We run a smallish fleet with long time drivers with their own trucks. As times gone on we’re having to occasionally do night runs… it’s ad-hoc a lot of the time so we’re not able to take anyone on full time on nights. So we end up using agency drivers.
A lot of our guys take real good care of the trucks, and we’d love to keep to one man one truck, but it’s daft not to take this work on at night when the vehicle is just stood there. However a lot of the time the agency lads are making a real mess in the guys cabs… Tempers flair sometimes and it causes animosity with the office lot, who get the blame.
I was wondering if any of you guys have had this problem and had seen any solutions that might be worth trying out?
So far the only thing we’ve tried is ‘black listing’ an agency driver if the regular driver reports that they’ve messed the cab up - or items have gone missing. But as it is with agency’s; its a different guy, pretty much every night.
Is anyone actually speaking to these agency guys face-to-face at the start of their shifts and telling them to leave the cab etc just as they found it?
I’d ask the agency to send different drivers to you. You’ll eventually find a good guy who respects your trucks then you can ask for him by name. Good agency drivers do exist.[emoji6]
I know what you mean, they are really scraping the bottom of the barrel at my place with agency.
This is what I came into today, agency guy was asked to put fuel and adblue in the motor after not bothering most of the week… someone should told him not literally IN the motor
Roymondo:
Is anyone actually speaking to these agency guys face-to-face at the start of their shifts and telling them to leave the cab etc just as they found it?
When there start times are before 18:00ish yeah. A lot of the time their english isn’t so good…
G6Bob:
I know what you mean, they are really scraping the bottom of the barrel at my place with agency.
This is what I came into today, agency guy was asked to put fuel and adblue in the motor after not bothering most of the week… someone should told him not literally IN the motor
damoq:
I’d ask the agency to send different drivers to you. You’ll eventually find a good guy who respects your trucks then you can ask for him by name. Good agency drivers do exist.[emoji6]
We did have a good run at one point and did this with a few, but it wasn’t long before they’d left the agency and found permanent jobs.
Are the relief drivers scruffy, or are the regular drivers bordering on OCD?
I’ll look after a lorry but I wont waste my time ■■■■■■■ about to return a vehicle to show standard.
G6Bob:
I know what you mean, they are really scraping the bottom of the barrel at my place with agency.
This is what I came into today, agency guy was asked to put fuel and adblue in the motor after not bothering most of the week… someone should told him not literally IN the motor
Oh wow. It really is unbelievable sometimes.
He even left his card in the tacho, was considering just throwing in the foot well with the ad blue and he could have got it tonight… but that tw*t Mr NiceGuy took over and I handed it in to the office
The trick is to find someone who ticks all the boxes and willing to be a part timer. We have such a bloke who does it for our 5 trucks and it works well. He knows the job as well as anyone and trucks left exactly as they were except for difference in km on clock, we’re very lucky I suppose.
It not just the reg lads who try to keep it together (clean cabs etc). Had a drive two night ago was [zb] gopping, stinked of ■■■■ (regular cab), even after cleaning the steering wheel down.
Hands stunk all night, give me clean give back clean, give me bogging, get back ditto
short walk:
The trick is to find someone who ticks all the boxes and willing to be a part timer. We have such a bloke who does it for our 5 trucks and it works well. He knows the job as well as anyone and trucks left exactly as they were except for difference in km on clock, we’re very lucky I suppose.
We had/have a guy like this but it looks like he has his own work now taking up his time so it will be (reading between the lines) when one of our CE drivers are off I will be taking their wagon and a part timer will get my rigid, which if Iam honest doesn’t sit happy with me as I have the old girl just the way Ilike it and stuffed with personal gear.
I know it’s the companies wagon, there are only four of us and keep them clean and if I drive their units they know it will be respected but it will be mine getting farmed out.
I just like my stuff the way I like it, … Getting old
First of all least you have come on here to ask advice as opposed to been like it or lump it attitude.
Personally for me I lock it up and take the keys home with me same if on holiday clowns leaving Windows open while in Yard dust .
Its a tricky situation as clearly you appreciate your drivers and this shows as they have been with you a long time.
Personally I would look for a individual who works for themself as a subcontractor as its there best interest to be wanted back with agency you will find if there not wanted back agency will place them somewhere.
Love it when we all get tarred with the same brush “Agency Drivers” The agency driver that the agency sends is not determined by the company or full timers. The agency usually works to their own strengths so a good clean well behaved agency monkey may go to poundland because he doesn’t mind handball or multi drop and your firm might get the stinking cretin who smokes rollups and ■■■■■ and follows through on the drivers seat because he is the only one available to send. The agency just wants to get as many of its drivers out there earning money for them and that is all that counts. I have seen some real shameful agency drivers sent to very nice firms with good fleets but I (clean and non smoker) have also jumped into many a disgusting smelly cab driven by a low life full timer
Just in the interests of a balanced opinion I can tell you that as an agency driver Ive been given the keys to a full timers units that are ■■■■■■■ pig stys inside. On one occasion I refused to take a unit due to all the rubbish,dirt and smell inside.
I dont get the “agency drivers are minging” mentality. There are good and bad from BOTH sides.
Muckaway:
Are the relief drivers scruffy, or are the regular drivers bordering on OCD?
I’ll look after a lorry but I wont waste my time ■■■■■■■ about to return a vehicle to show standard.
Not a case of having ocd , not to much to expect to get your truck back as you left it is it ? Beats me how some drivers get it so ■■■■ up when there only in it for a nightshift
The agency driver that the agency sends is not determined by the company or full timers. The agency usually works to their own strengths so a good clean well behaved agency monkey may go to poundland because he doesn’t mind handball or multi drop and your firm might get the stinking cretin who smokes rollups and ■■■■■ and follows through on the drivers seat because he is the only one available to send. The agency just wants to get as many of its drivers out there earning money for them and that is all that counts. I have seen some real shameful agency drivers sent to very nice firms with good fleets but I (clean and non smoker) have also jumped into many a disgusting smelly cab driven by a low life full timer 