The Field Service Technician (HGV) is the mobile maintenance and repair specialist who keeps HGV fleets operational at the roadside, at customer depots and at off-site locations across a defined territory. Rather than waiting for a truck to come into a workshop, the HGV Field Service Technician takes the workshop to the vehicle, diagnosing and repairing faults where the vehicle stands, carrying out planned maintenance at customer operating sites and responding to roadside breakdowns to get drivers back on the road as quickly as possible.
For fleet operators, the commercial case for mobile HGV servicing is clear: downtime costs money, towing costs money, and a skilled technician who can diagnose and resolve the majority of faults on site eliminates both. For the technician, the role offers genuine autonomy, a varied daily environment, stronger earning potential through call-out premiums and the satisfaction of independent problem-solving in a context where the quality and speed of their work is immediately and directly measurable.
Venatu recruits Field Service Technicians for permanent and contract roles across HGV fleet operators and haulage businesses with mobile maintenance functions, franchised truck and commercial vehicle dealerships with field service operations, third-party fleet maintenance providers and truck manufacturer roadside assistance programmes throughout the UK. This role sits within our truck and van recruitment division. For bus and coach mobile technician roles see our bus and coach division.
Who We Recruit For
We place candidates with:
- HGV fleet operators and road haulage businesses with in-house mobile maintenance teams
- Third-party fleet maintenance and managed maintenance providers
- Franchised truck dealerships operating field service engineer programmes
- Truck manufacturer roadside assistance and breakdown response operations
- Temperature-controlled and refrigeration transport operators with mobile maintenance requirements
- Tanker and specialist vehicle operators with mobile servicing requirements
- Local authority, utilities and public sector HGV fleet operators
- Plant hire and heavy equipment businesses requiring mobile HGV technicians
Roles We Place
- Field Service Technician (HGV)
- Mobile HGV Technician
- Mobile Commercial Vehicle Technician
- HGV Breakdown Technician (Roadside)
- Fleet Mobile Service Technician
- HGV Field Engineer
- Night Shift Mobile HGV Technician
- Senior Mobile HGV Technician
- Field Service Technician (Refrigeration / Temperature Control)
Who Can Apply
Strong Field Service Technician (HGV) candidates typically come from:
- Experienced Mobile HGV Technicians at fleet operators, franchised truck dealers or third-party maintenance providers who want to move to a new employer, a different territory, a better-equipped response vehicle or an improved package
- Workshop-based Commercial Vehicle Technicians who want to move from a fixed workshop environment into a mobile field role and are attracted by the greater autonomy, variety and earning potential that mobile work typically offers
- HGV breakdown and recovery technicians who have developed strong at-roadside diagnostic and repair skills and want to move into a structured mobile servicing role with a fleet operator or manufacturer support programme
- Ex-military vehicle technicians from REME or equivalent corps who have maintained heavy vehicles in field conditions and want to apply that experience in a civilian HGV fleet maintenance environment
- Agricultural or plant maintenance technicians with experience of mobile machinery repair who want to move into the HGV and commercial vehicle sector
- Auto Electricians with HGV electrical fault diagnosis experience who want a dedicated mobile HGV field role
A full UK Category B driving licence is required for all field service roles. A Category C licence is strongly preferred and often required where the technician needs to road test repaired vehicles or move HGVs between locations as part of the service function. Manufacturer-specific diagnostic tool training is typically provided by the employer. EV truck and trailer refrigeration units are increasingly part of the mobile technician's scope. Venatu confirms licence, qualification and system requirements with each employer before presenting candidates.
Field Service Technician (HGV) Salary Guide
| Role | Annual Salary Range |
|---|---|
| Field Service Technician HGV (Developing) | £30,000 - £38,000 |
| Field Service Technician HGV (Experienced) | £36,000 - £48,000 |
| Senior Mobile HGV Technician | £44,000 - £56,000 |
| Night Shift Mobile HGV Technician | £38,000 - £52,000 |
| Field Service Technician (Refrigeration) | £38,000 - £52,000 |
Call-out rates, night shift premiums and weekend allowances are standard in most mobile HGV roles and increase effective earnings above base rates shown. A fully equipped service vehicle, fuel card, mobile device and manufacturer diagnostic tool kit are included in most packages. Some employers additionally provide a uniform allowance and enhanced pension. Venatu benchmarks total package expectations including all supplements with each employer before beginning a search. Visit the HR Hub for broader context on HGV technical and fleet maintenance role remuneration. Read about the benefits and career development available in the commercial vehicle sector in Benefits Of Becoming A HGV/PSV Technician.
What the Role Involves
- Responding to planned maintenance call-outs and reactive breakdown requests across the territory, attending at roadside, customer depot or operating site locations to diagnose and repair HGV faults as efficiently as possible
- Carrying out scheduled preventive maintenance services including oil and filter changes, brake inspections, tyre checks, lighting, vehicle safety inspections and annual test preparation at customer depot locations in line with the operator's maintenance schedule
- Diagnosing electrical, mechanical, drivetrain, braking and pneumatic system faults using manufacturer-specific diagnostic platforms and appropriate hand tooling, identifying root cause and carrying out repair or arranging for the vehicle to be recovered to a workshop where the fault requires workshop facilities
- Carrying out roadside wheel and tyre changes, TPMS checks and tyre pressure management for operators with roadside tyre contracts
- Managing a live call list, prioritising based on breakdown severity, customer criticality and travel time, communicating ETA and job status updates to the customer and the control function throughout
- Maintaining an accurate, well-equipped response vehicle, carrying the correct stock of consumables, filters, brake parts, fuses, bulbs and electrical components to resolve the most common breakdowns without a return trip to the parts store
- Completing digital job cards, vehicle inspection records and defect reports accurately at the point of completion and submitting to the employer's field service management system
- Liaising with the customer's transport or fleet manager at each site, maintaining a professional relationship that supports contract retention and generates additional service calls by reputation
- Keeping manufacturer training and technical product knowledge current through employer-provided and manufacturer-led training programmes
How the Process Works
For employers:
- Submit a vacancy with the territory, vehicle types, diagnostic systems used, call-out structure and Category C licence requirements.
- We confirm candidate availability, licence status and technical background and present a pre-screened shortlist within five working days.
- Candidates are assessed for HGV technical competency, mobile working experience and licence entitlements.
- Interview and offer supported by Venatu throughout.
For candidates:
- Register your CV with your licence entitlements, HGV experience, diagnostic systems used, any manufacturer training and preferred territory and shift pattern.
- A Venatu consultant will review your background and contact you directly.
- Roles are matched to your technical specialism, preferred employer type and geography.
- Venatu manages the process and advises on package and supplement expectations ahead of offer.
Browse current vacancies or create a job alert to be notified when relevant roles become available.
FAQ
What is the difference between a Field Service Technician (HGV) and a workshop-based Commercial Vehicle Technician? A workshop-based Commercial Vehicle Technician works from a fixed workshop facility and services vehicles that come to them. An HGV Field Service Technician is mobile, attending customer depots, operating sites and roadside locations to carry out maintenance and repairs where the vehicle stands. The mobile role offers greater autonomy, more varied working environments and typically higher earnings through call-out and travel supplements, but requires stronger at-fault self-sufficiency, effective van stock management and the ability to work alone in a range of conditions.
Does a Field Service Technician (HGV) need a Category C driving licence? A Category B licence is the minimum for most roles but Category C is strongly preferred and in many cases required, particularly where the technician needs to road test repaired vehicles or reposition HGVs at customer sites. Some employers will support a Category C licence upgrade as part of their development offer for candidates who are technically strong but do not yet hold the full entitlement. Venatu confirms the licence requirements with each employer before presenting candidates.
What diagnostic systems do HGV Field Service Technicians use? Commonly used diagnostic platforms across the major HGV manufacturers include DAF DAVIE, Volvo VCADS, Scania SDP3, MAN CATS, Mercedes-Benz Xentry and Iveco EASY. Most employer-provided response vehicles carry the relevant diagnostic laptop and interface cables as standard equipment. Manufacturer-specific training is typically delivered by the employer or franchise partner. Venatu confirms the diagnostic system requirements with each employer before presenting candidates.
What does a Field Service Technician (HGV) earn in the UK? Experienced HGV Field Service Technicians typically earn between £36,000 and £48,000. Senior technicians earn between £44,000 and £56,000. Night shift and call-out premiums increase effective earnings substantially above base rates in most operations. A fully equipped service vehicle and fuel card are standard. Venatu benchmarks total package and supplement expectations with each employer before beginning a search.
What is the progression from Field Service Technician (HGV)? Common progression routes include Senior Mobile Technician, Field Service Team Leader, Workshop Controller, Workshop Manager and Fleet Engineering Manager. Mobile technicians who develop strong customer relationship management and fleet process knowledge are also well positioned to move into fleet account management, managed maintenance sales and fleet consultancy roles. Read about career development in the commercial vehicle sector in Benefits Of Becoming A HGV/PSV Technician and how fuel and operational pressures are shaping fleet recruitment in How Rising Fuel Prices Are Impacting Automotive Recruitment In The UK.
Register or Enquire
Candidates - Register your CV with your licence entitlements, HGV technical background, diagnostic systems used, manufacturer training and preferred territory. Venatu will match you to current HGV Field Service Technician vacancies across fleet operators, franchised truck dealers and managed maintenance providers, including roles not publicly advertised. Browse live vacancies or create a job alert.
Employers - Submit a vacancy or visit the client hub to discuss your HGV field service technician requirements. Our team will respond within one working day.