7 min read16 June 2026

CV for HGV Driver in the UK 2026 — Logistics Guide

UK logistics regularly recruits HGV and delivery drivers, and pay depends on vehicle class and route type. Visa sponsorship for driving roles is rare, so check your right to work in the UK before applying. Your CV must show Driver CPC, a clean tacho record, and relevant licence categories clearly — otherwise an ATS or a recruiter may filter you out before a transport manager sees your name.

What affects HGV driver pay in the UK?

HGV and delivery driver pay varies with licence category, vehicle type, route and employer. Class 1 (articulated) work generally pays more than rigid or van work. Check the job advert for the exact rate, and ONS earnings data for official figures:

Class 2 (rigid, Cat C): rigid vehicle work, local and regional
Class 1 (artic, Cat C+E): articulated lorries, often higher pay
Tramping (nights away): nights away from home may be paid extra
Multi-drop delivery (7.5t): many stops per day, shorter routes
Parcel delivery (employed): pay and conditions depend on the employer
Agency work: hourly rates vary; weekend rates may differ
ADR (hazardous goods): a specialist certificate that can improve your options

Where to look: logistics companies, parcel carriers, retailers' distribution networks, and driver recruitment agencies.

What CV format do UK logistics employers expect?

Large logistics firms may use an ATS such as SmartRecruiters or Workday, and agencies use their own databases. In every case, a straightforward CV focused on licence, compliance, and reliability works best:

Length: 1–2 pages. One page is perfectly acceptable for drivers.
Licence details at the top: State your licence categories (C, C+E, D, etc.), Driver CPC expiry, and digital tachograph card number.
Sections: Contact → Licence/CPC/ADR → Personal statement → Work experience → Training/Endorsements → References
Penalty points: If clean, state 'Clean driving licence — no penalty points'. If you have points, omit this line (do not lie — they check DVLA).
Right to Work: State your status clearly.
No photo, no DOB — standard UK convention.

How to describe driving experience on a UK CV

Transport managers care about: vehicle types driven, route experience, compliance record, and delivery accuracy. Generic descriptions waste their time.

Before (weak): "Drove lorries for a logistics company." After (strong): "Class 1 tramping driver covering 600+ miles/week on UK motorway network for a national logistics operator. 44-tonne artics, double-deck trailers. Maintained 99.2% on-time delivery rate across 18 months with zero tacho infringements."

Before (weak): "Delivered packages in London area." After (strong): "Multi-drop delivery driver completing 120+ stops/day across Greater London for a parcel delivery contractor. Used app-based routing, maintained 98.5% successful first-attempt delivery rate. Zero at-fault incidents over 14 months."

Include: vehicle type and weight, route type (trunking, multi-drop, tramping), delivery metrics, compliance record, and any specialist loads (ADR, temperature-controlled, oversized).

Example CV for HGV driver in the UK — HGV driver CV generated by MeuCV — CPC and licence details

Which certifications must appear on a driver CV?

Driving is heavily regulated. Missing any of these can mean you cannot legally work — and recruiters and ATS searches look for them:

Category C or C+E driving licence — state the exact categories held. Cat C = rigid (Class 2). Cat C+E = articulated (Class 1).
Driver CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) — 35 hours periodic training every 5 years. State your expiry date.
Digital tachograph card — state 'Digital tacho card: valid to [date]'. Without it, you cannot drive commercially.
ADR certificate — for hazardous goods transport. A valued specialist certificate.
FORS Bronze/Silver/Gold — Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme. Valued by some logistics firms, especially in London.
CPC in National/International Road Haulage — for owner-operators or transport managers. Different from Driver CPC.
Forklift licence (counterbalance) — useful for drivers who also load/unload. Adds flexibility to applications.

5 errors that get your driver CV rejected in the UK

Missing licence categories — if the recruiter cannot quickly see 'Cat C+E', they may skip your CV. Always state licence class at the top.
No Driver CPC date — legally required for commercial driving. If it is not on your CV, recruiters may assume it has expired.
Hiding penalty points — never lie about endorsements. They run a DVLA check. If you have points, demonstrate how you have improved your driving since.
Using non-UK terminology — 'motorista', 'chauffeur routier', 'camionero' will not match UK job titles in keyword searches. Use: HGV Driver, Delivery Driver, Class 1/2 Driver.
No delivery metrics — 'drove lorries' says nothing. State: stops/day, on-time percentage, miles/week, zero-incident record.

Your next step: build your driver CV today

If you hold a Cat C or C+E licence with valid CPC, there are roles to apply for. A properly formatted CV with the right keywords makes it easier for employers to see you are ready to drive.

MeuCV builds driver CVs in an ATS-friendly single-column format — licence details prominent, CPC valid, compliance keywords included. From €5.99. No account needed.

Create my HGV driver CV →