truck driver

van driver

7.5 tonne driver

driver

warehouse worker

Driver Hire

I went to register at Driver Hire Gatwick towards the end of October 2015 as I already work seasonally.I have been driving vans for over 30 years ,no convictions,points and medically fit to work.I know most areas very well,and feel I am a team player and happy chap.I am still registered with them.I am looking for a car delivery like meet and greet, 10-20 van  multi drop ,chaffeur and maybe some light office work.Over 21 days I got four days work and was available for work everyday,apart from late and night shifts.
Being registered on their books is great for them ,but you feel that you are hanging on the phone day by day waiting for a call.They say it's the time of year.I say maybe too many drivers on their books and not enough jobs to go round.Of course if you have been with them for ages I'm sure you will get preference to five days per week over one day.The interview techniques are on a group session so not one to one.On our day there were five people all seeking driving work.The boss was very clear in the interview and everything felt very professional as it should be.One thing in the interview you are advised you may get one day a week work or five days a week.What was not mentioned is you may get no days a week or six.I have so far over three weeks had ,three days ,one day and no days.So how about the work received?Well meet and greet was fun.You drive all different cars with respect and within speed limits.Or at least that's what I do.You are also sometimes surprised on how others drive the cars they have collected.All staff and teamwork is great and two days was a nice experience.On another job I had a curtain side  3.5t van delivering palletise items requiring strapping down.Nice vehicles and I was happy that the company I worked for allowed time to check the vehicle properly before you depart.On that day your items are loaded with you and most staff seemed happy to help.On the final day I had a delightful 64 plate VW delivering very light items(I mean like a bolt for thirty miles and return to base for another item.
The hardest part of this job is waiting for updates from the agency.They may advise you that a particular company is say looking for a driver and then not get back to you for four days.When they do it's bad news as either it was not researched properly at the start or they  forgotten about.
There was an offer of work in Scotland to drive someone around all week with your hotel paid.You was to get a plane up there but you would only be paid while working your normal day.You then are paid the remaining 16 hours £25 being the overnight stays.
Another lead was a driving chaffeur job in London,only to find out that you will have to pay the £38.40 train expense to get there.
So to summarise this is perfect for you if you are not actually looking to work anytime soon.
The more drivers and staff that come onto the books the less likely I feel you will be found work.
I have spoken on two occasions to the office about my amount of work given and they have been very understanding explaining that the time of year we are waiting for the companies to get back to us.
With nothing else to go round you are also waiting.
I will be trying to register elsewhere and hopefully receive a busier week from other agencies

The issues I have had with Driver Hire I have never had with any other Recruitment Agency.
I originally applied for and was successful at being offered a full time job, however this agency only agreed 4 shifts with me, 3rd to the 6th May, after I was informed that I had been successful in my application and having had NO CONFIRMATION AT ALL that I would be getting any more shifts from them I agreed to do other work for an agency which I had told them I was already working for but I would be happy to leave them and go over to Driver Hire full time once the appropriate days and hours had been confirmed. As a result of them not confirming anything with me and me agreeing to do other work which I informed them off I have been sacked, this was the 5th of May and told not to come in for the last confirmed shift on the 6th.
I did the first three shifts without issue; they were confirmed with me and I committed to them and completed them without issue.
- Fortunately, I was able to pick up another shift at my other Agency for that lost day on the 6th, which in my near year of dealing with them has been great unlike some others I could name I’ve never had these issues with the other agency I work for because things are confirmed and their App updated -
I had informed them multiple times over the phone and in an email that I had other work commitments but would seek to do as many shifts as possible for Driver Hire as I could and if they could confirm full time shifts, I would start working for them full time as possible and inform my other agency that this was case and that I would prioritise them but they never confirmed the full-time work and only confirmed the four shifts mentioned earlier.
In other words, dealing with this agency and their client is a total waste of time, avoid, if possible, I think part of the problem is that I was only a Drayman, which doesn’t require any special qualifications or skills as would be necessary for a HGV / Delivery driver so they consider you to be disposable.
I was fully willing and ready to work full time, usually starting at 0515 in the morning and even learn to do other roles for their client or Driver Hire but because they cannot be bothered to confirm things with me and don’t seem to understand that people need confirmed work and pay this has now gone.
It is important to note here that they claimed the client company decided not to employ me at all anymore and cancel my shift on the 6th, but it was Driver Hire who hadn’t bothered to confirm anything else with me and were suddenly surprised to find id made other arrangements with the work agency I told them I worked for. They did tell me in a phone call that they would let me know if anything else suitable came up but quite frankly I’d rather go elsewhere and deal with competent Employers / Agencies like I have been dealing with for most of the last year.
Avoid, if possible, they don’t seem to understand the importance of confirming things or that most of us prefer not to live in uncertainty not knowing what shifts they’ll get and how much money they’ll be earning and people will naturally go where they have security, I certainly do and don’t move from one secure source of income to another until things have been confirmed.

UPDATE: Since this i have been working for another Recruitment agency doing a very similar job without ANY of these issues at all.

I showed up to work early every single day and was never late, I was the first person in the office most days and the last one to leave in the evenings. Sometimes I even stayed up to 2 hours later to deal with issues e.g. drivers not showing up to a shift and having to organise a cover. I was on call working 24/7 for 2 to 3 weeks at a time. I dealt with abuse from drivers and customers with little to no support from my managers.

Then a few months in I was told that they were very happy with me however they ‘’did not trust my commitment to the job’’. I asked for an elaboration on this as I didn’t quite understand what this was implying and this is when the franchisees behaviours completed changed and they both became very hard too deal with and increasingly less supportive right up until I was no longer employed by them. 

 I was being left in the office for hours on end on my own as the franchisees were working from home and I even worked on my own for 2 full weeks whilst the 2x franchisees were on leave. I was the only employee of this particular office so was left completely on my own! 

The atmosphere in the office was horrible at times when the franchisees actually bothered to show up for work (which was not often). I was very micro managed and had to explain what I was doing and why with everything I was doing. Other than this it could be hours of silence within the office. 

During furlough I received no communication from the franchisees and had to reach out to them myself on multiple occasions.

Upon leaving my post at driver hire I have had nothing but issues and I  struggled to get my P45 from the franchisees. It took 6 weeks for me to receive my copy and took HMRC 4 months to receive their copy!!!!

Overall I was overworked! Underpaid! and Undervalued! AVOID AVOID AVOID! 

There is also absolutely NO support offered to employees of franchisees e.g. a HR department or advice line. Meaning it is very easy for franchisees to take advantage of their staff. 

Being New to this industry, finding sometimes stressful, but equally rewarding...each day the job is different, going out blind is hard into situations of lack of information on the paperwork, ie retail shops with double yellow lines and bus stops, then finding out there is a loading bay at the rear of the premises. As Agency worker fill in areas which applies, deliver the goods for the companies clients and try be helpful as possible, and equally be security minded of the vehicle and goods. If I had a query, would always make contact with the transport manager and hopefully the communcation between driver and myself, including road accidents and heavy traffic, would help the company other drivers deliver there goods on time. As an agency driver, sometimes I find that certain equipment not on the vehicles to do the task, but on others there are plenty of options to off load without any damage to the goods. Health and Safety is sometimes an issue, whilst being doubled manned...but I am only agency, no-one listens, so I don't even bother making a report...only to the agency. Idealistic would have more information on hand for the agency driver, as he/she is not regular to the customers, and so much wasted time...looking for deliveries not clearly signposted...the most enjoyable part of the job, is if and when returning to a delivery that has taken more than half an hour to find last time...you remember this one...One client worked for reverse camera's...very good tool..shame I couldn't press a button just to view the rear doors, for security. Some co-workers are helpful, others i afraid want to see you fail. Always striving to learn the 'right' skills and not nesessary shortcuts, as this could be time consuming and costly....to either the company and the driver.

I registered with Driver Hire Glenrothes back in November 2018, as a Class 2 driver, and I think I'm still registered with them but as I've heard nothing in about a month I'm not sure. The girls in the office were always very friendly and approachable but, with Christmas rapidly on its way, I was told work was drying up as companies wanted their regular drivers on the same job so fitting in a new drive was difficult. But things would pick up after Christmas.

After Christmas it was quiet because, apparently, it always was that time of year. I was given the odd shift here and there just to keep me going, mostly not class 2, then in February the work dried up completely. I kept phoning in my availability and was told every time there was nothing for me. On the two occasions they did contact me at this time I myself wasn't available. Sods law. 

In March I signed on with another agency and in the first eight weeks did more shifts with them than the entire twenty two weeks I have been with DH, driving Class 2 almost every day. I used to call the office in Glenrothes two to three times a week only to be told there was nothing, yet the second agency I'm with calls me two to three times a week to keep me in work. 

The girls in the office, as I said, are great. The wages were always correct and on times, and on par with the going rate for Class 2 driving. The only problem is that there's no work apparently.

I wish there was because, when it works it works well.

When I registered at the office, they advised they were turning work down as they did not have enough drivers to fill the jobs they had coming in.

I registered thinking I would be overrun with options.

I keep in contact with the office. 

I gave my preferences of longer distance with possible tramping/ Nights out.

Had various off-jobs here and there, but nothing significant.

One very good run from hasting to Gloucester, early start, but over 40 miles from home, so was offered extra to cover the fuel. This never got paid in the end.
The email i sent in question to why this wasn't paid went unanswered. They are great when you register, but once registered, they don't want to know.

Couple of issues with booking confirmations. Booked out for two days at same company, then got told this booking was cancelled. Next day I get a call asking why I was not at that company. Because i was told it was cancelled. Same happened the following week, same days and same company, but had offer of full-time job elsewhere, and seeing the ongoing issues I've had with broken promises and bookings getting cancelled, i told them I was taking the permanent job and to re-assign the booked in job. This never happened and got a call whilst at my new job induction.

Overall, more stress than needed. Yes they pay slightly more then others, but boy you earn it!!!

Had to re-register however they let me complete a quick registry which was great. Been working with the team for some time, honestly I don't want to leave, enjoy the flexibility, team are more like friends, no stress, easy work most of the time however if you speak openly to the team they will do their utmost to put you on a contract you prefer. Work can be limited at times and can feel competitive against other drivers which I appreciate however I believe they should prioritise the ones that want to maximise hours and are loyal. Well overall no complaints, if your in the market for temporary or even a more present, flexible approach to the work life balance without all the stress from being contracted I would suggest is well worth it! I'm much happier than I've been in the industry for a while now and I wouldn't want to change it right now. If I'm tired I can rest if I want to work then work what's not to like. Do something wrong no investigation just possible loss of job ideally you would want to prevent any issues as I don't want to lose any contracts for the business however these things do happen. As they will always need drivers it's within their interest to keep you busy also. 

After getting made redundant  I  thought I wanted to work asap   

Applied  for night driver local to me   10 pound  poor money for nights was earning  that 25 years ago  but just wanted to work earn sum m9ney after 3 night of being  out with other drivers showing me the job  I was nearly killed first night with a deer sitting on middle lane of motorway was close second night out with another driver over taken cars 40 foot lorrys on blind bends  nearly killed us few times so third night I drove for last 15 years I been driving trucks vans covering 60 k miles a year with no convictions or accidents because I drive safe within the limits  so I feel I am safe driver then I get up receiving email saying they got bad feedback and issues on my driving there having a laugh why any would want to dr8ve to Manchester every night with no breaks is beyond  me for last few years I been signing drivers log book and no the law   most company's I worked for over 300 miles 8n van requires night out or day hotel  yes when I was self employed I drove 600 miles a day but got paid 1 pound a mile that's why you do it  not work 13 hours night get paid for 11 is insult  worse company I ever worked for stay away from driver hire all about them talk bollicks  has you can read I not happy with them I don't care anyway

DH Heathrow.
For one of the busiest areas in the UK DH should change their name to depict a more adequate experience, not even a sniff of work after wasting a morning and losing a days pay,not to mention getting there then 2 hours registering.I suspect for those already actually working for DH life is OK but for those in need of work then look elsewhere or your liable to starve.Registering was a really positive experience giving one a sense of hope, the reality however was that of despair were you to accept the promises given and were unfortunate to not have been on the books with other agencies.I think my pension is more likely to arrive before work appears from this quarter.
I suppose some have a positive history with them or they would not still be trading but for me I can only wonder if the staff actually do as one would expect, really with a class 1 license around Heathrow how is it that other agencies deliver but DH are failing big time,and as another reviewer noted , the "time of year",response doesn't wash now we're in March
Still, having faith one can imagine things can only get better

I have been working for Driver Hire on and off for several years. When I say "working for" I mean "working with". Throughout my time here, they have always made me feel like part of the team rather than dictators of where and when I work. They have consistantly supplied me with work as and when I've needed it. I registered initially when I returned to the UK and needed work pronto, they put me into work within a few days. Over a year later, I left my job and returned to Driver Hire to help me pursue my own path in business. This gave me the flexibility and security I needed as a part-time driver whilst I built up my business.

I never felt like I was being made to work somewhere I didn't want to. I was always given the choice knowing that if I didn't like a particular job, I didn't have to go back there.

I have recently stopped driving due to the demand for my own business and know that I will miss driving for the customers of Driver Hire but I'll also miss the chat's, laughs and general togetherness within the branch. 

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Truck driver 3960 salaries reported	£17.79 per hour
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7.5 tonne driver 492 salaries reported	£15.32 per hour
Driver 434 salaries reported	£16.21 per hour
Warehouse worker 250 salaries reported	£13.92 per hour

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