Had lots of work July and August as expected, bit less in September as expected although phone didn’t stop ringing in the second half of September when i went on holiday. October was slow. I would have thought things would be on the up by now for Christmas, but rang round several agencies and nothing, they are quiet. Offered one job starting one am.
Applied for a job running up to Christmas through Indeed and they have 87 applicentions!!!
A recession is almost here and people are tightening belts. Christmas tat is further down the list of priorities this year.
Just start your month / 2 monthXmas hol early , I pack up end of month , really looking forward to it
dozy:
Just start [list=]you[/list]r month / 2 monthXmas hol early , I pack up end of month , really looking forward to it
Off to espanha again doze? 
drover:
dozy:
Just start [list=]you[/list]r month / 2 monthXmas hol early , I pack up end of month , really looking forward to itOff to espanha again doze?
Yes , it’s one long holiday these days , on the wind down , though I think it’s deserved , 49 yrs non stop work , I can still remember my first day in my first job ,12 , doing washing up & making salads in a berni inn in bristol , where have the years gone
dozy:
drover:
dozy:
Just start [list=]you[/list]r month / 2 monthXmas hol early , I pack up end of month , really looking forward to itOff to espanha again doze?
Yes , it’s one long holiday these days , on the wind down , though I think it’s deserved , 49 yrs non stop work , I can still remember my first day in my first job ,12 , doing washing up & making salads in a berni inn in bristol , where have the years gone
You wasted the years eating cold pasties in the lay-by every night. 
Things are a lot quieter than normal
on the high street front. Luckily for me my shifts are guaranteed but things don’t look good.
dozy:
drover:
dozy:
Just start [list=]you[/list]r month / 2 monthXmas hol early , I pack up end of month , really looking forward to itOff to espanha again doze?
Yes , it’s one long holiday these days , on the wind down , though I think it’s deserved , 49 yrs non stop work , I can still remember my first day in my first job ,12 , doing washing up & making salads in a berni inn in bristol , where have the years gone
Fair play for being on the wind down dozy. There must be a few on here thinking you were on the wind up ■■
At my agency they have dropped the rates a lot from last year.
I expect to work all the way up to Xmas though then will be having several months off at the start of 2023 as I expect it to be dead.
drover:
Off to espanha again doze?
I look forward to seeing someone do a google image search of the holiday photos he posts, just like when he posted the picture of his new apartment in Benidorm and someone did a photo search and found it was a stock photo from a holiday brochure
peirre:
drover:
Off to espanha again doze?I look forward to seeing someone do a google image search of the holiday photos he posts, just like when he posted the picture of his new apartment in Benidorm and someone did a photo search and found it was a stock photo from a holiday brochure
adam277:
At my agency they have dropped the rates a lot from last year.I expect to work all the way up to Xmas though then will be having several months off at the start of 2023 as I expect it to be dead.
I used to regularly get texts from an agency I hadn’t worked for in three years offering work but I haven’t had a text from them in months now.
Not sure how much agency we are going to need this xmas, full timers sitting around and doing 1 short run in 9hrs. Not even the big push yet and store warehouses are full to bursting with stock, never seen stores this full already and the Xmas special buys (pallets of paxo, bisto turkey and the various condiments/pickles/sauces) Dont start going in til tomorrow.
People really seem to be pulling the ■■■■■ strings ever tighter. Brand names seem to be hanging around and being put on offer to clear out as well. Gonna be a long hard winter for many I fear.
Fuzrat:
Not sure how much agency we are going to need this xmas, full timers sitting around and doing 1 short run in 9hrs. Not even the big push yet and store warehouses are full to bursting with stock, never seen stores this full already and the Xmas special buys (pallets of paxo, bisto turkey and the various condiments/pickles/sauces) Dont start going in til tomorrow.People really seem to be pulling the ■■■■■ strings ever tighter. Brand names seem to be hanging around and being put on offer to clear out as well. Gonna be a long hard winter for many I fear.
Same at ours. We’re not at the sitting around point yet but there’s zero agency in and virtually no subbies pulling runs. Stock wise seems OK but then I’m specifically frozen only so don’t see the other sides much.
Edit: Just to add our peak for Christmas finishes in about three weeks.
Went in today, did 1 short run, 4hrs. Came home using some lieu as I’m rest day tomorrow anyway. We had 3 drivers fannying around topping units up with gas to find something to do. Glad I’m back on full time and dont want or need the OT, there’s guys who regularly used to do big hours filling their pants that they cant pay their bills because OT is in the gutter.
I signed up for a 12wk run with Pertemps doing RM work. 5 days before it kicked off, they postponed the start by 2wks and reduced the contract to 8wks. They also included a clause that it could end without notice. I did it last year and it ran a lot longer. Don’t think I’ll be committing to it next year.
How bad is it?
In the past few months I’m reduced to 2-4 days a week, normally 3 days, usually Monday, Thursday and Friday, with the likelihood that Monday is cancelled late Sunday when the disappointment of knowing that I could have been in the pub Sunday lunchtime gone. Last week I was in another depot Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday (4 days work). This week I’m back in the regular job Monday (cancelled) Thursday and Friday (2 days work @11hrs+). As I’m sat at home eating breakfast Friday morning I have not have any work allocated for next week, although I’m not working Monday due to a dental appointment.
Fortunately I’m in a financial position that I’m debt free and I can be flexible with work and still pay my bills
Edit: I have been asked to work next Monday but I’m going to be at the dentist so can’t do it, so I have been given 2 shifts for next Thursday and Friday, although I’m available for Tuesday and Wednesday I doubt think I’ll be working
peirre:
How bad is it?
In the past few months I’m reduced to 2-4 days a week, normally 3 days, usually Monday, Thursday and Friday, with the likelihood that Monday is cancelled late Sunday when the disappointment of knowing that I could have been in the pub Sunday lunchtime gone. Last week I was in another depot Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday (4 days work). This week I’m back in the regular job Monday (cancelled) Thursday and Friday (2 days work @11hrs+). As I’m sat at home eating breakfast Friday morning I have not have any work allocated for next week, although I’m not working Monday due to a dental appointment.
Fortunately I’m in a financial position that I’m debt free and I can be flexible with work and still pay my bills
Same story for me - my fortnightly shift with Tesco seems to have dried up in the last month. Since getting my assessment with them in March, there was agency work available every week up until October. Whether there is less work, more full time drivers taking Sunday work, or a combination of both, it has definitely gone quiet. Will find out today if there is anything required on Sunday.
Luckily, the driving is just a bit of extra pocket money at the moment while getting experience, but the signs are not good.
Sorry to hear that Goff118. I expect that affects your plans to go driving part time that you were thinking about a few weeks ago. Being a newbie combined with my location makes things difficult for me anyway and my agency have said it’s quiet, but builders and plumbers are busy so I’m still getting van and 7.5t work. All the class 1&2 drivers who deliver to where I’ve been working lately are busy, so plenty of building going on. (Yes Carryfast, I do spend half my day in the warehouse)
Yes, I can confirm the agency situation in the West Midlands is pretty bleak too.
Due to redundancy, I’ve been back agency driving since April this year, some weeks having no shifts at all.
I’ve been lucky though, just started full time for local councils subcontractor, full uniform and PPE, good holiday entitlement, regular hours of just 8 per day and driving a Transit pickup within the borough…for more per hour than I was getting Class 2 on agency!
I’m sad to leave HGV’s behind but money is money…and anyone can be a busy fool.
Hope everyone gets sorted and work upturns soon.