How Much Do Lorry Drivers Earn?

Explore how much HGV lorry drivers earn in the UK, training requirements, salary levels, pros, cons, and top logistics companies to work for.

How Much Do Lorry Drivers Earn? Salary, Training & Career Guide (UK)

Lorry drivers—also known as HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) or LGV (Large Goods Vehicle) drivers—are essential to the UK's supply chain, delivering everything from food and fuel to retail stock and construction materials. It's a career with rising demand, competitive pay, and opportunities for steady, long-term employment or flexible self-employment.

Here’s everything you need to know about how much lorry drivers earn, how to become one, and what the job involves.

Job Description: What Do Lorry Drivers Do?

Lorry drivers transport goods across the UK and sometimes internationally. The role involves more than just driving—responsibility, compliance, and customer service are key.

Responsibilities:

  • Driving long-distance routes across motorways and urban areas

  • Loading and unloading goods (sometimes using lifting equipment)

  • Planning routes and delivery schedules

  • Keeping detailed delivery records and vehicle logs

  • Carrying out vehicle checks before and after journeys

  • Complying with driver hour regulations and tachograph rules

  • Following health, safety, and road traffic laws

How Hard Is It to Become a Lorry Driver?

It’s not academically difficult, but there are licensing, training and testing requirements, including medical and theory exams. It can take a few weeks to several months to fully qualify depending on availability and funding.

Traits and Characteristics You Need

  • Good concentration and patience

  • Responsibility and safety awareness

  • Timekeeping and route planning skills

  • Ability to work independently

  • Comfort with long hours and overnight stays

  • Communication skills, especially for deliveries or collections

Do You Need Qualifications?

You don’t need school qualifications, but you must complete:

Licensing & Training:

  1. Full UK car licence (Category B)

  2. HGV Category C licence (rigid lorries) or C+E (articulated lorries)

  3. Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC)

  4. Medical exam – eyesight and general health check

  5. Theory and practical tests

Study Time:

  • Can be completed in 4–8 weeks, depending on the course and funding

  • Training costs: £1,500–£3,500, though some companies offer paid training

Levels and Specialisations

  • Category C: Rigid HGV (Class 2) Up to 32 tonnes, straight truck

  • Category C+E: Articulated HGV (Class 1) Up to 44 tonnes, lorry and trailer

  • CPC: All drivers need this (35 hours of periodic training every 5 years)

Career Progression:

  • Van driver / courier

  • Class 2 driver (C licence)

  • Class 1 driver (C+E licence)

  • ADR driver (hazardous goods)

  • Tanker driver (fuel, chemicals)

  • Transport manager / logistics coordinator

Experience Needed

You can enter with no experience if you're newly qualified, but high-paying jobs often require:

  • 6–12 months HGV driving experience

  • Clean driving record

  • Confidence with large vehicles and tight spaces

  • Night shift or weekend availability

Benefits of Being a Lorry Driver

  • Strong earnings, especially with overtime

  • Rising demand, reducing unemployment risk

  • Independence on the road

  • Shift work flexibility

  • Opportunity to travel, especially for international roles

  • Fast-track training, no degree needed

  • Option to go self-employed or work via an agency

Drawbacks and Negatives

  • Long hours, often 10–12 hour shifts

  • Loneliness and isolation on long routes

  • Time away from family, especially for long-haul

  • Driver fatigue and stress

  • Physical strain, especially when loading

  • Regulatory pressure – tachograph rules and CPC compliance

  • Initial training costs if not company-sponsored

Lorry Driver Salary UK

Newly Qualified (Class 2): £25,000 – £32,000

Experienced (Class 1): £35,000 – £45,000

Specialist Driver (ADR): £45,000 – £60,000

Self-employed / Overtime: £55,000 – £70,000+

Tax Example:

A driver earning £40,000/year would pay:

  • Income Tax: ~£5,432

  • National Insurance: ~£3,149

  • Take-home pay: ~£31,400/year or £600/week

Self-employed drivers can deduct fuel, insurance, vehicle costs, and uniform.

What Factors Affect Salary?

  • Licence type – C+E (Class 1) drivers earn more

  • Region – London, Midlands and ports pay better

  • Experience level

  • Shift timing – nights and weekends boost pay

  • Sector – fuel, supermarket, or container work pay more

  • Employer – agencies vs direct contracts

  • Overtime and bonuses

What’s the Future for This Role?

Strong demand continues due to:

  • Driver shortages post-Brexit and pandemic

  • Logistics growth from e-commerce and retail

  • Increased demand for domestic drivers over EU ones

  • Better working conditions and pay from large firms

  • Automation in warehousing, but lorry driving remains safe from AI—for now

Green transport (EV HGVs) may also create new training needs.

Best Companies for HGV Drivers in the UK

  • Royal Mail: Stable public sector contracts

  • Tesco / Sainsbury's: Consistent routes, decent pay

  • Eddie Stobart: Nationwide logistics

  • Wincanton: Contract logistics & warehouse roles

  • DPD / DHL / Amazon: Parcel and delivery networks

  • XPO Logistics: Big brand with room for progression

  • Turners (Soham): Tanker and temperature-controlled freight

  • Biffa / Veolia; Waste sector driving (Class 2)

Final Thought

Lorry driving is a skilled, essential job that’s in high demand across the UK. With a relatively short training path and no need for a degree, it offers a strong, reliable income—especially for those willing to gain experience, specialise, or work flexible shifts. Whether you're after steady work or a self-employed route, it's a career worth steering into.