Changing Lanes: How can professional drivers make the switch to a drainage career?

Since the start of the pandemic, there has been a significant increase in the number of skilled UK professionals who have either changed careers or are reconsidering their career pathway. People across the country are thinking more carefully about whether or not they are happy in their current roles, and are becoming more prepared to switch tracks in order to find a truly fulfilling line of work.

With logistics being one of the sectors most affected by this trend, this means that many professional drivers across the UK are currently at a crossroads in terms of their careers. 

With demand for skilled drivers remaining high across every industry, these professionals have a clear choice - to stick with the familiar, or take the opportunity to make a fresh start in a stimulating and rewarding new line of work.

The drainage industry may not be the first sector that comes to mind when it comes to a potential new route forwards for qualified HGV drivers, but this field of work can provide numerous opportunities for a fast-paced, varied and rewarding new career path for those willing to change lanes.

Here, Lanes Group Careers explores all of the best reasons for making the switch to a drainage industry career, and breaks down everything you will need to know to make a smooth and successful transfer.

How does working as a driver/operator in the drainage sector differ from a standard driving role?

For professional drivers with many years of experience in the logistics or haulage sector, taking on a tanker or HGV driver/operator role represents a step into an exciting new world of varied work and expanded day-to-day responsibilities.

As a drainage sector driver, you will be doing so much more than simply driving - instead, you will be expected to take a hands-on role in the actual drain maintenance work itself. You will be responsible for operating drain repair and water jetting equipment directly, in accordance with the highest standards of health and safety.

This can include:

• Assessing drainage problems on site, and helping to devise and deliver the most efficient solution
• Carrying out pre-planned maintenance jobs, as well as performing unplanned emergency works
• Using high-powered jetting technology to clear blockages
• Dealing with septic tanks, manhole chambers, flood basins and hazardous waste, as well as clearing out wet wells
• Safely handling and maintaining our advanced, high-performance tankering units and jetting equipment

In addition to this, you will be working directly with commercial and residential customers, delivering advice and support face-to-face, and making sure to provide a friendly and responsive customer service experience.

As such, these are roles that can make a real difference to people’s lives; many of your customers will have suffered significant incidents, or may be vulnerable and elderly. You will be there to solve their problems and ensure they are left happy, providing a feeling of achievement that is hard to replicate in any other driving-related role.

What skills and qualifications are needed to succeed in the drainage sector?

Although working in the drainage sector requires many different skills from a standard driving role, the vast majority of these can be acquired on the job. As a result, if you are already qualified as a professional driver, there will be very few barriers preventing you from making a smooth transition into a drainage industry role.

While some prior knowledge and experience will always be beneficial, in the vast majority of cases, candidates will not require any formal drainage sector qualifications prior to applying. However, the following skills and knowledge will aid your application:

• Usually, a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) is required to apply for an HGV driver/operator role. However, due to the current staff shortage, Lanes is able to offer roles even without this qualification, and the company will pay for you to secure your CPC where necessary
• Customer service skills and experience will be a huge benefit, due to the amount of time you will spend liaising with clients directly
• An affinity for multidisciplinary teamwork and outdoor working are essential
• Basic computer skills are required, as you will be logging your job progress on tablets

What training will you receive to ease the transition?

When applying for a drainage role with Lanes, you can expect to be trained in-house on all aspects of the role that you have been employed to do. On-the-job training will be provided to equip you with the necessary knowledge to safely use our equipment and systems, and there will also be a number of courses to attend during your period of employment to build and round out your skill set over time.

If you are required to attend an external course at any point during your career - for example, to undertake training on working within confined spaces, using high-pressure water jetting, or working with signing and lighting - these will be booked on your behalf by your line manager.

Most courses attended by our engineers result in a recognised qualification, which can be used throughout the drainage industry. As such, you will be able to enhance your CV over the course of your career, giving you access to ongoing development opportunities and chances to guide your professional pathway, according to your skills and preferences.

How will the application process work?

To apply for a drainage role at Lanes, all you need to do is browse our list of vacancies and click the ‘Apply’ button next to the role you’re interested in. You will then need to provide the following information via the online application form:

• Personal details, such as your full name, contact details and address
• Your CV, including your employment history and qualifications
• Additional information on your right to work, availability/notice period, expected salary, and details on whether you live within a commutable distance of the role you’re applying for

If your initial online application meets the required criteria, we will be in touch to discuss the role in more detail and outline the next steps, which will usually involve organising a face-to-face interview to get to know you better.

For those who successfully secure a driving role with Lanes, we will organise a start date at your earliest convenience, beginning with a full HR and health and safety induction. This will give you the best possible introduction to your new day-to-day responsibilities, and will help you to integrate smoothly into our supportive team-based working environment.

Please note that Lanes welcomes you to apply for more than one role at a time, and to reapply for suitable roles even if they are not initially successful, so feel free to apply for any relevant positions that suit your skills.

To find out more about how the application and interview process works for drivers, take a look at our complete guide.

Making the switch with Lanes Group

If you have professional driving qualifications and believe that changing over to a drainage industry career could have something to offer you, there is no better place to start than with Lanes Group.

As the UK’s leading privately owned specialist drainage and wastewater service provider, we are always recruiting for skilled drivers all over the country, and have a wide range of roles available that offer significant professional perks and long-term career prospects.

By choosing to change lanes in your career and work with us, you will be able to take advantage of the following benefits:

• Competitive salary rates that scale according to your skill profile and experience
• Flexible shift patterns and overtime opportunities to suit your needs
• Optional company-wide health scheme
• Generous pension options
• Death in service policy and childcare scheme available
• Training and skills development opportunities over the course of your career

For more information about the benefits and working conditions you’ll receive at Lanes, visit our driver jobs hub page. To get your job search up and running today, explore our full range of drainage industry jobs here, or sign up for job alerts to receive notifications as soon as we have a vacancy that is suitable for you.