Salary by Profession in the UK: Compare Jobs, Regions and Pay LevelsHow Much Do HGV Drivers Earn in the UK? — 2026 Salary Guide
Complete guide to HGV driver salaries in the UK for 2026. Class 1 vs Class 2 pay, agency rates, tramping vs day work, specialist driving, regional differences, and how to become an HGV driver.
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.
For a broader comparison across occupations and pay bands, see our Salary by Profession hub.
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% |