Tocs that do not take on experienced drivers

[notadriver]

Are there any Tocs that expressly do not want experienced drivers?

 

[HLE]

Wouldn't have thought so. Cost etc.

Although some toc's are obviously less attractive than others to qualifieds. Round here we have four toc's - all vary in the pay scale, type of work and conditions.

It was only a few years back that a certain manager at 1 of the 4 toc's did not want to take on trainees because he thought that like the other companies they could attract qualifieds too. Never going to happen as they paid the least and were seen as having the worst work. Within a year it was triple time for drivers on some jobs across some of the depots.

Off topic slightly, but the company in question rarely takes on qualifieds as they all usually go to the other three. Rather 'cannot/rarely' than 'do not'

 

[Aivilo]

I heard one tocs HR specifically say they were only looking at taking on trainees

 

[irish_rail]

Merseyrail. Irish Rail. Northern Rail at depots like Liverpool or Manchester.

 

[WCMLaddict]

Merseyrail. Irish Rail. Northern Rail at depots like Liverpool or Manchester.

Not true in regards to MR and NR

 

[TDK]

I am not certain but I think employment laws somewhere quote that a new influx is mandatory when employing people for a role, I think it is a certain percentage.

 

[A-driver]

South eastern, southern and greater Anglia very rarely take ok qualifieds. I'm not going to say never though. But by the same token, experienced drivers are hardly going to be flocking to any of those TOCs unless they specifically relocate there.

 

[notadriver]

South eastern, southern and greater Anglia very rarely take ok qualifieds. I'm not going to say never though. But by the same token, experienced drivers are hardly going to be flocking to any of those TOCs unless they specifically relocate there.

Southeastern do take on qualified drivers and are currently doing so for the high speed but it is extremely hard to get on there.

 

[A-driver]

Southeastern do take on qualified drivers and are currently doing so for the high speed but it is extremely hard to get on there.

High speed is a different kettle of fish but the 'domestic' depots tend to traditionally go for trainees.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

I'd be surprised if any TOC never took on experienced drivers as they'll know all the railway rules and regs, saving some training time. They might also know the traction used so saving more training time.

 

[A-driver]

I'd be surprised if any TOC never took on experienced drivers as they'll know all the railway rules and regs, saving some training time. They might also know the traction used so saving more training time.

GA tend not to on the eastern side as their policy seems to be to only take mainline drivers out of the depot grade so a qualified mainline would have to spend time being 'demoted' (wait for the backlash!) to depot driver for a while.

As I say, some also won't bother as they know they will get very little response from qualifieds (like southeastern and southern) so you tend to have to approach them if you wish to relocate to one of their depots.

 

[craigybagel]

Merseyrail. Irish Rail. Northern Rail at depots like Liverpool or Manchester.

One of our drivers transferred to a Northern Manchester depot. It was a shorter commute for him.

Irish Rail is technically true but drivers here aren't "experienced" by Irish Rail standards as they wouldn't know the rule book there. The two countries railways are not as similar as you might expect. Although given your user name I suspect you already know this!

 

[Panupreset]

Depot Drivers at GA no longer have automatic line of promotion to mainline driver.

 

[greatkingrat]

I am not certain but I think employment laws somewhere quote that a new influx is mandatory when employing people for a role, I think it is a certain percentage.

There is no such rule. London Underground for example haven't recruited any external drivers for many years.

 

[HeelBurton]

I've been told Crossrail at Old Oak Common will not be taking on experienced drivers. I made an enquiry and was "encouraged" to go to a Driver Team Leader role.

 

[notadriver]

I've been told Crossrail at Old Oak Common will not be taking on experienced drivers. I made an enquiry and was "encouraged" to go to a Driver Team Leader role.

Is that like a driver manager role ?

 

[Surreytraveller]

I think some TOCs want new blood so they can be moulded to the new ways, and to get rid of the 'old school '. Trouble is, form what I've noticed, a lot of the new blood, once they've got their feet under the table, are ending up with a worse attitude and more difficult to manage than the staff that have been on for 30+ years.

 

[A-driver]

I think some TOCs want new blood so they can be moulded to the new ways, and to get rid of the 'old school '. Trouble is, form what I've noticed, a lot of the new blood, once they've got their feet under the table, are ending up with a worse attitude and more difficult to manage than the staff that have been on for 30+ years.

Absolutely. A common myth is that more desirable TOCs pick the most experienced. Reality is that they prefer those with only a few years to those with 20+years.

 

[OpsWeb]

Absolutely. A common myth is that more desirable TOCs pick the most experienced. Reality is that they prefer those with only a few years to those with 20+years.

I second that,I was once told by a recruitment manager that they look for people with less than 3 years railway experience for Trainee Driver roles because statistically (rightly or wrongly) they tend to have a better attitude and adopt better to change.

CrossCountry for example, used to look for drivers with more than 5 years driving experience, then it was lowered to 3 years, then 2 and now 18 months! I know an ex-colleague who had been driving for 18 months (with another TOC) when they were offered a job with them.

 

[notadriver]

It all depends on the person in my opinion. I don't consider myself a proper 'driver' which is why I've got the job I'm in now

 

[HeelBurton]

Is that like a driver manager role ?

Driver Instructor Role

 

[notadriver]

Driver Instructor Role

Right so they are taking on experienced drivers but they just want them to train up new drivers instead. Awesome