With us now living get in the ‘digital age’ etc and having things like the internet, social media, mobile phones etc, what’s the point of having a ‘middle man’ now?
Why can’t the place you’re at say it temporary etc?
Its to do with flexibility.
A temporary position means a set time and length of contract with different rules for tax etc.
Agency can be just a phone call “We need 4 drivers for times A,B,C and D” one day but only 3 the next day.
Itll also be a tax dodge somewhere as well probably due to the agency driver not being an employee
It all depends on wether a driver can find some where to work when he wants to work on a rate that is quite a bit more than minimum wage, an agency driver can get both at a company where they won’t give it to their own drivers, so I think their will always be the need for agencies for the drivers who don’t want to be treated like ■■■■.
I have often thought this as well. Caterers and hotels often have a bunch of people who they can call upon to cover wedding receptions and banquets there is no real difference.
They are a
National insurance
Pension
Holiday
Rights
Dodge .
Edited - Companies have no reason for HR departments while using agencies.Saving money. Agencies come and go.A lot fold and change there names just before March … etc .wiping debts clean .They do not pay the same as companies pay for a perminent worker! Google temporary workers nics .
Notice all the same jobs advertised by diferent companies ?Mostly using unregistered mobile phones .The same agencies that will go out of there way not to give you a written contract containing what your rates are .
Some agencies are even controlled by the company hiring .a blatant tax avoidance scam …
Do you seriously think Agencies are needed ? NO they are not .They are absolutely saturating the false jobs market and controlling your pay.
Goldfinger:
With us now living get in the ‘digital age’ etc and having things like the internet, social media, mobile phones etc, what’s the point of having a ‘middle man’ now?Why can’t the place you’re at say it temporary etc?
I actually think its a good idea, working for an employer but on an as and when basis, no contract, no promise of work, same T&C’s as an agency/ self employed driver. Would suit many who maybe only want part time work ect. The company could also save money by not having to pay the agencies extortionate rates while still paying the driver a decent wage.
Cov:
They are aNational insurance
Pension
Holiday
Rights
Dodge .
Been doing agency since 1994. Always paid NI, had holiday pay and employee rights.
Whats the next pile of crap you’re going to come out with today?
No problem if you want to get rid of the middle man but don’t complain when you don’t get paid for several weeks. Most of my clients when self employed were on 28 day payments, a couple on 60 days and invoiced monthly.
It’s simply organisation. If you regularly use 20 agency drivers a day it’s a hell of lot easier to deal with one agency than 20 individual drivers
Posted the question on my phone, on my lunch break earlier so kept the question short…
It just got me thinking…
You now have places like these forums, FB, mobile phones, so more sitting in the house ‘waiting for the call’, and basically the internet in general…
So why not just go out, show yourself to possible employers…
They’ll also see the possible person ‘in advance’, so will know who maybe coming…
The company I work for don’t use agency but they have a couple of self employed lads who come in and work for us as and when required, it works well as they’re treated like part of the team plus it costs the company less while the lads earn more than they would through an agency.
If you want to go self-employed then that method works and I know people who do use it, but the sensible ones have to be careful about the tax. On the other hand, being PAYE via an agency can take away all the tax complications, worries about who’s insuring what and of course chasing work half the time especially if you’re below that magic 2 years experience level.
From an employers point of view, I guess it’s just simpler too as they make one call and can get various skills on a single day basis if necessary or at 5.30 in the morning.
Conor:
Cov:
They are aNational insurance
Pension
Holiday
Rights
Dodge .Been doing agency since 1994. Always paid NI, had holiday pay and employee rights.
Whats the next pile of crap you’re going to come out with today?
No problem if you want to get rid of the middle man but don’t complain when you don’t get paid for several weeks. Most of my clients when self employed were on 28 day payments, a couple on 60 days and invoiced monthly.
It isnt a pile of crap. Companies dont want to pay the NI, Pension, Holiday pay or paternity pay. They dont have a surplus in drivers during quiet periods they have to still pay. By hiring agency drivers they skip all those things.
No Lorry driver should be self employed unless they own their own wagon and run it on their own operators licence in my opinion. Otherwise you are employed by the company you work for using their wagon and their O-licence holder.
Hammond’s moves on self-employed taxation and NI today would seem to be a big hit to agencies everywhere… Those already doing proper PAYE will be affected the least. Those running mickey mouse Salary Sacrifice & Umbrella schemes - are already on fire, and set to be destroyed over the coming weeks… 
Andrew.simmons:
It isnt a pile of crap. Companies dont want to pay the NI, Pension, Holiday pay or paternity pay. They dont have a surplus in drivers during quiet periods they have to still pay. By hiring agency drivers they skip all those things.
The agency still has to pay it so the company are still paying it but as part of the rate they’re paying the agency so they’re not saving any money over employing a driver.
AndrewG:
Goldfinger:
With us now living get in the ‘digital age’ etc and having things like the internet, social media, mobile phones etc, what’s the point of having a ‘middle man’ now?Why can’t the place you’re at say it temporary etc?
I actually think its a good idea, working for an employer but on an as and when basis, no contract, no promise of work, same T&C’s as an agency/ self employed driver. Would suit many who maybe only want part time work ect. The company could also save money by not having to pay the agencies extortionate rates while still paying the driver a decent wage.
I know a lot of retired or semi retired drivers and a few round North Norfolk who had other forms of employment, maybe casual farm work or had their own small holdings who did that, used to go in as and when needed, some would only come in for the Sugarbeet campaign.
Goldfinger:
With us now living get in the ‘digital age’ etc and having things like the internet, social media, mobile phones etc, what’s the point of having a ‘middle man’ now?Why can’t the place you’re at say it temporary etc?
I think it might work for an experienced driver who has a network of haulage companies who know who they are and their work history, probably better working for small companies who probably only want one driver at a time and want somebody they know.
AndrewG:
Goldfinger:
With us now living get in the ‘digital age’ etc and having things like the internet, social media, mobile phones etc, what’s the point of having a ‘middle man’ now?Why can’t the place you’re at say it temporary etc?
I actually think its a good idea, working for an employer but on an as and when basis, no contract, no promise of work, same T&C’s as an agency/ self employed driver. Would suit many who maybe only want part time work ect. The company could also save money by not having to pay the agencies extortionate rates while still paying the driver a decent wage.
So basically extend the Uber model to haulage? 
Conor:
Cov:
They are aNational insurance
Pension
Holiday
Rights
Dodge .Been doing agency since 1994. Always paid NI, had holiday pay and employee rights.
Whats the next pile of crap you’re going to come out with today?
No problem if you want to get rid of the middle man but don’t complain when you don’t get paid for several weeks. Most of my clients when self employed were on 28 day payments, a couple on 60 days and invoiced monthly.
Your not understanding my point.
slowlane:
AndrewG:
Goldfinger:
With us now living get in the ‘digital age’ etc and having things like the internet, social media, mobile phones etc, what’s the point of having a ‘middle man’ now?Why can’t the place you’re at say it temporary etc?
I actually think its a good idea, working for an employer but on an as and when basis, no contract, no promise of work, same T&C’s as an agency/ self employed driver. Would suit many who maybe only want part time work ect. The company could also save money by not having to pay the agencies extortionate rates while still paying the driver a decent wage.
So basically extend the Uber model to haulage?
Sorry i dont know who Uber are.
being self employed on an as and when basis could easily work for those not needing full time work who just do it for a top up/ extra money. Its simple to do a self assessment for HMRC, you dont need to pay an accountant and NI is billed yearly.
Cov:
Conor:
Cov:
They are aNational insurance
Pension
Holiday
Rights
Dodge .Been doing agency since 1994. Always paid NI, had holiday pay and employee rights.
Whats the next pile of crap you’re going to come out with today?
No problem if you want to get rid of the middle man but don’t complain when you don’t get paid for several weeks. Most of my clients when self employed were on 28 day payments, a couple on 60 days and invoiced monthly.
Your not understanding my point.
What is your point?