Options available when choosing a career in driving

Would you like to drive a vehicle for a living? Then you will be pleased to hear that there are plenty options available to you – so begin your journey along your dream career route by checking out this handy guide…

How to pursue a career as a taxi driver

Picking up passengers and charging them fares ahead of driving them to their requested destination, using the quickest route possible will be the main tasks of a taxi driver.

Requirements before entering this career route

You must apply for a taxi driver’s licence ahead of starting your career as a taxi driver. This can be carried out either from a local council’s licensing unit or via Transport for London (TfL).

One licencing unit will also have unique conditions compared to the next that you look into. However, most usually request that drivers are over 18 years old, have held a full UK or EU driving licence for a minimum of 12 months and have passed a medical, a criminal record check and a geographical test.

Skills that are essential for the role

To be a successful taxi driver, it is essential that you have the following skills:

Good driving skills.
Good awareness of road safety.
In-depth knowledge of an area where you will be carrying out duties as a taxi driver — this will include being able to identify landmarks, one-way systems and street names.
Customer care skills.
Maths skills.

The day-to-day duties of a taxi driver

Take job details via multiple means, which includes via an in-car computer, using an app, through a phone call and over a radio.
Help passengers to both get in and exit a vehicle where necessary.
Help to load and unload luggage when required.
Take accurate payments for fares.
Log payments for fares online.
Keep a vehicle clean.
Keep a vehicle in a roadworthy condition.
Keep both accounts and records up to date.

The salary to expect

£14,000 is the expected starting salary of a taxi driver. However, this can rise to £20,000 when experienced and then to £30,000 once highly experienced.

An idea of the jobs available*

There’s currently 299 jobs related to the search ‘taxi driver’ on Indeed, which you can view by clicking here.

How to pursue a career as a driving instructor

Teaching people the skills and the knowledge that they require in order to drive safely and be able to pass their driving test is the primary role of a driving instructor.

Requirements before entering this career route

Ahead of registering for Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) instructor training at a location such as the driving schools in Durham, in place by Pass ‘N’ Go, you should:

Be aged 21 or over by the time you qualify.
Have held a driving licence for a minimum of three years.
Be able to read a licence plate from a distance of 90 feet, even if this is performed when wearing glasses or contact lenses.
Have completed and passed enhanced criminal records and motoring conviction checks. For this, you can’t have any prior disqualifications from driving in the four years leading up to qualifying as a driving instructor. You also can’t have any criminal offences, whether these are related to driving or not.

Skills that are essential for the role

To be a successful driving instructor, it is essential that you have the following skills:

Able to give clear instructions.
Able to adapt your style of teaching to suit each learner.
Display excellent driving skills.
Have a sound knowledge about all aspects of road safety.
Able to react quickly and safely to any problems that you encounter when teaching someone to drive.

The day-to-day duties of a taxi driver

Check the driving ability and knowledge of each learner driver.
Plan a number of lessons with the intent of preparing a learner driver for their driving test.
Teach aspects of driving laws, the Highway Code and road safety.
Instruct on how to use vehicle controls, turning procedures, reversing techniques, steering and parking safely.
Demonstrate how to react to emergency situations.
Discuss the basis vehicle checks.
Keep records of all appointments and payments.
Manage your own business.

The salary to expect

£15,000 to £20,00 is the expected starting salary of a driving instructor. However, this can rise to between £20,000 and £30,000 with experience.

According to Totaljobs though, £42,500 is the average salary for those in driving instructor jobs.

An idea of the jobs available*

There’s currently 657 jobs related to the search ‘driving instructor’ on Indeed, which you can view by clicking here.

How to pursue a career as a lorry driver

Transporting and delivering goods between suppliers and customers is the main role of a lorry driver.

Requirements before entering this career route

Ahead of starting out along your career route to becoming a lorry driver, make sure you are over 18 years old and hold both a Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC) and a full car driving licence.

Skills that are essential for the role

To be a successful lorry driver, it is essential that you have the following skills:

Fantastic driving skills.
Fantastic knowledge of aspects of road safety.
The ability to work alone for long periods of time.
The ability to concentrate for long periods of time.
The ability to accurately complete record sheets.
The ability to accurately complete all necessary paperwork.

The day-to-day duties of a lorry driver

Drive a variety of commercial vehicles which weigh in excess of 7.5 tonnes — this can include articulated lorries, tankers, trailer wagons and transporters.
Carry goods from one destination to another, which could be based in the UK as well as overseas.
Plan delivery schedules and routes through communication with transport managers.
Supervise and help with the loading and unloading of goods.
Ensure that loads are secured safely.
Take note of traffic reports and change routes when necessary.
Complete delivery paperwork accurately.
Complete log books accurately.
Carry out basic maintenance of a vehicle, which could include brake, oil and tyre checks both before and after a journey.

The salary to expect

£18,500 to £22,00 is the expected starting salary of a lorry driver. However, this can rise to between £23,000 and £28,000 when experienced, and then to between £27,000 and £35,000 once highly experienced. Overtime may also be available.

An idea of the jobs available*

There’s currently 1,547 jobs related to the search ‘lorry driver’ on Indeed, which you can view by clicking here.

How to pursue a career as a bus driver

Transporting passengers on local journeys is the primary role of a bus driver.

Requirements before entering this career route

You will need to hold a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence — sometimes referred to as a Driver Qualification Card (DQC) — and a Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV) licence ahead of starting along your career route as a bus driver.

Most employers will also expect you to have held a full driving licence for a minimum of 12 months and be at least 18 years old.

Skills that are essential for the role

To be a successful bus driver, it is essential that you have the following skills:

Fantastic driving skills.
Good customer service skills.
Clear communication skills.
Good geographical knowledge.

The day-to-day duties of a bus driver

Take fares.
Check tickets and passes.
Give information about timetables and routes.
Help passengers when they have difficulty getting onto and alighting from a bus.
The ability to keep to timetables.

The salary to expect

£14,000 to £17,000 is the expected starting salary of a bus driver. However, this can rise to between £18,000 and £23,000 with experience. The most experienced drivers can earn £25,000 or more.

According to Totaljobs though, £22,492 is the average salary of those in bus driver jobs.

An idea of the jobs available*

There’s currently 1,344 jobs related to the search ‘bus driver’ on Indeed, which you can view by clicking here.

How to pursue a career as a coach driver

Transporting passengers on a wide range of journeys which could be in local, national or overseas destinations is the main role of a coach driver.

Requirements before entering this career route

Ahead of starting along your career route to become a coach driver, you must hold a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) — this may also be referred to as a Driver Qualification Card (DQC) — as well as a Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV) licence.

It will also be a requirement of many employers for you to have held a full driving licence for at least a year and be 18 years old or over.

Skills that are essential for the role

To be a successful coach driver, it is essential that you have the following skills:

Fantastic driving skills.
Good customer service skills.
Clear communication skills.
Good geographical knowledge.
If driving abroad, then basic foreign language skills and an understanding of overseas traffic laws will also be required.

The day-to-day duties of a coach driver

Help passengers when they have difficulty getting onto and alighting from a coach.
Check documents of passengers.
Both load and unload luggage.
Make announcements throughout a journey.
Check that all passengers are back on board before setting off on a return journey, as well as after each scheduled stop.
Keep the coach clean.
Carry out basic vehicle checks of the coach.
Record driving hours.
Report any incidents when on the road.

The salary to expect

£14,000 to £17,000 is the expected starting salary of a coach driver. However, this can rise to between £18,000 and £23,000 when experienced and then to £25,000 or more once highly experienced.