Hyh:
I do Royal Mail via Manpower.
There is a 12 week parity pay scheme, after the 12 weeks it goes up to normal. Around 6 weeks before Christmas, the rates go up and you’ll likely be offered anything up to 6 days a week if you want it.To get around the first 12 weeks low pay rate, I did 1 shift a week at RM and the rest of the week at a different client of Manpower who paid more to keep the weekly take home reasonable - Perhaps your local office can arrange this for you ?
Of all the companies I’ve worked for via agency, Royal Mail is definitely one of the better when compared to plant deliveries, Hermes, DHL and general haulage… They wont rush you and wont expect you to work through your breaks etc. The trucks are road legal and the work really is easy, especially for the money but they do expect you to play by their rules. I’ve heard UPS and Fed Ex aren’t bad to work for either on Class 1 and 2.
Around this time of year, it isn’t really busy but beginning to gently pick up. At the moment, there seems to be a lot of CPC training going on where agency are covering those shifts so for now it’s not too bad. I expect Easter onwards will get busier as their permanent drivers take holiday.
The pay rates do change after 36.5 hours worked each week and go to Overtime rates which are typically higher than most day rates but lower than night rates. My local Manpower Office has 7 different pay tiers per class of vehicle at each RM site, depending on when you start and end your shift throughout the day (Then there’s Sunday tiers in addition) As an example the 7.5T at one local site ranges from £14.12 to £18.29 per hour throughout the week
It isn’t uncommon for you to be booked onto a 7.5T shift but when you turn up, they’ll ask if you can switch and do a Class 2 shift (And adjust the rates accordingly) if you’re ok with that. Or Vice Versa - Especially once you’ve got to know where most of the Delivery Offices are.
Some superb info there mate and from the previous posts too, much appreciated 
I am certainly willing to be flexible with working days or evenings, weekends and whatever is required really. I’m happy to do the 7.5T for the time being but eventually want to do Class 2 shifts so I hope they do switch me occasionally with an aim to do them full time.
All in all it seems like there isn’t much to worry about really and there should be work after the 12 weeks is up