Winter Gritter Driver - Ashford

Ashford Winter Gritter Driver - Kent Highways

Location: Various depots across Kent

Contract: Seasonal - 1 October to 1 April

Standby Payment: £175 on paid standby weeks

Call-Out Rate: £20.00 per hour

Role: HGV Class 2 Winter Gritter Driver

The Opportunity

Supreme Recruitment is recruiting HGV Class 2 Drivers to support the winter highways operation across Kent from 1 October through to 1 April.

You will form part of the winter maintenance team responsible for helping to keep Kent's roads safe and operational during periods of cold weather, frost, ice and snow.

This is a standby and call-out position, operating on a rotating basis throughout the winter season.

How the Standby Rota Works

The rota operates across a four-week cycle, with two weeks out of every four being paid standby weeks.

Week 1 - Paid Standby

You will receive a guaranteed £175 standby payment, regardless of whether you are called out to work.

If you are called out for gritting or snow operations, you will also be paid:

£20.00 per hour for all hours worked.

So, even if the weather is mild and you are not called out at all, you will still receive your £175 standby payment for that week.

Week 2 - Non-Standby Week

There are no guaranteed hours or standby payment during this week.

The rota then continues so that, over each four-week period, you will have:

2 paid standby weeks - £175 guaranteed per week

2 non-standby weeks - no guaranteed payment

This means that two weeks out of every four you are guaranteed to be paid, whether you are called out or not.

During your paid standby weeks, any actual call-outs are paid at £20.00 per hour in addition to your £175 standby payment.

What You'll Be Doing

As a Winter Gritter Driver, your duties may include:

Driving an HGV gritting vehicle on designated routes across Kent

Spreading salt and grit to prevent ice forming on the highway network

Responding to winter weather call-outs, including frost, ice and snow

Completing vehicle and safety checks before deployment

Following predetermined gritting routes and operational instructions

Working closely with the depot and highways operations team

Completing required vehicle and operational documentation

Maintaining high standards of road and public safetyWhat We're Looking For

You will need:

A valid HGV Class 2 (Category C) licence

Valid Driver CPC

Valid Digital Tachograph Card

A reliable and flexible approach

The ability to respond to agreed winter call-outs

Confidence driving in difficult winter conditions

Good communication skills and a safety-first approachPrevious gritting or highways experience would be beneficial, although drivers with the right HGV experience and attitude are encouraged to apply.

Contract Period

The winter operation runs from:

1 October to 1 April

As winter maintenance is weather dependent, the amount of actual driving will vary considerably.

Some standby weeks may involve no call-outs at all, while periods of frost, ice or snow could result in significantly more working hours.

The key benefit is that on your designated paid standby weeks, your £175 payment is guaranteed even if you do not work a single hour.

Pay at a Glance

Paid Standby Week: £175 guaranteed

Call-Out Rate: £20.00 per hour for hours worked

Non-Standby Week: No guaranteed hours or payment

Paid Standby: 2 weeks out of every 4

Season: 1 October - 1 April

This could be particularly suitable for an experienced Class 2 driver looking for additional winter income alongside other work, while being part of an essential service keeping Kent's roads moving safely.

Benefits:

Free parking

On-site parking

Work Location: In person