How much do Class 1 HGV drivers earn UK?

Class 1 (Category C+E) artic drivers earn £35,000-£55,000+ depending on the type of work. Day-work Class 1 drivers earn £35,000-£45,000. Tramping drivers earn £42,000-£55,000+. Agency Class 1 rates are £16-£22/hour. Specialist loads (ADR, oversized) command the highest rates. London and South East drivers earn 10-15% more.

How much does it cost to get an HGV licence UK?

Getting an HGV licence costs £2,000-£5,000 total. Category C (Class 2) training costs £1,500-£3,000. Category C+E (Class 1) costs an additional £1,000-£2,000. You also need a medical (~£50-£100), provisional entitlement (free), and Driver CPC qualification (included in most courses). Some employers fund training in return for a commitment to work for them.

Is HGV driving a good career UK?

HGV driving is a solid career with good pay and strong demand. There's an ongoing UK driver shortage meaning job security is excellent and pay has risen significantly in recent years. No degree is needed, and experienced Class 1 drivers can earn £40,000-£55,000+. Downsides include long hours, time away from home (tramping), and the physical demands of loading.

How Much Do HGV Drivers Earn in the UK? — 2026 Salary Guide | PocketWise

Q: How much do HGV drivers earn in the UK 2026?

HGV drivers earn £30,000-£55,000+ depending on licence class, experience, and type of work. Class 2 (rigid) drivers earn £28,000-£40,000. Class 1 (artic) drivers earn £35,000-£55,000+. Tramping (overnight) drivers earn more than day drivers. Agency drivers can earn £14-£22/hour, and specialist drivers (ADR/tanker) earn at the top end.

HGV driving is one of the most in-demand careers in the UK, with a persistent driver shortage pushing up wages. Here’s a full breakdown of what HGV drivers earn.

HGV Driver Salary by Licence Class

Class 2 (Category C — Rigid)

Level	Salary Range
Newly qualified	£26,000-£32,000
Experienced (2-5 years)	£30,000-£38,000
Experienced (5+ years)	£34,000-£42,000
Specialist (ADR, refrigerated)	£36,000-£45,000

Class 1 (Category C+E — Articulated)

Level	Salary Range
Newly qualified Class 1	£32,000-£38,000
Experienced (2-5 years)	£36,000-£45,000
Experienced (5+ years)	£40,000-£50,000
Tramping (overnight work)	£42,000-£55,000+
Specialist (ADR, tanker, oversized)	£45,000-£58,000+

Salary by Type of Work

Work Type	Class 2	Class 1
Day work (local/regional)	£28,000-£38,000	£35,000-£45,000
Trunk / night trunk	£32,000-£42,000	£38,000-£50,000
Tramping (nights away)	£34,000-£44,000	£42,000-£55,000
Multimodal/container	N/A	£38,000-£48,000
Supermarket distribution	£32,000-£42,000	£38,000-£48,000
Parcel delivery (7.5t)	£28,000-£35,000	N/A
Construction (tipper/mixer)	£30,000-£40,000	£36,000-£46,000
Tanker (fuel, food grade)	£36,000-£45,000	£42,000-£55,000

Agency / Temporary Rates

Class	Hourly Rate	Daily Rate (8-10 hrs)
Class 2 (day)	£13-£17	£104-£170
Class 2 (nights)	£14-£19	£112-£190
Class 1 (day)	£15-£20	£120-£200
Class 1 (nights)	£16-£22	£128-£220
Class 1 (weekends)	£18-£25	£144-£250

Annual Agency Earnings

Working Pattern	Approximate Annual
Class 2 (5 days, 48 weeks)	£25,000-£41,000
Class 1 (5 days, 48 weeks)	£29,000-£53,000
Class 1 (6 days, busy periods)	£38,000-£62,000

Salary by Employer Type

Employer	Class 1 Salary
Supermarket (Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s)	£38,000-£48,000
Royal Mail / Parcelforce	£32,000-£42,000
Amazon logistics	£32,000-£40,000
Pallet network (Palletways, Palletline)	£36,000-£46,000
Fuel tanker (Hoyer, Wincanton)	£42,000-£55,000
General haulage	£35,000-£48,000
Construction	£34,000-£46,000
Specialist (oversized, crane)	£42,000-£58,000

Specialist Driver Premiums

Specialism	Premium vs Standard	Requirement
ADR (hazardous goods)	+10-20%	ADR certificate
Tanker (food/fuel/chemical)	+10-20%	ADR + tanker experience
Oversized / abnormal loads	+15-25%	STGO/Special Types knowledge
Crane / HIAB	+10-15%	Lorry-loader certificate
Car transporter	+10-15%	Specialist training
Refrigerated/temperature controlled	+5-10%	Experience with temp logistics

Regional Differences

Region	Class 1 Day Work	Class 1 Tramping
London/South East	£38,000-£50,000	£45,000-£58,000
South West	£34,000-£44,000	£40,000-£52,000
Midlands	£35,000-£46,000	£42,000-£54,000
North West	£34,000-£45,000	£40,000-£52,000
Yorkshire	£33,000-£44,000	£40,000-£50,000
North East	£32,000-£42,000	£38,000-£48,000
Scotland	£34,000-£44,000	£40,000-£52,000
Wales	£32,000-£42,000	£38,000-£48,000

How to Become an HGV Driver

Licence Categories

Category	Vehicle	Requirement
C1 (3.5t-7.5t)	Medium goods	Provisional + medical + test
C (Class 2)	Rigid over 7.5t	Provisional + medical + test
C+E (Class 1)	Articulated (artic)	Category C + additional test

Training Costs

Component	Cost
Medical examination	£50-£100
Category C training + test	£1,500-£3,000
Category C+E training + test	£1,000-£2,000 (additional)
Driver CPC (initial)	Usually included in training
Total (C only)	£1,600-£3,100
Total (C + C+E)	£2,600-£5,100

Employer-Funded Training

Factor	Details
Many companies offer	Free training in return for 1-2 year commitment
Supermarkets	Tesco, Asda, and others run driver academy schemes
Clawback	May need to repay some cost if you leave early
Apprenticeships	Large Vehicle Driver apprenticeship available

Working Hours and Regulations

Regulation	Details
Maximum driving time	9 hours/day (10 hours twice per week)
Maximum weekly driving	56 hours
Maximum fortnightly driving	90 hours
Daily rest	Minimum 11 hours (can reduce to 9 three times/week)
Weekly rest	Minimum 45 hours (can reduce to 24 every other week)
Breaks	45-minute break after 4.5 hours driving
Tachograph	Digital tachograph records all driving, rest, work

Career Progression

Stage	Years	Typical Earnings
Class 2 (newly qualified)	Year 1	£26,000-£32,000
Class 2 (experienced)	Years 2-4	£30,000-£40,000
Class 1 (qualifying)	Years 2-3	£32,000-£40,000
Class 1 (experienced)	Years 4-8	£38,000-£50,000
Specialist Class 1 (ADR/tanker)	Years 5+	£42,000-£58,000
Transport supervisor/planner	Years 8+	£35,000-£50,000
Transport manager (CPC holder)	Years 10+	£40,000-£60,000
Fleet/depot manager	Years 12+	£45,000-£70,000
Owner-driver	Years 5+	£45,000-£80,000+ (variable)

Summary

Level	Typical Earnings
Class 2 (new)	£26,000-£32,000
Class 2 (experienced)	£30,000-£42,000
Class 1 (day work)	£35,000-£45,000
Class 1 (tramping)	£42,000-£55,000
Specialist (ADR/tanker)	£42,000-£58,000
Agency (Class 1)	£15-£22/hour
London/SE premium	+10-15%