Just wondering if anyone has been able to work steadily doing trunking work from the agencies? Is there plenty of work around? (I’m in Yorkshire) Or are you sat waiting on one job coming through every 3 weeks?
Cheers my dears.
Hello and welcome to the forum. There are plenty of people that do make a living on agency work.
I did it for a couple of years up until March 2025, mainly with Tesco, as well as Royal Mail and some local haulage companies. I consistently got 2/3 shifts a week, which is what I was looking for, and could have done lots more if I wanted to. It goes quiet around this time of year, but there was still enough work to keep me busy. I’m in South Wales.
It is good if you want to work flexibly, as you can take time off with no worries about annual leave.
There are of course some downsides also. There were weeks where I got no work, and you naturally worry when the next shift is going to come. I built up savings to cover me for around 6 months of bills before making the jump to agency work, but didn’t need to touch them.
The other big downside that I unfortunately experienced first hand with Royal Mail is the cutthroat nature of it. I started working for them via Pertemps in September 2024 and I loved it. Varied runs to the Midlands, London and around South Wales, with excellent pay and clean, easy work. Fast forward to February 2025 and I misjudge a tight turn in Hounslow and scrape the n/s trailer skirt. That was my last shift with them 
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I don’t think the agency I worked for on Tesco work would have treated me that badly, but I was no longer willing to take the risk, so looked around elsewhere and since March 2024 I have been driving a van delivering organic fruit and veg on a permanent part time contract and am really enjoying it, so maybe everything happens for a reason! 
So agency work can work for some, but I don’t miss the stress and worry, especially with a young child and a mortgage to think about. I do miss driving lorries though and have recently been thinking about trying to get some agency shifts on my days off 
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Are you discounting full time employment?
When I was trunking for a pallet network franchise / member we had 3 f/t on nights and one steady agency, with extra agency to cover hols or sickness.
It might be argued that in that instance, they ran with a steady agy as it was the sort of firm many drivers would steer clear of so settled for what they could.