I’m a 25 year old, Female, student who is graduating from University in a month or so. I have always had a deep love for Trucks and for as long as I can remember I have wanted to drive them as a career. After three years of academic study, I have been thinking about career paths after University and I’m really considering following my dream career path by training to get my C+E and doing the CPC, then hopefully get a job driving a HGV/LGV.
I have some queries that I hope can be answered.
I know that women only make up approximately 1.6% of truck drivers in the UK and the career is predominately a male career. But why would you say that this is the case?
Is truck driving a career that you would recommend to someone?
What advice would you give to someone who is wanting to do C / C+E training?
What is that opinion of women truck drivers?
Anything else you can advise me or think that I should know would be greatly received and appreciated.
I’m a 25 year old, Female, student who is graduating from University in a month or so. I have always had a deep love for Trucks and for as long as I can remember I have wanted to drive them as a career. After three years of academic study, I have been thinking about career paths after University and I’m really considering following my dream career path by training to get my C+E and doing the CPC, then hopefully get a job driving a HGV/LGV.
I have some queries that I hope can be answered.
I know that women only make up approximately 1.6% of truck drivers in the UK and the career is predominately a male career. But why would you say that this is the case?
Lorry driving in the past has not been a very family friendly career. Early starts and long hours followed by late finishes don’t generally fit in with collecting Timothy from daycare. It also used to be a pretty physical job to do with lots of climbing with roping and sheeting involved. Nowadays some jobs are effortless with most lorries being automatic and a lot of supermarket work requires very little skill or effort.
Is truck driving a career that you would recommend to someone?
Lorry driving is what you make it. Some people have very satisfying jobs whilst others hate it but can’t get out of the industry because they know nothing else. If you are willing to move around and try everything then you should find a satisfying role somewhere. Money can be very good but again, you need to do homework and get about a bit to find where and how to make the big money.
What advice would you give to someone who is wanting to do C / C+E training?
Go direct to a training school and NOT a broker. There are a few trainers on here who will be willing to sell themselves to you.
What is that opinion of women truck drivers?
Never asked one. Personally I have no opinion on this one, as far as I’m concerened if they are lorry drivers then they are lorry drivers. The ones I don’t particularly like are the ones who flutter their eyelashes at the first driver they see in order to get them to reverse onto a bay for them and yes it does happen, saying that, there are a lot of males who do the same
Anything else you can advise me or think that I should know would be greatly received and appreciated.
Do you know any lorry drivers? if so try asking if you can tag along for a day or approach a local company and ask if they could help. Most won’t bite and should help you out. I wouldn’t advise reading too many posts on forums like this because you might want to hang yourself afterwards.
I’m a 25 year old, Female, student who is graduating from University in a month or so. I have always had a deep love for Trucks and for as long as I can remember I have wanted to drive them as a career. After three years of academic study, I have been thinking about career paths after University and I’m really considering following my dream career path by training to get my C+E and doing the CPC, then hopefully get a job driving a HGV/LGV.
I have some queries that I hope can be answered.
I know that women only make up approximately 1.6% of truck drivers in the UK and the career is predominately a male career. But why would you say that this is the case?
They are rare but I’ve seen a good few in my very short time so far. There is a women who works as a subbie for us who’s defienty not afraid to mix it up!
Is truck driving a career that you would recommend to someone?
Do you like being by yourself a lot? Do you have a cool head? Do you have a fairly decent sense of direction? If yes then you should do fine as a trucker!
What advice would you give to someone who is wanting to do C / C+E training?
Don’t think, just do it!
What is that opinion of women truck drivers?
For me, I have no issue, if fact its a nice change of pace talking to a lady trucker. There are very small group in this industry who can’t seem to handle the fact that a women could drive better than they can but they are few and far between
Anything else you can advise me or think that I should know would be greatly received and appreciated.
Hi Sarah, I am female and 41 and in the middle of getting my class 1. Like you I’ve always wanted to get into truck driving, and now took the plunge. Read as much of the threads on here, there’s lots of info to read. As I’ve lived a life I feel confident doing this, being in a mostly male environment. You definitely need to be feisty and stand your ground, and be aware of dangerous situations. But that counts for men also. Being streetwise probably helps. Btw i think the percentage of female drivers is a bit higher, like 6%, but still not many. Good luck and stay in touch if you like!
Hi Sarah
my advice would be just follow your heart and go for it, ignore negative comments there is a good living to be made in this job, ok the hours are long but its done me ok for 20 years.
As others have said go direct to a training school and not to a broker they will just rip you off.
Avoid brokers like the plague. They’re quite easy to spot: websites mention massive driver shortage, nationwide training centres and expected wages £30k+. There are NO national trainers.
You don’t mention your location but I would suggest getting your provisional then booking at least 2 assessment drives - often free. Make sure you’re happy with your proposed choice of trainer before parting with any money.
The only exception to this is to book on rock solid recommendation as many folks do who come to us on residential courses.
I used to work for a VERY large cold store company. We once had a woman reverse on to the bay I was tipping in one go. Better than some of the regular fellas. A little woman at the ripe old age of 72 popped out of a scania v8 (im talking 4’0" nothing). She didn’t [zb] around!!
I am a woman lorry driver have been for quite a few years now often away all week as well I have never had any problems tbh have had a lot of hel & advise go for it if you want
As Peter say avoid brokers have at least 2 assessments before you decide who you are paying your money too
There are quite a few of us female on here & quite a few working in the industry so don’t worry bout it
Michael Douglas:
I used to work for a VERY large cold store company. We once had a woman reverse on to the bay I was tipping in one go. Better than some of the regular fellas. A little woman at the ripe old age of 72 popped out of a scania v8 (im talking 4’0" nothing). She didn’t [zb]around!!
They are the best. I’ve seen one where a group of guys were laughing at a women about to reverse onto the tightest bay they had, did in one. Those laughs soon stopped!
Thanks for all the advice and encouragement, it is really appreciated.
I know it sounds strange that I am about to graduate University and want to become a truck driver, but it is my dream job and I feel I am at a point where I can follow my dream. If it doesn’t work out then I have my degree-based career prospects to fall back on.
Hi, you wouldn’t be far off the mark on your percentage of female hgv drivers in the UK, to 300,000 ish male uk drivers , it is quite often that you see female drivers around the Midlands areas, & odd ones scattered else where. As has been mentioned earlier, it is not a family friendly job due to in most cases a female will have children at some stage, and this type of work doesn’t seem to fit in well around babies & bringing kids up etc. Long hours , traffic hold ups etc etc etc. not practical to fit kids around that situation.
If someone wants to drive as a career, that’s up to them , the same with any other job.
Go to a reputable trainer, even if it costs a bit more, & never a broker .
Have a family & rear them first , you bring them into the world, so look after them!! & then do your own career.
You get good days & bad ones same as any other job.
Your age along with lack of experience driving may make it difficult to get a job, some companies won’t take on due to insurance .
As you’ve got a degree and want to be a truck driver, why not do both: get in a graduate trainee scheme for transport manager with one of the big firms: Eddie Stobarts for example. Get your licence, do lots of truck driving, get some career progression, work around trucks long term.
Agreed with the general consensus… DO IT.
If you have a passion, you are already a big step ahead of a lot of people. A lot of us wait a long time, or simply never find that in life…
Also, being one of the few women, when you get experience under your belt, you will stand out more and consequently more doors are likely to open.
By the way, don’t think doing a degree and then wanting to drive trucks is weird - if I told you my history you’d probably fall off your chair
Have to say ‘Smithers’ advice seems good to me - if you are interested in that all round kind of thing.
On a last note, at the test centre where I have been over the last couple of months there are 2 female examiners, both named Linda actually.
But, just to give you an example, the one that I have had for 2 tests has driven everything you could imagine and got every T-shirt going within the industry. And now she is an examiner who works part time as she still loves it.
And the best bit of credit I ever heard was from the owner of the training school I’ve been using (and he’s a stereotypical, spade is a spade Mackem (Sunderlander if you didn’t know) and he said, ‘What Linda doesn’t know about trucks isn’t worth knowing.’
Fair praise I’d say.
And aside from that, she was great in both my tests, even though she only passed me on one
I would seriously try both, don’t give up on all that hard work just to become a trucker, you’ll regret it later in life. Pursue a job using your university qualifications and use the money to fund your licences and try a bit of part-time work, that way your keeping both avenues open.
Personally I have no opinion on this one, as far as I’m concerened if they are lorry drivers then they are lorry drivers. The ones I don’t particularly like are the ones who flutter their eyelashes at the first driver they see in order to get them to reverse onto a bay for them and yes it does happen, saying that, there are a lot of males who do the same 
