Going the extra mile, carrying the extra load, going the distance!
While some HGV drivers can spend up to 300 days a year away from home – depending on what industry goods are being transported – for many drivers there is a different change of scenery every day.
For our Shires Removals HGV drivers, one day they can be moving someone’s house items around the corner, and the next they can be crossing the channel to France or Spain, or further afield on the European continent.
Plenty of removals happen seasonally. So it can be expected during the busy seasons to be away from home a bit more than usual. Thank goodness for modern technology and social media, though, to keep in contact while you are away!
But, whether you mainly drive around the UK, or in Europe, you’ll certainly experience all sorts of new places and greatly expand your horizons.
Many drivers love the flexibility of their work. Some like to set off at dawn, known as ‘moving with the light’, and others prefer to drive overnight. On-the-job camaraderie between other drivers, porters, and office teams back at the office also make the job of a truck driver enjoyable.
“Lorry drivers do such an important job: society couldn’t function as we know it if supermarket shelves weren’t stocked, or if life-saving medical supplies didn’t get delivered”.
And, in our business of removals, people wouldn’t be able to move house, or office, or valuable and unusual goods.
How much road is covered every year?
With just under 13 billion miles travelled per year across the UK by HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicles), plenty of these crazy miles have been driven by moving company HGV trucks. Although the top 3 goods lifted and transported by road in UK are food, mining-related goods, and waste – yes, waste! (11%). – source, Department of Transport.
Stats from the Road Haulage Association show that 85% of goods transported within the UK are carried by road. So the road transport industry is a dynamic, business critical sector upon which the UK economy depends.
And each of these trips requires an HGV driver. Of which there is a current shortage of 60,000!
“Being a driver might test you at times. You will inevitably, on occasions, find yourself driving in poor weather and on unfamiliar roads. You may need to plan your route very carefully to ensure you don’t end up on a road that clearly isn’t suited to a large vehicle”.
LGV vs. HGV
Although HGV miles travelled have seen an increase in the past 20 years, LGV (Light Goods Vehicles) have seen a substantial increase. (Did you know that we also have both LGV and HGV options for your move? Big moves, and ‘man in a van’ size moves)
HGV driving in a pandemic
During the first lockdown in March 2020, removals firms were not allowed to carry out their work. Like many other businesses, we had to temporarily close our doors until lockdown eased. Since then it has been extremely busy, with many, many moves of all kinds taking place.
Our large fleet of vehicles hardly have time to rest in our depot before they are off on another job.
But what has it been like for those drivers who haven’t stopped, who worked harder than ever to keep the country’s needs delivered? From fast-moving consumer goods and food, to life-saving PPE and medicine, and more. A global telematics and tracking provider started an initiative in partnership with Brake – the road safety charity – to talk about how commercial drivers keep Britain moving during Covid-19.
They aim to raise awareness of the extra pressure the pandemic has put on the country’s commercial drivers, as without their continuous efforts, communities across the nation would have struggled without access to essential goods, services or healthcare.
Shires Removals in a pandemic
How do we do it?
Our fantastically organised and experienced relocation and moving team puts an individual safety plan in place for each individual move to ensure that social distancing and safe practice is actioned at all times. Due to the unprecedented situation with regard to the spread of the Covid-19 virus, the removal industry has had to review its operational procedures in order to protect both customers and employees from the risk of infection and to ensure that the risk of spreading the virus in minimised.
Each move is unique, with its own set of circumstances, which we plan – together with our customer’s needs. In addition to this, we also follow government guidelines and keep up to date with any changes.
Government guidelines for Removals firms:
Removals firms
Removal firms are able to operate and should follow the latest government guidance on safer working. Where moves are carried out, social distancing should be followed. Companies should ensure employees understand how to operate safely and communicate this to customers.
What our drivers say
“I enjoy the sense of freedom you get from this job”
“I’d rather be out on the open road than be working in a factory or a shop at the same place every day, counting the hours until home time”
“Each day is different and time just flies by”
“There’s great variety. Each day you turn up for work and you get to meet new people”
“I love going to new destinations. Even though we travel to Europe quite a lot, to France and Spain especially, we always go to new places in these countries and get to see something different every time”
Become a part of our Shires driving team
From competitive salaries to being a part of a great Shires team, you’ll need up to date qualifications, a valid passport; and be professional, reliable, positive, flexible, and have a willing disposition.
Being away from home from time to time comes with the job – but you’ll already have experienced this in your career.
Being physically fit is also important for driving and removal duties, and loading vehicles.
And of course – you need to be fantastic with our valued customers!
Get in touch for your next move – join our Shires Removals family.
Home Moves. Office Moves. Business Moves.
We provide Local, National and International Removals, Packing, and Storage services to Domestic and Commercial customers.
You find a place, and we’ll take you there!
