CV for HGV Driver in Ireland 2026

What pay can an HGV driver expect in Ireland?

Pay for HGV drivers varies with licence category (C or CE), route type, ADR certification, night or weekend work, and whether you are employed directly or through an agency. Check the job advert for the rate on offer rather than relying on a figure from a blog post. Mention every category, certificate and route type you hold on your CV, because these are what employers use to place you.

What CV format do Irish logistics employers expect?

Larger logistics firms may use an online application system, while smaller hauliers often accept emailed PDFs. The key difference from other CVs: your driving credentials must dominate the first half of page one.

• Length: 1–2 pages. Most driver CVs fit comfortably on one page.
• Sections (in order): Contact details → Driving licences and CPC → Vehicle experience → Work history → Additional certifications → References
• Licence details: List category (C, CE, D), licence number (last 4 digits), issue date, expiry date, and any endorsements/penalty points.
• Driver CPC: State module completion dates and expiry. This is a legal requirement — without it, you cannot drive commercially.
• No photo, no PPS number — standard Irish format.

How to describe driving experience on an Irish CV

Irish logistics employers want route types, vehicle types, and compliance record. Every role should specify:

Before (weak): "Drove truck for delivery company." After (strong): "Drove 18-tonne rigid (DAF CF) on multi-drop Dublin metro route, completing 25–30 deliveries per shift with 99.2% on-time rate. Zero tachograph infringements over 14 months. Clean licence, no penalty points."

Before (weak): "Long distance driver." After (strong): "Category CE artic driver covering Ireland–UK–France corridor (Dublin–Holyhead–Calais). ADR Classes 3 and 6.1 certified. Averaged 800km/day with full EU tachograph compliance and zero border delays."

Mention specific vehicle makes/models (DAF, Scania, Volvo, Mercedes Actros), route types (multi-drop, trunking, tramping, ADR), and compliance record (tachograph, penalty points, driver hours).

Which certifications must appear on your driver CV?

Irish logistics employers treat certifications as essential. If your CV does not list these clearly, you may not get a call:

1. Driver CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) — 35 hours of training over 5-year cycle. Legal requirement to drive commercially in Ireland. State expiry date clearly.
2. ADR Certificate — required for transporting hazardous goods. Classes 2 (gases), 3 (flammable liquids), 6.1 (toxic) are most common in Ireland.
3. Digital Tachograph Card — needed by drivers of vehicles fitted with a digital tachograph. Mention that you hold one and that your records are clean.
4. Forklift licence (counterbalance) — useful for drivers who also unload.
5. Manual Handling — required for multi-drop delivery roles where you load/unload.
6. CPC modules completed — list recent modules (vehicle roadworthiness, driver health, safe loading) to show currency.

List each certification with issuing body, date obtained, and expiry date. Driver CPC and ADR expire, and employers often check these dates before interviewing.

5 errors that get your driver CV rejected in Ireland

1. Missing Driver CPC expiry date — without this, employers assume your CPC has lapsed. It is illegal to hire you without valid CPC.
2. Not specifying vehicle categories — "HGV driver" is ambiguous. State Category C (rigid) or CE (artic) explicitly. Employers need specific classes.
3. No mention of penalty points — Irish employers ask about driving record. If you have a clean licence, state "zero penalty points" explicitly.
4. Vague route descriptions — "delivery driver" tells nothing. Specify multi-drop urban, trunking, tramping, or ADR. Each pays differently and requires different skills.
5. Forgetting to mention tachograph compliance — this signals professionalism. State "full EU tachograph compliance" and whether you use digital or analogue cards.

Your next step: build your driver CV today

If you have a valid CPC and the right licence category, your CV just needs to present your credentials in the format Irish fleet managers look for.

MeuCV builds HGV driver CVs with your licence categories, CPC status, ADR certifications, and route experience structured exactly how Irish logistics firms expect. From €5.99.

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