First thing to learn is to ignore negative comments from everyone. Other than new drivers, you have 2 general categories of agency driver. Highly employable or unemployable! Your personal attitude will determine which category you fit yourself into
Second thing to learn is that how much work you get will depend mostly on YOUR reputation. You will get jobs that you don’t like but get the job done then decline any further work there giving an honest reason. They know that different drivers like different work and a decent agency will consider that. I did a job a couple of years ago on a curtainsider which had a few problems such as the number plate for the trailer being missing. I had been left alone on site and someone had to come in to give me a different unit. The following week they booked me for 3 days and 2 hours into the first day I phoned the agency to tell them to get someone else. I was put on a flatbed hauling aggregates in big sacks which does not interest me. I dont do jobs which get my boots dirty and they took some polishing to get back up to standards. The client was informed of my concerns and I was replaced then personally booked for the Friday on the clients biggest paying customer (as it transpires I was very familiar with the customer from years ago) so I did that job which was hard work but everything got to where it needed to be.
Third thing has already been mentioned. Do not be afraid to ask questions! The client will know that you are new there and may be dealing with equipment that you haven’t used before. Believe me, even if they mump a bit, they would rather you called up asking a question than calling up to give them a problem. Keep yourself right and remember the all important CYA - cover your arse! Every driver was new at some point and we all deserved a chance to learn the job. Just make sure you do learn and save the ■■■■ ups (there will be some) for the less desirable clients. Put extra effort into the better clients to secure your (albeit temporary/ad hoc) future there
What makes me laugh when as an agency - I’d get into a cab on the monday of leave cover…
There would sometimes be a note left by the full timer who’s on holiday that week:
“Agency driver - Derv at end of shift, leave cab clean and tidy - you provide your own cleaning materials. DON’T use mine in the overhead locker.” 
We’re talking about a cab that’s got the proverbial cans down in the door pockets, ashtray brimming over, and of course the whole cab stinks of ■■■ ash when there’s a no smoking sign clearly visible.
Mouldy sandwiches in the glove compartment, a big ball of phlegm in the corner of the windscreen where some geezer has coughed up, and of course ■■■ burn holes in the bunk, suggesting that he don’t take much care of his cab this full timer- despite leaving a note saying “do NOT use the bunk without removing boots first!”
In the tray - there might be some “check sheets” already made out, and photocopied in the “made out” state. God knows what happens when you actually come up with a fault on your walkaround checks then! 
robroy:
Evil8Beezle:
Don’t worry mate, as the moment I see I’m an a truck with tassels, my limp might quickly heal as I run back to my car…
So your curtains are safe and I won’t nick any of your 250 map books! 
Or have you binned them for a Sat-Nav? 
Don’t you dare touch my tassles in my lovely home. 
And I bet you can’t even read a map…bloody amateur 
0
Those interior curtains need a good wash Robroy. What you been wiping them with? Dare I ask.
James the cat:
Those interior curtains need a good wash Robroy. What you been wiping them with? Dare I ask.
You cheeky git !!
Just looked back at the pic though, admit they do look it there, but must be a shadow or something, they are clean…honest
And are taken down and washed every 2 months or so.
A bit like Trigger off Fools and Horses with his brush, my mother always said ‘‘look after your curtains’’ …and… …'…
Well that’s it really just ‘‘look after your curtains’’
Winseer:
What makes me laugh when as an agency - I’d get into a cab on the monday of leave cover…
There would sometimes be a note left by the full timer who’s on holiday that week:
“Agency driver - Derv at end of shift, leave cab clean and tidy - you provide your own cleaning materials. DON’T use mine in the overhead locker.”
We’re talking about a cab that’s got the proverbial cans down in the door pockets, ashtray brimming over, and of course the whole cab stinks of ■■■ ash when there’s a no smoking sign clearly visible.
Mouldy sandwiches in the glove compartment, a big ball of phlegm in the corner of the windscreen where some geezer has coughed up, and of course ■■■ burn holes in the bunk, suggesting that he don’t take much care of his cab this full timer- despite leaving a note saying “do NOT use the bunk without removing boots first!”
:
What about the lads who keep their cabs tidy bud, what’s your view in such cases?
Where I used to work, there were loads of agency drivers, some very good, and of course, some exceptionally bad. When I say bad, I suppose I could divide that into poor quality drivers, and poor quality people.
I despise the agencies themselves, rather than the people who work for them. I joined two agencies simultaneously, one of them never called me in four months, and the other offered me some right rubbish. I asked for Class 1 weekend work, which was plastered all over their website, and in four months they offered me a temp to perm Class 2 weekday nights contract, a day as a driver’s mate, and a temp to perm as a truck washer, all of them for a whisker above minimum wage. When I said I didn’t want to be contacted anymore, the agency man said that I had “refused” work. The cheek!
I hear the government are to tax agency workers. £10 limp tax and £2 plastic bag charge. But you will get a rebate if you have 60 kids or more.
Rottweiler22:
Where I used to work, there were loads of agency drivers, some very good, and of course, some exceptionally bad. When I say bad, I suppose I could divide that into poor quality drivers, and poor quality people.
I despise the agencies themselves, rather than the people who work for them. I joined two agencies simultaneously, one of them never called me in four months, and the other offered me some right rubbish. I asked for Class 1 weekend work, which was plastered all over their website, and in four months they offered me a temp to perm Class 2 weekday nights contract, a day as a driver’s mate, and a temp to perm as a truck washer, all of them for a whisker above minimum wage. When I said I didn’t want to be contacted anymore, the agency man said that I had “refused” work. The cheek!
thats me been signed up with two agencies for a month nearly now i ve been offered one shift 7.5ton at min wage which i refused and thats been it lol
I get what you are saying about the different types of agency drivers (although not limited to).
I’m an agency driver and at one of the clients i was working full time for, i had the same rigid all the time. It was in a sorry filthy state. Racking up some extra work i cleaned the cab and swept the pallet shavings out the back and generally got it in a decent state. It got sent to cover another site for a week and when it came back the dash was sticky (yep ), the rear under run bars were mangled, cans, bottles and sandwich wrappers behind the seats and in the door pockets. Infuriating.
Now im not a VAN driver and at a supermarket client, its interesting to see the difference in how the full timers keep their units. Some sparkling and you choke on the air freshener scent when you open the door and some where the grime that was spilt in the cup holder some time ago has grown its own life forms on top. swings and roundabouts but more down to the type of person you are in general.
Since joining this forum, i now laugh everytime i see an agency driver with a limp. I’d never heard the expression before. It keeps me amused
scanny77:
I was put on a flatbed hauling aggregates in big sacks which does not interest me. I dont do jobs which get my boots dirty and they took some polishing to get back up to standards.
I had to laugh at this!! Lol - Are you willing to get your hands dirty, or is that out of the question too?