Income & Employment Guides UK — Maximise Your Earnings
How 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.
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% |