Assessments 
Why do companies think it OK not to pay for them when on agency ? They don’t pay I don’t do.
Why is there not one recognised assessment, done one, no need for anymore ?
DAFMAD:
AssessmentsWhy do companies think it OK not to pay for them when on agency ? They don’t pay I don’t do.
Why is there not one recognised assessment, done one, no need for anymore ?
Because THEY want to know that the driver THEY are taking on is OK 
If you were running a fleet of vehicles, would you trust what the other company said 
ROG:
If you were running a fleet of vehicles, would you trust what the other company said
DAFMAD:
Why is there not one recognised assessment,
I suppose that could mean an independent would have to do them, paid by the company.
DAFMAD:
ROG:
If you were running a fleet of vehicles, would you trust what the other company saidDAFMAD:
Why is there not one recognised assessment,I suppose that could mean an independent would have to do them, paid by the company.
and that independant assessor would have to be trusted by a lot of companies to make it worthwhile as a full time job - but even that might not work - what if all the companies wanted assessments on a monday morning 
The point is ROG why isn’t there a recognised assessment, by now.
These jumped up companies don’t trust your years of experience with good references, clean licence, even proof of previous assessments passed with flying colours.
I spoke to one Agency in particular (ban them all) recently, had several jobs I could go on to keep busy, but all wanting assessments first, free. Do lots of travelling and use lots of time basically working, several times over - for free ? I don’t think so.
DAFMAD:
The point is ROG why isn’t there a recognised assessment, by now.
isnt that exactly what the new driver cpc is going to be
yella:
DAFMAD:
The point is ROG why isn’t there a recognised assessment, by now.isnt that exactly what the new driver cpc is going to be
Personally I’d put more value on safe driving certificates (as used to be issued by Dixons and other big companies) than the Driver CPC.
Company references are of marginal value here. By doing an assessment you will be demonstrating to the employer whether or not you are suitable for his needs. Nothing on paper will prove that.
In my experience, most bigger companies who ask for drivers to be assessed (TDG and Tradeteam spring to mind) will then use those drivers regularly, subject to them being suitable in other respects like attitude, flexibility and willingness.
DAFMAD, with the greatest of respect, if you’re going to go into agencies (who are employers after all) with that attitude then you’re on a loser from the start. You might not trust them but take it from me that agencies have a thousand reasons not to trust drivers either; it’s a two-way street! 
There are many trades and professions in which an assessment, audition, presentation, call it what you like, are part and parcel of the process of gaining employment. Ask any professional musician or actor, secretary, even some building tradesmen like brickies.
In agency work, the more flexible you are, the more work you get. Telling them you don’t want to do this and that, that you only want to drive certain types of truck, and you can hardly be surprised if you get less work than other blokes who have a broader outlook.
gnasty gnome:
yella:
DAFMAD:
that you only want to drive certain types of truck,
OUCH 
Guess what I found today…
Job Title C+E DRIVER LCR/36879
Location LEICESTER, LEICESTERSHIRE
Hours40 PER WEEK. MONDAY TO FRIDAY, DAYS
Wage £9.20 - £12.25 PER HOUR
Work PatternDays
Employer Right4Staff
Pension No details held
Duration PERMANENT ONLY
Description
This is a Right4Staff vacancy who are operating as an employment business. The job will involve delivering to Stores and RDC’s throughout the UK. Previous experience is preferred for insurance purposes and a driving assessment will be conducted. There is regular on-going work with various shift patterns available and there are benefits of free parking and subsidised canteen onsite.
How to apply
You can apply for this job by sending a CV/written application to Helen Atkins at Right4Staff, c/o Walkers Distribution, Madeline Road, Bursom Road Industrial Estate, Leicester, LE4 1EX. Advice about completing a CV is available from your local Jobcentre Plus Office.
One assessment is fine, if they paid for them it’ll be fine too. Perhaps they should pay if you pass and entitled to not pay if you don’t ?
gnasty gnome:
Telling them you don’t want to do this and that, that you only want to drive certain types of truck,
Who does that then ?
gnasty gnome:
Company references are of marginal value here. By doing an assessment you will be demonstrating to the employer whether or not you are suitable for his needs. Nothing on paper will prove that
So need to show any experience etc, Just go through a jumped up assessment and then you’re fine ? I’ve known some blokes get through an assessment who couldn’t drive for toffee and sooner or later made that obvious by damage and or carnage, I kid you not. But they done the assessment.
DAFMAD:
gnasty gnome:
Telling them you don’t want to do this and that, that you only want to drive certain types of truck,Who does that then ?
I don’t know where they got that idea from…
DAFMAD
Anyone got an XF or CF Space needing a driver ?
Hmmmm…
ROG:
DAFMAD:
gnasty gnome:
Telling them you don’t want to do this and that, that you only want to drive certain types of truck,Who does that then ?
I don’t know where they got that idea from…
DAFMADAnyone got an XF or CF Space needing a driver ?
Hmmmm…
Very good ROG, perhaps I should change that for > I only drive DAF’s - just for you as that is what you read instead of what it says ?
I don’t think that anyone would seriously believe that you would only take a job with the proviso that it has a DAF
DAFMAD:
Why do companies think it OK not to pay for them when on agency ? They don’t pay I don’t do…’
Fair point …& spoken like a true Thatcher’s love-child.
However, perhaps the real world is a cunning mix of supply/demand?
I woukdnt go to an assessment drive unless they were paying for my time.
Its different if you were going for a job with the company but since your signed up as a agency driver its not on really.
If i go for an assessment i maybe talking about spending £10 on fuel to get there since most of the agency work i do is 50-60 mile round trip away in Glasgow. Also means i could be spending 5 hours on site hanging about waiting then filling in stupid forms anf eventually then driving for 30mins.
Means its time i could have spent out doing a shift for another company with the agency and it also means ive used my digi card or used a tachograph chart screwing things up for me to go work other places that day.
Kenny1975:
I woukdnt go to an assessment drive unless they were paying for my time.Its different if you were going for a job with the company but since your signed up as a agency driver its not on really.
If i go for an assessment i maybe talking about spending £10 on fuel to get there since most of the agency work i do is 50-60 mile round trip away in Glasgow. Also means i could be spending 5 hours on site hanging about waiting then filling in stupid forms anf eventually then driving for 30mins.
Means its time i could have spent out doing a shift for another company with the agency and it also means ive used my digi card or used a tachograph chart screwing things up for me to go work other places that day.
Exactly.
Happy Keith:
DAFMAD:
Why do companies think it OK not to pay for them when on agency ? They don’t pay I don’t do…’Fair point
Yes, good.
Happy Keith:
…& spoken like a true Thatcher’s love-child.
Totally false, and you could never be more wrong.
Did five in the last few months.
Somerfield = 4 hours pay.
M & S = 2 days pay.
Morrisons = 8 hours pay.
TDG = 8 hours pay.
Tescos for Monarch = diddly squat and after one shift never been back.
Agencies get paid and are tailing the money if they say they dont, just ask the assessor as they know exactly what your due.
Morrisons and M & S had an extensive induction as well as assessment but you got payed for your time.
DAFMAD:
AssessmentsWhy do companies think it OK not to pay for them when on agency ? They don’t pay I don’t do.
Why is there not one recognised assessment, done one, no need for anymore ?
my agency dont pay us for the assessment itself but they do add a couple of hours pay on to the first shift we do for the client.
having said that i havent done many personally. iceland introduced them but felt i didnt require one since i had proven myself
somerfields required an assessment but due to my experience they didnt bother with the trailer. i did 3 hours of paperwork/chatting then an hour driving a solo unit
boots made me do one in a rigid (during a shift though) but with another driver and the only question he asked me was the minimum height of an unmarked bridge. something that catches most drivers out apparently 
it seems that most of them are a paperwork exercise for H & S or insurance purposes. very few seem to take it seriously so i can understand the frustration endured when they want you to do it for nothing