Category C1 - Van up to 7.5 tonne

With no family background in the industry, it was never something she had imagined for herself. But that soon changed - “I’d never considered a driving job before, nobody in my family is a HGV driver,” Sarah says. “I started driving the shopping delivery vans for Tesco, then I realised how much I loved driving, being out on the road and the responsibility of being left to get my jobs done independently! So when I saw the college was doing a HGV course I jumped at the chance and was lucky enough to earn my class 1 licence!”

Sarah trained at Boston LGV, where her confidence grew with every mile behind the wheel, “I enjoyed the most driving the modern units and when I was doing my training through town I had a lady in a car cheering me on when navigating through tricky Sluice Bridge,” she says. “Also my trainer Dean was amazing, he was calm, gave me lots of confidence and I couldn’t have passed without him! I don’t think there was actually anything I didn’t enjoy, and even now I love every single day at work!”

At just 21, Sarah found a job opportunity at a local haulage firm, “there were not many employment options when I passed as a 21 year old, however I did manage to secure a job at a local haulage firm who mainly do farm work. At first I felt thrown in the deep end, picking up sugar beet in the dark and wet fields early in the morning, getting stuck in the mud wasn’t uncommon!”

Since then, she has gained experience across a wide range of trailer types and job roles. “I have done work with bulkers, tankers, low loader, curtain sider, flat bed and fridge trailers! So I have delivered many different products, even doing nights out when needed which I really enjoy as I get to see more of the country and my unit is like a house inside—it has everything I need!”

Sarah thrives on the independence and variety that come with the job - “I love the independence it gives me. I get given my jobs list and left to crack on. My boss is great and always helpful if I need anything and I like seeing new places and chatting with other drivers at farms and mills or wherever else I end up!”

Working for a farming-based haulage firm means no two days are the same - “one day I’ll be driving a tanker through a field, the next day I’ll be chaining down an irrigator to a low loader ready to take it down the road, the next I’ll be down in Ipswich for the night ready to collect potatoes in the morning!”

Sarah is especially keen to encourage others, particularly women, to consider a career in the industry, “go for it! If you feel nervous or scared just do it anyway! I was nervous before starting my HGV job as it was such a big leap for me and I had very little knowledge of the actual job, but quickly picked it up and gained lots of amazing experiences and everybody is so happy to help and offer advice!”

She continues, “I’ve never looked back and cannot imagine doing anything else now!! Never be afraid to ask for help if you’re unsure of something and never be afraid to jump out and check the back of a trailer when you’re reversing and you’re not sure if it’s close to hitting anything, it’s well worth a look. Never be afraid to take a shunt also if you’re not lined up quite how you want to be.”

Sarah’s story is a powerful reminder that even unexpected career paths can turn into lifelong passions—and that with determination, support, and a willingness to learn, anyone can succeed behind the wheel.

After years of working in different roles, Geoff made the bold decision to change careers and train as an HGV driver. Today, he’s not only enjoying life on the road, but also travelling across Europe in his new role as a Class 1 driver.

Geoff came to us with a clear vision of what he didn’t want: a desk job. “I’ve done a variety of jobs in my time, but I’ve always known I couldn’t spend eight hours a day behind a desk,” he told us. With a passion for driving and a longstanding interest in trucks, HGV driving felt like the obvious next step - and we’re thrilled he chose to train with us.

His decision to join The HGV Training School wasn’t random. Geoff did his research and discovered the school through the popular TV show Queen of the Trucks. “From then on, you were always top of the list,” he said. “I always prefer family-run businesses where possible, because you usually get better service and care - and that was absolutely true here. The whole team genuinely wanted to see me succeed.”

It didn’t take long for Geoff’s hard work to pay off. Within a month of passing his test, he had not one, but two full-time Class 1 job offers. He chose to work for a family-run company - something that aligned with his values - and it turned out to be an excellent decision.

Geoff’s job in international events logistics takes him all over Europe. “I’m parked up in Austria as I type this,” he shared recently. “Over the last month I’ve been to France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, and Germany too. What other job lets you see that much of the world?”

Geoff has one clear message for anyone thinking about training as an HGV driver: “Just go for it. Don’t let anyone put you off. And once you’ve passed, put the same amount of effort into finding the right job as you did into your training. Don’t stop until you get exactly what you want.”

We couldn’t agree more. Geoff’s story is a testament to what’s possible with the right mindset, the right training, and a passion for the open road. We’re proud to have been part of his journey - and we can’t wait to see where the road takes him next.

“My daughter was keen for me to take the test, so that we had a second driver,” Lindy shared. “She passed her test with Boston Transport Training earlier in the year. I had driven a 7.5t on grandfather rights but when the number of horses increased we needed a bigger lorry.”

With a growing need for a larger horsebox, Lindy decided it was time to build on her existing experience and taker her test. And it turns out, the process was smoother and more supportive than she’d expected.

“I liked the fact that the course was organised from start to finish at a local venue. Leanne organised the medical, theory and practical test,” she said. “Dean was an outstanding coach and instilled confidence right from the start.”

Though confident behind the wheel, Lindy still had a few nerves about what training would be like - especially as a woman entering a field that’s often seen as male-dominated. But her experience turned out to be nothing but positive.

“I would recommend women taking the HGV test. As an older woman, I was a bit worried about the attitude of coaches and examiners, but I needn't have worried: everyone was very professional,” she said. “The training and test were straightforward and, although an established driver, it has increased my confidence.”

So, what’s next now that she’s passed?

“Well, I had enjoyed being chauffeured! But this will be much safer having two drivers.”

The training from Clarke was superb he really made me feel confident, relaxed and ready for my reverse test’

Richard who carried out my test was patient and clear with instruction and the perfect example of professionalism.

Having the opportunity to travel with his father and grandfather inspired him to choose this career for himself - ‘I remember being a little child with my dad or grandad and seeing all of the big trucks driving past and exploring different places and seeing different amazing views, and that is when I realised, that being a driver is truly one of the best jobs anyone could have. From that young age I set myself a goal, that as soon as I was old enough to drive, this is the path I would work towards’.

Alex passed his car test first time at the age of 17 and then a few weeks ago just after his 18th birthday Alex passed his Class 1 test with us at The HGV School - making him one of our youngest ever students to pass first time!

Suffering with ADHD Alex took time over selecting the school that was the right fit for him - ‘I looked around alot for different HGV schools and I am truly glad I went with the hgv school ltd’, ‘keeping focused and listening can be quite tricky, but the team were fantastic, especially my instructor Sukhjit Singh (Sukhi), he made the experience for me really, and I will always remember my instructor especially if I face problems in the real world, he made the lessons engaging, he was a great listener and a great teacher, for someone with ADHD to learn something in such a short amount of time is really difficult and Sukhi made sure I was receiving all the information I needed, he made me feel confident and prepared that i was going to pass, Sukhi connected with me on a personal level and he truly is a credit to the company.’

To anyone thinking of getting their HGV licence, Alex has the following words of advice ‘To anyone looking to do their HGV training I say, Do it! you wont regret it, but don’t do it for the wrong reasons, do it because it’s something you have wanted to do for such a longtime, don’t do it because you had an overnight dream, do it for the right reasons, but having an HGV license and knowledge in your pocket is always an advantage. It is truly one of the best feelings in the world when you pass.’

A day after Alex passed his test, we were able to put him in touch with a local business who were looking for drivers and by the start of the following week Alex had signed his contract and was looking forward to starting his new career!

Aimie trained for her Class 1 with PJE back in 2024 and she enjoyed the experience so much that when the opportunity to level up from ‘baby trucks’ presented itself she jumped at the chance!

With her Grandad being a lorry driver for all his working life and having grown up going to work with him, Aimie has had a lifelong fascination with the industry. ‘I thought it was the coolest thing ever. That feeling never really left me.’

Talking about her training, Aimie described the experience as being ‘tons of fun’. ‘I honestly enjoyed the entire experience, from my first interaction with the instructors, it was tons of fun. The knowledge they pass on is so valuable for both passing the test and for future reference. It was great to just be out on the road learning all about how these trucks handle but, for me, the most enjoyable part was being challenged slightly with some more complex routes and coming away confident that you knew how to handle one safely.’

Aimie’s advice for other women looking to get into the industry is ‘If it’s something you want to do, find the confidence and go for it! The thought of the experience can be so daunting but that just isn’t the case, the people I’ve had interactions with have been nothing but helpful and supportive.’

Aimie sums up her near future as an HGV driver with her usual sunny and positive attitude ‘For me now, the most simplest thing, is just to get behind the wheel full time and enjoy it.’