HGV training schools and haulage firms sit on opposite sides of the same problem. Schools need people to fill their courses. Hauliers need qualified drivers to fill their cabs. Yet many of them never speak to each other in any organised way. A referral partnership is the simplest place to start.
This guide explains how training schools and hauliers can build a referral relationship that benefits both, and how advertising can support it.
Why do training schools and hauliers need each other?
The UK needs a steady flow of new drivers. The Road Haulage Association (RHA) said in November 2025 that the country needs to train about 60,000 new HGV drivers each year over the next five years. In February 2025 it reported that most drivers are aged 50 to 59, with the number of 25 to 34 year olds at a five-year low.
Training schools produce newly qualified drivers. Hauliers need them. A school that can show its graduates get jobs is easier to sell. A haulier that knows where good trainees come from has a shorter route to hiring.
What is a referral partnership?
A referral partnership is an agreement where two businesses recommend each other to the people they already speak to. No money needs to change hands, although some partnerships include a referral fee or a swap of introductions.
For a training school and a haulier, it works like this. The school introduces its graduates to the haulier. The haulier tells new recruits and existing staff about the school. Both get customers and candidates they did not have to advertise for.
What does a training school get from hauliers?
A training school benefits in several ways.
- A stronger story for learners. "Our graduates go on to work with local firms" is a more persuasive message than a list of course dates.
- Employer-funded places. Hauliers that need drivers may send their own staff or recruits on courses.
- Credibility. Names of local employers who hire your graduates show learners the course leads somewhere.
What does a haulier get from training schools?
A haulier benefits too.
- A pipeline of trainees. Instead of waiting for qualified drivers to appear, you can meet people as they complete their course.
- Early contact. You can build a relationship with a recruit before another employer does.
- Training for existing staff. A school can upskill your current employees, such as moving a yard worker toward an HGV licence.
How do you start a partnership?
Pick one or two local businesses, make a specific offer and keep it simple. Long agreements are not needed at the start.
For a school approaching a haulier:
- Offer to introduce graduates who are looking for work in the area.
- Share your course dates so the haulier knows when trainees will qualify.
- Ask which licence categories and experience they hire for.
For a haulier approaching a school:
- Say how many drivers you expect to need over the next year.
- Ask whether the school can run courses at times that suit your staff.
- Offer to speak to learners about careers with your company.
How can funding play a part?
Funding makes training easier to promote. According to industry reports on the Skills Bootcamp scheme, the Department for Education has funded 90% of HGV Skills Bootcamp training costs for employers with fewer than 250 staff and 70% for larger employers, with some courses fully funded. Eligibility and terms vary, so check the current details with the school.
A school that offers funded places and a haulier with vacancies are a natural pair. The haulier can offer jobs to people who complete the course, and the school can advertise the route as a funded path into work.
How can advertising support the partnership?
Advertising can bring more people into the arrangement from both sides.
- The school can run ads for funded places, and mention that graduates are connected with local employers.
- The haulier can run recruitment ads that mention the training route for people who do not hold an HGV licence yet.
- Both can send people to landing pages that explain the whole route, from course to job.
Joint messaging makes each side's advertising stronger. "Train with us, then drive for a local firm" answers the question many learners have: will I get a job at the end?
How should you handle referrals fairly?
Be clear about what is offered. If a school promises hauliers first access to graduates, make sure that is realistic. If a haulier promises jobs, they need to be real ones. Over-promising damages your reputation with learners, and word spreads quickly in this industry.
If you agree a referral fee, put it in writing and keep the terms simple. A flat amount per person or a small percentage can both work, as long as both sides agree and no one is misled.
How do you track whether it works?
Keep a simple record. Note how many people each side referred, how many enrolled or were hired and how many stayed. Ask new learners and new recruits how they heard about you. A tracked phone number or a dedicated web page for the partnership also helps you see what the arrangement brings in.
Review the numbers every few months. If one side sends a lot more than it receives, talk about it and adjust.
What can go wrong?
- Unclear expectations. Agree what each side will do before you start.
- Slow follow-up. Referred people lose interest if no one contacts them quickly.
- Mismatched needs. A haulier that only wants Class 1 drivers will not benefit from a school that mainly trains Class 2 drivers. Check the fit first.
- One-sided arrangements. A partnership that only helps one party tends to fade.
Where to start
Make a short list of three local businesses on the other side of the relationship. Call each one, explain what you would like to offer and ask what would be useful to them. One good conversation is often enough to start.
44 Tonne works with HGV training schools and hauliers on campaigns that bring in learners and drivers, and we can help connect the two sides. If you would like to talk about how this could work for your business, send us a quote request.