New Year, New Career?
Become a Trainee HGV Driver with Cotteswold Dairy.
Cotteswold Dairy are once again working in partnership with PDT to offer an HGV training scheme that will assist candidates in preparing for and obtaining, an HGV Class 2 Driving Licence.
After sucessfully supporting over 30 new drivers into the business across 2024, we are looking for new candidates to take part in our 2025 driver training scheme, commencing in January and February.
No previous haulage experience is required – anyone can become an HGV driver. If you are over 18 years old and hold a valid UK driver’s licence, you are eligible.
To start off 2025, we are looking for candidates in both Tewkesbury & Cheltenham to take part in our Class 2 HGV Driver Training Programme.
HGV Driver Training
Cotteswold Dairy offer a full training scheme with on-the-job training, an expereinced buddy, dedicated in-house academic and practical support staff; and over eighty-five years of quality experience in distribution. We will arrange your pre-course medical and walk you through the required steps before you begin. Throughout the course you will be supported by the PDT training team, our Learning & Development Coordinator and our Haulage Department to ensure you develop the required skills to pass your theory, hazard perception and CPC exams; while gaining confidence and real-world experience driving HGV vehicles. You will complete your practical training with both PDT and Cotteswold Dairy through our buddy system before you take your practical exam.
Training will encompass:
Advice & Guidance – Get to know logistics training session
Medical Exam
Access to a revision portal for theory exam
Theory, Hazard perception and Module 2 test
Practical training through both PDT and Cotteswold Dairy
Module 3 practical driving test
Practical driving module 4 test
Post completion interview
Around the driving training you be required to do:
Production training/picking in the Chilled warehouse
Vehicle loading
Learning rounds through the ‘buddy’ system (as a passenger)
Training will take around 16 weeks to complete - but everyone is different & we offer a fully flexible approach to training. This will encompass a mixture of study, practical instruction and familiarisation with the products and processes.
IMPORTANT - This physically active role involves working nights, and requires manual handling
By the end of the training the Trainee will expected to fulfil the following:
Operation of applicable vehicles
The safe loading and unloading of stock at customer sites – pallets and roll cages
Picking of orders and learning the products
Complete a conscientious check of their assigned vehicle every morning and evening correcting any minor defects and highlighting serious defects to their Supervisor/Manager
HGV Driver Duties
Key duties of this role include:
Delivery of dairy and other products to Wholesale & Semi-Retail customers
Unloading and loading at customer sites – to include pallets and roll cages
Picking of orders and learning the products
Complete a conscientious check of the assigned vehicle at the start and end of shift
HGV Driver Working Hours
Training will encompass both daytime training, study, and night time operation. Throughout, we endeavour to make this as seamless as possible to give you a firm foundation for a successful career.
Full Time, 48 hours per week. Five shifts Monday - Sunday on a rota basis. In order to comply with the Working Time Directive, this will be averaged out over a period of 26 weeks.
Company Benefits
We also offer benefits including:
• Competitive salary with scope to train and advance within the business
• 22 days’ holiday plus Bank Holiday allowance
• Additional day of holiday after 3 years’ service
• Refer a friend - receive £500 for a successful referral
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounted products, including doorstep delivery where available
• Group personal pension scheme
• Health and wellbeing benefit via Simply Health
To be considered for this fantastic opportunity as a Trainee HGV Driver please click apply now.