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Tanker driver

Tanker drivers transport bulk materials and liquids by road.

Annual Salary

£19,000 to £36,000

Average UK salary in 2022 was £33,200
(source Office for National Statistics)

Working hours

38 to 52 a week

You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; away from home

0.2%
Future employment

There will be 0.2% more Tanker driver jobs in 2027.

Day to day tasks

On a typical day you could:

  • check delivery schedules and note any special instructions
  • supervise or help to load the tanker
  • carry out safety checks before you set off
  • travel to the delivery site
  • clear an area to unload the tanker
  • connect hoses or pumps, or remove manhole covers to unload materials into fuel tanks or storage silos
  • update paperwork and make sure relevant staff sign for deliveries
  • keep accurate records of driving hours and activities using a tachograph system

Working environment

Your working environment may be physically active and you'll travel often.

You can get into this job through:

  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • training with a private training provider
Apprenticeship

You can get into this job through an intermediate apprenticeship as a large goods vehicle driver.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
For more information
Work

You can start off as a 'crew' person, accompanying a qualified driver, whilst you train to get your licences.

Other routes

You can take private training to get your large goods vehicle (LGV) licence and the Certificate of Professional Competence, known as a Driver CPC.

You'll also need to complete ADR training to carry dangerous goods like chemicals. ADR is the shortened name for the European Agreement on the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road.

You can find LGV and ADR training providers through the Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training. It's recommended that you compare several providers before signing up, to see what they offer and to make sure it fits your needs.

Requirements and restrictions

You'll need to:

  • If you're working with hazardous goods, for example fuel oil, you'll also need an ADR driver training certificate. ADR is the shortened name for the European Agreement on the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road.
  • be over 18 years of age
  • have a driving licence that includes HGV for lorries or PCV for buses
  • have between 1 and 2 years' experience of driving lorries
  • have a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) - this is known as the Driver CPC

More information

Further information

You can find out more about lorry driving careers through The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.

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You can often increase your salary through shift allowances and bonuses.

With experience, you could specialise in transporting particular loads or set up your own haulier business.

You could also move into transport and freight planning, driver instructor training, or distribution or haulage management.

You can find out more about lorry driving careers through The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.

Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

You'll need:

  • knowledge of vehicle and public safety and security
  • concentration skills for staying focused while driving
  • the ability to organise your time and workload
  • knowledge of transport methods, costs and benefits
  • physical skills like lifting, bending and carrying
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • customer service skills
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
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