize that you need to sleep at least six to eight hours every night or you will find yourself falling asleep at the wheel.

2.     Regardless of what the HGV company says, you need to make sure you take care of yourself and sleep and take other stops when needed. Should you get into an accident, you will be the one in danger of losing your life, not the company.

3.     While automotive loads pay very well, most companies will just make you sit and wait so you can pick it up. While they get paid for holding a truck for you, you just have to wait till it’s ready to go, with no extra pay, and then drive all night. So just say no in circumstances like these.

4.     For some reason, it has become a habit of HGV drivers to flash their lights at another driver after they have safely passed. Doing so can blind that driver temporarily and cause them to run off the road. It is better to not flash the light, or if you have to, then not use the bright lights to do so.

5.     It is really important to pull over to your line when you are passing another driver or when someone is passing you. This is because turbulence is created when two heavy goods trucks pass each other, and it can be enough to suck in the trucks into each other and cause an accident. You can reduce this by making sure both of you stay in your lines, or at least, that you do so.

6.     Reversing a truck is one of the most difficult things to do in this business. Everyone has to learn to do it, and it is always better to be safe than sorry. Here are some tips:

a.     Always get out of your cab and walk back to understand how much space you have to reverse and the angles you will need

b.     Calm down, and take your time. It is ok to take longer to do it right, then try and hurry and end up causing damage

c.     Instead of just looking at your box, also follow the tracks of your trailer tires

d.     If there are lines on the pavement, use them to help you judge your distance

7.     When you get into your first cab, you need to have some essentials with you. Consider making a small bag of these so you never forget them, or put them in the cab permanently. These include: radio, truckers map, duct tape, log book ruler, scissors, regular tape, calculator, wrenches, flat head, screwdriver, jumper cables.

Staying Focused on Long HGV Drives

One of the most difficult things about being a long distance HGV driver is the long drives you have to make alone with no one for company. This is also the biggest reason why people think twice about joining this otherwise great industry. Another problem with long drives also is that if you get too bored and you are tired, as most truckers are, you could fall asleep behind the wheel and cause an accident.

When you are driving for long distances, the first thing you need to do is make sure you get enough sleep. By getting seven to nine hours of sleep every night, you can make sure that you are awake and able to pay attention. Boredom and sleepiness together are deadly.

If it is possible, try and have someone with you. A lot of HGV drivers get a dog or another pet that can easily travel with them in the cab and keep them company. Think about getting a dog or cat as these are the two animals you can safely keep in the cab with you. This way you will always have company on the road.

Many truckers also pick up hitchhikers. This is something you should do with some caution, as hitchhikers by definition are strangers, and you could potentially get into trouble if you pick up someone who is dangerous.

Instead of thinking of the trip as one long drive, break it down. Think of it as a trip from stop to stop. By thinking of it as five or six smaller strips, you will feel more motivated as you will always be “almost there”.

Take breaks. It is a good idea to take breaks for meals, bathroom stops and anytime you feel tired or bored. By stretching your legs and possibly talking to a petrol pump clerk, you will feel more energized and ready to complete the journey.

Make sure you have plenty of music. Bring along a lot of CDs, or an MP3 player. Make sure you keep changing the music. You can also divide the music according to the leg of the journey, for instance, only rock from point A to point B; only rap the next hundred miles, etc. This will keep you thinking.

While this may sound crazy, you can drive away boredom by talking to yourself. You can argue about whatever you want without getting anyone angry, and maybe even get into those thoughts you have not had time to had, like what you are doing in life or where you want to be in ten years.

Finally, a CB radio is a friend to all HGV drivers. Not only is it useful, since you can use it to find out the best routes, weather conditions etc, but you can also use it to talk to other truckers on the road like you and make some long distance friends. This will keep you from getting too bored on the road, just like all the tips mentioned above.

Tips on Passing your HGV Theory Test

The theory test for HGV is one of the tests you will need to take before you can get your HGV license. This is taken before the practical test, but for this you need to have a provisional license.

The test is a lot like the test for standard driving. There are two parts, with a multiple choice section and a hazard perception section. You need to get a minimum number of marks in each before you can pass. The test is conducted on computers with touch screen.

The multiple choice section:

This section gives you questions with multiple answers that you need to choose one from. You will be given more instructions when you sit on the computer screen about how to attempt this. It is a good idea to ask questions of the examiner before you start. You will also be given with the opportunity to take a practice test to familiarize yourself. Do take the opportunity.

When you start, you will be able to see the question, with a number of possible answers. You will have to choose one or more as the correct answer. The tip in this is to first figure out which answers it cannot be, and remove them from the list and then choose. This gives you a higher probability of scoring correctly even if you have to guess, since guessing from two is more likely to be accurate than guessing from four.

There are one hundred questions in this part; you will have just about under an hour for this. This means you have a little over one minutes per question so you need to be quick. If you don’t know the answer to a question, just highlight it and come back to it at the end if you have time left. You need to get eighty five questions right to pass.

The Hazard Perception Section:

This section includes watching videos and looking out for potential hazards on the road, as if you were driving the HGV on it yourself. Ask any questions in the beginning. Sometimes, there will be more than one hazard on the road, so make sure you look at the video correctly.

This test will mark you based on your response time. The earlier you respond to a hazard, the more points you will score, so make sure you are attentive. You can score up to five points on each video, with a total of twenty videos making 100 points. You need to get 67 to pass, but you can’t come back to any videos at the end so make sure you answer all the questions.

Just like for any other test, make sure you read up on your materials before you come in for the test and make sure you get enough sleep the night before. Once you pass this test, you can apply for your practical test and get your HGV license; therefore it is important that you pass this test first so you can get your license quickly.

HGV Industry Misconceptions & Challenges

The HGV industry is an industry that is at the backbone of any economy. The transport of goods from one place to another can never be stopped, or done in a different manner, which is why the HGV industry is relevant to every economic time, and every country.

However, there are plenty of misconceptions about this industry. For instance, people believe that joining this industry means that they will be in a low-paid job which will keep them away from family. That is not true. The haulage industry pays a salary that is over the national average salary. That means that if you work in this industry, you are earning more than half the people in the country. Also, since the hours are flexible, which means you can choose to work when you want for as long as you want, you can be as close to, or as far away from you family as possible.

The industry and HGV drivers do, however, have its challenges. The recent economic downturn has changed consumer patterns, which means that there are now lower amounts of goods being transported and companies have changed over to cheaper means to transport goods. This means that express delivery is being shunned and normal delivery methods are being used now. Also, the changing price of fuel means that there is uncertainty in the environment, since the costs of delivery keep changing every tie the fuel prices go up or down.

The industry is also prone to revenue leakage since the recording and collecting of all revenues it not always done right. This is because of the decentralized nature of delivery, as well as high volume of transactions. Revenue can be lost at any point, which makes it important to have billing and shipping terms that are customized for customers. It is also needed to properly and accurately carry out billing and shipping procedures, and have a process that is followed for each delivery. Employee training must also be carried out to make sure all the employees know the procedures.

Another challenge that is faced with HGV driving is the tracking of vehicles, especially in companies where there are large fleets. For this, however, technology has stepped through and provided a brilliant answer, which is GPS. GPS devices can now be attached to a vehicle, and they will send their location the main office every few minutes. This way, the company can know where all the vehicles are at any point, find out how much time the drivers are taking for breaks, track the delivery and inform the customer of the expected arrival time, and also plan routes that are shorter and save money and time. Finally, by using GPS, it is possible to plan deliveries and pickups in advance so that the driver does not have to drive long distances for a pickup after a delivery. You can also track the maintenance of the vehicle through the GPS system, which gives alerts when the vehicle is due for a tune up.

All these misconceptions and challenges make the HGV industry one of the toughest to work in, and start a business in.

Fuel Efficiency Tips for HGV Drivers

With the prices of fuel going up and down sporadically, it is important to try and maximize fuel efficiency so that you can reduce your costs during both low and high price times. Also, since fuel is a finite resource, it is environmentally friendly to try and reduce wastage. Here are some tips:

• It is better to drive your HGV at a steady pace then to jack-rabbit between high and low speeds. You can reduce your fuel consumption by as much as 40% if you reduce hard braking. The correct way to accelerate is to do it slowly and smoothly and get into a high gear quickly.
• It is important that HGV drivers go under the posted speed limit for legality’s sake but also because you will save fuel if you go slower. For instance, going from 55mph to 75mph can make your fuel consumption go up by 20%.
• If you are in the habit of letting your engine idle while you wait for it to warm up, you are wasting fuel. In the winters, you need to idle the engine for no longer than thirty seconds.
• If you tires are not fully inflated you will end up wasting fuel. Under-inflated tires increase consumption by 6%. Check the pressure every month, on cold tires. If the tires need to be inflated, get it done before you start your drive.
• When you are driving, make sure you are driving in the highest gear you can. HGV driving in lower gears wastes fuel. At the same time, letting an engine run in a high gear on hills and corners also wastes fuels.
• You can also reduce costs by using your air conditioner sparingly. If you think its cold enough outside, open the windows. This will also help you stay awake on long drives. Depending on the speed though, using an air conditioner can be efficient. So the faster you are, the more efficient it might be to turn the air conditioner on due to wind resistance on the windows. 
• Choose the fuel that best suits your HGV vehicle. You can check with the owner’s manual to find out which one to use.
• Make sure you vehicle is serviced regularly. Poorly tuned engines can increase fuel consumption by as much as 50%. Dirty air filters can increase your fuel consumption by 10%. Even using the wrong oil can cause you to use more fuel. 
• Before you turn the ignition off, make sure you shut down any power accessories. This way, next time to start the vehicle, these won’t pull unnecessary power.
• When you get fuel, make sure you the gas cap is on tight and properly.
• Whenever possible, make sure the engine is under a shade. This will keep the engine cool and reduce the need for air conditioning in the cab, as well as reduce fuel evaporation.

Hopefully, these tips will help you increase your fuel efficiency for HGV drivers out on the road, and increase the profits they can make. 

Is your HGV Driving Job safe from the recession?

With the recession affecting almost every household across the country, youngsters are wondering about the safest careers to go into considering the current economic climate. Many professional jobs and office jobs are no longer guaranteed to last since companies are going under and consumers are cutting back spending. There are, however, a few options. There are some jobs that are recession proof, and one of them is HGV driving.

HGV driving is a recession proof job for a few reasons. Firstly, no matter what happens, people will always need goods. Be this vegetables and fruits, or clothes and home items. There is always going to be the requirement to move these around which means that there will always be the requirement for trucks and heavy goods vehicles. Therefore, there is no need for HGV drivers to worry since their jobs are safe, even in this economy.

Another reason for the job safety is the new stimulus packages that all governments are rolling out to help the economy get back on its feet. As a result of these, many new buildings and houses are being built, which means that construction material needs to be taken from Point A to Point B. This means that the construction sites need HGV drivers.

Becoming an HGV driver also has its benefits. Firstly, the job pays much more than the average job you can find. Over the last few years, it has been recorded that HGV driving pays more than the national annual average wage. This is great news, especially in a slowing economy, since not only are you guaranteed job safety, but you’re also earning more than the average worker.

HGV driving also comes with flexible work hours. You can work as much, or as little, as you want. You can take on jobs that will take you far away from your city, or stay in the city. The flexibility in this job is especially great for people with young children who do not want to be away from them for too long.

Finally, HGV drivers also get good health and insurance packages. This means that besides having a recession proof job, you also get health and insurance benefits, as well as get to choose your own hours. Why would anyone not want to be a HGV driver?

Well, there are some reasons why people shy away from this career. Firstly, it can take you far away from family if you choose jobs that are far away. Of course, that is dependent on you and the jobs you choose to take on. However, many people do not take up a job in the HGV industry for this reason.

Overall, in this economy, this is one of the few recession proof jobs, so if you are thinking about a career, this may be the right step for you to take. You will need to pass an HGV driving test before you can drive a heavy goods vehicle, but once you have that you can start earning money and travelling the country. 

Tips for your HGV Theory Test

Examinations and tests are guaranteed to make anyone nervous. Even if you have been doing everything right before the exam, just the thought that you are being judged on your performance at one point can make the best of people get an attack of the nerves.

Haulage vehicles require a lot more knowledge to operate than a regular car, which is why the test for becoming an HGV driver is much more complicated and strict. When you are giving your HGV theory test, keep the following, important tips in mind:

Brakes: Since you are driving a heavier vehicle, you will need longer to come to a complete stop after you press the brakes. Make sure you give yourself enough distance whenever you need to stop. As the loads you will carry will also increase your lorry’s weight, make sure you adjust the distance to reflect that.

Turns: Since you have a trailer behind you, your turns need to be wider to avoid clipping the curb.

Acceleration: Since your acceleration is much slower than in a car, you need to be extra careful when switching lanes as you won’t be able to speed up to pull away from the traffic behind you.

Indicators: You are driving an extremely heavy vehicle that is going to be slow to respond so make sure you indicate your intentions to turn to other motorists long before you actually need to turn so that they don’t end up pull over on your inside.

Height and Weight: It is necessary for you to know how tall your vehicle is and how much it weighs since you will need to go through bridges and over bridges which will have limitations.

These few tips should help you make sure you do well in your test. Besides driving, these are the basics that you will be tested on.

Sometimes the nerves that you have before an exam have nothing to do with knowledge and more to do with being anxious. Here are some ways to reduce your stress levels before the HGV exam:

Music: Listening to your favourite music on an MP3 player can calm you down. Try music that makes you feel confident.

Sleep: Make sure you sleep well the night before your test. Being nervous is normal, but staying up all night will only slow your reflexes for the test. Try taking a hot bath, drinking green tea and reading if you find it difficult to sleep.

Caffeine: If you are a coffee addict, make sure you don’t overdo it or you might get caffeine jitters during the test. Too much caffeine can make you jittery and that’s the last thing you want during a test.

Revision: If there are any reading materials, make sure you review tem once the morning of the test, but don’t overdo it or you might psyche yourself out.

Relax: This is by far the most important thing to do. If you can relax and just view the test as another day of you driving, you will be able to sail through without any problems.