HGV Driver (Class 1 & Class 2) — Tomsetts Distribution, Newhaven

Class 2 from £36,500. Class 1 up to £45,000+.

And those aren’t estimates — your hours are guaranteed.

Driver pay is one of the most misread things in this industry. Most adverts show a headline rate. They don’t tell you how many hours you’ll get.

At Tomsetts, we show you both. Here’s what each role actually pays:

• Class 2 local: around £36,500 a year on guaranteed hours, rising to over £40,000 with overtime at £19.18 an hour
• Class 1 local: around £37,000 guaranteed, rising to over £41,000 with overtime
• Class 1 nights out: around £41,000 guaranteed — rising to over £45,000 with overtime at £20.61 an hour

Class 2 drivers are guaranteed 52.5 paid hours every week. Class 1 drivers are guaranteed 55. Anything over those hours is paid at time and a half. The figures above are based on a realistic amount of overtime — not a best-case scenario.

No chasing shifts. No guessing your take-home. No nasty surprises at the end of the month.

What you won’t find here:

• Vehicles held together with cable ties and wishful thinking
• Keys thrown at you with a “good luck” and nothing else
• Rosters that change without warning
• Empty “benefits” in place of genuine respect for the job

What you will find:

A 50-year-old, family-run haulier in Newhaven — growing fast and hiring because of it.

The Fleet

Our vehicle replacement policy means our core fleet is no more than three years old. Camera systems on vehicles and trailers so you’re always protected.

When something needs attention, our onsite workshop sorts it quickly. You won’t be nursing a vehicle you’re not happy with or waiting on a mobile fitter for days.

The Work

Class 2

Local distribution, home every night. Monday to Friday, 07:30 start. The occasional Saturday morning may come up, but that’s the exception, not the rule.

Class 1

Local or nights out, whichever suits you. Night trunk is available for drivers who prefer it. Night out money is paid and all parking is covered through SNAP.

Both roles operate within the Palletforce network.

The Team

We have a genuine mix of experienced hands and drivers earlier in their careers. The culture here is straightforward: if you’re not sure about something, someone will help you — not watch you struggle.

If you’re experienced and want the keys with minimal hand-holding, that works too. We’ll read the situation.

• Full uniform and PPE supplied
• Monthly team breakfast and BBQ meetings
• Days out — including Brands Hatch
• Community banking membership
• Rigorous H&S approach — your safety is not an afterthought

Why We’re Hiring

We need five drivers — not because someone left, but because we’ve grown. New customers and an extension of our Palletforce territory means we need good people now.

You’d be joining a business on the ascent.

What We’re Looking For

• Class 1 or Class 2 HGV licence
• Valid CPC and digital tachograph card
• Clean driving licence

Curtainsider experience or knowledge of the Palletforce network will help you stand out — but neither is a deal-breaker. If you’re the right kind of driver, we’ll develop your skills.

This role isn’t for you if:

• You’re not bothered how you represent the business out on the road
• You’d rather work somewhere nobody knows your name
• You just want to clock in, clock out, and have no stake in the team

But if you:

• Want to know exactly what’s landing in your account each month
• Take pride in how you drive and how the vehicle looks
• Want to be part of a team that actually functions like one

We should talk.

We’re a Bronze Armed Forces Covenant employer.

Established 1975. Family-run. Based in Newhaven.

Call or message Ian Jones:

01273 513347

ian@tomsetts.co.uk

Stop Replacing Parts You Could Fix.

Join A Workshop That Actually Lets You Be A Mechanic.

Here’s what you won’t find at Tomsetts:

❌ Corporate timesheets counting every minute of your PMI
❌ Being told to replace entire units when a bulb would do
❌ The same repetitive fleet work, day in, day out
❌ Birthday gift cards instead of proper respect for your trade

Here’s what you will find:

A 50-year-old family business in Newhaven that’s genuinely growing its workshop operation – and needs two more skilled HGV/commercial vehicle techs to make it happen.

The work:
Proper variety. Our own artics, rigids and trailers. Third-party commercials including local coach operators. Even a bit of fleet car maintenance. No two days the same. And when something’s broken? You’re trusted to actually fix it – repair and reuse, not just chuck expensive parts at it to hit a time target.

You’ll work alongside drivers, traffic office and warehouse teams that actually appreciate what you do. Small team (currently two techs), real camaraderie, none of the factory-line pressure of corporate workshops.

Why now matters:
We’re doubling the workshop team because the work’s there and growing. In the next 12-24 months we’re converting our warehouse into a three-bay workshop including an MOT centre. Get in now and you’re not just filling a role – you’re getting in early on something that’s building. Opportunity to progress into managing lanes or the MOT operation. Training and development as we grow.

What we need:
Qualified HGV or PSV technician who can diagnose, repair and maintain commercial vehicles properly. Someone who wants to actually repair things, not just swap parts on a stopwatch.

What we pay:
£37,500 – £45,000 depending on experience. No gimmicks – just fair money for skilled work.

We’re an Armed Forces Covenant Bronze employer. Established 1975. Family-run. Based in Newhaven.

Want out of the corporate meat grinder?
This is your exit.

Contact Ian Jones: [ian@tomsetts.co.uk / 07769638019]

HGV Technician – Newhaven, East Sussex