Honestscott76:
I only state FACTS. Self employed under your own ‘limited Company’ pays far better than ANY driver working under an employment contract. Presuming we do similar hours.
How many drivers are on £41k plus bonuses for a 56hr week because that’s what I recall Howdens drivers being on.
Once upon a time maybe. Nevertheless after deductions that £41k would net approximately £29k plus bonuses. Believe it or not, from May to December, this year, I netted £25 plus 8% VAT (flat rate scheme)
The one’s that make me laugh are the ones that tell you they’re only doing agency as they’ve got ‘other irons in the fire’.
If you make the mistake (which they hope you will) of asking what these irons are they will either be doing some studying/distance learning for 'insert BS fantasy occupation brain surgeon/rocket scientist etc. Or as seems to be most common have an internet business that’s a ‘money printing machine’.
Now I really have my doubts about this as frankly I really can’t see that Mark Zuckerberg’s pulling on his filthy hi-viz very often to go and do the graveyard shift at a supermarket distribution centre.
DAF95XF:
An agency driver took my unit out last night and he had the cheek to fuel it up and wash the windscreen
Is that really such a rarity? I used to wash windows and mirrors before leaving the yard and fuel truck and fridge at the end of each shift, put it through the wash if needed (usually in the wetter months) and gather my empties.
I do some agency work , but I could not do it full time. It’s the shifts they cancel 2 or 3 hrs before start time or moving start times. Am lucky if that happens I say no thanks , and usually to the rest of the week if any booked as I have lost complete interest once that happens . How blokes with mortgages and kids put up with it I do not know.
Odd days:
I do some agency work , but I could not do it full time. It’s the shifts they cancel 2 or 3 hrs before start time or moving start times. Am lucky if that happens I say no thanks , and usually to the rest of the week if any booked as I have lost complete interest once that happens . How blokes with mortgages and kids put up with it I do not know.
I have no ties so very basic costs but regardless of that, the trick is to make sure you get yourself a good reputation with your chosen clients to make ■■■■ sure you are the first person called for a booking and last to be cancelled
Whether working full time for someone, or via an agency, I have always had this philosophy that if the vehicle you are driving is clean and tidy (not just trucks), then you are less likely to get pulled on spot checks. Even when I drove tippers on daywork, sinking up to the axles in mud, I still kept the inside clean.
Hi scanny 77 I do all you would expect ie turn up in time, leave full of fuel and clean. It’s just once they start cancelling etc I admit interest goes straight out the window.
I used to be of the thinking that there was good/bad agency and also good/bad full timers, but after getting to work one evening last week to be told an agency “driver” had tried using my truck (it’s not really mine, my names not even on the log book) to move a wall whilst going over Woodhead Pass I now firmly believe that ALL agency drivers are muppets …apart from the good ones they’re ok actually
Honestscott76:
I only state FACTS. Self employed under your own ‘limited Company’ pays far better than ANY driver working under an employment contract. Presuming we do similar hours.
How many drivers are on £41k plus bonuses for a 56hr week because that’s what I recall Howdens drivers being on.
Once upon a time maybe. Nevertheless after deductions that £41k would net approximately £29k plus bonuses. Believe it or not, from May to December, this year, I netted £25 plus 8% VAT (flat rate scheme)
If the years tax is 12k, their accountants aren’t doing their jobs properly. My p60 was quite a bit less than that, and I netted well over 29k
Odd days:
Hi scanny 77 I do all you would expect ie turn up in time, leave full of fuel and clean. It’s just once they start cancelling etc I admit interest goes straight out the window.
It does happen and it is annoying but then you start blacklisting the ones who are not worth the effort. I have 3 agencies and 1 client each. I work with 1 at a time providing they keep me busy and in return I keep the client happy. They know that drivers move around and when I do decide to work for them, any shift I accept gets done so they don’t have to worry about it. The current contract is a new agency to me and I do have concerns about the work drying up soon but I may be wrong. I haven’t been late once and I get on with everyone so with a bit of luck I wont have gaps to fill. I am taking sensible precautions though but with the other agencies. It pays to not burn bridges unless it is your choice to do so. There are people out there who I would rather eat out of bins than work for
What i dont agree with is agency men who are well into retirement and dont need the money, do it just to get out of the house,you see their top of the range cars in the carpark[[these blokes usually wear a shirt ,tie and a pair of trousers from the 70,s]]then theres the young blokes with familys and bills to pay scratting for work
seth 70:
What i dont agree with is agency men who are well into retirement and dont need the money, do it just to get out of the house,you see their top of the range cars in the carpark[[these blokes usually wear a shirt ,tie and a pair of trousers from the 70,s]]then theres the young blokes with familys and bills to pay scratting for work
Tough ■■■■ though ain’t it.
If the young blokes with families and bills to pay had anything about them, they’d get a proper job.
seth 70:
What i dont agree with is agency men who are well into retirement and dont need the money, do it just to get out of the house,you see their top of the range cars in the carpark[[these blokes usually wear a shirt ,tie and a pair of trousers from the 70,s]]then theres the young blokes with familys and bills to pay scratting for work
Tough [zb] though ain’t it.
If the young blokes with families and bills to pay had anything about them, they’d get a proper job.
Driving a truck isn’t a proper job? Is this the best place to voice an opinion like that?
If the young blokes with families and bills to pay had anything about them, they’d get a proper job.
Some of us look for a “proper job” only to find most jobs aren’t open to us because of lack of experience. Virtually all class 1 driving jobs advertised online is like this, and usually no way exists of excluding such jobs from a search.
seth 70:
What i dont agree with is agency men who are well into retirement and dont need the money, do it just to get out of the house,you see their top of the range cars in the carpark[[these blokes usually wear a shirt ,tie and a pair of trousers from the 70,s]]then theres the young blokes with familys and bills to pay scratting for work
Tough [zb] though ain’t it.
If the young blokes with families and bills to pay had anything about them, they’d get a proper job.
Driving a truck isn’t a proper job? Is this the best place to voice an opinion like that?
I mean a proper job as in one that gives you a bit security. A job where you don’t have to sit by the phone waiting for it to ring in the hope that you might get offered a crap days work that nobody else is willing to do.
You do realise that we do exactly the same job as a full timer? Same units, same trailers, same deliveries! The deliveries still need delivering because some full timers think they are entitled to a day off once in a while
I work for an agency because i chose to as i only want a couple of days a week usually,but if i like the job i may do the week if required or more.
i have had words with transport managers who give crap motors to agency drivers that have defects or are stinking inside and said have the keys back I’m outta here .
a couple of tm’s have said the would rather have an agency driver with my attitude than full time drivers who don’t give a stuff.
One motor i went to drive a few weeks ago was stinking inside.
at the end of the day i made a complaint and thought that would be the last time i worked there ,to my suprise i was called in two days later given the same motor which was sparkling.the regular drivr was given a right dressing down and couldn’t look me in the eye .
i have the same attitude wherever i go an if they don’t like it then tough as i dont have to put up with crap and àlways have plenty of work and respect from others.
seth 70:
What i dont agree with is agency men who are well into retirement and dont need the money, do it just to get out of the house,you see their top of the range cars in the carpark[[these blokes usually wear a shirt ,tie and a pair of trousers from the 70,s]]then theres the young blokes with familys and bills to pay scratting for work
Tough [zb] though ain’t it.
If the young blokes with families and bills to pay had anything about them, they’d get a proper job.
allways said that if I won the big one I would do a couple of days a week with an agency just to see the look on the face of the boss of the company when they see an agency pull up in a Bentley,that would be a laugh
I now firmly believe that ALL agency drivers are muppets …apart from the good ones they’re ok actually 
