Agencies - newly qualified C&E driver - Preston/Lancashire

As a newly qualified C&E driver (well over 25) I’m looking to do some agency work on a limited company basis, I’ve approached several agencies with the following results:

Driver hire, Carnforth - registered but no work forthcoming.
Best Connections, Lancaster - not interested without 2 years experience.
Industrial Work Solutions - absolutely no response to enquiry.
Driver hire, Preston - work available for newly qualified drivers but only on a PAYE basis.
Belfield Services, Preston - prospect of work available on a limited company basis.
Hi Flyers, Preston - not interested without 2 years experience.
Extra Drivers, Leyland - absolutely no response to enquiry.
Country Wide Drivers, Whalley - no response to enquiry (in fairness made between Christmas & new year).

I’m now thinking I was being naive in expecting a more favourable response than I’ve actually received.

I could’ve had a start on a PAYE basis with a bulk tipper outfit - the bloke I saw was pleasant enough but the job sounded like it would’ve ended up a sure fire way to ruin my life. Is there any truth that once you get involved in tipper/bulk tipper driving, it is very difficult to get out & do something else?

Any suggestions for agencies in the Preston area of Lancashire that I’ve not approached?

Rgds.

ABB.

That’s probably not much different to my experience down south. Most agencies aren’t interested in new drivers so your options are likely to be limited, but that is not to say they don’t exist.

As you’ve discovered there are one or two who will place inexperienced drivers, but isn’t that all you need? You can only drive one truck at a time…

You can’t be too choosy, just muck in and do the grind with anyone who’ll take you for your critical first two years, then your options open up and you can start picking from a wider range of choices.

Agencies are often tied into supplying drivers with 2 years, 1 year or 6 months HGV experience to comply with larger companies’ insurance policies. It’s far cheaper to bulk insure drivers if they all have over a certain amount of certifiable experience.

Also, I’d be careful with the Ltd company idea if you’re new to the industry and working via a recruitment agency. If the Tax Man knocks, he’ll be out to prove you’re working under the parameters of an employment relationship rather than finding work for yourself.

The criteria he’ll look for will be-

Can your limited company replace a driver if the driver is unfit for duty
Do you have your own vehicle, liability cover or any other hardware or software which is permissive to a contract basis.
If you work for an hourly rate, are you given your duties before hand or when you arrive at site. If you get them at start of ‘shift’ then this is almost certainly an employment scenario.

Hope this helps

Not sure about the PAYE/ltd thing but I used driver hire Bolton for some weekend work. I had my class c for over 2 years when I joined them, however when I passed class 1 they got me a few shifts art weekends (that’s all I wanted). Also let them know I was available for a full week as a stop gap between jobs and they put me somewhere for a week on class 1…I think a sometimes the experience thing depends on their client. I don’t use them now but only because I have full time work for a company.

ABB:
As a newly qualified C&E driver (well over 25) I’m looking to do some agency work on a limited company basis, I’ve approached several agencies with the following results:

Driver hire, Carnforth - registered but no work forthcoming.
Best Connections, Lancaster - not interested without 2 years experience.
Industrial Work Solutions - absolutely no response to enquiry.
Driver hire, Preston - work available for newly qualified drivers but only on a PAYE basis.
Belfield Services, Preston - prospect of work available on a limited company basis.
Hi Flyers, Preston - not interested without 2 years experience.
Extra Drivers, Leyland - absolutely no response to enquiry.
Country Wide Drivers, Whalley - no response to enquiry (in fairness made between Christmas & new year).

I’m now thinking I was being naive in expecting a more favourable response than I’ve actually received.

I could’ve had a start on a PAYE basis with a bulk tipper outfit - the bloke I saw was pleasant enough but the job sounded like it would’ve ended up a sure fire way to ruin my life. Is there any truth that once you get involved in tipper/bulk tipper driving, it is very difficult to get out & do something else?

Any suggestions for agencies in the Preston area of Lancashire that I’ve not approached?

Rgds.

ABB.

you’ve covered every agency in that area. Try Bellfields.
THe 2 years experience is a proper catch 22. Take whatever work they give initially, but move up quickly once you’ve got foot in the door. Staff uk Bolton is anther one. But you won’t move uup with those guys. Just van and 7.5 work at stupid o’clock clock hours