Hello to everyone this is my first post I have lingered in the background stalking this for some for some time and have used it to train myself so thank you all for that
Up until 3 years ago I was happily bobbing about as a motorbike courier, unfortunately Mr Magoo’s grandson T boned me at a junction and put me in hospital for three months. Anyway 8 operations later I invested in passing my class 2 licence. I stayed awake for the CPC course obtained my tacho card. Put my CV online and was contacted almost imediately by an agency. We can fix you up with a job local to you they said, don’t worry they know you are new the job is just a little bit of light handballing to the back of the truck. Oh they wont send you any where near London. You will be shown the ropes for a couple of days.
I turned up at 5am the next day looking forward to a new job. Guess what no induction just given the keys to a truck and sent off to Central London, not allowed to look in the truck so no idea what it contains its all sealed. Arrive at the drop opened the back and there were the 600 boxes all scattered and lobbed in the back.
Any way the driving is not the problem I’m very happy and confident in what I’m doing driving wise, the big question I have is, Is it normal to be treated like a ghost when you are doing agency work the management in the hub just look straight through the drivers I have heard the manager shouting and swearing at a driver on the phone because he had been grid locked on the M5 and had run out of hours on the services.
The other big question is why don’t the agency actually pay when they say they will I am now owed 2 weeks pay and the cheeky buggers cancel my shift then call at 4am in the morning to see if I am available?
The really frustrating thing is the News going on about a shortage of HGV drivers but most of the jobs require 2 years driving experience to actually secure a full time job with a reputable company is it expected that I will have to work for nothing and let companies and agencies take the ■■■■? Perhaps I have made a mistake in expecting a career as a HGV driver, my injuries and a worried family mean I can not return to being a self employed bike courier I can’t bear the thought of being a van courier just too many people under cutting each other for that.
Im starting to waffle now got time on my hands had another shift cancelled and still not paid.
name and shame.
all agencies are different as i reckon reading different threads so if this one does not work for, there should be another one nearby
Priest:
name and shame.
all agencies are different as i reckon reading different threads so if this one does not work for, there should be another one nearby
Agreed, name and shame!
Sorry to hear about your accident OP, and your bad experience…
But what you need to remember, is that the company using the agency is the real client. Not you!
So to an agency (or most of them) you are just a bum on a seat they earn commission on. So you can’t really be that surprised that they don’t give you the whole story, or tell you the truth, when trying to fulfill their clients needed. I’d try another agency, and sign up to loads of them!
Sadly (but correctly) you can’t just jump into an industry and expect to get the best jobs! You have to serve your time in some of the less desirable positions, and you can’t be surprised that the agency will try to get the new starters to fill those less desirable positions.
At this point what you need is experience, and once you have a bit, you will probably find that this opens doors to better opportunities.
So stick in there and best of luck pal!
P.S. Best of luck for tomorrow Priest! 
I don’t understand the “2 years experience” stipulation. Do they want you to have held a licence for at least 2 years, or had 2 years experience working as a truck driver? I held my licence since 1991 and driven many types and combinations of vehicles, some loaded and some not. I have done heavy recovery towing artic combinations behind a wrecker through small market towns, but is this experience relevant? I have recently been doing one day a week for a local company also pulling the longer 30 pallet trailers but only for the last 10 months, so do I have 10 months experience or 24 years? I would love to give up my current permanent job and do truck driving full time but it seems everybody recruits through agencies, and I just don’t trust what they claim.
another point is that some agencies operate as a franchise which means you might get absolutely opposite experience with different offices under the same brand
As above, (spot on Evil by the way), we all got the ■■■■ taken out of us when we were new and green, it’s just how it is.
The more experience you get the better generally.
However, when did they agree to pay you and how, if they’re over the time they promised don’t do any more work for them and as said for gods sake say who they are so others can chime in to let you and all other drivers know they’re regular shysters, or good generally if they are.
The biggest problem drivers have is not looking after one another, i’m not looking for a return to the 70’s and red robbo calling all the lads out because someone’s been caught fiddling clock cards, i’m talking about using the internet to protect ourselves and each other, if there’s a rogue agency or company who doesn’t pay, then the best thing that can happen is that those affected tell their stories so it gets out on the web and the crooks go out of business, communication is easier than ever now and we should use it for our own good.
We aint the enemy, we are just drivers, hated and despised just as we’ve always been, if we can’t look after each other and defy the true enemy no bugger else is going to do it for us.
Extra Personnel is a rogue
Not if you suckagencyphallis
Try giving g everyone u talk to a bottle of whisky .this has been how it works for decades .its not how good u r .its what u will pay
My grandad was a driver .he says they used to stick together .how times change .can I have your 3 o clock shift lol .its Britain generally tho not just truckers .no honour .big pay
They want you to have experience of running bent so that the fifth rate cooperation with agencies gets them a Hawaii holiday and u banned
To answer the original question, no, it’s not wrong to expect a full time HGV job. It’s easier to get a start with CE but C drivers are able to get full time work as well. Agencies have their role and, if you happen to be with a good one, there’s nothing wrong with that. But always go for the full time work. Ignore all comments about 2 years experience etc. Present yourself well and show you are willing to learn.
Don’t wait for ads to come up. Most driving jobs are filled without advertising so you must get out and bang on doors. Go prepared to work immediately with suitable clothing in your car. But dress smart, casual and go see people.
If the transport manager isn’t available when you call, make an appointment (and keep it) to back to see him. Print a few cv’s.
IMO it’s a mistake to accept defeat before you’ve even started and just assume that agencies are the only way forward.
All the best, Pete 
I was on agency for almost a year until recently and I couldn’t recommend them higher. They gave plenty of work. Regularly 40-50 hrs occasionally higher. It was mainly with P&H which some love some don’t but it was work and I got the experience I needed. Now driving class 1 full time which I’m really enjoying, and as a previous poster said I got the job by emailing cold and got a call a few weeks later. Though I know the agency is there if I ever need it.
I was told by the agency I’m currently with that the ‘2 years experience’ thing in some companies is due to their insurance. I got work at one place on a 7.5t but they said that that company can’t let me on their Cat C trucks yet as I haven’t held my licence for 2 years and their insurance wouldn’t cover me.
TheTrogFather:
I was told by the agency I’m currently with that the ‘2 years experience’ thing in some companies is due to their insurance. I got work at one place on a 7.5t but they said that that company can’t let me on their Cat C trucks yet as I haven’t held my licence for 2 years and their insurance wouldn’t cover me.
That sounds like bollox to me mate, and that the agency has a lot of 7.5t work they can’t fill. I told my agency I’m not interested in 7.5t work, as I could have driven that before I passed my class C, so why would I want to drive one now!
Sign up with more agencies mate, I’m with 2 agencies, and too busy to do an assessment drive that my second agency is trying to set up!
Yes! Like evil has said complete and utter ■■■■■■■■, that’s all lies they are just using you for the ■■■■ work.
OK then. To be honest now I think about it it wasn’t the current agency I’m working with that said that to me. The one I’m with now is getting me out on class 2 trucks all the time ATM. Driving an 18t all week next week. Gota watch the potholes though as its delivering glass 
Could be a shattering experience
Pete
TheTrogFather:
OK then. To be honest now I think about it it wasn’t the current agency I’m working with that said that to me. The one I’m with now is getting me out on class 2 trucks all the time ATM. Driving an 18t all week next week. Gota watch the potholes though as its delivering glass
Enjoy that trog, take it easy fella, no breakages please 
