HGV Driver Jobs in UK Construction

36 HGV driver jobs are live on SiteJobs right now. Every listing has a real phone number - call the employer direct, no forms, no CV uploads, no agency middlemen. Search sitejobs-code15 on Google to find us.

HGV drivers are the backbone of construction logistics. Every brick, bag of cement, steel beam, and excavator arrives on site because a qualified HGV driver delivered it. With 36 live vacancies on SiteJobs and rates reaching £18-28/hour, construction transport is a sector with serious earning potential. Whether you drive a tipper, grab lorry, low loader, or beavertail, construction companies need you - and they are paying well.

What Does a Construction HGV Driver Do?

A construction HGV driver operates heavy goods vehicles to transport materials, equipment, and waste to and from construction sites. The work is varied: you might be delivering aggregates (sand, gravel, crushed stone) in a tipper truck one day, removing demolition waste in a grab lorry the next, and transporting a 20-tonne excavator on a low loader the day after. Every load is different, and every site presents its own challenges.

On a typical day, a construction HGV driver will carry out a daily vehicle walkaround check (DVSA requirement), drive to a quarry or supplier, load up, drive to site, manoeuvre into position on uneven ground, tip or offload, and return for the next load. Drivers also handle paperwork - delivery tickets, waste transfer notes (required under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, available at legislation.gov.uk), and vehicle defect reports.

The Health and Safety Executive provides detailed guidance on workplace transport safety at hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport. Construction sites are high-risk environments for vehicles, and drivers must follow strict protocols for reversing, tipping, and loading.

HGV Driver Pay Rates UK 2026

Current rates from live SiteJobs listings and industry data:

• Cat C (Class 2) tipper driver, outside London: £16-21/hour
• Cat C (Class 2) tipper driver, London/South East: £19-24/hour
• Cat C+E (Class 1) low loader driver: £20-26/hour
• Grab lorry driver (Cat C): £18-24/hour
• ADR driver (hazardous goods): £22-30/hour
• Day rate (PAYE, Monday-Friday): £140-£210/day
• Overtime rate: Typically time-and-a-third or time-and-a-half
• Saturday rate: Typically time-and-a-half
• Sunday/Bank Holiday rate: Typically double time

Rates depend on your license category, experience, the type of vehicle you drive, and whether you hold ADR certification for transporting hazardous materials. Drivers with C+E entitlement consistently earn the most, as low loader and beavertail work requires precise reversing and load securing skills.

Most employed HGV roles in construction are PAYE with weekly or fortnightly pay. Self-employed drivers working under the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) have 20% deducted at source by the contractor, reclaimed through annual Self Assessment. CIS is governed by HMRC regulations - full details at legislation.gov.uk.

What Licenses and Qualifications Do You Need?

To work as an HGV driver in UK construction, you need:

1. Category C (Class 2) license - allows you to drive rigid vehicles over 7.5 tonnes. This covers most tipper trucks, grab lorries, and flatbeds used in construction. The minimum for most construction driving roles.
2. Category C+E (Class 1) license - allows you to drive articulated lorries and trailer combinations. Required for low loader work transporting plant equipment, and for larger tipper artic operations.
3. Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC) - mandatory for all professional HGV drivers. Requires 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years. Without a valid DQC card, you cannot drive professionally.
4. ADR certificate (for hazardous goods) - required if you transport dangerous substances such as fuel, chemicals, or gases. Adds significantly to your earning potential.
5. Digital tachograph card - mandatory for all HGV drivers. Records your driving hours, breaks, and rest periods in compliance with EU drivers' hours rules.

For construction site work, many employers also require a valid CSCS card. While CSCS is not a legal requirement for HGV drivers, many main contractors insist that anyone entering the site holds one. A green CSCS labourer card is usually sufficient for drivers. Apply or renew at cscs.uk.com. The CSCS Alliance provides full details of card types at cscsgroup.co.uk.

How to Get Your HGV License

If you do not yet have an HGV license, here is the route:

1. Hold a full car license (Category B) - you must be 18 or older (some companies accept trainees from age 18, though most prefer 21+).
2. Apply for a provisional lorry license - submit form D2 to DVLA and include a D4 medical form completed by a doctor.
3. Pass the Category C theory test - includes multiple-choice questions and hazard perception.
4. Pass the Category C practical test - a 1.5-hour driving test including reversing exercise and on-road driving.
5. Complete Driver CPC initial qualification - Module 4 (demonstration test) if you are a new driver.
6. Upgrade to C+E (optional) - take an additional test with an articulated vehicle or drawbar combination.

Total cost: approximately £2,000-£3,500 for Cat C, and a further £700-£1,200 to upgrade to C+E. Many construction companies offer funded training in exchange for a commitment to work for them for 12-24 months. Large operators including Tarmac, Cemex, and Aggregate Industries run regular driver recruitment programmes.

Types of Construction HGV Driving Work

Construction HGV driving covers several specialist roles:

• Tipper truck driver: The most common construction HGV role. Transports aggregates (sand, gravel, crushed stone, type 1 sub-base) from quarries to sites. Tips the load by raising the trailer body. Requires good spatial awareness for manoeuvring on uneven ground.
• Grab lorry driver: Operates a lorry with a hydraulic grab arm. Used for removing waste, rubble, soil, and green waste from demolition and excavation sites. The driver operates the grab from the cab. Rates are typically £2-5/hour higher than standard tipper work.
• Low loader driver: Transports heavy plant machinery (excavators, bulldozers, cranes) between sites. Requires C+E entitlement and exceptional reversing skills. The highest-paying construction driving role, with day rates of £200-£280.
• Beavertail driver: Drives a flatbed with a hydraulic tail-lift used for transporting smaller plant (mini-diggers, dumpers, scaffolding). Loads and secures plant using chains and ratchet straps. Requires knowledge of load securing regulations.
• Concrete mixer driver: Transports ready-mix concrete from batching plants to sites. Timed deliveries mean pressure to arrive on schedule. Requires good knowledge of concrete setting times and site access.
• Waste transfer driver: Transports construction waste from sites to licensed waste facilities. Requires waste transfer notes under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 - full regulations at legislation.gov.uk.

Health and Safety for Construction HGV Drivers

HGV driving in construction carries specific risks. The HSE provides comprehensive guidance on workplace transport at hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport. Key hazards include:

• Reversing accidents: Most construction vehicle incidents occur when reversing. Always use a banksman or spotter. HSE data shows that reversing accounts for nearly a quarter of workplace transport fatalities.
• Tipping accidents: Tipper trucks can overturn if the ground is uneven or the load sticks. Always check ground stability before tipping. The HSE has issued specific guidance on tipper stability at hse.gov.uk.
• Falls from height: Drivers climbing onto vehicle bodies to sheet loads or check tie-downs are working at height. Use access steps and gantries where provided.
• Load shifts: Poorly secured loads can move during transit, causing rollovers. Use appropriate chains, straps, and tensioners. The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 govern load securing - available at legislation.gov.uk.
• Fatigue: EU drivers' hours rules limit driving to 9 hours per day (extendable to 10 hours twice a week) with a 45-minute break after 4.5 hours of driving. These rules are legally binding.
• Site hazards: Construction sites have overhead power lines, open excavations, and moving plant. Drivers must follow site induction procedures and site speed limits.

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) apply to all construction work, including transport operations on site. Full text at legislation.gov.uk. The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) require employers to report serious accidents, including vehicle incidents on construction sites.

NPORS and CPCS Plant Transport Tickets

While HGV driving primarily requires DVSA-issued licenses, some construction transport roles benefit from additional plant operator tickets:

• NPORS Plant Mover - demonstrates competence in loading and unloading plant onto trailers. Details at npors.com.
• CPCS A59 - Forward Tipping Dumper - useful if you also operate site dumpers during loading operations. Details at cpcs.nocn.org.uk.
• NPORS Slinger Signaller - helps when coordinating crane lifts during plant loading. Details at npors.com.
• CPCS A02 - Crane Lift Supervisor - for drivers who also supervise lifts. Details at cpcs.nocn.org.uk.

Holding these additional tickets makes you more versatile and employable. Many construction firms prefer drivers who can also assist with loading operations, particularly on low loader work where securing heavy plant requires specialist knowledge.

HGV Driver Apprenticeships

The Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) Driver apprenticeship is a Level 2 qualification taking approximately 12 months. It is fully funded for apprentices aged 16+ who meet the eligibility criteria.

• Entry requirements: Must hold a Category B (car) license and be at least 18 years old. Some providers require a clean license.
• What you learn: Safe driving techniques, vehicle mechanics, load handling, route planning, regulations (EU drivers' hours, weight limits), and customer service.
• Qualification achieved: Category C license, Driver CPC, and NVQ Level 2 in Driving Goods Vehicles.
• Pay during apprenticeship: Typically £12-£16/hour, well above the apprentice minimum wage.
• After completion: Newly qualified HGV drivers earn £28,000-£35,000/year. C+E upgrade adds £3,000-£5,000.

Large construction companies including Tarmac, Cemex, and Hanson run regular apprenticeship intakes. The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) provides information on funded HGV training pathways.

Self-Employed HGV Driving in Construction

Many experienced construction HGV drivers are self-employed, either as owner-drivers or driving on a contract basis:

• Owner-driver tipper (Cat C): £180-£240/day gross, minus vehicle costs
• Owner-driver low loader (Cat C+E): £250-£400/day gross, minus vehicle costs
• Self-employed driver (company vehicle): £18-£26/hour PAYE equivalent
• Weekend rates (owner-driver): Typically 1.5x weekday rates

Self-employed drivers working as subcontractors are usually paid under CIS. The contractor deducts 20% for HMRC. You reclaim overpayments through Self Assessment. Register for CIS at GOV.UK. Full CIS legislation is at legislation.gov.uk.

Where Are the Most HGV Driver Jobs?

The highest concentrations of construction HGV vacancies on SiteJobs are in:

• London and the South East - the busiest market with the highest rates. Driven by major infrastructure projects, residential developments, and commercial construction.
• The Midlands - strong demand from distribution centres, road projects, and manufacturing.
• The North West (Manchester, Liverpool) - consistent work from housing developments and infrastructure.
• Yorkshire and the Humber - steady demand from construction and quarrying operations.
• Scotland (Glasgow, Edinburgh) - growing market with infrastructure and renewable energy projects.

Rural areas also generate demand for aggregate delivery drivers, particularly in regions with active quarrying operations.

How to Apply for HGV Driver Jobs

Search sitejobs-code15 on Google to find SiteJobs. Browse all 36 HGV driver vacancies, filter by location and rate, and call the employer direct. No CV uploads, no registration walls, no agency fees. Every listing shows the rate, location, duration, and a verified phone number. You call, you start.

If you are newly qualified, look for tipper driver or Class 2 delivery roles to build construction site experience. Many quarry operators will take on newly licensed drivers for aggregate delivery work. If you already have C+E, low loader work is the most lucrative path.

Related Roles and Career Progression

Construction HGV drivers often progress into related roles:

• Crane operator: 18 live jobs on SiteJobs - CPCS tickets required, rates to £30/hour
• Plant operator: 100+ live jobs across various machine types - NPORS or CPCS required
• Site manager: 111 live jobs - for drivers looking to move into site management
• Transport manager: Requires Transport Manager CPC - oversees fleet operations
• ADR specialist: Adding ADR to your license opens up hazardous goods work at premium rates

More tickets mean more work and higher rates. Drivers who upgrade from Cat C to C+E, add ADR, and complete NPORS plant tickets can earn £50,000+ per year in construction transport.

Locuri de munca sofer HGV UK

Locuri de munca sofer HGV (camion greu) in UK. Permis Category C sau C+E obligatoriu. Driver CPC valabil necesar. 36 de locuri de munca disponibile pe SiteJobs. Transport agregate, moloz si utilaje pe santiere. Platiti £18-28 pe ora. Legislatia EU privind timpii de condus se aplica. Suna direct pe SiteJobs - sitejobs-code15 pe Google.

Pune shofer HGV UK

Pune shofer HGV (kamion i rende) ne UK. Leje Category C ose C+E e domosdoshme. Driver CPC e vlefshme e domosdeshme. 36 vende pune te disponueshme ne SiteJobs. Transport agregates, mbeturinash dhe makinerish ne kantiere. Pagesa £18-28 ne ore. Legjislacioni EU per oraret e ngarjes zbatohet. Telefononi direkt ne SiteJobs - sitejobs-code15 ne Google.

Rabota voditel HGV UK

Rabota voditel HGV (tyazhelyy gruzovik) v UK. Prava Category C ili C+E obyazatelny. Deystvuyushchiy Driver CPC trebuetsya. 36 vakansiy dostupno na SiteJobs. Perevozka agregatov, otkhodov i oborudovaniya na stroiploshchadki. Stavka £18-28 v chas. Pravila EU po vremeni upravleniya primenyayutsya. Zvonite napryamuyu na SiteJobs - sitejobs-code15 v Google.

Browse All HGV Driver Jobs

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