I’m looking at some of their jobs, are they ok to work for? Do they get your wages right every time etc?
It’s a zb agency IMO, they always messed my wages up & I was forced to go through their dodgy umbrella setup. They are so tight with money/hours it’s unreal, never again, they still email me offering me work lol
As previously posted, they can screw up, but they’ve never let me down. I guess it depends on which branch/contract is dealing with you.
As for payroll they may ask you to use their payroll Co, but if you push them they will give you PAYE
a they run 1 major contract quite well but lasted a month at another.
as pierre said they will try to push you down their own payroll company unless you push for paye.
I worked through Milestone, Dartford on the Sainsbury’s contract in December 14. Pay was very complicated and it always seemed to be less than what I made it. Work was rather sporadic which seemed odd just before Christmas and I got very little notice. Got paid through their umbrella which just happens to have the same registered directors as Milestone.
Also found later that I never got paid for assessment/induction either.
Personally I think this is one you should avoid.
Depends on the contract/branch I guess. Worked for them on the DHL Automotive/Jag Land Rover contract out of Normanton. Regular work, good pay, always paid on time, they tried to accommodate the shifts I wanted. Decent kit. Apart from providing me my dinner and wiping my bum what more could you want from an agency?
Ssssssssh …I have actually been overpaid a few times 
Isn’t it about time that workers for such a shower had migrated away to the other, more honest agencies? 
Even if you are one of those that thinks “all agencies are crap” - there are still some that are far less crappy than others, a bit like governments of this country you might say. 
When assessing an agencie’s worth to a prospective driver, look out for:
(1) Do they pay you for inductions/assessments
(2) Do they pressure you to go self-employed/Umbrella/Ltd?
(3) Is all their work the short-notice “last minute sick cover” or do they give you solid bookings for people going on holiday a week at a time? (the most solid kind of booking you can get from an agency imho)
(4) Do their clients only pay a guaranteed 5 hours rather than 8 if you get cancelled “too late” by which point you’ve turned up?
(5) Do the clients “clip” your timesheet at both ends, and in the middle? (Book on, do paperwork THEN clock in, get docked an hour for meal break regardless of you taking one or even getting chance to have something to eat, and then get booked off the time you pop your card, rounded back to the previous end of 15 minute block… )
(6) Do they only book you first thing monday morning or late friday for the one shift only?
(7) Are the agency directors also directors of the payroll company?
(8) Is the lowest rate of pay worth getting out of bed for?
(9) Does this agency have work at the nearest industrial estate to where you live?
(10) DO they actually want to speak to you for a booking, or “only ever send a text” and blame the phone if you don’t get it?
peirre:
Ssssssssh …I have actually been overpaid a few times
Ahem, I work out my wages daily and write them in my diary and tot them up at the end of the week, like you they are often wrong but I’m not complaining, oh no, not me. 
Winseer:
Isn’t it about time that workers for such a shower had migrated away to the other, more honest agencies?Even if you are one of those that thinks “all agencies are crap” - there are still some that are far less crappy than others, a bit like governments of this country you might say.
When assessing an agencie’s worth to a prospective driver, look out for:
(1) Do they pay you for inductions/assessments
(2) Do they pressure you to go self-employed/Umbrella/Ltd?
(3) Is all their work the short-notice “last minute sick cover” or do they give you solid bookings for people going on holiday a week at a time? (the most solid kind of booking you can get from an agency imho)
(4) Do their clients only pay a guaranteed 5 hours rather than 8 if you get cancelled “too late” by which point you’ve turned up?
(5) Do the clients “clip” your timesheet at both ends, and in the middle? (Book on, do paperwork THEN clock in, get docked an hour for meal break regardless of you taking one or even getting chance to have something to eat, and then get booked off the time you pop your card, rounded back to the previous end of 15 minute block… )(6) Do they only book you first thing monday morning or late friday for the one shift only?
(7) Are the agency directors also directors of the payroll company?
(8) Is the lowest rate of pay worth getting out of bed for?
(9) Does this agency have work at the nearest industrial estate to where you live?
(10) DO they actually want to speak to you for a booking, or “only ever send a text” and blame the phone if you don’t get it?
the reason I text is I get a yes back, despite how much some drivers despise agencies there are drivers who are just as bad if not worse. I have had over the years a whole load who take work on and then don’t turn up and deny accepting.
I have work ongoing until the middle of jan but some still moan.
most of my work is 2/3 weeks in advance but again drivers think nothing of accepting and dropping you in it last second.
I pay for all inductions if you pass (at my cost as I don’t think I should ask a driver to do anything I wouldn’t do myself).
but despite all this I have no doubt some will moan about me/the company etc.
Winseer:
Isn’t it about time that workers for such a shower had migrated away to the other, more honest agencies?Even if you are one of those that thinks “all agencies are crap” - there are still some that are far less crappy than others, a bit like governments of this country you might say.
When assessing an agencie’s worth to a prospective driver, look out for:
(1) Do they pay you for inductions/assessments
(2) Do they pressure you to go self-employed/Umbrella/Ltd?
(3) Is all their work the short-notice “last minute sick cover” or do they give you solid bookings for people going on holiday a week at a time? (the most solid kind of booking you can get from an agency imho)
(4) Do their clients only pay a guaranteed 5 hours rather than 8 if you get cancelled “too late” by which point you’ve turned up?
(5) Do the clients “clip” your timesheet at both ends, and in the middle? (Book on, do paperwork THEN clock in, get docked an hour for meal break regardless of you taking one or even getting chance to have something to eat, and then get booked off the time you pop your card, rounded back to the previous end of 15 minute block… )(6) Do they only book you first thing monday morning or late friday for the one shift only?
(7) Are the agency directors also directors of the payroll company?
(8) Is the lowest rate of pay worth getting out of bed for?
(9) Does this agency have work at the nearest industrial estate to where you live?
(10) DO they actually want to speak to you for a booking, or “only ever send a text” and blame the phone if you don’t get it?
I my case, my local Milestone where the best of the bunch, ticking all the right boxes, I was working for the various clients out of the same yard 10 mins from my home.
I was generally tasked onto a job and left there for as long as the client wanted me, which was usually weeks, months, years, becoming part of their regular team, 1 Job I was initially asked to cover for 4 weeks while the new contract was setup and staff transferred from another depot that was closing down. I remained on that contract for 4 and a half years.
Another contract on the same site, I remained on the last 1 (up to Dec 14) I was on that for 2 and a half years, mainly because 99% of the other Milestone drivers wouldnt do handball, wouldnt drive a rigid etc with the client just notifying Milestone that I was working for them again for a minimum 6 week stint, & it was usually down to me to notify milestone when I wasnt / didnt want to work which suite me & because of IR35 is why I was able to insist on PAYE with Milestone.
Admirable but naive .agencies are like a cancer on the work environment.take note not drivers .anyone that uses agencies regularly can’t meet health and Safety its a trick to lose your pension and rights…I’ve not found one .just a load of hoorays waiting for commission.in my opinion
mercury:
anyone that uses agencies regularly can’t meet health and Safety
In what way? Care to elaborate?
mercury:
Admirable but naive .agencies are like a cancer on the work environment.take note not drivers .anyone that uses agencies regularly can’t meet health and Safety its a trick to lose your pension and rights…I’ve not found one .just a load of hoorays waiting for commission.in my opinion
Naive … I doubt it, I’ve had a lot of practice … Many years in fact. Which has enabled me to figure out very quickly if someone is trying to feed me BS. Which has enabled me to build up a working relationship with those who play it straight.
However ATM I out of it all as I’m taking a sabatical from driving to Persue other avenues
mercury:
Admirable but naive .agencies are like a cancer on the work environment.take note not drivers .anyone that uses agencies regularly can’t meet health and Safety its a trick to lose your pension and rights…I’ve not found one .just a load of hoorays waiting for commission.in my opinion
care to expand on these ‘claims’? health and safety is covered, and a pension is a, covered by your NI contributions (and if your on umbrella/Ltd) you can still pay these and legally all paye are on the new ‘nest’ pension schemes unless you at present work for a very small recruiter.
unload and strapping hours poa human rights to start .all loads must be strapped as was always the case but lbos have never been able to handle the responsibility of using a ratchet strap …driver can do it
It’s risk mitigation and distribution if wealth to the unskilled .the miners never forgot
I must add I haven’t worked for milestone .I’m generallising
mercury:
the miners never forgot
Yawns…30yrs on and I’m still brushing the pit dust off my shoulders every Saturday night down the pub, when I enevitably end up with some clown rabbiting on about the glory days down the coal mines …
Maggie this, Maggie that
Btw: FYI I’m and ex colliery blacksmith / shaftsman
Then you understand why transport was subverted captain .like the miners