Hi everyone, new to this forum…
Will probably post more now that I’ve discovered it through google searches!
Basically I just wanted to ask a question, been driving for 10 years now and have had a few different jobs and have experience in different areas of the trade, and I’ve generally found over the years that the best jobs or opportunities tend to arise from word of mouth from other drivers rather than typically finding them through job advertisements or such like.
For the past 9 months I have gone self employed and I’ve been getting regular work through one particular agency based in Derby.
I’ve heard through one or two drivers though, that when the Christmas panic starts to ramp up, there are a fair few agencies based down South who are so desperate for drivers, that they offer to put up Northern based drivers in local hotels and pay crazy hourly rates in order to fill the demand.
I don’t know whether the blokes who told me such were talking bull, or if any agencies who have given them this idea were chatting bull to them themselves.
Just wondered if any of you had experienced this yourselves, and if it is indeed true at all, could you possibly point me in the right direction??
Ideally I’d like to work as much as possible and potentially earn as much as possible around the Christmas period (especially if there is going to be a shortage of drivers like many media outlets are claiming) so that if it goes quiet in Jan/Feb, I won’t be worrying about paying the mortgage/bills.
I’ve had one or two drivers claim that you can get some agencies down South paying you hourly rates that seem too good to be true, and in my experience, when it seems too good to be true, it usually is!
Its not bull, it used to be commonplace especially around Northampton in the mid 2000’s with agencies advertising daft rates and also paying for accommodation and travel as well. Whether we’re back to that again or not I don’t know but I have seen one advertising board at the side of the M1 near Crick offering guaranteed £900 a week.
A mate of mine has been away for the last four years working for Pirelli going all around the world for the F1. He was telling me that for the last couple of years he was getting phone calls from agencies wanting him to do M&S work in and around the London area and they were offering crazy hourly rates, but he couldn’t accept due to being tied in with Pirelli.
He’s left that job after having enough of being away constantly for four years, and says if he hears anything soon he’ll pass on my information to prospective agencies.
I was just trying to be a bit proactive and have a look round for myself and register my interest before Christmas starts to ramp up.
I would assume that finding high rates is quite difficult, because if it wasn’t, we’d all be doing it!
Conor:
Its not bull, it used to be commonplace especially around Northampton in the mid 2000’s with agencies advertising daft rates and also paying for accommodation and travel as well. Whether we’re back to that again or not I don’t know but I have seen one advertising board at the side of the M1 near Crick offering guaranteed £900 a week.
Yes, I’ve seen that board just this last week… Even if that’s the “contractor rate” - seems pretty good pay providing it involves basic legal hours limits[/i]!
I think I’d be more drawn in by adverts saying something like “Come and earn £750 for a 48 hour week” (since that would include all time spent at work) rather than “skys the limit hours, for £900” possibility… That might be the rate for a 7 day tramp, including spending a weekend in a layby for all I know…
Noticed more and more ‘general hauliers’ using northern trampers to cover their southern work 'cause of driver shortages. This is at ‘low northern’ rates too so they win all round until the guys themselves suss it out! The ones with any common will realise they are being used and tell 'em to do one if they’ve got any sense.
Due to the northern numpties, slagging off the southern softies, it is no longer possible to work for an agency south of Watford
Its a well known fact that the London areas are paying considerably more due to the high cost of living, whereas the average mortgage payments are £900 a month, a loaf of bread is £2, and a pint of beer £3.50, but enough of MP`s expenses…just google any southern agency to get the real facts, and they will surprise you. Its not unusual to earn a weeks wage for working a weekend, a mate of mine takes home £450 for working sat+sun with a 12 hr shift for each day, and sometimes more can be earned.
