Tanker Driver

Typical Salary

£20,000 To £35,000

Typical Hours

50 to 52 a week

evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts

How To Become a Tanker Driver

You can get into this job through:

an apprenticeship
working towards this role
training with a private training provider

College / University

Apprenticeship

You can get into this job through an intermediate apprenticeship as a large goods vehicle driver.

some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

Routes into this Career

You can start off as a 'crew' person, accompanying a qualified driver, whilst you train to get your licences.

Other Routes

You can take private training to get your large goods vehicle (LGV) licence and the Certificate of Professional Competence, known as a Driver CPC.

You'll also need to complete ADR training to carry dangerous goods like chemicals. ADR is the shortened name for the European Agreement on the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road.

You can find LGV and ADR training providers through the Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training. It's recommended that you compare several providers before signing up, to see what they offer and to make sure it fits your needs.

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

knowledge of transport methods, costs and benefits
physical skills like movement, coordination, dexterity and grace
patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
to be thorough and pay attention to detail
customer service skills
the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
the ability to work well with others
the ability to operate and control equipment
to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Day To Day Tasks

Your day-to-day duties may include:

checking delivery schedules and noting any special instructions
supervising or helping to load the tanker
carrying out safety checks before you set off
travelling to the delivery site
clearing an area to unload the tanker
connecting hoses or pumps, or removing manhole covers to unload materials into fuel tanks or storage silos
updating paperwork and making sure relevant staff sign for deliveries
keeping accurate records of driving hours and activities using a tachograph system

Working Environment

You could work on the road.

Your working environment may be you'll travel often, cramped and physically demanding.

Career Path & Progression

Career Path & Progression are not listed for this job.

Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteering Opportunities are not listed for this job.

Tips & Information

Further information

You can find out more about lorry driving careers through The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.

Restrictions & Requirements

You'll need to:

be over 18 years of age
have a driving licence that includes LGV for lorries, or PCV for buses, if you work with these vehicles
have between 1 and 2 years' experience of driving lorries
have a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) - this is known as the Driver CPC

If you're working with hazardous goods, for example fuel oil, you'll also need an ADR driver training certificate. ADR is the shortened name for the European Agreement on the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road.