A quick look through the recruting websites is showing a definite increase in ads for drivers. Mainly agencys but rates quoted seem to be on the up. Could just be agencys filling there contact books for Xmas. Thoughts please.
All the same job, I was looking yesterday and saw the same job with the same agency advertised 3 times with slightly different pay rates.
Hi, I live in Northants. Most jobs are advertised on multipule jobsites and nearly all are agency jobs. Very few firms that i know of, are taking on here at the moment. If you are looking i can give you some names of firms that may be looking for temp/perm drivers.
If you dont have an ad blocker- then you may notice that agencies are starting to spend money looking for drivers- that says to me there is starting to be a shortage of drivers who will work for the rates offered - I will say that we have had more enquiries from agencies wanting to advertise on TruckNet in the last 2 months than we have had in the last 4 years
While agencies arent a lot of peoples cup of tea it is a sign that there is starting to be a shortage of good drivers out there, and that can only drive up the rates for both agency and full time drivers
and that can only drive up the rates for both agency and full time drivers
We will keep you to that. 
Rikki-UK:
If you dont have an ad blocker- then you may notice that agencies are starting to spend money looking for drivers- that says to me there is starting to be a shortage of drivers who will work for the rates offered - I will say that we have had more enquiries from agencies wanting to advertise on TruckNet in the last 2 months than we have had in the last 4 yearsWhile agencies arent a lot of peoples cup of tea it is a sign that there is starting to be a shortage of good drivers out there, and that can only drive up the rates for both agency and full time drivers
Good news for Easyjet/Ryanair then! Sorry, couldn’t resist it!
I’ve mentioned a few times the increasingly desperate texts i received from my previous rather disappointing agency time in Northants.
Unfortunately they, like certain employers, have had some proper lorry drivers pass through their hands in recent years, and generally treated them with contempt and still do in many cases, and are going to pay the price as the shortage bites…good.
There are more ways than one to skin a cat…like recommending your competent previous colleagues into good jobs, thereby looking after your mates (the good company gets good staff which is good for everyone) and depriving the dross employers and agencies of good drivers.
I think the level of pay in some instances, has fallen below, that of being sustainable for many.
What is the point of going to work, when it does not pay?
I think the level of pay in some instances, has fallen below, that of being sustainable for many.
What is the point of going to work, when it does not pay?
Agree with this . In my area ( Rugby ) agency rates steadily dropped over the last 5 years . Some lads I know have gone from rates of around £12 an hour weekdays , to £9.50 ish today , doing the same work . Also , agencies have stopped paying more for a night shift , just a straight through rate no matter when you start . What goes around comes around though .
various texts to me from various agencys last 2 weeks…
1-agency will give £200 bonus plus 1 days dcpc with 55 shifts over xmas at parcel force, bagington cov
2-ADR have 'new’contract in crick with great rates of pay
3-assesment for asda at magna park this week
4-45 hours guaranteed at rugby asap bonus £100
plus 2 or 3 phone calls asking me ‘whats my situation’
I haven’t worked for an agency for nearly 7 years,but out of the blue a couple of weeks my old agency rang to ask if I was still working for the firm I left them for,and was I interested doing some weekend shifts for them 
I’m reasonably new to the job, and I’ve never used an agency. I think they’re parasites and we should all refuse to use them, forcing more employers to direct employ…
But, getting drivers to do more than moan about the job and do something? Hmm… 
Rikki-UK:
If you dont have an ad blocker- then you may notice that agencies are starting to spend money looking for drivers- that says to me there is starting to be a shortage of drivers who will work for the rates offered - I will say that we have had more enquiries from agencies wanting to advertise on TruckNet in the last 2 months than we have had in the last 4 yearsWhile agencies arent a lot of peoples cup of tea it is a sign that there is starting to be a shortage of good drivers out there, and that can only drive up the rates for both agency and full time drivers
The last four years has been a period when the economy has basically fallen off a cliff so a pick up in activity is hardly cause for opening the champagne bottles. Besides, according to many, we are now once again contracting…economically speaking. Nothing has changed. In fact, looking at Europe especially and even other parts of the world, things are deteriorating. Sorry to sound so pessimistic.