Tanker driver job responsibilities

Staff filling our tanker driver jobs are indispensable in the delivery of our drainage solutions, working directly with colleagues in the Lanes Utility Division to carry out pre-planned maintenance jobs, and performing unplanned emergency works as and when they are required.

As well as driving the tanker itself - categorised as a Class 2 HGV - our drivers are involved in the assessment of drainage and wastewater problems on site, and in the delivery of practical and efficient solutions to resolve the issues in a way that satisfies the needs of the customer.

Waste removal processes may involve dealing with septic tanks, manhole chambers, flood basins and hazardous waste; the work also often involves clearing out wet wells, a crucial component of many sewage processing systems, which are often prone to becoming clogged with detritus and solid debris.

As such, all staff in tanker driver jobs need to be highly aware of the health and safety responsibilities they must uphold when performing a given task. What’s more, the tanker units themselves are refined pieces of kit, and require intelligent handling by well-trained operators.

To excel in these roles, an HGV driver candidate will need to combine their vehicle-handling skills with a capacity for taking on additional duties. They will work as part of a team to manage potentially risky work in a safe and conscientious manner, conforming to driver regulations and delivering the high standard of customer service for which Lanes Group is known.

Salary and working conditions

At Lanes Group, you can earn attractive salaries in our tanker driver jobs that reflect your prior experience, as well as the expertise you accumulate during the time you spend working with us. Combine this with our ample overtime opportunities, and it means that an HGV driver working for Lanes will have plenty of scope to increase their earning power as their capabilities increase.

However, being a member of the Lanes family is about more than just a competitive salary; we’re known for going the extra mile to provide all sorts of additional perks and benefits to help our employees really thrive.

In terms of drivers' hours, we offer a wide range of flexible day-and-night shift patterns to accommodate a range of personal needs - perfect for those who are looking for a schedule with more options than the typical Monday-to-Friday routine.

In our tanker driver jobs, you can count on access to an optional company-wide health scheme, a workplace pension and childcare vouchers. Full-time employees are also eligible for up to 20 days of paid holiday a year, plus bank holidays.

Additionally, we provide our workers with free car parking, which is available across 80% of our network of depots and offices, as well as a friendly working environment that helps our staff to feel part of a respected, trusted organisation that’s dedicated to their development and wellbeing. Compared to other tanker driver jobs, we also offer the benefit of being able to work close to home, providing a much better work-life balance than roles that involve regular long-distance travel.

Skills, qualifications and experience

Handling one of Lanes Group’s heavy-duty tankers requires a certain degree of prior experience, so all applicants for our tanker driver jobs will need an HGV Class 2 licence at a minimum, in addition to a completed Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) and an up-to-date digital tachograph card.

However, previous experience in drainage and wastewater management is not seen as a prerequisite for a tanker driver job, as we are willing to invest in full bulk tanker training to bring talented applicants up to speed on what they need to know. As such, you do not need to be an experienced drainage tanker driver, as professionals in related fields will be given all the support they need to embark on a new career path. This makes this an ideal opportunity for former construction industry drivers or hauliers with existing HGV qualifications, or for veterans and reservists with transferable skills developed during their military careers to take on a physically active role with a forces-friendly employer.

Candidates are expected to provide their own transport to and from their place of work, and to demonstrate the kind of attentive, customer-centric professional outlook that will be needed for this role.

Future prospects

Taking on a tanker driver job at Lanes Group could be your first move towards a range of exciting career opportunities, offering the kind of long-term professional fulfilment that many are seeking.

Rather than simply offering one-off gigs, we give our staff the chance to progress within our organisation. We provide them with regular training to expand their skills and competencies as their tanker experience increases, and help them find new opportunities to diversify their responsibilities over time. This ensures that employees can feel a sense of lasting job security, as we actively invest in the ongoing development of our staff and support them in their ambitions.

We also take pride in our status as an equal opportunities employer, and welcome applications from underrepresented areas of the community. Principles like these have helped us to build a network of more than 2,200 talented staff members across our 25 regional depots and utility hubs throughout England, Scotland and Wales - a total that continues to increase as our reputation as a drainage sector leader builds.