ADR Tamworth, been spot on for me for the last four years.
The three agencies i used recently lied constantly, the official receiver (decent bloke) managed to get my back holiday pay from the one that went bust (several months after i left), despite there being no record of me ever working for them on the company’s books…am i glad i didn’t bin the pay slips.
One other paid me up to date but held back my P45 for about 4 months despite assurances it was sent, so i held back some tachos too, permanently, disappointing really as i gave them a proper weeks notice when i quit and they dropped me instantly, you simply can’t be an honourable person and expect an agency to behave in the same manner, it ain’t going to happen.
A one man band i did the odd day for a few years ago was the best, long gone now, as you would expect.
I sincerely hope never to have to darken the doorstep of an agency ever again.
mick.mh2racing:
St Omer now Tops recruitment at Leeds.
Always been fair with me, got me work when I’ve asked.
is that the one fiona works at? lovley lady ,very polite,very easy to talk to
Over the past years I have had short(ish) periods of time with Driverhire at Ipswich, York & Inverness and can honestly say I cant complain about any but to me Inverness were best but haven’t been there for about 2 years now.
mezzzz1211:
mick.mh2racing:
St Omer now Tops recruitment at Leeds.
Always been fair with me, got me work when I’ve asked.is that the one fiona works at? lovley lady ,very polite,very easy to talk to
Yeah that’s her. Dave Myatt works in the same office and he’s always been fair enough with me.
Oakwood Staff Solutions, Bristol. Spent a year with them going back a while and never got messed about with being payed on time and the correct amount.
mick.mh2racing:
waynedl:
stevieboy308:
waynedl:
I think it’s down to the lies and bull [zb] that comes out of their mouths personallyhow many times have we seen the comment on here “and they’ll drop you when there’s no work”
How often is that written after “they told me there’s 4 weeks work, I wasted fuel and time to register / induct at this company”…
Don’t lie, simple. Look mate, we’re an agency, we believe that this company wants you for 4 weeks, we’ll let you know asap of any changes, but we remind you that we’re not responsible for none agency content
jessicas dad:
mick.mh2racing:
St Omer now Tops recruitment at Leeds.
Always been fair with me, got me work when I’ve asked.When I phoned them they didn’t know their arse from their elbow.
I’m actually working through Dave at St Omer / Tops at the moment, seems ok, paid what’s been agreed, but has also done the normal agency part of “you’re here for 5 weeks” … friday night comes “they don’t need you next week” … sunday night comes … “can you go in tomorrow at 5am…■■” - me “Nope”
I go in the firm on Tuesday, there’s 3 agency guys in there all for Dave… So, they didn’t need me eh?
edited to sort quote out
Where you working for Dave? Did some work through him for DHL at Whitwood and did get the run around. To be fair Dave was great with me and the problems came ultimately from DHL. They didn’t have a clue, and needless to say I didn’t last long. They’d book you for an 0400 start and then sit in their yard for 2 hours for a unit to come back off a night trunk. Then DHL would be hounding you all day to get done.
Or DHL Whitwood would send you unit only to Bawtry for a trailer and DHL Bawtry didn’t know who you were and you’d sit on your arse all day and do jack.
Not the agency at fault but no doubt many others would blame the agency.
Each to their own, Tops were fine for me.
At the moment I’m doing the Marley / Fraikin job down at Heywood - sometimes Leeds, but I do whatever he asks if he asks first, he knows where he stands with me - 1st come 1st served - and he’s happy with that and keeps me busy at the moment.
He seems a sound guy to be honest, but still an agency with all their pitfalls and uncertainty, so I’m always still looking for a permanent job, but won’t take just any, I can afford to be a bit picky at the moment and only apply for jobs I actually want.
1four1 in Crawley. Gave me a start on class 2 work the day after signing up, and gave me at least 4 days work a week. Only downside is having to be self employed but then you can use that to your advantage once you get to know people.
Taylor Made in Worthing, again got me some class 2 work (though I only used them to fill in the free days). Always call checking to see when im available, and don’t get ■■■■■■ off when you have to turn work down.
And currently my no 1 choice is The Recruitment Place in crawley, they mostly do airport jobs, I currently am doing nights collecting newspapers from the printers and delivering to Gatwick airport. Always pay on time, they know I work nights so don’t call me when im sleeping during the day plus the lady I deal with there is fit.
That’s about 19 driving agencies with varying degrees of recommendation mentioned so far!
Thanks to all contributions.
global
raymundo:
Over the past years I have had short(ish) periods of time with Driverhire at Ipswich, York & Inverness and can honestly say I cant complain about any but to me Inverness were best but haven’t been there for about 2 years now.
I signed up with Driverhire Ipswich about 18months back and I never got no work.
I am now in full time employment (thank ■■■■) but when I was in agency as a new class 2 driver I found that Manpower Ipswich were the best as they paid for my Hiab and My ADR in gases and found me work.
I’m afraid out of every agency I signed up with in the Ipswich and Colchester area there wasn’t anymore good ones. None offered me work other then Manpower they were good too me
This is just like being asked what your top three types of cancer are
I’ve worked for a lot of agencies for a long time over the years, there where some great ones …BRS Taskforce/ PL Workforce (part of the Lane Group) i think them two where the best in terms of giving you a full time contract to work what you liked !!! Uniform and holiday pay too . BRS taskforce was eaten up by Blue Arrow not now known for being an excellent first choice for a HGV driver and the Lane group was eaten up by Wincanton i think, another ‘Global operator’. They seem to form local agency alliances and where possible use Transline, if the gig is big enough to make Transline some serious dough.
Enough with all our yesterdays!! I worked for Drivers Connect for a long time and found them fine, i see they’re offering £13 PH MON-FRI @ Peterborough. Never had any probs with them…driversconnect.co.uk/vacancies.php
A straightforward excercise, you can even submit your hours online.
I’ve found in general with agencies it depends upon what you want to do. If you want to be in a different company everyday with uncertainty of work and start times then sign up with any of them. If you want a long term gig with almost a guarantee of full time hours and a semi guaranteed work pattern then find a big company near you that fits the bill and find out who their major agency supplier is and apply to them. Simple really, agencies are just like the rest of us looking out for how they’re going to make their next few bob.
Agencys are asked by major suppliers can they guarantee x amount of drivers to fulfill certain contracts and this is when they advertise and promise the earth in an effort to get the x amount of drivers on board. Sometimes you and them are lucky and it works out and sometimes it don’t.
claretmatt:
This is just like being asked what your top three types of cancer are
Or what is your favourite ice cream flavour, what`s your favourite curry, or how do you like to shag your other half.
No two people will have the same opinions due to their characteristics & attitude
As for the agencies, even with the same agency two seperate branches of the agency can be complete opposites of the scale
popplewolf:
ADR Tamworth, been spot on for me for the last four years.
It seem that ADR have screwed up on the Tesco doncaster contract and are on their way out the door.
I`m also informed that the 6hr rule has been re-instated at that site, and (agy) drivers are refusing to go in due to the 6hr rule
peirre:
I`m also informed that the 6hr rule has been re-instated at that site, and (agy) drivers are refusing to go in due to the 6hr rule
When that was in at Lichfield, after 1st run(if over 6 hours) I would fuel up and hand keys in, other wise end up with doing over 12 hours…(personally i like shifts of <10 hours 
)