After reading these posts, Im not sure agency work is suited to newly qualified people or those with limited experience. I would advise those people to try and get on a full time job where the companies can be more tolerant and better able to train up drivers. I know this is not easy and that is why these folk gravitate towards agency work. But, when an agency sends a guy in it is expected that the driver has a certain amount of all round knowledge. Like a couple of other posters, I never have to worry about getting work from the agency and I work 3 or 4 days a week when Im able to fit it around my wifes part time job. Done 8yrs on agency now. People expect stuff on a plate, but it takes time. When they know youll turn up every time for a shift…on time, do the job properly, and show a bit of nouse and politeness youll be a wanted man...by the agency AND by the customer. OK, so its your right to have big stupid ear rings in and be covered in tattoos and stink of B.O. and question everything thats said to you, but its their right to decline your services in the future and go for someone else.
Agency work can be a bit like getting chucked in at the deep end so it will not suit some.
I wouldn`t work full time for a company though, not for a gold coin!
cheekymonkey:
OK, so its your right to have big stupid ear rings in and be covered in tattoos and stink of B.O. and question everything thats said to you, but it`s their right to decline your services in the future and go for someone else.
Ok, I aint got B.O…, but I’ve got tattoos (not covered), and (I suppose you could say little sensible) earrings, and yeh, I tend to question stuff if I deem it unfair, so does that make me a worse driver than you, and would you get a job before me?
*Not that I’m intending going agency can I just say
robroy:
cheekymonkey:
OK, so its your right to have big stupid ear rings in and be covered in tattoos and stink of B.O. and question everything thats said to you, but it`s their right to decline your services in the future and go for someone else.Ok, I aint got B.O…, but I’ve got tattoos (not covered), and (I suppose you could say little sensible) earrings, and yeh, I tend to question stuff if I deem it unfair, so does that make me a worse driver than you, and would you get a job before me?
*Not that I’m intending going agency can I just say
No Rob, it doesnt make you a worse driver, but all Im saying is that they can be picky. Fot instance Ive learned NOT to question stuff. I signed a form this morning to say that Id been given a tour of the site before starting work and shown fire exits 1st aid points etc and Im familiar with their protocols...none of which took place... I just needed to jump in a truck and drive out of the place. People are right to question stuff up to point, but Ive learned to just shut the heck up and get on with the job… they know and we all know that most of the stuff is bolleaux. Theyve heard all the drivers complaints many times before. If I dont like a place I dont go back. Simple. My only rule is I don`t burn my bridges.
Winseer:
Truckbling:
Pat Hasler:
“How does it work ?”
Easy… You are at their beck and call, they send you to work hard for poor wages and conditions and make a fortune out of you by charging the company they send you to at least twice what you get paid, then the owners enjoy their 8 weeks of holiday time at their villas in the Med.
DON’T WORK FOR AGENCIES.Clearly written by somebody with zero idea about agencies and agency work.
I regularly work through agencies and I choose where and when I work, I never break a sweat or get in the back of a trailer, last year I made more than 50K and was in my own bed at the end of every shift. The agency I work for make about £1 per hour over and above what I charge them, I know this because I’ve seen the agency charge sheet for ALL the agencies that supply the company where I work most often.
As for them owning a villa in the med, well, isn’t that the prerogative of all self made business people?I thought this was about being a “working man, driving” rather than “a working girl… erm… not driving.”?
Sorry winseer but I do not understand what point you are trying to make.
Captain Caveman 76:
war1974:
In all honesty I don’t get very much of the do you have a driver today? tomorrow? style. most get booked in advance and they just let me know what they are available and get assigned shifts accordingly.the days of working for an agency at 5 different places each week are on the decline.
Do you find that some companies are too dependent on agency staff? Using them instead of taking on permanent employees?
not really most have a good core of full time drivers, but when its a large site holiday/sickness and increase in work needs covering.
a lot use the temp to perm route too which judging by some of the numpties on here I honestly don’t blame them (I had a driver fail an assessment for speeding his reply - I wanted to get done!).
V40LLY:
robroy:
war1974:
most on here will say avoid (willy waving full timers)Avoid…hey you were right!
Willie back in kecks.What Pat says, and prepare to be sat by the phone so they can tell you your load has been cancelled, they will then give it to someone else who will invariably not turn up so they will then ring you at an hours notice and lie to you that it is back on.
Most would tell them to [zb] off, but if you do that you end up upsetting them and they offer you nothing else.
So as Orangeboy says, brace yourself.
Oh one more thing, always wear your hi viz at all times, especially when drivingJust joking mate although most of what’s been said is accurate.
If it was me I would say don’t bother they are parasites, get a decent full time job.
However some of the lads on here sould argue as it suits them.
I aint sure it has the 2 way flexibility it had originally as they tend to have you by the ■■■■■■■■, but it may suit you and you won’t know until you try it.
Best of luck with it anyway…you will need it.Well said, robroy. [emoji122][emoji122][emoji122]
OH no rob Wolly agrees with you. 
LeeRoy84:
I’ve been offerd a job by an agencie garenteed 45h per week working for two company’s on same industrial estate I’ve never worked for an agencie before just looking for some info on how it all work with payment ect
There’s a few on here firmly against agency workers. I personally enjoy the flexibility of agency work and use a few of them to source my work. I base my year on a 10 month basis and continually earn more than ‘most’ PAYE drivers, ‘year on year’. I believe the secret to succeeding in ‘self employed driving’ is ‘managing your money’. You simply need to save for quiet periods (off peak) and maximise your earnings during busy periods (peak period).
Admittedly it’s not for everyone and if you like a fancy truck and a pint with the boss man then perhaps it’s best left alone, but if you enjoy working hard, earning plenty and driving a similar car to the boss man, then go for it!
Ignore the envious haters on here who haven’t the gumption to stand on their own or source their own work. ‘Weak folk’
Truckbling:
Pat Hasler:
“How does it work ?”
Easy… You are at their beck and call, they send you to work hard for poor wages and conditions and make a fortune out of you by charging the company they send you to at least twice what you get paid, then the owners enjoy their 8 weeks of holiday time at their villas in the Med.
DON’T WORK FOR AGENCIES.Clearly written by somebody with zero idea about agencies and agency work.
I regularly work through agencies and I choose where and when I work, I never break a sweat or get in the back of a trailer, last year I made more than 50K and was in my own bed at the end of every shift. The agency I work for make about £1 per hour over and above what I charge them, I know this because I’ve seen the agency charge sheet for ALL the agencies that supply the company where I work most often.
As for them owning a villa in the med, well, isn’t that the prerogative of all self made business people?
+1
Honestscott76:
earning plenty and driving a similar car to the boss
What type of car do you have?
war1974:
V40LLY:
robroy:
war1974:
most on here will say avoid (willy waving full timers)Avoid…hey you were right!
Willie back in kecks.What Pat says, and prepare to be sat by the phone so they can tell you your load has been cancelled, they will then give it to someone else who will invariably not turn up so they will then ring you at an hours notice and lie to you that it is back on.
Most would tell them to [zb] off, but if you do that you end up upsetting them and they offer you nothing else.
So as Orangeboy says, brace yourself.
Oh one more thing, always wear your hi viz at all times, especially when drivingJust joking mate although most of what’s been said is accurate.
If it was me I would say don’t bother they are parasites, get a decent full time job.
However some of the lads on here sould argue as it suits them.
I aint sure it has the 2 way flexibility it had originally as they tend to have you by the ■■■■■■■■, but it may suit you and you won’t know until you try it.
Best of luck with it anyway…you will need it.Well said, robroy. [emoji122][emoji122][emoji122]
OH no rob Wolly agrees with you.
Yeh. Worrying isn’t it 
robroy:
Truckbling:
The agency I work for make about £1 per hour over and above what I charge them, I know this because I’ve seen the agency charge sheet for ALL the agencies that supply the company where I work most often.Are you telling me that you seriously believe that?
You have probably seen a charge sheet that they ‘accidently’ left lying around for drivers to see more like. I reckon the genuine one would make for different reading.
You reckon wrong, generally speaking. And I tell you this from having been a consultant and a TM in previous lives.
Pound an hour gross margin is admittedly on the low side but it’s rarely a whole lot more even for occasional users in the driving sector. The money is made on volume of business (AKA bums on seats) rather than seriously large one-off charges.
Sidevalve:
robroy:
Truckbling:
The agency I work for make about £1 per hour over and above what I charge them, I know this because I’ve seen the agency charge sheet for ALL the agencies that supply the company where I work most often.Are you telling me that you seriously believe that?
You have probably seen a charge sheet that they ‘accidently’ left lying around for drivers to see more like. I reckon the genuine one would make for different reading.You reckon wrong, generally speaking. And I tell you this from having been a consultant and a TM in previous lives.
Pound an hour gross margin is admittedly on the low side but it’s rarely a whole lot more even for occasional users in the driving sector. The money is made on volume of business (AKA bums on seats) rather than seriously large one-off charges.
Save your breath Sidevalve, you will never convince the thick full timers on here that anything other that what they say is correct. They know everything about agency work regardless of the fact they have never tried it and those who have went down the umbrella route so were never really self employed anyway. As they say, ignorance breeds contempt and it sure does with your average thick ■■■■ full time Scania v8 lover.
Truckbling:
Sidevalve:
robroy:
Truckbling:
The agency I work for make about £1 per hour over and above what I charge them, I know this because I’ve seen the agency charge sheet for ALL the agencies that supply the company where I work most often.Are you telling me that you seriously believe that?
You have probably seen a charge sheet that they ‘accidently’ left lying around for drivers to see more like. I reckon the genuine one would make for different reading.You reckon wrong, generally speaking. And I tell you this from having been a consultant and a TM in previous lives.
Pound an hour gross margin is admittedly on the low side but it’s rarely a whole lot more even for occasional users in the driving sector. The money is made on volume of business (AKA bums on seats) rather than seriously large one-off charges.
Save your breath Sidevalve, you will never convince the thick full timers on here that anything other that what they say is correct. They know everything about agency work regardless of the fact they have never tried it and those who have went down the umbrella route so were never really self employed anyway. As they say, ignorance breeds contempt and it sure does with your average thick [zb] full time Scania v8 lover.
Look mate don’t get all ■■■■■ calling me thick just because you happen to disagree, it only displays an element of immaturity 
I, like you, was only giving my opinion based on my own (limited) experience with agencies (see… wrong again) and a good mate of mine who has been agency for last 10 yrs.
He gets ■■■■■■ about and shafted on a regular basis.
One of the ex agency staff drinks in the same pub, and he paints a different picture to your £1 an hour theory when they were talking about it.
I couldn’t give a flying ■■■■ how much you love sitting by a phone every day, but I prefer the relatively secure aspect of a full time job, whether that makes ME thick or ignorant is not for the likes of you to decide.
Some agencies are good some are bad. Same as any firm you work for full time.
I am going the agency route at the moment and it’s working for me. I line the variety both of routes and work (although I am generally doing construction runs through choice but they’re still different).
I get paid on time and have a good flow of work. My agent knows which clients will suit what I like.
Does for me to get experience but isn’t for everyone…
Thick full timers?? Yeah, its terrible knowing that you have a wage coming in EVERY week. I know the mortgage companies really detest a proven financial track record too.
As for a Scania V8, mmm…I got me a semi, oooh.
Not going to get involved in what’s right and wrong in terms of permanent or agency. Bottom line is everyone has different circumstances, requirements and commitments so its what suits the individual and down to personal choice.
As someone myself who has done agency work for the last 3 years I will say its very easy and achievable to earn a good full time income without the need to be sitting there wondering if your working tomorrow, next week or whatever or waiting for the phone to ring - It seems to me there is a massive misconception that all agency workers come under this bracket.
I myself wouldn’t go back to permanent employment but I also wouldn’t knock someone who would only work in this manner and wouldn’t ever consider the agency route.
Spot on, tm - a sensible, neutral, even-handed post. What a refreshing change!! 
■■■■■■■:
Spot on, tm - a sensible, neutral, even-handed post. What a refreshing change!!
Thanks ■■■■■■■ - was just trying to highlight the point that like so many things that get debated on here there isn’t a right or wrong that will apply to every single person.
You get called day and night when you’ve booked it off, then as soon as you ask for work they go quiet on you.
If you like being at home then skip the agency and skip this job.
htmldude:
You get called day and night when you’ve booked it off, then as soon as you ask for work they go quiet on you.If you like being at home then skip the agency and skip this job.
Nope. You`re wrong. I get two phone calls per week normally. One telling me my shifts, the other one asking me my availability for the next week. Its not difficult.
What can`t be denied is that some drivers have an awful attitude which would explain their problems with either agencies OR employers. You see it every day.