I m still very much new to the industry and just wondered why there was a little bit of a stigma attached with “agency drivers”?
From what i can gather being with an agency is a great start for someone like me (no experience) get to drive different vehicles do different jobs and try a bit as many different things as i can thus gaining valuable experience. At the same time as earning good money. For instance i know someone who did his class 2 three years ago and has been sat in a tipper ever since driving round just 2 counties, so surely if i was to do 12 months on an agency doing all manor of jobs from multi drop to trunking driving different vehicles on a weekly basis and throughout the UK that would make me more experienced surely??
Stanny_1985:
I m still very much new to the industry and just wondered why there was a little bit of a stigma attached with “agency drivers”?
From what i can gather being with an agency is a great start for someone like me (no experience) get to drive different vehicles do different jobs and try a bit as many different things as i can thus gaining valuable experience. At the same time as earning good money. For instance i know someone who did his class 2 three years ago and has been sat in a tipper ever since driving round just 2 counties, so surely if i was to do 12 months on an agency doing all manor of jobs from multi drop to trunking driving different vehicles on a weekly basis and throughout the UK that would make me more experienced surely??
Yeh it would… but do NOT call me Shirley! 
No stigma mate just a lack of sense of humour among (not all) agency drivers who get soooo upset, bless them, if you have a laugh at their earpieces carrier bags (not to be confused with desypete’s carrier bags ) hi viz vests when driving and their famous , if maybe not factual,… limp. 
Seriously though, even though I personally hate the bastds (NOT the drivers, the Agencies) as I have them down as middle men parasites, it is a good way of gaining experience, and as long as you do not allow them to ■■■■ you about as many do, or reverse the role of THEM telling YOU when you do or do not work 
…it will be ok to get your foot in the door and into ‘the job’ in general.
Many choose them over full time employment, and it suits them, but not for me personally.
So yeh,… fill your boots mate and do not give a ■■■■ about what me or anybody else says about them
. Good luck with it
robroy:
Stanny_1985:
I m still very much new to the industry and just wondered why there was a little bit of a stigma attached with “agency drivers”?
From what i can gather being with an agency is a great start for someone like me (no experience) get to drive different vehicles do different jobs and try a bit as many different things as i can thus gaining valuable experience. At the same time as earning good money. For instance i know someone who did his class 2 three years ago and has been sat in a tipper ever since driving round just 2 counties, so surely if i was to do 12 months on an agency doing all manor of jobs from multi drop to trunking driving different vehicles on a weekly basis and throughout the UK that would make me more experienced surely??Yeh it would… but do NOT call me Shirley!
No stigma mate just a lack of sense of humour among (not all) agency drivers who get soooo upset, bless them, if you have a laugh at their earpieces carrier bags (not to be confused with desypete’s carrier bagsSeriously though, even though I personally hate the bastds (NOT the drivers, the Agencies) as I have them down as middle men parasites, it is a good way of gaining experience, and as long as you do not allow them to ■■■■ you about as many do, or reverse the role of THEM telling YOU when you do or do not work
Many choose them over full time employment, and it suits them, but not for me personally.
So yeh,… fill your boots mate and do not give a [zb] about what me or anybody else says about them
. Good luck with it
10000% with you on that one i ve worked for a few agencies over the years and i also use them too. 99% of them are complete scamming rats of the employment sector and very few i would trust. I ve just signed with Driver Hire and touch wood so far she has been true to her word and is actually helping me as much as she can so the jury is still out on this one. Where as staffline seemed to take the hump with me once i said i m not interested in 7.5ton work and i refused the shift. I know some would slate me for this but i have my reasons, truck driving has been a dream for me for many years and because i dont have grandad rights on my license the biggest vehicle i ve ever been able to drive (legally) is a van so i havent just spent over £3k to jump in something that the bloke next to me can drive with his standard license because he s 10 years older than me!
I worked for an agency for years and it suited me at the time; mainly because I had two children in school so needed odd days off for sports days, parent evenings etc.
I did get the occasional stupid comment from the regulars - “You’re supposed to be a driver, find it yourself” was one that sticks out. Mostly I only had friendly help when I needed it; whether with directions, how to work the fridge (so many different types) or where to stay overnight.
My main advice would be to not be shy about asking for help. Everyone was new once and most drivers are willing to help if asked. The other thing is to keep your opinions to yourself - it’s like families - I can moan about mine, but I won’t like it if you do.
Santa:
My main advice would be to not be shy about asking for help. Everyone was new once and most drivers are willing to help if asked. The other thing is to keep your opinions to yourself - it’s like families - I can moan about mine, but I won’t like it if you do.
Great bit of advice never really thought of that
when you register and they ask what you are looking for I used to say 0600 starts they reply yeah no problem,next thing you know its and I quote can you start at 0300,this went on for a couple of weeks until I had enough and said to them that when I registered I said 0600 starts to which they agreed,what part of that did they not understand,that was the last I heard of them,no more offers of work,about 3 or 4 agencies were like this which is why I am glad I am now fully employed, if I lose this job i will only go back to the agencies if I cannot find full time work and am desperate,they are a waste of space
I only have a 7.5t licence and have been with several agencies in the last year. I wouldn’t say I’ve been mucked about but they’ve either got too many drivers on their books or theres not enough work. Two weeks ago I got a full weeks work with three different firms. This week I only worked tuesday and wednesday with two companies. I know I’m ok with the guy that deals with me so its just a case of grinning and bearing it or looking for something more permanent…which I am presently doing.
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The Stigma comes because like yourself the only way you can get experience is by going on Agency,the trouble comes because the inexperience shows.
A lot of Agency drivers want a permanent job after gaining some experience with their driving,unfortunately they have a tendency to try and impress a possible future Boss by tear arsing around “cutting the job up” thereby alienating the permanent Drivers.
Not all Drivers are on Agency for job experience,like myself at one time its because they were made redundant at some point
Via the Agency I got a great job which saw me through for 17 year before retiring.
And now at 1pm they ring to see if I can do an evening stint. I’ve agreed but the missus is fuming as she had plans tonite. Money before pleasure!
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how to pss your agency off another phone call just recieved “got 7.5ton for you tomorrow” ermmmm no already told you this got anything for sunday? “NO” ok lol
Agency’s are a great way to gain experience, the only way really, as most employers want two years experience.
Just don’t let them mess you about as has been said already and always, ALWAYS, check your wages! They are swines for getting that wrong. I worked in full time jobs for years but now want to slow down and only do 3/4 shifts a week which not many employers will do, so I’m back on the agency because it suits me.
Do it, but dont forget to keep your sense of humour on hand and grow a thick skin because as you have already noticed, we do get a lot of stick! ! (good humoured mostly, hopefully! Lol)
Good luck!
Parasites on the industry in my opinion for numerous reasons mentioned above.
Unfortunately there will always be a need/market for them though, so there certainly not going anywhere.
dave_k:
Parasites on the industry in my opinion for numerous reasons mentioned above.Unfortunately there will always be a need/market for them though, so there certainly not going anywhere.
agency drives or agencies LMAO
The crack … It’s a pink thing with a manicured garden
Some of us work for agencies full time. I’ve done mostly agency work over the past 22 years. You can earn more per hour but there are quiet periods throughout the year so overall it ends up you earn about the same as a full time driver at most places but you just work less for it.
Just remember that regardless of the words that come out of their mouths its not your best interests they have at heart, much of it is outright lies and as long as you understand that it makes the whole thing a whole lot more pleasant. Once you’ve been there a while and proven your worth then if you’re any good you’ll be able to start dictating more where you’ll work and when you’ll work.
Stanny_1985:
I m still very much new to the industry and just wondered why there was a little bit of a stigma attached with “agency drivers”?
It’s really quite simple, there is stigma attached to the agency driver for a few reasons…
They are “known” for causing damage to vehicles - whether it is actually true that more damage is done by agency is irrelevant. An agency man/woman is the new face, and therefore remembered easier, a permanent driver does his damage and slips back into the shadows and is often forgotten about…
They are “known” for being a bit dim, as they can often be found scratching their heads, and asking the odd question or ten - this is because invariably they are often given the keys to trucks they haven’t driven before, procedures they are unfamiliar with, and loads they haven’t carried before, dealing with people they haven’t dealt with before. As such they often have questions, and who better to ask than the regular drivers right??
They are “known” for earning more money than a regular driver for doing the same work - drivers on the whole hate the thought that someone could be earning more money than them, especially at the same company!
Now you “know” all of this you realise that actually its all a bit of Billy ■■■■■■■■, based on not a right lot, and as such shouldn’t really matter. The stuff about an agency drivers appearance and gait is all true though, so you can’t call yourself a true agency man if you walk tall and have recently washed. That last sentence may or may not be true actually…
But at the end of the day, people who are; happy, content, secure about themselves would take all of the above as water off a ducks back and a bit of harmless leg pulling. Plenty don’t though!
Agency is a great way to learn the ropes, and learn what you like, so you can specialise a bit in one area. Good luck, and don’t let any stigma get you down agency man! 
Stanny_1985:
dave_k:
Parasites on the industry in my opinion for numerous reasons mentioned above.Unfortunately there will always be a need/market for them though, so there certainly not going anywhere.
agency drives or agencies LMAO
Agencies sorry!
F-reds:
Stanny_1985:
I m still very much new to the industry and just wondered why there was a little bit of a stigma attached with “agency drivers”?It’s really quite simple, there is stigma attached to the agency driver for a few reasons…
They are “known” for causing damage to vehicles - whether it is actually true that more damage is done by agency is irrelevant. An agency man/woman is the new face, and therefore remembered easier, a permanent driver does his damage and slips back into the shadows and is often forgotten about…
They are “known” for being a bit dim, as they can often be found scratching their heads, and asking the odd question or ten - this is because invariably they are often given the keys to trucks they haven’t driven before, procedures they are unfamiliar with, and loads they haven’t carried before, dealing with people they haven’t dealt with before. As such they often have questions, and who better to ask than the regular drivers right??
They are “known” for earning more money than a regular driver for doing the same work - drivers on the whole hate the thought that someone could be earning more money than them, especially at the same company!
Now you “know” all of this you realise that actually its all a bit of Billy ■■■■■■■■, based on not a right lot, and as such shouldn’t really matter. The stuff about an agency drivers appearance and gait is all true though, so you can’t call yourself a true agency man if you walk tall and have recently washed. That last sentence may or may not be true actually…
But at the end of the day, people who are; happy, content, secure about themselves would take all of the above as water off a ducks back and a bit of harmless leg pulling. Plenty don’t though!
Agency is a great way to learn the ropes, and learn what you like, so you can specialise a bit in one area. Good luck, and don’t let any stigma get you down agency man!
Made for a good read lol.
I ll be fine with a bit of banter I m fat and where glasses and my wife calls me Penfold so water off a ducks back.
I m keeping my eyes open for full time but would have to be the right job as I employed at the min in a good job and just wanted my truck license as a back up/hobby the odd night and weekends hence the agency part.
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Conor:
Some of us work for agencies full time. I’ve done mostly agency work over the past 22 years. You can earn more per hour but there are quiet periods throughout the year so overall it ends up you earn about the same as a full time driver at most places but you just work less for it.Just remember that regardless of the words that come out of their mouths its not your best interests they have at heart, much of it is outright lies and as long as you understand that it makes the whole thing a whole lot more pleasant. Once you’ve been there a while and proven your worth then if you’re any good you’ll be able to start dictating more where you’ll work and when you’ll work.
Agree with you on that most of my friends are in the industry and one has just left agency work for that reason like he said when it’s busy the money is amazing there is no chance any full time driver would come close but Jan, Feb and March are a killer you have to take what’s offered wether you like it or not and its never a full week
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I love my limp, I think it makes me look distinguished!
It does make me chuckle when someone on here gets bent out of shape about being an agency limper, as it says an awful lot more about them than the flippant term implies. F-reds makes some good points about why limpers can be resented, and it’s probably most common when some BELLEND limper starts gloating about their hourly rate compared to the FTW’s. These ■■■■■ deserve the abuse about being called a limper, and are probably the ones that get most bent out of shape about the term… 
So I’m not worried about being a limper, as I’m thankfully not a VAN driver! 