I hear this term alot on here, with those struggling to find a job.
Do you mean, any sort of work ie stacking shelves/order picker or is it something else?!
Driver agencies is what is being referred to
I won’t go any further because plenty on here will have lots to say about them !!!
OK, I will 
In a nutshell, most agencies are like this -
They are run by salespeople and their job is to find drivers for their clients when their clients want them - they are not there to supply guaranteed work to the driver
What are they?
And are they useful?
driverofhope:
What are they?
Places where a salepeople get drivers to sign up to work for them and then when their clients want drivers they contact a driver and see if they want the job
driverofhope:
And are they useful?
According to many posts on this site …
To some yes - to others they are a necessary evil
well if you took the time to read the posts you would have worked it out. 
I use seven agencies, they’re a bit like the seven dwalfs:
Hopeful
Stupid
Lazy
Slapper
Helpful
Desperate
and Coke head.
Warren T. Claim:
dwalfs:
Ahem… lets be PC here… I think you mean… smaller persons…
An agency matches up employers with employees and takes a commission for doing this.
In the Good Times they are worthwhile, in the present economic climate they are more likely to offer you a job as a cabbage picker than an HGV driver. You will have to wait a year or two for things to turn around, same as when I started.
driverofhope:
I hear this term alot on here, with those struggling to find a job.Do you mean, any sort of work ie stacking shelves/order picker or is it something else?!
I think its time to turn off the light!!! 
Clarky:
driverofhope:
I hear this term alot on here, with those struggling to find a job.Do you mean, any sort of work ie stacking shelves/order picker or is it something else?!
I think its time to turn off the light!!!
Dave, sorry to break it to you, it appears the light was never on my friend
garnerlives:
Clarky:
driverofhope:
I hear this term alot on here, with those struggling to find a job.Do you mean, any sort of work ie stacking shelves/order picker or is it something else?!
I think its time to turn off the light!!!
Dave, sorry to break it to you, it appears the light was never on my friend
PMSL…yeah actually, you are right there lol… 
Bless, least it makes the world a bit more interesting tho eh,
Agencies are increasingly being used by larger companies in place of full time drivers. It costs them a little more per hour but they can hire drivers on a day to day basis. It also means they have no responsibilities regarding holidays, sick pay and pensions. Its the future for big business.
sparewheel:
Agencies are increasingly being used by larger companies in place of full time drivers. It costs them a little more per hour but they can hire drivers on a day to day basis. It also means they have no responsibilities regarding holidays, sick pay and pensions. Its the future for big business.
Sad but true 
Also means they have no real contractual obligation to you so if work dies off a bit then you’re out with no notice
Lets face it as long as the agency can send in a driver they dont give a chit who it is it is all about getting a backside to earn them money…
They are just a middle man earning money of your back.
Set up your own with about 5 drivers pay them a decent rate and you will earn a good living from it yourself …
As long as you dont try and get to big… A friend does this he has 8 drivers on his books and they and him earn a great living …He just supplies drivers to small companies and all his drivers are self employed no holiday pay and no tax to worry about just direct invoices…
He just uses a factoring company ( bank ) for payments etc… ( If you dont know about factoring basically they pay you 50% ( dependant on negotiation )of your invoices while you wait for the company to pay you … )
sparewheel:
Agencies are increasingly being used by larger companies in place of full time drivers. It costs them a little more per hour but they can hire drivers on a day to day basis. It also means they have no responsibilities regarding holidays, sick pay and pensions. Its the future for big business.
They do now have obligations regarding sick pay …
26 years an Lgv Trainer:
He just uses a factoring company ( bank ) for payments etc… ( If you dont know about factoring basically they pay you 50% ( dependant on negotiation )of your invoices while you wait for the company to pay you … )
I think a factoring company normally pay a higher percentage than that, but if you are suggesting they are parasites then I wouldn’t disagree.
Harry Monk:
26 years an Lgv Trainer:
He just uses a factoring company ( bank ) for payments etc… ( If you dont know about factoring basically they pay you 50% ( dependant on negotiation )of your invoices while you wait for the company to pay you … )I think a factoring company normally pay a higher percentage than that, but if you are suggesting they are parasites then I wouldn’t disagree.
50% ( dependant on negotiation )
they charge for the service yes … and if you are waiting for a company to pay for to long they lower your credit …or wind you up…
26 years an Lgv Trainer:
Lets face it as long as the agency can send in a driver they dont give a chit who it is it is all about getting a backside to earn them money…They are just a middle man earning money of your back.
Set up your own with about 5 drivers pay them a decent rate and you will earn a good living from it yourself …
As long as you dont try and get to big… A friend does this he has 8 drivers on his books and they and him earn a great living …He just supplies drivers to small companies and all his drivers are self employed no holiday pay and no tax to worry about just direct invoices…
He just uses a factoring company ( bank ) for payments etc… ( If you dont know about factoring basically they pay you 50% ( dependant on negotiation )of your invoices while you wait for the company to pay you … )
What about the insurance and the trucks?
Does the agency supply those or is that the transport company?
The company that wants a driver supplies the vehicle and usually the insurance as far as I know.
Driverofhope, might we enquire your age? I’d guess 14 - 16? My apologies if I’m way out.
However, no matter your age, you are right to come here & ask lots of questions, that is the way to learn.
Spend time reading here, looking back through old posts, using the search facility, and then what you can’t find, ask. You will learn lots… there are some very knowlegeable people on here… aswell as all the rest