This topic has probably had its neck rung so to speak,i have never had the need to sign up to 1 but next friday i will be out of employment,Do they give you the spiel or are there certain types to look out for,ie:are ex drivers(if there are any in this line of work) better than just the normal office bloke/woman.
And im thinking to sign up to about half a dozen,and how long before you realize they are all full of b/s.any knowledge of best ones in tamworth area would be grateful,their certainly seems to many for a town of this size,thanks,kevin
If i were you, i would sign up to anyone and everyone and pray you get some work, whether good or bad , work is work, whilst keeping an eye on the classifieds for any perm jobs as the year progresses. After being made redundant twice in 2 years i know how it feels.
Is not supply far outweighing demand? If so I think you stand more chance of finding the Holy Grail …
The hard fact is you are redundant because your gaffer doesnt need you anymore.I know its tough ZB as I have been there as well.Sign with any and all agencies near you check out every operator and the local council for vacancies.The agencies only get paid when they place you .You will know from this forum that none are held in high esteem.
Being in Tamworth,Brakes must be worth a try ?..
It would help if they kept websites upto date, rather than leaving old, past the closing date and now non existant jobs on there. I’ve applied online for a couple of jobs with local agencies G-Force and Patersons and not even had acknowledgement. Although a different branch of Patersons was interested in my 11 years experience, until I said it was on tippers. Also, Patersons never change the jobs on their website. Oh and Champion have a driving dept but I’ve never seen a driving job on there. Oh well, off to Driver Hire (Oxford) tomorrow morning…
Instead of 10 agencies giving out work for 10 different clients, what is more likely to be found is 10 agencies all touting for a 2-3 clients with cut-throat competing hourly rates, meaning the one paying the lowest will have all the work, and the better paying ones will only get given the last minute sub work. 
As far as Tamworth is concerned, you’re most likely to get a “job fill” doing security guard work, bearing in mind you won’t find many other types of worker around the neighbourhood in the late evening. 
Eight O’Clock and all’s well.
No one’s about,
They’re down the Bell.
No such thing as a good agency, they are all rip off money grabbing thieving git’s.
no there all crap imo…but the better ones round this way is dmr the best connection. good luck
dbk23:
no there all crap imo…but the better ones round this way is dmr the best connection. good luck
I disagree, dmr ‘nearly formally’ flare recruitment which went under about 18 months ago, Barry took all his contacts and jumped ship just as it was going, he moved in with dmr. still owes me 2 nights work at wincanski.
tbc, full of bs,talk the talk but but it’s just bs.
hunterskill, late payers, no work
manpower, not much work since calor went quiet due to the warm weather, may have work if you have hiab, jewsons
drivelink, mainly roadways and dsv in harwich, but all’s quiet on the port.
onestop, nothing, mainly boxes
driver4hire, ■■■■ all
loads more agencies that i’ve not mentioned, all say the same ■■■■■■■■, “blah blah sign up we have work and you can trust me, we are different” the only thing different is the amount of bs they spiel and their name.
From my current experience, don’t believe a word they tell you! Since November I have signed up with 3 in the Essex area. 1st seemed ok then found I wasn’t being paid any overtime! Still arguing about that. 2nd H&G have never been in touch with work even though they are still advertising for drivers half a mile from my house! 3rd, TRG, was going well before christmas, but now can’t get an answer about the promised ongoing work and haven’t had work for 2 weeks now! Looks like they are all lying, cheating crooks to me!!! 
Pat Hasler:
No such thing as a good agency, they are all rip off money grabbing thieving git’s.
I fully agree with the above…I reckon the govt only puts with agencies ,cos they make the govt look honest and trustworthy
You could try brakes or UPS … i know UPS also have a refer a friend scheme at work … just ask one of the ups drivers outside the main depot to drop ya name in .
If all else fails why not start an agency? It’s all ■■■■■■■■ anyway so got to be worth a try! 
Did agency work for 14 years in stoke never missed a day even after christmas you don’t say how old you are or what experience you have but you will be interviewed by some young girl who does not know anything about the trucking industry i was a utillaty driver ( means i can do it all ) tankers tilts strip and build trombone trailers etc,etc, even drive david brown two speed axle ( not used today ) so really the more experience you have the better chnces of getting work but i some how feel you will end up on morrisons the old safeway depot at the services but just keep plugging away and the longer you are with them the more work you will get hope this helps.
I’ve worked for Extra in Coventry and they have been good for me. There is a Tamworth branch too, done a few shifts for them at Bentons.
sorry to hear that your job ended. I have settled with two agencies which are straight; Proactive and Driver Hire. If you use more than two, you run the risk of not being available when they call. Make sure you thoroughly read anything you are asked to sign. Quietly delete anything that you don’t like. Tell them your terms. ie, pay, overtime night and weekend rates rates etc but offer to be flexible if necessary. I have found it best to work on a self employed basis, doing a self-assessment tax return once a year (simple) Try to establish good, personal relationship with the clerks who phone with the jobs. Good luck and remember they need you more than you need them.
ipswich123:
This topic has probably had its neck rung so to speak,i have never had the need to sign up to 1 but next friday i will be out of employment,Do they give you the spiel or are there certain types to look out for,ie:are ex drivers(if there are any in this line of work) better than just the normal office bloke/woman.
And im thinking to sign up to about half a dozen,and how long before you realize they are all full of b/s.any knowledge of best ones in tamworth area would be grateful,their certainly seems to many for a town of this size,thanks,kevin
rgt1973:
If all else fails why not start an agency? It’s all [zb] anyway so got to be worth a try!
If anyone started an agency to “try and be different”, they’d no doubt soon be given short shrift by the “clients” who’ll tell them things like:
“Look guy, you can have our entire supplier contract as soon as the government white paper gets through that scraps the minimum wage! - Our current suppliers (26 of them) are all offering drivers of various calibre for £6.25ph now which rises to £7ph on sunday nights.
It’s illegal for you to beat that tender at present, but please do come back when it is no longer so with your better tender!”
I blame the clients for pressurising agencies into becoming the ducking and diving firms they are.
Everyone is in the “race to the bottom” - or they’re not in full stop. 
Just tell them that you only want class 1 full load distance work and absolutely no local multi drop or building trade deliveries and then see what the answer is. 
The only phone calls you’ll get is “Hey, it’s your 3-month licence check time buddy” 
Sweet FA work since you’ve signed up mind you… 
Around here there’s unlimited amounts of HIAB and P&H type work, but naff all else I suspect for the rest of this month.
This time a year ago, I was flat-out in december, got 2 shifts in january, then bugger all until mid feb. So far, this year looks to be even worse, since I only got odds and sods during the runup the Christmas, which started late as it was. 
“Holiday pot at the ready” by the looks of it.