eagerbeaver:
Ken is on the money. The best times on agency are thinning out rapidly.Listen to the mighty Quinn.
Blimey, listen to the “Old Sage” of a limper! 
You’re so fresh you don’t have our deformities yet! 
Lol. I have done limping on and off for years mate. 7.5T, FLT, etc…
There’s getting to be very few companies giving new drivers experience nowadays, let’s say you have this meeting, like he sound of it, 3 weeks down the line agency man stitches you up, you’ve then got to try and find someone willing to take you on with little experience, you’ve obviously found one company but don’t burn your bridges. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side, agency’s have contracts to fill, they don’t care about your wife/kids/mortgage, they’ll use you and chuck you back out if you don’t fit the bill.
Stay where you are, get settled and good at what you do then ask for some shifts on class 1, stick it out 6/12 months and your laughing, plenty of experience, a good reference and a secure income in the process.
Risk Vs Reward eh?
The risk: You may not pass your Class 1; You may not actually get employment from it without some commercial experience; you may be ‘tied in’ to the agency/employer for a period to pay back the training investment; you may not like hauling 1 load from A-B.
Reward: (potentially) Free licence upgrade worth £1200 ish? (potentially) Class 1 work.
el_presidente:
Risk Vs Reward eh?The risk: You may not pass your Class 1; You may not actually get employment from it without some commercial experience; you may be ‘tied in’ to the agency/employer for a period to pay back the training investment; you may not like hauling 1 load from A-B.
Reward: (potentially) Free licence upgrade worth £1200 ish? (potentially) Class 1 work.
OP states that they have class 1.
Evil8Beezle:
el_presidente:
Risk Vs Reward eh?The risk: You may not pass your Class 1; You may not actually get employment from it without some commercial experience; you may be ‘tied in’ to the agency/employer for a period to pay back the training investment; you may not like hauling 1 load from A-B.
Reward: (potentially) Free licence upgrade worth £1200 ish? (potentially) Class 1 work.
OP states that they have class 1.
My bad…I misread that bit! 
Thanks for the advice. I’m gonna make the right decision here by staying with this local company and gain experience. I don’t know what I was thinking. I think I was just over joyous that I actually got a phone call for the job.
Phew, I was beginning to wonder there if you were joking, trolling or just plain bleedin’ stupid. Glad you saw the sense mate, right decision.
Defo right decision.
it would to me depend on the agency and where they were offering to place me - we have our own training trucks which we can use for almost any form of training required within reason, we also supply a fair few companies where the work is either all year round or will lead to a full time job, the only thing about this is it will be subject to performing well. you may just fly it all you may not - personally I have left full time employment several times and went agency as a driver and not had any issues, but I would always advise against anyone leaving a FT job unless you hate it and will quit either way.
Kasim2k3:
Thanks for the advice. I’m gonna make the right decision here by staying with this local company and gain experience. I don’t know what I was thinking. I think I was just over joyous that I actually got a phone call for the job.
Saves you posting another thread in a few weeks ranting about how the agency stitched you up with false promises and now your out of work
Kasim2k3:
Thanks for the advice. I’m gonna make the right decision here by staying with this local company and gain experience. I don’t know what I was thinking. I think I was just over joyous that I actually got a phone call for the job.
Has others have said do the pros out weigh the negs.
Give it time with this company and prove yourself to be a professional driver then tell the TM you would like to provide holiday cover for the class 1 drivers. I’m guessing that by doing this, they will soon have you out in artic with the driver trainer by your side.
I have had my class 1 for 11 years now but for the last 6 years i have been driving a 18t van because it suits my needs.
So today it was my first day alone and I did a 9h 41mins shift starting at 4 am and finishing at 1:41pm. I drove for about 4 hours and other work was four and a half hours (it’s not accurate because everytime I switch off the engine, I had to change it to other work and sometimes it would just go to rest default. That’s alright though. I could get used to that.
I wanted to ask a question. I took a 45 minutes break at 08:54. Does that cover me till 9 hours of working time or should I have taken a 15 min break at the 9 hour mark.
Other than that, it was a smooth day. Something I enjoyed thoroughly. I’m off for two days then the weekend will be quiet so It’ll give me time to adjust myself with the route.
And regarding class one, my boss was like he would get me class one experience. The wages aren’t great with the class one work here but I’ll just do it for the sake of experience.
WTD break covers you for a max of 6 hours before needing another.
A 45 in the middle of your day is fine, but an early 15 with a later 30 also does the job. Whichever works best for you on any given day.
Stick with it, gain the experience, 99.99% of agencies are thieving lying scum who promise the earth and deliver very little.
Another issue that you may or may not be aware of is the 16 week rule where the criminal agencies can demand compensation for the loss of a driver should he/she take a full time job with a client, much easier to get a job when not involved with these snakes and bandits.
Stay where you are for a while and better opportunities will come you’re way get involved with the parasites and you will regret it.
You’re fine with the wtd that you took, but its a bit of a catch 22 - you took a 45 out of a 9h41 shift, meaning that your working time was no more that 8h56, so you could have dine s 30 and been legal. However, if youd done that, you would have then worked 9h11 (assuming you still finished when you did), so you would have needed another 15! Don’t stress over it though, you did fine the way you did it 
axletramp:
Quinny:
Kasim2k3:
I quite like the job.And your already thinking of leaving?
Kasim2k3:
The boss said down the line I could get class one experience in that company.Then stay where you are you muppet.
Kasim2k3:
But I’ll go on Thursday to see what this guy has to say.And listen to the agency [zb]
Kasim2k3:
It’s tempting but I know there is a lot of negativity about agencies on this forum.No [zb] Sherlock, then listen to the guys who are telling you, including me, as we are seasoned agency drivers so know how it works. I have been on the agency 10 years, and at the moment it isn’t worth a [zb], hence the reason why I am wanting to get away from it to full time employment.
Ken.
No Neck no work, Ken?
Not worked for him for 9 years.
Do keep up, there’s a good chap.
Ken.
I’m pleased the op has listened, as as has been said, the good times at agencies are now gone.
The days of regular £1k per week are now few and far between as companies look to cut costs. I recently reduced my own hours as my personal circumstances have changed, but because of this it now suits me to go fully employed and get the benefits that it offers. By putting his case to his boss, his boss will see that he is keen to learn and progress, and if his boss is worth his salt, then he will make sure that he gets the necessary experience without the worry of wondering whether the phone is going to ring to offer him a shift as is the way with agencies.
Good luck fella. You know it makes sense.
Ken.
Kasim2k3:
Thanks for the advice. I’m gonna make the right decision here by staying with this local company and gain experience. I don’t know what I was thinking. I think I was just over joyous that I actually got a phone call for the job.
Good decision.
I know from my own experience that the Class 1 itch can be one you just can’t help but try & scratch when your on rigids, but tread carefully. The novelty wears off & then your left wondering why the hell you gave up that job with 11am finishes.
Kasim2k3:
So today it was my first day alone and I did a 9h 41mins shift starting at 4 am and finishing at 1:41pm. I drove for about 4 hours and other work was four and a half hours (it’s not accurate because everytime I switch off the engine, I had to change it to other work and sometimes it would just go to rest default. That’s alright though. I could get used to that.I wanted to ask a question. I took a 45 minutes break at 08:54. Does that cover me till 9 hours of working time or should I have taken a 15 min break at the 9 hour mark.
Other than that, it was a smooth day. Something I enjoyed thoroughly. I’m off for two days then the weekend will be quiet so It’ll give me time to adjust myself with the route.
And regarding class one, my boss was like he would get me class one experience. The wages aren’t great with the class one work here but I’ll just do it for the sake of experience.
Money ain’t everything mate. Your boss might be one of the really goodun’s and worth foregoing a bit of money for. Only time will tell on that score. Most of us have left a reasonable job to go for one that seems better, I know I have, and then regret it because it’s ■■■■■ work, the boss is a ■■■■■■, or some other reason.