The Article Blog

The UK may be in recession with many of people losing their jobs every month, but there is high demand for Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) drivers. Therefore, there is an opportunity for anyone who undertakes the necessary LGV training to get a job with good pay and job security.

In order to become a LGV driver, you need to be properly trained, qualified and licensed. You should begin by finding a professional transport training company and enrolling on a LGV training course. You should look for a qualified training company who have instructors that are experienced at driving the type of vehicles you wish to drive. They should be knowledgeable, patient and good at building your confidence. They will be able to share with you a wealth of knowledge and skills that will prepare you for your driving test.

In order to drive a LGV vehicle, you will need to take a theory and a practical driving test, as follows:

The Theory Test

There are two parts to the theory test and they can be taken separately or on the same day. You can also choose which one to do first. You need to pass both parts to gain an overall pass. Once you have passed the theory test you can then apply to take your practical driving test.

The Practical Driving Test

This is designed to test the skills you will need to be a professional driver.

The practical test involves:

To become a LGV driver you will need a high degree of vehicle handling skill, which is why you need the right LGV driver training before you take your practical test. To become a professional lorry driver you will also need to know about the regulations that relate to your work and have a strong knowledge of the Highway Code, especially road markings and signs that relate to heavy goods vehicles.

You may have seen in the news that the NHS has opened up a dedicated telephone line for people who are feeling stressed about the credit crunch. 0300 123 2000 is the number for the Credit Crunch Stressline for people to call who are worried about job security and redundancy or stressed about debt or financial problems. The line is open 7 days a week between 8am and 10pm and callers will speak with health advisers who will offer practical advice and point people in the direction of useful online resources.

Here are 10 reasons why the NHS Stressline is an 0300 number:

1. 0300 numbers, like all 03 numbers, meet the needs of the public as they cost the same to call as 01/02 numbers – even from a mobile.

2. The public trust 0300 numbers as they are exclusively for public sector organisations.

3. Organisations can deal with callers more efficiently, gain valuable information about their specific 03 number and ensure all calls are answered by the right person, first time.

4. It’s possible to record calls to a 0300 number.

5. 0300 numbers can easily move with the organisation if it relocates.

6. Organisations can control where they receive their calls, by rerouting their 03 number to any UK landline or even a mobile phone easily via the web/phone.

7. It’s possible to see the geographic location of callers and the busy periods of the organisation using online call statistics packages.

8. Callers can be queued, meaning that all important calls will be answered.

9. There is an extensive range of easy to remember 03 numbers available as they are still relatively new.

10. They can often be inexpensive to run if you seek out the provider with the most competitive offering in the market.

Many other UK organisations are now using 03 numbers, including Oxfam, the National Blood Service and Metropolitan Police. The above reasons should serve to illustrate some of the main reasons why.