What’s that saying?
Before you can judge a man,walk a mile in his shoes,or something along those lines.
Anyway, agency drivers have come in for a lot of stick over the years, one way or another.
Back when I ran a fleet, I used agencies,and without a lot of success generally.
In the end I decided it was easier to leave the trucks in the yard when drivers were on holiday,if I couldn’t do the driving myself.
Anyway a few years ago I sold up and went down to one truck.
Then,recently I started to get seriously jacked off with the constant long hours etc.
So I had a brainwave park her up for a few weeks and try the agency game.
How hard can it be?
Four days a week would do, easy life?
Signed on with an agency ( just one) don’t want to be overwhelmed with phone calls.
That was the Friday.
Tuesday,got a job,a night run,ok great, empty roads and all that.
Report for duty at 20:00 hrs.
So I turned up at 1935, and the truck turned up at bang on 20:00.
Was the driver pleased to see me?
Like duck he was.
I was taking his bed for the night, ■■■■,what could I say?
So he dropped his trailer,moved over to the tea hut and disgorged his bedding etc into said hut.
“keys are in it mate” he said.
So up I ascended into the actros mega space.
Now I have driven them before!
Good job really, so I new my way around the gearbox, but, it took ages to just find the interior light switch, but I got around it and cracked on.
The next night I got another job, this time,a renault premium 460’ what a cracking truck, but anyway,here I was, presented with yet another truck,that nobody bothered to ask me if I had any experience of.
Again, I have,I ran one years ago as an employer,and I did drive it a couple of times.
But that one had the range change box,this bugger didn’t have any bloody thing.
Bearing in mind it was well dark,with just the dim cab lights, I just did not see the gear control to the right of the steering wheel.
My own truck is an FH with i shift, so I thought I was up on the tech, but this had me beat.
So,I rang the local Renault dealer, and someone kindly put me right.
So bear a thought for that agency man/woman it’s bloody hard, or maybe it’s just me.
Anyway, I’ve had enough, I’ve decided it’s back in the saddle of me old FH.better the devil you know.
zippo:
What’s that saying?
Before you can judge a man,walk a mile in his shoes,or something along those lines.
Anyway, agency drivers have come in for a lot of stick over the years, one way or another.
Back when I ran a fleet, I used agencies,and without a lot of success generally.
In the end I decided it was easier to leave the trucks in the yard when drivers were on holiday,if I couldn’t do the driving myself.
Anyway a few years ago I sold up and went down to one truck.
Then,recently I started to get seriously jacked off with the constant long hours etc.
So I had a brainwave park her up for a few weeks and try the agency game.
How hard can it be?
Four days a week would do, easy life?
Signed on with an agency ( just one) don’t want to be overwhelmed with phone calls.
That was the Friday.
Tuesday,got a job,a night run,ok great, empty roads and all that.
Report for duty at 20:00 hrs.
So I turned up at 1935, and the truck turned up at bang on 20:00.
Was the driver pleased to see me?
Like duck he was.
I was taking his bed for the night, [zb],what could I say?
So he dropped his trailer,moved over to the tea hut and disgorged his bedding etc into said hut.
“keys are in it mate” he said.
So up I ascended into the actros mega space.
Now I have driven them before!
Good job really, so I new my way around the gearbox, but, it took ages to just find the interior light switch, but I got around it and cracked on.
The next night I got another job, this time,a renault premium 460’ what a cracking truck, but anyway,here I was, presented with yet another truck,that nobody bothered to ask me if I had any experience of.
Again, I have,I ran one years ago as an employer,and I did drive it a couple of times.
But that one had the range change box,this bugger didn’t have any bloody thing.
Bearing in mind it was well dark,with just the dim cab lights, I just did not see the gear control to the right of the steering wheel.
My own truck is an FH with i shift, so I thought I was up on the tech, but this had me beat.
So,I rang the local Renault dealer, and someone kindly put me right.
So bear a thought for that agency man/woman it’s bloody hard, or maybe it’s just me.
Anyway, I’ve had enough, I’ve decided it’s back in the saddle of me old FH.better the devil you know.
I’m not sure on the point of your post, or the moral or the story? Maybe its just me.
Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes - coz by then you’ll have his ■■■■■■’ shoes & be a mile away!
Good post. Apart from last 2 years I’ve always been agency. I found the worst part at some places was the paperwork. Who gets what and where to sign etc. Apart from when I delivered baths for a bathroom warehouse and I came back with all the ‘feet’ still onboard. Well no one told me they had feet 
Having once been an agency driver, I champion their cause with my current employer.
It’s not their fault that they are renowned for being slower at the job, it’s not their fault that they are renowned for bashing trucks.
I’m the sole driver of the only truck my Co’ owns. They’re a builders merchants, NOT a competitor to Eddie Stobarts. Whilst I enjoy my holiday they have to book an agency driver. I’m trying my best to educate them that they should book a driver to include a few days before my holiday, just so I can show them what’s what.
My truck is unique, you might think it’s just another 26t 6 wheeler with a rear mounted HIAB, but it isn’t. The discovery process of how to raise the crane would take even a VERY experienced HIAB operator at least 20mins to work out. On the basis that we seldom find VERY experienced drivers on agency, how is a newbie going to work it out?
Chas:
Having once been an agency driver, I champion their cause with my current employer.It’s not their fault that they are renowned for being slower at the job, it’s not their fault that they are renowned for bashing trucks.
I’m the sole driver of the only truck my Co’ owns. They’re a builders merchants, NOT a competitor to Eddie Stobarts. Whilst I enjoy my holiday they have to book an agency driver. I’m trying my best to educate them that they should book a driver to include a few days before my holiday, just so I can show them what’s what.
My truck is unique, you might think it’s just another 26t 6 wheeler with a rear mounted HIAB, but it isn’t. The discovery process of how to raise the crane would take even a VERY experienced HIAB operator at least 20mins to work out. On the basis that we seldom find VERY experienced drivers on agency, how is a newbie going to work it out?
Although you champion their cause, you’ve had no luck with them yourself. (according to above). You’ve had a go as agency yourself and also found yourself a bit out your depth?
Then you say its not their fault they’re slower or bash trucks etc…
In my own experience not many companies actually show/teach/learn/instruct you anything. They expect you to be able to get on. Like anything, you get out what you put in.
I’d imagine in your scenario an experienced temp driver who knows what he’s doing would be expensive. You can’t find one though. Did you think to post in the vacancies forum here for one? Or, how did it go with the agency you used, i’d be keen to find out what questions you asked them and what they told you, because whata you actually got doesn’t seem to be any good?
But if i had a hiab that would take an experienced hiab man 20 mins to work out, then i’d book him in for an hours training before his shift. You ask how is a newbie going to work it out? You’ve answered your own question, he’ll work it out probably dangerously and expensivley. Infact, its not even a question. He should be shown, taught, instructed. You fellas make me laugh.
I definatley wouldn’t want to walk in your shoes. You don’t know what your doing!!!
I’ve been an agency driver for 11 years now, one of our clients always asks for me when they get some new work,
just saying.
Of course the agency driver is slower to do the job.He hasn’t been doing that particular delivery round for the last three years. Of course he doesn’t know ‘Fred’s Logistics Operating Procedures Manual’ inside out- But he does happen to know Bert’s, Jim’s, Harry’s, ■■■■’s, Albert’s, John’s and Hugh’s. And he knows full well the reason he’s got the job on a Friday is because none of the regular drivers will take that old dog out on that joke of a run.
You soon learn the tricks.
First is the bag. Good torch is essential for all sorts of reasons - I have gone a whole shift without finding the cab light switch. All the usual stuff should be in there including some basics for an emergency night out and a few cable ties.
Don’t take any ■■■■ - they need you as much as you need them. If they just chuck you the keys and say “paperwork’s in the cab”, take the time to check what’s what before you even start the engine. Do you need equipment like a pump truck etc. Do not leave the yard until you know where you are going and what to do when you get there. Also that you have the right load and it’s secure.
The two hardest things to sus out are the radio and the gearbox. With any luck you might even find the instructions on a shelf somewhere.
Don’t be shy about asking for help. Better to look like a ■■■■ than to be one.
Mike-C:
zippo:
What’s that saying?
Before you can judge a man,walk a mile in his shoes,or something along those lines.
Anyway, agency drivers have come in for a lot of stick over the years, one way or another.
Back when I ran a fleet, I used agencies,and without a lot of success generally.
In the end I decided it was easier to leave the trucks in the yard when drivers were on holiday,if I couldn’t do the driving myself.
Anyway a few years ago I sold up and went down to one truck.
Then,recently I started to get seriously jacked off with the constant long hours etc.
So I had a brainwave park her up for a few weeks and try the agency game.
How hard can it be?
Four days a week would do, easy life?
Signed on with an agency ( just one) don’t want to be overwhelmed with phone calls.
That was the Friday.
Tuesday,got a job,a night run,ok great, empty roads and all that.
Report for duty at 20:00 hrs.
So I turned up at 1935, and the truck turned up at bang on 20:00.
Was the driver pleased to see me?
Like duck he was.
I was taking his bed for the night, [zb],what could I say?
So he dropped his trailer,moved over to the tea hut and disgorged his bedding etc into said hut.
“keys are in it mate” he said.
So up I ascended into the actros mega space.
Now I have driven them before!
Good job really, so I new my way around the gearbox, but, it took ages to just find the interior light switch, but I got around it and cracked on.
The next night I got another job, this time,a renault premium 460’ what a cracking truck, but anyway,here I was, presented with yet another truck,that nobody bothered to ask me if I had any experience of.
Again, I have,I ran one years ago as an employer,and I did drive it a couple of times.
But that one had the range change box,this bugger didn’t have any bloody thing.
Bearing in mind it was well dark,with just the dim cab lights, I just did not see the gear control to the right of the steering wheel.
My own truck is an FH with i shift, so I thought I was up on the tech, but this had me beat.
So,I rang the local Renault dealer, and someone kindly put me right.
So bear a thought for that agency man/woman it’s bloody hard, or maybe it’s just me.
Anyway, I’ve had enough, I’ve decided it’s back in the saddle of me old FH.better the devil you know.I’m not sure on the point of your post, or the moral or the story? Maybe its just me.
yes I think, maybe, it is just you.
The point I was trying to make( badly it seems oh wise one ) is that you can be in at the deep end,and a yard full of drivers looking down their nose at you coz you are an agency man.
Or if you arrive after hours with a few written instructions and nothing else, get it wrong,and it’s you’re fault.
As opposed to when you are driving you’re regular truck,on your regular job, you know what’s what.
I just found it stressful, and until I tried it I was unaware.
But yes you’re correct totally pointless post, I shall get my coat.
Excellent post, Zippo, well put 
But then I am just a regular gear-jammer… 
PS-Renault premium is NOT a ‘cracking’ truck…
Mike-C:
Although you champion their cause, you’ve had no luck with them yourself. (according to above). You’ve had a go as agency yourself and also found yourself a bit out your depth?
Then you say its not their fault they’re slower or bash trucks etc…
In my own experience not many companies actually show/teach/learn/instruct you anything. They expect you to be able to get on. Like anything, you get out what you put in.
I’d imagine in your scenario an experienced temp driver who knows what he’s doing would be expensive. You can’t find one though. Did you think to post in the vacancies forum here for one? Or, how did it go with the agency you used, i’d be keen to find out what questions you asked them and what they told you, because whata you actually got doesn’t seem to be any good?
But if i had a hiab that would take an experienced hiab man 20 mins to work out, then i’d book him in for an hours training before his shift. You ask how is a newbie going to work it out? You’ve answered your own question, he’ll work it out probably dangerously and expensivley. Infact, its not even a question. He should be shown, taught, instructed. You fellas make me laugh.
I definatley wouldn’t want to walk in your shoes. You don’t know what your doing!!!
Please get an adult to read my post with you. A little bit of job specific training for agency drivers is what I’m trying to get my employer to do. I hate coming back off holiday with a huge back load of jobs to deliver, in a truck that’s been bashed about, to customers that have been P’d off by the agency driver.
1 extra day riding shotgun in the cab with me & I can show them what’s what. Although my boss see’s it as an unnecessary expense I’m sure it would work out cheaper in the long run.