Driver

A driver operates a vehicle, transports passengers or cargo, and ensures a safe and comfortable journey.

On this profession page, you will learn:

Who is Driver

The driver operates the vehicle, ensuring safe and comfortable transportation of passengers or cargo. Every morning, the driver checks the vehicle's technical condition, monitoring tire pressure, fuel levels, and the functionality of essential systems. During the trip, the driver adheres to traffic rules, watching for road signs and traffic lights. The driver always pays attention to surrounding conditions, including the weather, road conditions, and the movement of other vehicles. During stops, the driver communicates with passengers, providing them with information about the route and estimated arrival times. The driver also handles documents related to transportation and records transportation facts. At the end of the day, the driver organizes the cleanliness of the vehicle and maintains accounting records of the completed work. This profession requires responsibility, attentiveness, and physical endurance.

AI impact on Driver

High risk

AI replacement risk

75%

Most of the time you spend actually steering the car, following the GPS route, and keeping to speed limits will be handled by self‑driving software, so you’ll spend less time behind the wheel on routine stretches. Logging mileage, fuel use, and simple trip notes will also be automated by telematics that feed directly into fleet‑management systems. What will still need you are the pre‑trip checks, spotting wear or damage that sensors might miss, and stepping in when something unexpected happens — like a sudden road closure, a passenger who needs assistance, or a mechanical glitch that the car can’t safely handle on its own. Expect your day to shift from long hours of driving to shorter periods of supervision, vehicle inspection, and handling the odd situations that require human judgment and a calm touch.

Tasks at risk of automation

Driving the vehicle along a designated route
Obeying traffic rules while driving
Transporting goods or passengers promptly and safely
Maintaining trip records and fuel expenses

Tasks that will remain human

Inspecting the vehicle's condition before each journey
Cooperating with maintenance teams for vehicle servicing
Responding to emergencies during trips

Key skills of Driver

meticulous observation responsibility self discipline patience stress management adaptability decision making problem solving skills punctuality reliability visual abilities auditory abilities flexibility and coordination strength and endurance familiarity with traffic rules ability to drive a vehicle car maintenance

Work schedule and conditions

A driver typically works 8-12 hours a day. The workday may start in the morning or during the day, depending on the route. Days off are usually scheduled but can change. This is not an office job; drivers work on the road. The possibility of remote work is absent. There are special conditions: drivers may spend long periods behind the wheel and may face weather conditions and difficult road situations.

What a Driver does

Driving the vehicle along a designated route.
Inspecting the vehicle's condition before each journey.
Obeying traffic rules while driving.
Transporting goods or passengers promptly and safely.
Maintaining trip records and fuel expenses.
Cooperating with maintenance teams for vehicle servicing.
Responding to emergencies during trips.

Benefits of the Driver profession

Flexible schedule

Ability to choose working hours.

Travel opportunities

Visiting various cities and countries.

Independence

Unique freedom during work.

Disadvantages of the Driver profession

Long hours

Possibility of working overtime.

Stress

High stress level on the road.

Risks

Risk of accidents and unforeseen situations.

Personal advice

Amanda Harris

mentor

Driving jobs in 2026: what Iowans should know before getting behind the wheel

Look, if you're thinking about driving for a living around central Iowa right now, the pay's not what people think. Most local CDL haulers out of Des Moines are pulling about 48 to 52K a year, and that's after you've got your Class A, which takes about six weeks at a community college. The daily grind is long, like 11 hour days on I-80 runs, and nobody warns you how much time you spend waiting at loading docks with nothing to do. Folks who hate being alone or can't handle sitting all day, skip this. But if you're in a rural area near Council Bluffs or Marshalltown, there's steady work with grain haulers and local delivery firms, and some are even paying bonuses through 2026. Retraining into last-mile delivery or school bus driving is a solid path too, especially with the new state grant for rural drivers switching roles.

How to become a Driver

To become a professional driver in the UK you don't need a degree — what you need is the right driving licence category and, for paid passenger or goods work, a Driver CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence). Cars need a standard licence; lorries need category C or C+E, and buses or coaches need category D, each with extra training and a medical.

1. Driving lessons and licence test

The fastest route into car-based driving work is gaining your full licence through lessons and passing the theory and practical tests, usually over one to three months. This gives you safe driving skills across a range of road situations and is the starting point for any professional driving career.

2. HGV / PCV training and Driver CPC

To drive lorries or buses professionally you need the relevant licence category (C, C+E, D or D+E) plus the Driver CPC, gained through dedicated training and a medical. These programmes take longer but qualify you for well-paid goods and passenger transport work.

3. Driving apprenticeship or trainee scheme

Some operators offer driving apprenticeships or trainee schemes where you gain professional experience on the job under supervision, often with the cost of your HGV or PCV training covered. This helps you adapt quickly to a specific type of transport while earning.

The fastest route is gaining your full licence through a driving school; for professional work, add the relevant category (C, D or E) and your Driver CPC, plus the required medical. Experience on the road then builds both your skill and your earning potential.

Questions and answers

4 months ago

Holding a Class 1 licence and a Level 2 extraction cert, I’ve worked as an extractor operator in Alberta. I’m weighing up getting a heavy rig endorsement to move into a driver role. Does the extra credential actually open doors, or should I stick with what I know?