One of the most common questions we get from transport and logistics operators is whether to hire on a temporary or permanent basis. The honest answer is: it depends on your operation. Here's a clear breakdown to help you decide.
When Temporary Staffing Makes Sense
Temporary staffing — placing agency workers on a flexible basis — is the right choice in a number of situations:
- Short-notice cover: When a permanent employee is off sick, on holiday or has left suddenly and you need someone immediately
- Seasonal peaks: Many logistics operations see significant volume increases at certain times of year — Christmas, summer, harvest season — where permanent headcount would be unsustainable year-round
- New contract testing: When you've won a new contract but aren't yet certain of the volume, temporary staff let you scale without long-term commitment
- Project-based work: Construction sites, film productions and one-off logistics projects where the need is defined and time-limited
- Try before you hire: Many of our clients use temporary placements as a probationary period, converting strong performers to permanent roles
Temporary staffing gives you flexibility. You scale up when you need to and scale back without redundancy costs when you don't. The agency handles PAYE, employer's NI and holiday pay — significantly reducing your administrative burden.
When Permanent Hiring Makes Sense
Permanent recruitment is the right approach when you need consistent, committed people who are fully invested in your operation:
- Core team roles: Transport managers, depot supervisors and key drivers who need to understand your operation deeply
- Customer-facing positions: Drivers who regularly interact with your clients and represent your brand
- Long-term growth: When you're expanding and need people who will grow with the business
- Specialist skills: Roles requiring specific knowledge, experience or qualifications that take time to find
Permanent recruitment typically involves a one-off agency fee (usually a percentage of first-year salary), after which the employee is on your payroll directly. Over 12+ months, this is almost always more cost-effective than agency rates for the same role — provided the hire works out.
The Hybrid Approach
Most well-run transport operations use a combination of both. A permanent core team provides stability, institutional knowledge and consistent service. A pool of reliable temporary workers — ideally from an agency you have an ongoing relationship with — provides the flexibility to handle peaks, cover absence and test new capacity without risk.
The key is having the right agency relationship in place before you need it urgently. The worst time to find a new recruitment partner is at 5pm on a Friday when you need three drivers for Monday morning.
Temporary, Permanent or Both — We Cover All of It
Tell us what you need and we'll tell you honestly what approach will work best for your operation.
Speak to Our Team