Hi all I’m a new driver Ive just passed my Cat C recently, I’m looking at starting on agency work, just a quick question can anybody recommend what the best Agencies in Manchester are? specifically ones which will take on new drivers, I live in south Manchester.
In-fact anyone in the Manchester area recruiting new drivers, agencies or permanent.
Thanks in advance.
Hi,
I went with Staff UK in Bolton. They take on new passes, and gave work across Greater Manchester. Stayed with them for a year, until the right permanent job came along.
Pete1989:
Hi all I’m a new driver Ive just passed my Cat C recently, I’m looking at starting on agency work, just a quick question can anybody recommend what the best Agencies in Manchester are? specifically ones which will take on new drivers, I live in south Manchester.In-fact anyone in the Manchester area recruiting new drivers, agencies or permanent.
Thanks in advance.
Where about’s do you live in South Manchester?
V40LLY:
Pete1989:
Hi all I’m a new driver Ive just passed my Cat C recently, I’m looking at starting on agency work, just a quick question can anybody recommend what the best Agencies in Manchester are? specifically ones which will take on new drivers, I live in south Manchester.In-fact anyone in the Manchester area recruiting new drivers, agencies or permanent.
Thanks in advance.
Where about’s do you live in South Manchester?
Partington
Pete1989:
V40LLY:
Pete1989:
Hi all I’m a new driver Ive just passed my Cat C recently, I’m looking at starting on agency work, just a quick question can anybody recommend what the best Agencies in Manchester are? specifically ones which will take on new drivers, I live in south Manchester.In-fact anyone in the Manchester area recruiting new drivers, agencies or permanent.
Thanks in advance.
Where about’s do you live in South Manchester?
Partington
That’s actually west Manchester. You need to improve your sense of direction before you find the opportunity to be let loose in an HGV. Otherwise, it’ll all end in tears.
As for your question; most, if not all agencies will register you on their books. However, not all will actually give you any work. Those that will give you a chance are only going to offer you the scraps that none of their other, more experienced driver’s want. Due to your inexperience, any agency consultant in the land would only ring you as a last resort. Furthermore, they all ask you for references when you sign on with them and they do check them. So, if your work related background is a little dubious, it’s best to avoid this route as a means of getting your foot on the ladder.
If I was you, I’d give Wiseman’s Dairies a ring. It’s located in Trafford Park, so it’s a reasonable commute for you. In the early 2000’s, they’d have welcomed you with open arms as their driver turnover for Class 2 was horrendous because of the conditions of employment. However, I believe from word of mouth, these conditions have improved over the years, which might enable them to be more selective.
There’s only one way to find out; phone them up. If you don’t get any joy, let us know.
V40LLY:
Pete1989:
V40LLY:
Pete1989:
Hi all I’m a new driver Ive just passed my Cat C recently, I’m looking at starting on agency work, just a quick question can anybody recommend what the best Agencies in Manchester are? specifically ones which will take on new drivers, I live in south Manchester.In-fact anyone in the Manchester area recruiting new drivers, agencies or permanent.
Thanks in advance.
Where about’s do you live in South Manchester?
Partington
That’s actually west Manchester. You need to improve your sense of direction before you find the opportunity to be let loose in an HGV. Otherwise, it’ll all end in tears.
As for your question; most, if not all agencies will register you on their books. However, not all will actually give you any work. Those that will give you a chance are only going to offer you the scraps that none of their other, more experienced driver’s want. Due to your inexperience, any agency consultant in the land would only ring you as a last resort. Furthermore, they all ask you for references when you sign on with them and they do check them. So, if your work related background is a little dubious, it’s best to avoid this route as a means of getting your foot on the ladder.
If I was you, I’d give Wiseman’s Dairies a ring. It’s located in Trafford Park, so it’s a reasonable commute for you. In the early 2000’s, they’d have welcomed you with open arms as their driver turnover for Class 2 was horrendous because of the conditions of employment. However, I believe from word of mouth, these conditions have improved over the years, which might enable them to be more selective.
There’s only one way to find out; phone them up. If you don’t get any joy, let us know.
South west to be pedantic more west though I agree, I was thinking of phoning wisemans one of my instructors mentioned them also, as regard to agency work, is it mostly semi permanent work or just anything like odd days here and there? thanks for the advice.
Enterprise best agency in Manchester . They run a driving school also so understand what’s good etc
Lots of work in Stockport
The core majority of the work offered to you by agencies will be bits and pieces. For example, they will ask you if you’re available for work the next day. When you say ‘Yes’, they’ll ask you something like; 'can you work for a furniture removal firm (handball ■■■■ that nobody else wants) for £7 or 8 p/h, you might be tempted to decline. Unfortunately, they’ll take a dim view on this and make sure you stay at the bottom of their pecking order. Some jobs they’ll offer you, will be at a second’s notice, because some sick ■■■■■■■ has phoned in. You may even be given a job one day, whereby, you’ll turn up for it at the allotted time to be told; ‘you’ve been cancelled, didn’t your agency tell you?’. That might be at 5 in the morning, after you took the trouble to get out of bed at half 3.
In a nutshell, working for an agency(s), means living of the end of the phone, not knowing what you’re doing from one day to the next.
If that sounds appealing to you, be my guest. Otherwise, try ringing around as many transport firms in your area to get a permanent job.
It’s probably worth pointing out that you’ll notice the agency hourly rates of pay being a little bit better than what the companies offer. However, the agencies provide you with no guarantee whatsoever of anything. Christmas is the busiest time of year in the industry and the first 2/3 months of the year are the quietest. Which means, as an agency driver in the first couple of month’s of the year, you might not have any work. Furthermore, take no notice of all the bogus job adverts that these agencies post on websites, as they don’t exist; it’s a common tactic they all use to get people who aren’t in the know, to come into their office and sign up with them. The more people who register with them, the more phone numbers they have to ring, if they were to ever get busy.
Just out of interest, what did you use to do?
Hi Pete
I found a couple of agencies advertising for new C drivers.
Staff UK http://www.indeed.co.uk/cmp/Staff-UK/jobs/Class-Driver-39a59349cf537b09?q=new+pass Looks like its possibly for JD sports or 3663/Brakes
Also Driver Hire in Warrington currently have a scheme for new drivers if its not too far for you http://www.indeed.co.uk/viewjob?jk=6489b04e30dc2adc&q=new+pass&l=m20+2sd&tk=19rdb9qco9p19cm1
You could try Pertemps for the DHL/Next home delivery contract in Carrington, or Darren Bell for Allied bakeries
AKW, David Bratt and Wisemans have been advertising recently and usually take on new drivers
Driver Hire have tons of offices nearly everywhere.
I phones one of their offices up yesterday and managed to speak to the manager. He was very honest with me and said they would be limited in the work they could offer me as a lot of their clients won’t take someone from the agency with x amount of experience. That x ranging from 6months to 2 years. He did say they do have some however who’ll take anyone… Probably got plenty of dinged up trucks lol
On the other hand another agency sent me out on van work while I waited for my licence to come back. I think it’s almost luck of the draw. My advice would be sign up with more than one and then just take what you can.
V40LLY what’s happened to you mate… Your being… Helpful!!!
I must be dreaming… Please, someone wake me up 
V40LLY:
The core majority of the work offered to you by agencies will be bits and pieces. For example, they will ask you if you’re available for work the next day. When you say ‘Yes’, they’ll ask you something like; 'can you work for a furniture removal firm (handball [zb] that nobody else wants) for £7 or 8 p/h, you might be tempted to decline. Unfortunately, they’ll take a dim view on this and make sure you stay at the bottom of their pecking order. Some jobs they’ll offer you, will be at a second’s notice, because some sick [zb] has phoned in. You may even be given a job one day, whereby, you’ll turn up for it at the allotted time to be told; ‘you’ve been cancelled, didn’t your agency tell you?’. That might be at 5 in the morning, after you took the trouble to get out of bed at half 3.In a nutshell, working for an agency(s), means living of the end of the phone, not knowing what you’re doing from one day to the next.
If that sounds appealing to you, be my guest. Otherwise, try ringing around as many transport firms in your area to get a permanent job.
It’s probably worth pointing out that you’ll notice the agency hourly rates of pay being a little bit better than what the companies offer. However, the agencies provide you with no guarantee whatsoever of anything. Christmas is the busiest time of year in the industry and the first 2/3 months of the year are the quietest. Which means, as an agency driver in the first couple of month’s of the year, you might not have any work. Furthermore, take no notice of all the bogus job adverts that these agencies post on websites, as they don’t exist; it’s a common tactic they all use to get people who aren’t in the know, to come into their office and sign up with them. The more people who register with them, the more phone numbers they have to ring, if they were to ever get busy.
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Just out of interest, what did you use to do?