Hiring Drivers: Should You Choose Temporary, Permanent or Both?

When you’re hiring drivers, it’s usually because something in the business needs sorting fairly quickly.

Maybe one of your regular drivers has called in sick. Maybe you’ve won a new contract and suddenly need more hands on deck. Maybe your busiest season is coming up and the rota already looks painful. Or maybe the workload has been building for a while, and you’re starting to wonder whether it’s time to bring someone in on a permanent basis.

Either way, you’ve got deliveries to make, customers to keep happy, and a business to run.

So, should you hire temporary drivers? Permanent drivers? A bit of both?

The answer is that it depends on how your business works. Some companies need a permanent team who knows the routes, the people, and the pace of the work. Others need flexible support when things get busy or someone drops out at short notice. Plenty of businesses need both.

Today, we’ll lay out what temporary and permanent drivers bring to the table, helping you find a solution that works for you, no matter how hectic things get.

Why hiring drivers can be trickier than it looks

At first, hiring a reliable driver sounds simple enough.

You need someone with the right licence, the right qualifications, decent experience and good availability.

Easy enough, right?

Well… not always.

A driver is often one of the only people your customers actually meet in person. They’re the one turning up at the gate, the warehouse, the shop, the site or the front door. They’re trusted with the vehicle, the goods, the route, the paperwork, and the customer experience.

So yes, the licence is important. Of course it is. But if it’s a commercial role, you’ll also need to check things like Driver CPC, tachograph knowledge, right to work, references, insurance requirements, and safety awareness.

On top of that, you’ll want someone who’s responsible, dependable, calm under pressure, and able to communicate properly when plans change.

A good driver can help you keep a reliable service running, even when the day doesn’t exactly go to plan. A poor fit can create delays, complaints, damaged goods, missed slots, and a lot of extra admin for whoever is trying to hold the schedule together!

When temporary drivers make sense

Temporary drivers are a great choice when you need breathing room.

They’re often used for holiday cover, sickness, peak periods, extra drops, new routes, seasonal demand, or last-minute gaps in the schedule.

If your workload goes up and down, temporary cover can give you room to move without hiring someone permanently before you’re ready.

You can get help quickly

Sometimes you know weeks ahead that you’ll need extra people.

Other times, you get a call at 7am and realise you’re about to have a very stressful day.

That’s when temporary drivers can be a huge help. If you work with a recruitment agency that already has vetted drivers ready, you’re not starting a frantic search every time something changes.

You can get someone suitable quickly to keep everything on schedule.

You can cover busy periods without overcommitting

A lot of transport and logistics work comes in waves.

One month is manageable. The next month is crazy. Then it settles again.

Temporary drivers give you a way to handle those busier periods without committing to a full time hire too soon. You can bring in help when you need it, then ease back when the pressure drops.

That can make a big difference if your workload depends on seasonal peaks, contract work, customer demand, or changes in the wider supply chain.

You can keep costs under control

A permanent hire comes with ongoing costs. Wages, holiday pay, sick pay, pension contributions, onboarding, HR admin, management time, and training all add up!

Temporary drivers can be a good option when the work itself is temporary. You pay for the cover you need rather than carrying a long-term cost through quieter periods.

Of course, agency rates can look higher at first glance. That’s why it’s worth looking at the whole picture rather than comparing one hourly rate with another.

You can bring in different experience

Temporary drivers often have experience across different routes, sectors, and types of work.

Some will be used to multi-drop delivery work. Some will have HGV experience. Some may be happy working in and around London. Others might prefer regional routes across the country.

Some drivers may have their own van and like the freedom of flexible work. Some might just want to be their own boss or be using temporary work to build experience, keep money coming in between contracts, or find their next permanent job.

The point is, there are different types of drivers for different types of work. Matching the person to the role is the bit that makes the difference.

Thinking of working with a driver recruiter? Here are 5 awkward questions to ask them first!

What you should consider with temporary drivers

Temporary cover is handy, no doubt about it. It still needs to be handled properly.

Even an experienced driver won’t automatically know your routes, your site rules, your customers, your paperwork, or how you like things done.

If someone is coming in for a shift, you have to get them set up, and go over the following information with them:

• Start time

• Location

• Route details

• Type of van or HGV

• Loading and unloading requirements

• Customer notes

• Contact person

• Safety rules

• Any quirks they need to know

The benefits of hiring permanent drivers

Permanent drivers are a good choice when the work is consistent enough to justify the commitment.

They get to know the company properly. They learn the routes, the regular customers in your local community, the loading process, the paperwork, the type of products they deliver, and the standards expected of them. They know how your business works

They know which customer needs a call before arrival. They know which site has awkward access. They know which routes are best avoided at certain times. They know what the transport manager expects and how the day usually runs.

That can help with customer satisfaction because the experience feels more consistent.

They can grow with the company

A permanent driver can become part of the bigger plan.

You can train them properly, give them more responsibility, help them progress, and build their career with your company.

For the driver, permanent work can bring more security, routine and a clearer long term career path. For the employer, it can mean a more settled team and less time spent looking for cover.

They may feel more invested

When people feel looked after, they usually take more pride in the work.

That doesn’t happen by accident. Drivers are more likely to stay when they’re paid fairly, treated properly, given realistic schedules, and supported by a decent boss.

The downside of permanent drivers

Permanent hiring is a bigger commitment. If demand is unpredictable, it can put pressure on your costs.

You’ll need to think about salary, holiday pay, sick pay, pension contributions, insurance, HR time, onboarding, equipment, training, and cover when that person is off.

It can also take time to find the right person. A rushed hire can cause more problems than it solves, especially if the role involves customer contact, strict timings, or specialist work.

So, what’s the best choice?

Hire temporary drivers if:

• Your workload changes a lot

• You need cover for sickness or holidays

• You get seasonal spikes

• You’ve taken on a temporary contract

• You need help quickly

• You want flexibility before making a permanent hire

Hire permanent drivers if:

• You have regular routes

• Your workload is steady

• You want the same person dealing with the same customers

• You’re building a more settled team

• You have enough work to justify the ongoing cost

For a lot of businesses, the answer is a mix.

You might have permanent drivers for your regular routes and use temporary cover when things get busy, someone is off, or a new contract lands.

That gives you a stable base without leaving you stuck when the workload changes.

FAQs about hiring drivers

Are temporary drivers cheaper than permanent drivers?

They can be, especially when the work is short term.

If you only need cover for a few days, weeks or seasonal peaks, temporary drivers can help you avoid the ongoing costs of permanent employment.

For regular work, permanent drivers may be better value over time. The important thing is to compare the total cost, not just the hourly rate. Include holiday pay, sick pay, pensions, recruitment, admin, training and cover when someone is off.

How much does hiring drivers really cost?

A permanent driver’s hourly rate or salary might look cheaper than an agency driver. Once you add the other costs, it can look different.

Think about:

• Recruitment time

• Holiday pay

• Sick pay

• Pension contributions

• Payroll admin

• HR time

• Compliance checks

• Onboarding

• Training

• Absence cover

• Management time

Agency drivers might cost more per hour, although that rate can include things that would otherwise sit with your internal team, including vetting, payroll, and faster access to cover.

That’s why it’s worth doing the numbers properly.

Driver Require’s Driver Cost Calculator helps you compare the cost of agency drivers and permanent employees, so you can see what’ll make the most sense for your business before making a decision.

What should I check before hiring a driver?

You should check licence type, right to work, experience, references, driving history, and any role-specific requirements.

For commercial driving roles, you may also need to check Driver CPC, tachograph knowledge, insurance requirements, and any extra qualifications linked to the vehicle or goods being carried.

It’s also worth paying attention to attitude. A driver may be dealing with customers directly, so communication, reliability and professionalism really count.

Can agency drivers become permanent employees?

Yes, this happens all the time!

Some businesses use temporary placements as a way to see how someone performs before offering them a permanent role.

It can work well for the driver too. They get to understand the route, the company and the day-to-day work before deciding whether they want to stay.

Can I get drivers at short notice?

Yes, especially if you work with a specialist driver recruitment agency, like ours.

The more detail you give, the easier it is to find the right person quickly. Share the start time, location, vehicle type, route, duties, shift length, and any compliance requirements.

Last-minute cover is never ideal, although it’s often possible when the right network is already in place.

Do temporary drivers care about doing a good job?

Yes, good temporary drivers are professionals. However we’ll always thoroughly vet each driver to make sure they meet the high standards our clients expect.

Many choose temporary work because it gives them variety, flexibility, and more control over their working life. Others use it to gain experience, work with different organisations, or find a permanent role they really like.

A temporary driver can still care about doing the work properly, turning up on time and representing your company well.

Can Driver Require help businesses across the UK?

Absolutely! Driver Require supports businesses across the UK, including London and other busy areas, with temporary and permanent driver recruitment.

The team has spent decades working in professional driving recruitment, helping businesses find suitable people for different routes, schedules, and types of work.

Find the right drivers for your fleet

Hiring drivers can be a real challenge, especially when demand changes quickly and the work still needs to go out on time.

Driver Require helps businesses find professional drivers who are properly checked, suited to the role and ready to work. Whether you need one shift covered, ongoing temporary help or a permanent hire, the team can help you find the right fit.

Want to compare the costs before you decide?

Try Driver Require’s Driver Cost Calculator to see how agency and permanent driver costs compare for your business.

Or get in touch with the team for driver hire support.

Looking for your next driving role? You can also join Driver Require’s network and apply for available roles.