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Trainee drivers Freighliner HH
- Thread starter Legzr1
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There is absolutely no real planning for route knowledge from the **** poor rostering/planning office.
It will depend on your mentors route knowledge.
Most donny drivers will go to Immingham, possibly Hull, the local power stations, Ratcliffe near Nottingham.
There is ballast work too,HOBC/TRT trains, quite often up the ECML.
You might end up with a reasonable route card, but on the other you might not.
Also bear in mind you won't just be driving, you'll be shunting, train preparing, taxi driving,and doing minor repairs on wagons
Oh, there's also loads of 11hr+ shifts starting in the early hours eg 0150 - 1340.
Lastly you don't get next weeks rosters till Friday teatime.
It's a good job though.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
There is absolutely no real planning for route knowledge from the **** poor rostering/planning office.
It will depend on your mentors route knowledge.
Most donny drivers will go to Immingham, possibly Hull, the local power stations and Ratcliffe near Nottingham.
There is ballast work too,HOBC/TRT trains, quite often up the ECML.
You might end up with a reasonable route card, but on the other you might not.
Also bear in mind you won't just be driving, you'll be shunting, train preparing, taxi driving,and doing minor repairs on wagons
Oh, there's also loads of 11hr+ shifts starting in the early hours eg 0150 - 1340.
Lastly you don't get next weeks rosters till Friday teatime.
It's a good job though.
It will depend on your mentors route knowledge.
Most donny drivers will go to Immingham, possibly Hull, the local power stations, Ratcliffe near Nottingham.
There is ballast work too,HOBC/TRT trains, quite often up the ECML.
You might end up with a reasonable route card, but on the other you might not.
Also bear in mind you won't just be driving, you'll be shunting, train preparing, taxi driving,and doing minor repairs on wagons
Oh, there's also loads of 11hr+ shifts starting in the early hours eg 0150 - 1340.
Lastly you don't get next weeks rosters till Friday teatime.
It's a good job though.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
There is absolutely no real planning for route knowledge from the **** poor rostering/planning office.
It will depend on your mentors route knowledge.
Most donny drivers will go to Immingham, possibly Hull, the local power stations and Ratcliffe near Nottingham.
There is ballast work too,HOBC/TRT trains, quite often up the ECML.
You might end up with a reasonable route card, but on the other you might not.
Also bear in mind you won't just be driving, you'll be shunting, train preparing, taxi driving,and doing minor repairs on wagons
Oh, there's also loads of 11hr+ shifts starting in the early hours eg 0150 - 1340.
Lastly you don't get next weeks rosters till Friday teatime.
It's a good job though.
Great News!
Did they call or send you a letter or email!
Take it you'll be in the January intake then.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Looks like some letters have gone out from Crewe for the last batch.
Just been offered a medical!
Did they call or send you a letter or email!
Take it you'll be in the January intake then.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Looks like some letters have gone out from Crewe for the last batch.
Just been offered a medical!
NinjaJihad
Member
- Joined
- 25 Jul 2013
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- 51
Hi siw8158, sorry I didn't reply to you earlier it was a phonecall I received. Congrats on being offered a position, I've also been booked in for a medical. Have you heard what depot you will be based at?
NinjaJihad
Evening.
Not had the phonecall (that I'm aware of) but having been told by the interviewer I was a main contender and Joe receiving an invite to go for a medical, i'm putting 2&2 together for this letter basically a job offer being conditional on the medical.
Medical in 12 days in Birmingham.
Incidentally, it'll be up the Erewash at Toton!
Keep us/me posted!
Hope to see you there!
Si
Evening.
Not had the phonecall (that I'm aware of) but having been told by the interviewer I was a main contender and Joe receiving an invite to go for a medical, i'm putting 2&2 together for this letter basically a job offer being conditional on the medical.
Medical in 12 days in Birmingham.
Incidentally, it'll be up the Erewash at Toton!
Keep us/me posted!
Hope to see you there!
Si
Just had a letter from FL saying that I was unsuccessful this time, but that they would like to keep my aplication on file should any subsequent suitable posts arise in the future (talent pool?). Anyone else had the same? Has anyone received a outright rejection?
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gammyleg
New Member
Same letter that dropped through my door Rocombe.
Closure on 3 months of tests and anticipation.
congrats to all those who got through.
I got through to the final interviews and that is no mean feat.
I wonder if my stages one and two are worth any currency at other toc's?
Closure on 3 months of tests and anticipation.
congrats to all those who got through.
I got through to the final interviews and that is no mean feat.
I wonder if my stages one and two are worth any currency at other toc's?
NinjaJihad
Member
- Joined
- 25 Jul 2013
- Messages
- 51
Sorry to hear that guys.
@gammyleg I'm sure some companies will accept the passes, may even be worth sending a speculative application stating you have passed the assessments to the likes of Colas or other companies that have ongoing recruitment. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
@gammyleg I'm sure some companies will accept the passes, may even be worth sending a speculative application stating you have passed the assessments to the likes of Colas or other companies that have ongoing recruitment. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Hey Rocombe,
Sorry to hear about that. Im still waiting for a letter!! When did you have your interview at Leeds? Mine was 24th September!!
Mine was the first week of interviews-it was a loooonnngggg 5 week wait for no thanks-should've known really, but hope and all.
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Mine have got me an interview with Colas
gammyleg
New Member
I heard of colas but are they just a southern company as i live up 't' north
i am going to send my cv and a covering letter to all the other tocs stating i have stage one and two.
i am going to send my cv and a covering letter to all the other tocs stating i have stage one and two.
DB Schenker have another ad out, but mainly in the south, Peterbrough is the furthest north I think, have a look at their website.
Bescot (Walsall area) is the furthest North but yeah most are South.
Carlisle is the furthest north
WesternAccent
Member
- Joined
- 13 Sep 2013
- Messages
- 6
Any information would be great, also are there any travel perks on the railways for new starters?
ballast rat
Member
- Joined
- 24 Oct 2013
- Messages
- 35
I do. There aren't many perks as such. Holiday entitlement is circa 32 days, but this is currently being negotiated with a new pay deal for £52k in return for commiting to work some rest days.
Final salary pension scheme, you contribute 10% and the company contributes 16%
There are no travel perks.
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Thanks for the info I read on the ASLEF website that a new deal was being negotiated but couldn't find any information. The one question I have is how does overtime work? I have been told that it is not paid monthly as you would expect but instead a cheque is given at the end of the year. Is this correct? Also is overtime paid at more than the usual rate?
This is probably something that I should have asked in my DM interview but I don't really like discussing financial things as I am worried it could be misconstrued as being greedy.
Thanks
ballast rat
Member
- Joined
- 24 Oct 2013
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- 35
I 'think' overtime is paid at flat rate, but I could be wrong. Any overtime is paid as a 'happy cheque' at the end of the financial year. This is usually when people go and buy new cars/houses/holidays etc!
The reason LG was in the interview is to answer questions relating to pay and terms etc. You should've asked whatever you wanted, they wouldn't be offended.
Also, we're paid 4 weekly, which means 13 payday a year. I like this because it means there's always one payday in the year where it's all disposable as most direct debits and mortgage payments are pcm!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
There is also some child care voucher scheme called busy bees iirc, but I'm not sure on the details of that. All the info you need will be in the handbook which I imagine you'll be given in the first few days.
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Thanks for the info it's a great help and child are vouchers would be brilliant.
flhh66555
Member
At the Moment the holiday entitlement is 36 days, the move to reduce this to 32 (and other things in the pay deal) was voted out. not sure about the 52k deal its a new one on me, unless you mean the first offer which was purely a volunteer basis only. there are some perks, with freight you get more chance of a flyer (home early) and the best perk is not having to deal with joe public. as for overtime it is paid at an enhanced rate. but be aware any overtime worked is NOT guaranteed to be paid.
Interesting. I'm one of the new trainees and my contract states 28 days inc the 8 days bank holidays. Are us newbies on worse contracts????
There is a lot of incorrect information being banded about, it's 36 days AL, no staff travel(unless you are 'safeguarded') No childcare vouchers. Overtime payed annually above 1568 hrs & goes up in stages ( not a huge rate, I don't think it's even time & quarter, but it is a decent hourly rate.
The 52k that is being mentioned was part of a proposal to commit to work a certain number of RDs, but you had to make yourself available for 50% of all RDs! This was rejected by the union.
Any other questions and I'll try & help.
The 52k that is being mentioned was part of a proposal to commit to work a certain number of RDs, but you had to make yourself available for 50% of all RDs! This was rejected by the union.
Any other questions and I'll try & help.
Can that possibly be done at such a huge company?
flhh66555
Member
unfortunately the size of the company is irrelevant. roster clerks control the overtime. certain depots drivers will work over 35 hours week in week out and walk away with a nice bonus. it is possible tho that due to lack of route knowledge or other circumstances new drivers could be in front and be booked short weeks when work is not available. that's a risk everyone takes when working rest days or overtime at the very beginning of your contract.
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I am only guessing but I would imagine this is new starter conditions.
I'll be in a shirt and tie, I'm assuming the first day everyone will be in their own gear and we're kitted out with Freightliner uniform from then onwards.
spesh
Member
Jeans and t shirt ill be wearing. No real need to dress up.
JoyDivision
Member
I've noticed that the postcode given for the first day takes you to a random place nowhere near Basford Hall sidings, where I assume it is - does anybody else know for sure where it is?
I thought it was left out of Crewe station, left down Gresty Road and then the entrance is left after a railway bridge, is this correct?
I thought it was left out of Crewe station, left down Gresty Road and then the entrance is left after a railway bridge, is this correct?
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If I'm overdressed then so be it, I'll just get rid of the tie
I haven't even looked into the actual location yet, I've the building when I'm passing through on the train home to Liverpool but never actually been there. Will have to look into that in a bit more detail...
Another thing, who is staying over in the hotel for the 5 weeks until Christmas week?
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