sweeper1gg:
To be fair there are some new drivers on agencys that are learning the ropes, but there are also a lot of verygood drivers too, that will jump in bulk tippers, lowloaders, tautliners, box, fridge, strap any loads,nothing scares them they do this for decent money. alot of drivers out there have worked on box trailers all there life and have no idea of different trailer systems, MY POINT IS DON’T KNOCK THE AGENCY CHAPS. they may show your boys a trick or too.
This is very true. I even have warehouse managers asking me to sort their deckers out when something goes wrong. I am now in my 9th year with this client and I am well known for getting things done even if they are not really my job although I seem to have gained the title of shunter even though I wont do shunting shifts (cant be bothered with the office politics surrounding that job) but I do help the shunters quite willingly rather than sit staring at the wall or studying.
On a broader scale, I agree that the majority of agency drivers are hopeless but not all! We get guys who bump the trucks, leave their rubbish, dont fuel up etc etc etc but I hate them as much as bosses do because they make us all look bad collectively (not to mention increasing my workload). Some of us are not out to make as much money as possible and are motivated by doing a job for which we get paid. The main difference between good and bad drivers is attitude!
I’ve heard you’re a bit of a hotshot at plant work, Ritchie! Any truth in this?
Conor:
An agency wouldn’t last very long charging that above what they pay their drivers.
They do according to Chainsaw
My agency have to charge at least £2.60/hr more than my PAYE rate just so they cover the cost of employing me with the holiday pay and employers NI. There’s then another £1/hr to cover their mandatory employers pension contribution under the new Workplace Pensions scheme and then there are the costs of running the agency. Even if you had just two staff in an office on national minimum wage the bill for the two staff alone would account for the extra £1/hr of 18 of those 100 drivers.
Do you also believe them when they tell you about their unicorn stud farm?
The sun shines out of their old rusty sherif’s badge. That £2.60 towards holiday pay runs pretty short cookies come January when you’re on un paid “holiday”. But you choose that, right?..
James the cat:
Do you also believe them when they tell you about their unicorn stud farm?
The sun shines out of their old rusty sherif’s badge. That £2.60 towards holiday pay runs pretty short cookies come January when you’re on un paid “holiday”. But you choose that, right?..
Right?
No because I had plenty of work in January and if there is no work in a week they still have to pay me under Agency Worker Regulations. That has happened to me once since September 2014. I only want 3/4 days a week, I very rarely never get that.
You may be a crap driver so your experience of agency work is being sat at home waiting for the phone to ring in January and February but for the more competent of us we’re still getting plenty of work.
James the cat:
Usually you end up with work around 9 months of the year. September and Jan to March are usually quiet periods although those who are willing to be the most flexible or have been with an agency for some time will get work through that. You’re not guaranteed hours but you do get holiday pay if you’re on PAYE.
Oh? From your post in November. I’m busy working for my employer Jan and Feb so can’t say I have thought about it.
Honked:
We do ask for the good drivers but as they are good they get booked up
£1 per hour x 100 drivers is not a poor business model.
You are either a complete wind up merchant or a complete tool. You say all the good drivers are gone, yet you are only covering holidays■■? Most holidays are booked in advance, therefore surely that allows you to book in advance? Thereby you should be able to book one of the many good agency drivers who you claim leave their phone numbers with you, especially in February!!! Perhaps they leave their numbers with you because they want to go out on a date with you and ■■■■ the living daylights out of you because you are such an annoying one sided know it all ■■■■■■
Conor:
An agency wouldn’t last very long charging that above what they pay their drivers.
They do according to Chainsaw
I only ever quote what I know is true, the agency percentage where I live is cut to the bare minimum except for at the busy times of the year, that’s due to greedy agencies and greedy transport firms as well as stupid drivers who work for peanuts…
Honked:
Did you leave your number? I have vaseline ■■
Sorry Honked I am a giver not a taker and I guess you are the wrong gender for my tastes, although by your bitchy attitude I could be wrong
If I do get desperate I will let you know but you won’t need the Vaseline because I have been ■■■■■■ in the arse by scum transport firms for years now so I should be loose enough to accept a little prick like you
Honked:
Did you leave your number? I have vaseline ■■
Sorry Honked I am a giver not a taker and I guess you are the wrong gender for my tastes, although by your bitchy attitude I could be wrong
If I do get desperate I will let you know but you won’t need the Vaseline because I have been [zb] in the arse by scum transport firms for years now so I should be loose enough to accept a little prick like you
There is no wrong gender. The only limit is your imagination.
The irony in your post about being bitchy is stupendous and brings your literary skills to life. We can count to 99 and change over if you prefer?
Why not? Are you another mickey mouse self employed? If you are on PAYE you’re entitled to holiday pay and sick pay. I get 33 days holiday pay a year.
Why is it mickey mouse being self employed■■? You sound like you are with a good agency and doing ok Conor, people have different circumstances…
It’s Mickey mouse because you are not independent - unless you are an owner driver. Your “clients” own and control all the ‘means of production’ for lack of a better phrase, unlike for example the jobbing plumber who has the tools to operate his trade.
You also don’t control the know-how of your job (vis-a-vis your clients), like a barrister or expert consultant (and often the jobbing plumber) does.
I always think a good question is whether you could do something useful for a friend, with just what you already have. If not, you aren’t self-employed.
well ■■■■ me all you need is a few spanners to cross the line and be self employed then.
strange as I know a fair few site lads who almost exclusively work for one client (ring any bells) they use their works vans too, I also know a fair few who operate almost the same as any umbrella scheme too.
war1974:
well [zb] me all you need is a few spanners to cross the line and be self employed then.
Yeah, if that meets the test of being able to do something useful for a friend. But a self-employed spanner man, is not necessarily a self-employed HGV driver.
strange as I know a fair few site lads who almost exclusively work for one client (ring any bells) they use their works vans too, I also know a fair few who operate almost the same as any umbrella scheme too.
Most brickies can do something useful for a friend with what they have, although I agree that many there are also Mickey mouse self-employed.
war1974:
well [zb] me all you need is a few spanners to cross the line and be self employed then.
strange as I know a fair few site lads who almost exclusively work for one client (ring any bells) they use their works vans too, I also know a fair few who operate almost the same as any umbrella scheme too.
The Construction Industry is a strange beast and has its own individual arrangement with the taxman, the Construction Industry Scheme. Unlike pretty much everywhere else a person can work in construction as self employed even though they’re operating exactly as you say. That is because the HMRC requires that a builder or company taking on a self employed sub-contractor working under the CIS scheme deducts tax and national insurance and pay that to HMRC just the same as they would for an employee.
To balance things up, our TEMP this week has arrived on time and completed his days chores.
I’ve not seen him walking so can’t be sure if he’s afflicted, but as he is a part timer he must be one of those that picks his working days.
We have another victim due tomorrow so it’s best out of three to decide who is right.
war1974:
well [zb] me all you need is a few spanners to cross the line and be self employed then.
strange as I know a fair few site lads who almost exclusively work for one client (ring any bells) they use their works vans too, I also know a fair few who operate almost the same as any umbrella scheme too.
The Construction Industry is a strange beast and has its own individual arrangement with the taxman, the Construction Industry Scheme. Unlike pretty much everywhere else a person can work in construction as self employed even though they’re operating exactly as you say. That is because the HMRC requires that a builder or company taking on a self employed sub-contractor working under the CIS scheme deducts tax and national insurance and pay that to HMRC just the same as they would for an employee.
