I’m in the Teesside/Durham/N Yorkshire area so not known as a well paid part of the country for HGVdrivers, but I’m getting txts from my usual agency offering a £100 reward for the introduction of a new driver and when I try and cancel a shift I’m told. . “we have no one else to do it”…before he breaks down and pleads with me to turn in.
Then another agency rings out of the blue and says their rates have gone up a £ an hr and there’s time n a half after 8Hrs…Please join us! !!!
Have we turned the corner?
What are you other fellas experiencing?
cheekymonkey:
I’m in the Teesside/Durham/N Yorkshire area so not known as a well paid part of the country for HGVdrivers, but I’m getting txts from my usual agency offering a £100 reward for the introduction of a new driver and when I try and cancel a shift I’m told. . “we have no one else to do it”…before he breaks down and pleads with me to turn in.
Then another agency rings out of the blue and says their rates have gone up a £ an hr and there’s time n a half after 8Hrs…Please join us! !!!
Have we turned the corner?
What are you other fellas experiencing?
I hope you’re charging accordingly? They’re not that desperate at a quid an hour extra…
Not really turned a corner. Probably had a few drivers let them down. It’s the usual bull excrement. I keep getting calls too… I enjoy telling them I’m booked up with other non driving work. 
It’s summer time core drivers are away on holidays, calm your jets no corner has been turned.
I’ve been getting at least a call and a text a week from agencies asking me to sign up, this has been happening for about 3 months. Was away for 5 days the other week and came back to 3 answerphone messages from different agencies.
if their offering a quid ask for 2.50 extra bet they say they cant do it …
nick2008:
if their offering a quid ask for 2.50 extra bet they say they cant do it …
Exactly. Then point out that they can’t be that desperate otherwise the client would increase the money on offer. It’s just the typical agency bull ■■■■ of trying to get more names on their books so they can wave it under the noses of blue chip clients to try and impress them with how many available drivers they have. Don’t buy any of it. Everything that comes out of agency’s mouths are lies.
Thanks for that guys. I was feeling quite chipper till I read all that!
Anyways, I`m jumping ship to whoever pays the most, which in turn will hopefully allow me to work even less.
I`m not new to agency work, and have noticed a difference in tone over the last few weeks.
I can compare it with the previous 7 years, and am well aware of seasonal requirements…their cracks are twitching I tells ya.
Wise operators have been cherry picking in some sectors.
In the North West I’ve defiantly noticed more agencies are willing to give inexperienced drivers a chance. I quit driving buses 2 weeks ago and have had nothing but positives from agencies over the last few weeks, which i never experienced before when i first passed my test. So far I’ve already had 1 assessment (which i failed on the reverse) and 2 more assessments booked for next week, even though they know i haven’t driven an artic since passing my test 3 years ago. Hopefully i will lean from each assessment and secure something very soon 
I think something is definitely shifting in the NW. The New Year Lull never happened, the agency I’m with advertised for drivers for the first time ever, previously they’ve gone on WoM & personal recommendation, a couple of their clients have been asking where all the drivers have gone and a lot of the older drivers I’ve spoken to have already made preparations to hang up the keys come Sept.
Whether this will result in rates rising is anyones guess but worst case there could be a lot of freight sitting in factories and warehouses going nowhere and empty shelves.
Good mate of mine works in the office for an agency and says he can’t get drivers for love nor money and will honestly take on anyone that can drive one. They pay min 11£ hr and supermarket work is 14£ and is even offering to pay fuel! Been like that for ages not just summer, is in essex though.
They’re just not there anymore, trust me. They’ve all decided to do other things as for the past five years they haven’t been needed.
I’m getting more calls than ever up in the the NE area, three in one day this week asking if I’m looking for work. I’ve also noticed more transport companies taking on permanent staff, some I’ve not seen advertising before, like port of Tyne, so that must be a good thing. Don’t know if the corners turned but it’s heading in the right direction.
I’m afraid that it is just market forces at work. You will just have to accept a period of rising wages. It is still up to you to hold back from just accepting what you are told, and advise that you rates have increased. If there are objections, just point out that if they don’t like it, there is a whole line of agencies out there that are ready, willing and able.
Bottom line is, even if it’s only temporary, you could be in a position of strength. Tell them what you want an hour. Take it or leave it. Offer to commit to them for a month for instance as a deal breaker. It won’t last long so make hay while Sun shines. If you are with an agency tell them someone has offered more. Are they prepared to match or increase.
Or better still approach the companies yourself. I wouldn’t sell my self to these leeches anyway
Yep,I know that now they are under no circumstance allowed too cancel agency( main agency) ,
I asked t.o bod reason and he said we have too keep them sweet 
My phone is a lot busier these last few weeks. I ask the question “where were you when I needed you”? I dont trust them or buy into any of their crap. Unless theyre digging substantially deeper into their shallow little pockets, they can all swivel.
I wouldn’t touch an agency with a bargepole. Never have, never will
It may well be that those drivers who are not doing the dcpc are dropping out as their licences/medicals expire and therefore there are more jobs to fill. It will probably level out after September.