For professional drivers, making a living out on the roads is what it’s all about - but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other equally important priorities to consider when looking for a new opportunity or career prospect.

After all, not all workplaces are created equal, and most drivers will be well accustomed to seeing their hours, responsibilities, salaries and working conditions vary from job to job - sometimes dramatically. Given the hard work that drivers put into their jobs on a daily basis, finding an employer that’s willing to go the extra mile to reward that effort is a key concern for professionals in this field.

That’s why, if you’re a current or aspiring professional driver, it may be worth considering the employment opportunities available to you at Lanes Group. As the UK’s most trusted provider of drainage and wastewater management solutions, our drivers play an indispensable role in helping us meet the needs of our clients across the country - which is why we go the extra mile to provide staff with the kind of perks, benefits and opportunities that are hard to obtain elsewhere.

More varied responsibilities

Naturally, the main responsibility you’ll have as a driver at Lanes will involve taking the wheel of our distinctive fleet of state-of-the-art vehicles and taking them out on the road, helping us provide a timely response to the various drainage-related callouts we receive 24/7.

However, there’s more to being a Lanes driver than simply driving, which is why our roles could appeal to those who are looking for a career path that offers more variety. By working with us, you may get the opportunity to get involved in the essential repair and maintenance work we carry out, receiving training to use our top-of-the-range jetting equipment, and dealing directly with clients on-site.

Our tanker units are refined pieces of kit, and require safe and intelligent handling by well-trained operators; by embracing this expanded range of responsibilities, you can broaden your range of skills and potentially open up new career pathways that you may never have previously considered.

Opportunities for interaction

One of the downsides of traditional driving jobs is that life on the road can sometimes feel a little isolating, especially when embarking on long-distance journeys that may keep you alone in the cab of a lorry for hours on end.

At Lanes, our whole organisation depends on teamwork and regular communication, so that solitary feeling will be replaced by a sense of being part of a close-knit team; you’ll interact regularly with colleagues in different departments to get the job done, and we’ll do everything we can to help you feel supported when it comes to the more technical and demanding aspects of the role.

What’s more, you’ll have the opportunity to hone your customer service skills by chatting directly with clients, answering their questions and providing them with reassurance in sometimes stressful circumstances. If you enjoy meeting new people and giving your work a human touch, then a career as a Lanes driver offers the opportunity to do both.
 

A range of perks and benefits

Here at Lanes, we know how important our drivers are to our overall success, which is why we’re dedicated to providing them with the rewards and recognition they deserve for their tireless work.

As well as attractive salaries that reflect drivers’ prior experience and ample overtime opportunities, we offer all of our employees access to an optional company-wide health and wellbeing scheme, a workplace pension and childcare vouchers, plus flexible shift patterns and generous paid leave allowances.

We also provide free car parking across 80% of our depots and offices, and work hard to cultivate a friendly professional environment that helps all of our staff to feel supported, welcomed and appreciated, no matter what kind of work they do.
 

Long-term career continuity and progression

Most professional drivers are used to taking a fairly nomadic approach to career progression, moving from gig to gig depending on seasonal trends and contract expiration dates. At Lanes, we take a different approach - we want to provide our drivers with a sense of long-term continuity and professional fulfilment that’s rare with this kind of role.

Rather than offering one-off gigs, we give drivers the chance to progress within our organisation, providing regular training to staff to expand their skills and competencies, and diversify their responsibilities over time. This could mean becoming a fully-qualified drainage engineer, or acquiring other transferable technical skills - if you have ambitions you want to pursue, then Lanes will help you do it.

What’s more, our network of 25 regional depots and multiple utility hubs throughout England, Scotland and Wales means that drivers can move around the UK without having to leave the Lanes family, creating a sense of stability and progression that many are craving.

If you want to find out more about the full range of benefits and opportunities that becoming a Lanes driver can bring you, then check out our careers page for drivers; it could represent a first step down an exciting new path!