How To Become A Freelance HGV Driver

If you’ve spent a few years working for a haulier and wondering how to become a freelance lorry driver, you’re in the right place.

With your prior experience in haulage, you already know how to get the job done. So, it’s just a case of finding the right documents and working out if going solo is the right direction for you. 

Luckily, we’re here to help with this guide. As an HGV insurance broker, we want to give you the tools and knowledge to have a crack at becoming a self-employed HGV driver. 

We’ll go through the documents you need (some you might already have) and the type of HGV insurance you’ll need, plus extra cover.

What Do I Need To Become A Freelance HGV Driver?

First things first, you have to make sure you have the necessary documentation to do the job. 

To become a lorry driver, you will need the following documents:

• A full UK driving licence, including the appropriate category for lorries (Category C or C+E).
• A Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC.
• A digital tachograph card for recording driving hours electronically.
• A Driver Qualification Card (DQC) as proof of CPC qualification.
• Valid HGV lorry insurance.
• A medical certificate (D4) to show you’re fit enough for the job. 
• An employment contract.
• You must provide ID and documents, such as a passport or visa, as proof of your right to work in the UK.
• Proof of address such as a utility bill or bank statement.
• A driver’s logbook or HGV app to track your hours if you maintain a manual record.

I’m Already A Lorry Driver For A Haulier. How Do I Become A Freelance Hgv Driver?

If you’ve already worked as a driver for someone else, you should have already acquired much of the right paperwork mentioned above. 

However, you’ll need to get the correct type of operator’s licence, also known as an O Licence. 

What Do I Need To Get An O Licence?

To obtain an O licence, you’ll need a safe and secure place to store your truck when you’re not driving it, known as the operation base. The operation base needs to be big enough to park the vehicle in an environmentally acceptable location and have safe access.

Easy right? Well, not quite. First, you must create an advert in the local paper no earlier than 21 days before or 21 days after applying for one of the three Operator’s licences listed below. This gives the local community a chance to object to your plans, but make sure you advertise it properly, as your application can be refused.

Once you’ve done this, you need to send the DVSA a copy of your advert, proof of finances, and licence application forms.

Types Of Operator’s Licence

Standard National Licence

This type of licence allows you to carry your own goods or materials that are related to your business internationally. Whilst you can also carry goods for other people, you can only do this nationally.

Standard International Licence

This licence allows you to carry your own goods and other people’s goods internationally. This is the same as a standard national licence apart from you’re able to take other people’s goods internationally. With this, you can also request the issue of Community Licences that allow you to take trips between EU member countries, transit traffic through any EU member country, and transport goods for other people in one EU country using a vehicle that’s registered in a different EU country. This is known as Cabotage.

Restricted Licence

This licence allows you to carry your own goods only; you are not allowed to take other people’s goods.

What Insurance Do I Need To Become A Freelance HGV Driver?

You’ll need a commercial insurance policy specifically aimed at heavy goods vehicles for your lorry. 

Alongside the standard third-party, fire, theft and comprehensive cover options available, these policies often encompass other types of cover. This is because a commercial lorry insurance policy targets the risks you as an HGV driver may face on the road – which will be vastly different to the standard motorist.

Alongside HGV insurance, you may also want to consider the following optional extra cover:

Public Liability Insurance

Liability policies can cover legal costs or compensation claims made against your company by a third party, such as another company, a customer or any member of the public. If your business is held responsible for property damage or injury, public liability insurance will protect you.

Breakdown Insurance

This is a type of insurance that will provide you with roadside assistance or recovery to a designated garage if your truck breaks down.

Goods In Transit Insurance

This insurance will provide cover for any goods in your vehicle as part of your trading activities, whether they be your own or belonging to a customer. 

Where Can I Find Work As A Freelance HGV Driver?

Before you become an freelance driver, we’d recommend that you have at least some work lined up already. 

Try not to limit yourself to just one company. Whilst it could be tempting to solely work for one company if their business dries up…so does yours. You can find work on a multitude of freight exchanges available on the internet, such as haulage exchange and returnloads.net.