Following up on our celebration of the latest International Women’s Day, SmartCheck had a look into women’s roles as commercial drivers.
Are women working as commercial drivers?
Generally, haulage firms are trying to attract more women to the industry, especially after the recent years of driver shortages. However, currently out of the 315,000 registered truck drivers in the UK, only 2,200 are female. That is less than 1%!
To become a HGV driver you are required to be at least 19 years old, possess current and valid category B licence and pass a medical evaluation that demonstrates good health. So, any individual who possess all three of these requirements are fully eligible to apply for a provisional entitlement, which will allow you to do the HGV theory test, covering highway safety, motor vehicle law and hazard prevention.
Why might being a commercial driver be a good career choice?
Of course, if you are someone who enjoys driving then it could be a great job for you, particularly if you have any experience with large vehicles. There is no gender pay gap, so men and women are paid equally. Peace and quiet! Particularly if you are used to a loud and busy household, it can be enjoyable to be on the road for extended periods of time and have quiet and focused time. If you are a parent, there are plenty of agencies you can work for that allow you flexible shifts that can make juggling family time a lot easier.
Conclusion
Overall, commercial driving can be a great career choice for women. If you are interested in becoming an HGV driver and you meet the requirements mentioned, you should look into applying and take this as your opportunity to help to make a change in the industry.
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