Agency help

[Carryfast]

I signed on to an agency in Exeter. I told them that I only wanted 2 shifts a week and no handball. This was agreed to and I was doing Fri and Mon/Tues. Start about 14.00. Trailer to midlands, drop/swap and return. It was that easy to arrange as I told them what I wanted and what I was prepared to do. No problems as the rules were set before I did the first shift. And the money was good.

^ Proper quality work.

[Carryfast]

I told them what I wanted and what I was prepared to do

This, it seems, is the key

I realised it was possible to get what you want in this industry after watching one of switchlogic's videos. He basically said "work out what you want and go and get it". I thought I would get crucified on here for wanting to work flexibly and on my terms but I've had some really helpful insights, including yours, thanks.

Bearing in mind that many agencies will have a client base which often creates the antithesis of that business model and jobsearch plan.
Employee resistance will be the only way to make those agencies clean up their act regarding their client choices.
But in and around London all bets are off the crap work is just too well established and dominates the jobmarket.

[Carryfast]

Driveress, choose carefully from whom you take advice, particularly in this thread.
One poster has no experience in the last quarter century, yet continues to promote a picture of doom and gloom. He has adopted this attitude because he failed in the industry, due to his aversion to physical activity. Do your own research, on this forum and you'll find the recurring, bitter theme.
This industry is no different to any other, there are good and bad jobs, employers and employees.
You'll obviously have to prove yourself, within your parameters, on the bottom rung. Do a decent job and you will progress.
All the best with your endeavours.

Define exactly what type of work you mean by 'bottom rung' and what you mean by 'prove yourself'.
When you've answered that question the OP can choose whether to accept your advice or ironically Switchlogic's combined with that of SWEDISH BLUE's.

The truth is crap quality work is crap quality work.Accepting that to 'prove yourself' will just get you typecast as a mug by both the employers and/or those who want to keep the best work for themselves.It also provides no incentive for agencies to clean up their client base books.

[Harry Monk]

The truth is crap quality work is crap quality work.Accepting that to 'prove yourself' will just get you typecast as a mug by both the employers and/or those who want to keep the best work for themselves.It also provides no incentive for agencies to clean up their client base books.

Well, it's like this Mr Carryfast. If you join the army, they don't start you off as a Field Marshal.

[Star down under.]

The truth is crap quality work is crap quality work.Accepting that to 'prove yourself' will just get you typecast as a mug by both the employers and/or those who want to keep the best work for themselves.It also provides no incentive for agencies to clean up their client base books.

Well, it's like this Mr Carryfast. If you join the army, they don't start you off as a Field Marshal.

Can you imagine it, Harry? Even Field Marshals have to pass the fitness requirements.

[driveress]

Whatever you do at that point don't say you want to earn your stripes and will do whatever they want you to do.

I'm going to take your advice too Carryfast. I'm not going to tell anyone that I want to earn my stripes, and I'm not going to be pushed around, but I do expect to....

prove yourself, within your parameters, on the bottom rung. Do a decent job and you will progress.

The bottom rung is a position, a starting point, it's not a crap job. It needn't take very long to move up the rungs if you start on the right bottom rung in the first place and commit yourself to learning.

I think that's the gist of the helpful advice on this thread so far - within the parameters of working with agencies, how to avoid being messed about and how to get where you want to go.

[Star down under.]

Whatever you do at that point don't say you want to earn your stripes and will do whatever they want you to do.

I'm going to take your advice too Carryfast. I'm not going to tell anyone that I want to earn my stripes, and I'm not going to be pushed around, but I do expect to....

prove yourself, within your parameters, on the bottom rung. Do a decent job and you will progress.

The bottom rung is a position, a starting point, it's not a crap job. It needn't take very long to move up the rungs if you start on the right bottom rung in the first place and commit yourself to learning.

I think that's the gist of the helpful advice on this thread so far - within the parameters of working with agencies, how to avoid being messed about and how to get where you want to go.

What a shame you couldn't read this post last century, Carryfast.

[Carryfast]

The truth is crap quality work is crap quality work.Accepting that to 'prove yourself' will just get you typecast as a mug by both the employers and/or those who want to keep the best work for themselves.It also provides no incentive for agencies to clean up their client base books.

Well, it's like this Mr Carryfast. If you join the army, they don't start you off as a Field Marshal.

The issue is more one of who is going to volunteer or be 'voluteered' to peel the spuds and clean the latrines to earn some 'stripes'.
While ironically my Father was put to work driving Diamond T tank transporters as soon as he arrived in Italy in the REME.But had no wish to follow his Father into driving trucks at the time or after.
While others who I know bought themselves out of the army having joined up for the RCT but never as much as even saw a truck let alone got assigned to the RCT and given the job of driving one that they joined up for.
But didn't know the army recruits its Field Marshalls from driving agencies.But it is possible to find 'driving' agencies with what are effectively building/warehouse labourer jobs on their books.Which might sometimes involve driving a truck a few miles around the houses in a shift.The fact that they are willing to pay class 1 rates to drive an 18 tonner or less is a give away.

[Carryfast]

not a crap job.

You'll find out soon enough that forewarned is forearmed in that regard.
In this industry that's generally exactly what volunteering to start at the 'bottom' means.
It also generally means you'll stay there if you don't set out your terms from the start in that regard just as SWEDISH BLUE rightly said.

[driveress]

The issue is more one of who is going to volunteer or be 'voluteered' to peel the spuds and clean the latrines to earn some 'stripes'.

Me. It's inevitable.

[Harry Monk]

But it is possible to find 'driving' agencies with what are effectively building/warehouse labourer jobs on their books.Which might sometimes involve driving a truck a few miles around the houses in a shift.The fact that they are willing to pay class 1 rates to drive an 18 tonner or less is a give away.

Well, if that is what their business model is, then that's what they are going to need drivers to do. And that will suit some drivers and not others.

Your argument, which basically boils down to "You shouldn't operate HGVs unless you run them the length and breadth of Europe and are prepared to take on clueless dustcart drivers to drive them" is a bit of a non-starter really.

[driveress]

https://www.trucknetuk.com/phpBB/viewto ... 9#p2781779

^^^Another thread with some good agency advice from Terry Cooksey on it

[eagerbeaver]

Bottom rung- Gaining 2 years on your licence, follow the advice on this thread..expect the crap that is left over/last minute phone calls.

Next rung up- General haulage, various shifts & standards of wagon/trailer/yards etc.

3rd rung- Good T&C's, often unionised, driver expected to be capable & honest with often a clean licence.

Top step- Specialised work, often own account or heavy haulage/car transporters/tankers etc. Not suitable for everyone but often satisfying work and can be very well paid.

Balcony above ladder- Re-train and get the [zb] out of Dodge...

[RevTony]

Looking at various threads, some suggest registering with several agencies (to maximise the chances of work) - but others say an agency will not allow you to work for anyone else whilst you're on their books.

Who's right?

[yourhavingalarf]

Looking at various threads, some suggest registering with several agencies (to maximise the chances of work) - but others say an agency will not allow you to work for anyone else whilst you're on their books.

Who's right?

Unless you...

Sign a contract specifically stating that you cannot undertake work for any other agency then, world is your oyster. I've worked for 4 different agencies in one week. Sometimes the same job was for different agencies. As long as the tax man is happy at the end of the year, it's no biggy.
I found that over time, because I was working for one or two agencies, the other ones just stopped calling with work.
A really good agency that keeps you going and pays you well is worth more than the hassle of the others.

[RevTony]

Do some agencies always require you to sign such an exclusive contract, whilst others don't? Or do they all try to get you to sign - and then it's up to you whether you care to commit/limit yourself in this way?

[yourhavingalarf]

Do some agencies always require you to sign such an exclusive contract, whilst others don't? Or do they all try to get you to sign - and then it's up to you whether you care to commit/limit yourself in this way?

I'm not...

Aware of any agencies that do it. If I saw it in the contract I'd be getting it struck out or walking away. It's your choice who you work for, not theirs.
The only clause I can think of that all the agenices use is the going full time for a client and that only really affects the client because they have to pay the agency a fee to get you.

Use the agencies to your advantage. Work for who ever gets you the best work with the best money.

[RevTony]

Many thanks - very helpful. I

[Rjan]

Driveress, choose carefully from whom you take advice, particularly in this thread.
One poster has no experience in the last quarter century, yet continues to promote a picture of doom and gloom. He has adopted this attitude because he failed in the industry, due to his aversion to physical activity. Do your own research, on this forum and you'll find the recurring, bitter theme.
This industry is no different to any other, there are good and bad jobs, employers and employees.
You'll obviously have to prove yourself, within your parameters, on the bottom rung. Do a decent job and you will progress.
All the best with your endeavours.

Define exactly what type of work you mean by 'bottom rung' and what you mean by 'prove yourself'.
When you've answered that question the OP can choose whether to accept your advice or ironically Switchlogic's combined with that of SWEDISH BLUE's.

The truth is crap quality work is crap quality work.Accepting that to 'prove yourself' will just get you typecast as a mug by both the employers and/or those who want to keep the best work for themselves.It also provides no incentive for agencies to clean up their client base books.

I have to agree. To continue the analogy mentioned about the Field Marshal, accepting crap work is like starting in the Army with a rubber gun, and competing to be cheaper to equip than those with real guns. You don't get to Field Marshal that way at all.

And the reality for most people is that they'll never be Field Marshal, because the Army doesn't need more Field Marshals than soldiers. The soldier therefore expects decent wages and conditions now for routine work done.

I honestly think some people are so fond of ladders, that they wouldn't object to going down and entering the building through the sewer entrance, so long as I gave them a ladder to climb back to the ground floor through a manhole, and then think themselves achievers for having done so. Any sensible person would ask what the hell is going on with that, and why they can't just use the front door normally.

What's more is that, as a worker who has gone through the sewer then got back on the level, you've then always got someone else grabbing at your leg trying to get up out of the manhole, so it scarcely works even for its proponents in the workforce, though it might work for the bosses.

[driveress]

So your advice, I think, is also...don't accept "crap quality work", but because I don't think that has been explicitly defined on this thread, we are none the wiser as to what it is. Considering the definition of "crap quality work" is subjective, it's probably more helpful to advise newbies to be wary of crap employers - in this instance, crap agencies, and how to spot them, as a fair few already have.

[thehairyarsedtrucker]

Every day will be a school day. Use the first year to network and speak to other drivers, agency and employed, this will give you more info on the local situation.Dont always reject jobs because another drivers says its crap,sometimes they arent and doing a shift there will show you one way or the other.If you hear a rumour of a job at a company you think would fit you,give them a ring,it may be friutful but the worst they can say is sorry no job. I've used this a few times and it works.

Good luck