Am I correct in assuming that those who are paid through Mickey Mouse umbrella schemes would still end up paying the same weekly ‘wages processing fee’ whether they were offered a full weeks work, or just a single days work in any week?
There are probably thousands of agency drivers out there that aren’t given full weeks work on a continuous basis, no matter how keen they are. A higher hourly rate of pay doesn’t mean an annual wage equivalent to what a full timer might earn.
Pat Hasler:
waddy640:
If you had read the rest of the thread my post would have shown that for reasons best known to the companies they prefer agency staff to their own employees. Sadly no one has been able to explain why this is.I understand that, Waddy but my point is that if a group of drivers got together and formed their own group of freelance drivers, set up insurance etc and then approached the companies with a lower offer for driver services those companies may be interested as all companies are interested in saving money, the drivers could take a bigger wage and the agencies would fold.
And that would just be… another agency!
Forget your groups of freelance drivers, it won’t work without a whole pile of hassle and headaches. It’s already been tried and it works ok when all your drivers turn up for their shifts instead of ringing in sick, but when they don’t you have to sort it out as the client will hold you responsible for their failed delivery. Then you have the issue when the work drops off of the drivers giving you aggro about favouritism when you give the work to someone else other than them. And let’s not forget the [zb]storm of hassle you’ll have to go through if they have a bump. Oh did I mention providing around 60 days of interest free credit from having to pay the drivers’ invoices a week in hand but not actually getting the money myself til nearly 2 months later and that’s if they remember to pay it on time. And the reward for all this? £1/hr per driver if you’re lucky.
Everyone likes to think they’re a good driver. The reality is that very very few actually are. I witness the “driving” of 50+ drivers at the big logistics company I do most of my driving for and in all honesty I wouldn’t put my faith in any of them, let alone employ them nor risk my own good repute by recommending them. The vast majority seem to get by on pure luck rather than anything else.
end of the day its personal choice, I have been “employed” and “agency” on both umbrella and paye. I can look at my bank balance each week and see in black and white which paid the most. For me its agency on umbrella, Im home every night normally by 17.30 so back with my family and end up with way more than any “full time” job advertised locally weather it be class 1,2 days or tramping.
LIBERTY_GUY:
Am I correct in assuming that those who are paid through Mickey Mouse umbrella schemes would still end up paying the same weekly ‘wages processing fee’ whether they were offered a full weeks work, or just a single days work in any week?There are probably thousands of agency drivers out there that aren’t given full weeks work on a continuous basis, no matter how keen they are. A higher hourly rate of pay doesn’t mean an annual wage equivalent to what a full timer might earn.
Umbrella fees of around £27pw are swallowed by the £40-£50 less tax you might pay on a 40+ hour week.
If you only do one or two days a week, Umbrella doesn’t work for you - because the tax saving on say, 2 days is only £20 and the umbrella fee is still £27 so you are out of pocket.
Umbrella therefore is really only for “contractual job cover” rather than odds and sods on agency I would say… 
Apart from the fact its £9.50pw fee, and the £60-80 tax saving. Personally i prefer the money in my bank not the tax mans.
I did 3 days last week by choice and ended up taking home the same as a weeks salary when i was employed by a pallet company.
You cant
Pat Hasler:
waddy640:
I understand that, Waddy but my point is that if a group of drivers got together and formed their own group of freelance drivers, set up insurance etc and then approached the companies with a lower offer for driver services those companies may be interested as all companies are interested in saving money, the drivers could take a bigger wage and the agencies would fold.At most you’d only be able to go in at a quid an hour less or thereabouts.
It may be tough for most but all it takes for everyone to say “NO ! we are not working for an agency”
Some people like myself like working for agencies. Its like self employment but you get paid the following week, don’t have to worry about a client not paying and there’s people looking for work for you instead of you trying to do it whilst working a 15hr day.
LIBERTY_GUY:
I can tell you now, that outside of the transport industry, very few agency workers will do a single days work, their contracts being in the range of two weeks to six months or longer. Some HGV drivers just appear to have ‘kick me’ stamped on their foreheads though and are ultimately their own worst enemy.
Sorry but you’re talking crap. Those doing factory work and IT contracting are employed on a day by day basis the same as truck drivers at agencies. Its only when you get to office type jobs where you tend to be covering things like maternity leave that you get the longer term stuff.
Winseer:
I don’t like the idea of a “long assignment” either. After you’ve spent over 40% of your working year at one yard - you no longer get to claim the mileage expense offset.
2 years or if it is expected to last more than 2 years.
Spot on Fredthered!
DON’T USE THEM.EVER.
If the jobs don’t pay don’t do em,If you do you just give them what the want.
Why don’t we start telling agencies and full time employers our skills start at £16 per hour and you’ll spend that quick enough by the time you have what they want.
EXPERIENCEThink about it guys next time your on the road,you are the problem not the AGENCIES.
£16 PER HOUR STARTING RATE.
UP THE WORKERS.
Winseer:
Makes you wonder why more drivers are not chucking in full time for the pay rise on agency eh?
I’m not badly paid, but I do know that if I took the plunge and went agency I could probably earn more in the long run.
I’m not interested though. I earn more than enough to live off, the hours suit, the works easy, good colleagues… i’m in the pension scheme with my feet well and truly under the table & knowing a regular sum will land in my account every week. That suits me.
switchlogic:
Winseer:
Makes you wonder why more drivers are not chucking in full time for the pay rise on agency eh?Well that’ll go back to what I said about many full time drivers, can’t get away with saying ’ I’m not doing this, I’m not doing that’ so much on agency
I got a text yesterday for a shift tonight but I woke up this morning
and thought sod it Im having a few days off.
Called em up and told em got offered bonus to work,He was surprised
when I refused and told him it’s not about the money money,money.
I love it, earn good money, time off when I want,what’s not to like.
Conor:
LIBERTY_GUY:
I can tell you now, that outside of the transport industry, very few agency workers will do a single days work, their contracts being in the range of two weeks to six months or longer. Some HGV drivers just appear to have ‘kick me’ stamped on their foreheads though and are ultimately their own worst enemy.Sorry but you’re talking crap. Those doing factory work and IT contracting are employed on a day by day basis the same as truck drivers at agencies. Its only when you get to office type jobs where you tend to be covering things like maternity leave that you get the longer term stuff.
You mean like the four month contract at Caterpillar I have just finished, or the two month contract for Schneider before that, or even the six month contract I finished with Alstom last year? I have never been offered a single days work through an agency for any industrial (or commercial) work. Minimum contract I typically get offered is around a month.
Compare that with the haulage industry, where hauliers (and some drivers) seem to think it acceptable to be offered a solitary day’s work in a week, for the phone not to ring again for another week or longer, which is the experience many drivers have found, irrespective of how well they do the job. People must live their lives how they see fit, but as long as drivers keep doing one day tricks at zero notice, the driver will forever remain at the blunt end of ‘shaft city’. If that is the only future that awaits new arrivals into the industry, then they would be far better not wasting their money on HGV lessons to begin with. 
"I got a text yesterday for a shift tonight but I woke up this morning
and thought sod it Im having a few days off.
Called em up and told em got offered bonus to work,He was surprised
when I refused and told him it’s not about the money money,money."
I love it, earn good money, time off when I want,what’s not to like.
We’re voices crying in the wilderness my friend… 
Winseer:
"I got a text yesterday for a shift tonight but I woke up this morning
and thought sod it Im having a few days off.
Called em up and told em got offered bonus to work,He was surprised
when I refused and told him it’s not about the money money,money."I love it, earn good money, time off when I want,what’s not to like.
We’re voices crying in the wilderness my friend…
True dat,
I will give them a ring on thursday, available friday to monday for nights,
if they decide to take me up on my offer then ker ching!
If not then I will have the weekend off as well,
but I know they are short of drivers so I don’t see
a problem. 
