I thought I would add an update and describe my experiences so far for any newbies reading who are interested in agency only work. I found lots of the advice in this thread really helpful.
One thing I wish I’d done differently is to have got straight out there as soon as I had made my decision to train and signed up with an agency to drive vans/7.5t to get some experience while I was waiting for the training and waiting to pass. What I’ve ended up doing is getting that experience after I passed.
Anyway, back in April when I was struggling to pass my Class 2 I finally got on with it. I CV bombed about 10 agencies on the Monday. By the Tuesday morning I had signed up with 2. By the Tuesday afternoon one had offered me 7.5t work the following week. I asked them if they could arrange for me to spend a day with a Class 2 driver (as unpaid work experience of course - I had failed 3 times by this point and thought observing someone driving might help). I did this on the Thursday and had an awesome day delivering pallets at a range of locations around Cornwall, chatted all day to the driver and learned loads. (Including that I can’t handle 800kg of wine on a pallet!). I passed my Class 2 on the Friday, another awesome day.
By this point the company the agency had originally offered me had changed about 3 times but there was still 7.5t work on offer the following week. I turned up to a small logistics company, and when I eventually got going it was in a 3.5t delivering plumbing products to plumbing businesses across Devon. The agency did ring to tell me the client had changed the brief (I suspect they didn’t have time to teach me how to use an electric pallet truck to shift the pallets of paint etc and thought I’d be a safer bet on the plumbing). I was fine with that. I did that for a week and it was great to just get out on the road. There is so much to learn and I was constantly putting my gloves or clipboard down and not being able to find them, and putting the tail lift away before pulling the door closed and having to get the tail lift out again. I also swore I would never be one to drive off with the tail lift down and I was mortified to be alerted to the fact that I had indeed done so by multiple van drivers overtaking me on the A30. Embarrassing. Important lesson which cannot be overstated - always always check your vehicle after each delivery.
When you are an agency driver nobody tells you anything. You have to ask everything, including for help and where the toilet and staff room is. I found everyone to be either nice or very nice. I have found other drivers to be helpful and some have looked out for me, giving me their phone number incase I needed any questions answered en route. But honestly, no one tells you anything.
I think I got relatively lucky with my agency (small transport/industry specialist with several branches) as so far they have been very good at getting me work when I’m available, finding me alternative work when clients cancel, engaging with me and finding me suitable work for me as well as finding me work closer to where I live. I’ve also met a few of their other employees and they also speak well of them. The other agency I signed up with have occasionally offered me work but I’ve always been booked. It was only this week that they finally emailed to ask what work I’m interested in. One other agency (large national one) eventually got back to me and I signed up but they haven’t offered me work yet, mainly I think because I said I didn’t want to do pallets!
As advised on here I got all my own stuff but the agency supplied me with uniform and high viz and timesheets and told me how to fill the timesheets in and submit them. They guarantee 9h of pay per day. After 9h you don’t get paid for breaks but some clients pay an enhanced rate after 9h. I have only occasionally worked over 9h so far. They have also arranged, at my request, for 2 more work experience sessions which have been really helpful. One was before I did some tipper work and without a day spent with a driver I wouldn’t have had a clue how to operate the tipper and would have been much slower and probably dangerous. The agency keep in touch, answer my questions are efficient and helpful so I can say that I have a good handler.
Most recently I’ve done a few weeks at a local builders merchants delivering mainly kitchen and bathroom fittings in a 7.5t. I’ve loved it. The only downsides were it was more delivering and less driving than I’d like long term and in a smaller vehicle. The upsides: It’s been a great learning experience. Nowhere has easy access nor is easy to find where I’m based so the amount of local rural driving and reversing has been good for building my confidence and skills. Although I want to do some distance driving I’ve learned that I actually like rural driving - the quiet lanes and views etc. The firm I worked at were a really nice bunch of people plus it was own account so very chilled out. The hours were good and my commute relatively short (0730 start, latest finish 1645, 26 mile round trip). There was a bit of handball but as I was delivering to building sites or renovations, there was either a telehandler or muscle on site to help unload so it was a very rare occasion that I had to unload anything remotely heavy or awkward alone. I was offered a job and given positive feedback both from the client and the agency which was really nice to hear.
So, so far it’s working out as I wanted. I’ve given the agency plenty of notice of my unavailability and I have had work when I wanted it. I’m looking forward to graduating from 7.5t once I’ve done my Class 1 and gradually gaining more experience with larger vehicles while I decide what I want to do longer term. I can see why it takes a while to get there but I’m enjoying the journey.
^^^^