Age at being accepted for a position as a trainee driver

[Prospective01]

I have a question about age at being accepted for a position as a trainee driver.

I'm 53 & from what I've read on here it can take 3-4 years (or more) to progress from making an initial application to one TOC to finally completing the necessary steps in the recruitment & selection process to be accepted onto theirs or another TOC's trainee programme.

Previous posts seem to strongly suggest age isn't an issue, however, when considering the amount of fresh applicants TOC's appear to receive, along with those waiting to progress from the 'talent pool', would being around 56-57 if & when I commenced training mean my age could be a bar to being selected as a trainee?

I'd have thought the TOC's would have a 'payback time' they'd want to be able to employ a trained-up driver for & being too close to that might render someone not cost-effective to train.

That's of course assuming I'm not rejected due to poor scores on any of the relevant tests, interviews, medicals etc!

We live in Peterborough so at least I'm close to the network.

Thanks.

 

[MostlyHarmless]

I have a question about age at being accepted for a position as a trainee driver.

I'm 53 & from what I've read on here it can take 3-4 years (or more) to progress from making an initial application to one TOC to finally completing the necessary steps in the recruitment & selection process to be accepted onto theirs or another TOC's trainee programme.

Previous posts seem to strongly suggest age isn't an issue, however, when considering the amount of fresh applicants TOC's appear to receive, along with those waiting to progress from the 'talent pool', would being around 56-57 if & when I commenced training mean my age could be a bar to being selected as a trainee?

I'd have thought the TOC's would have a 'payback time' they'd want to be able to employ a trained-up driver for & being too close to that might render someone not cost-effective to train.

That's of course assuming I'm not rejected due to poor scores on any of the relevant tests, interviews, medicals etc!

We live in Peterborough so at least I'm close to the network.

Thanks.

I have to say that I had the same thoughts about this as you, however I got past the initial screening for a TOC and the subsequent assessment centre at the ripe old age of 52, so there is hope for the more mature candidate I still have to get past the interview stages yet (I'm waiting for a date for the 1st of these) but so far the process has only taken a few weeks.

They can't actually directly discriminate against you on the grounds of age, but I'd like to think that they are more enlightened than that anyway!

 

[Prospective01]

Hi there MH, thanks for the reply.

So it's really a case of preparing a cracking application form reply and start practising the various tests.

BTW does your name, MostlyHarmless, come from HHGTTG, or is it just a coincidence?

 

[dilbertphil]

I trained with a guy who was 55 at the time, he retired a few months ago at 68. I don' think age would be a barrier as long as your competent.

 

[MostlyHarmless]

Hi there MH, thanks for the reply.

So it's really a case of preparing a cracking application form reply and start practising the various tests.

BTW does your name, MostlyHarmless, come from HHGTTG, or is it just a coincidence?

Yes it does... not many people spot that!

As you say, just get applying - getting past the paper sift is possibly the hardest part simply because of the number of people that apply, however this is where being older and generally having more life experience can be a bonus. I've applied for 3 TOC's and the forms were all online and in a very similar format, so you can re-use bits if needed. They all wanted a CV and covering letter too.

 

[Grannyjoans]

Age is not a barrier some people start in their 20's and only stay with a company for 2 years and move on elsewhere so someone younger doesnt' always mean more years​

 

[Prospective01]

Grannyjones, I'd not thought about it like that actually. Yes. Perhaps they find it doesn't match their expectations.

 

[baz962]

Started my training last month, just shy of my 48th. With my current toc, applying to starting was 4 months and two week's. I have seen it posted before on this forum that a toc is not too worried about getting 20, 30, or 40 year's out of you, because the franchise quite often change's in much shorter period's. Go for it, and very good luck.

 

[MostlyHarmless]

Started my training last month, just shy of my 48th. With my current toc, applying to starting was 4 months and two week's. I have seen it posted before on this forum that a toc is not too worried about getting 20, 30, or 40 year's out of you, because the franchise quite often change's in much shorter period's. Go for it, and very good luck.

That's actually a good point (about the franchise periods) - thankfully the days of it taking 20 years to become a driver are long gone! How are you finding your training?

 

[ESONEULB]

I'm 50 and have got to the last interview stage, which I take I take this month.. if I get through then I will be 51 when I start the training.
Maturatey is a bonus when it comes to safety critical jobs..
Good luck and keep going

 

[Prospective01]

Good luck with the forthcoming interview ESONEULB & your comments too.

I think I now need to start with practising the various tests, so that when I, hopefully, have an application accepted that I'll be in with a good chance of securing a good pass in them.

 

[baz962]

That's actually a good point (about the franchise periods) - thankfully the days of it taking 20 years to become a driver are long gone! How are you finding your training?

Only a few week's in and absolutely enjoying every minute.

 

[Spankthemonkey]

I have a question about age at being accepted for a position as a trainee driver.

I'm 53 & from what I've read on here it can take 3-4 years (or more) to progress from making an initial application to one TOC to finally completing the necessary steps in the recruitment & selection process to be accepted onto theirs or another TOC's trainee programme.

Previous posts seem to strongly suggest age isn't an issue, however, when considering the amount of fresh applicants TOC's appear to receive, along with those waiting to progress from the 'talent pool', would being around 56-57 if & when I commenced training mean my age could be a bar to being selected as a trainee?

I'd have thought the TOC's would have a 'payback time' they'd want to be able to employ a trained-up driver for & being too close to that might render someone not cost-effective to train.

That's of course assuming I'm not rejected due to poor scores on any of the relevant tests, interviews, medicals etc!

We live in Peterborough so at least I'm close to the network.

Thanks.

The bigger issue is actually where you live, Peterborough maybe on the network and a fantastic railway hub, but for trainee jobs it is not ideal. GN are based there but only take trainees at depots further south, GA in Cambridge is 40+ miles but a nightmere for at least 2 years with the A14 works, and EMT at Notts is best part of an hour by road. Potential trainee jobs exist in London and it's only 45min by rail but then there is onward travel from kings cross to potential depots. TOC's are only going to get harder on commute distances from now on.

 

[KT530]

53 is not an issue - You may have the right skillset to offer a potential employer

I had a job offer 2 months after initial application so it’s not always doom and gloom in terms of time

Give it a go if you feel you have the right skills & experience

Good luck

 

[ExMover]

I joined the railway as a driver when I was 52 after 29 years in the RAF. Age is absolutely not a barrier to becoming a driver. The TOCs and FOCs are interested in you and what you can offer, not how old you are. The tests you have to do are largely designed to show whether you are capable of becoming a train driver and that is what the companies will look at.

You might not be as sharp as when you were 21, but there are many other qualities that your age and experience might have enhanced such as willingness and ability to learn, ability to concentrate for lengthy periods, maturity, calmness, patience, tolerence and a sense of good customer sevice to name but a few (there are many young drivers who also have these attributes as well of course). You might also be less concerned about how disrupted your social live can be.

These are important factors for a driver and will be what the company is looking for, not whether you are the Dad's Army 'Godfrey' of your course (which I suppose I was haha). Loving the job by the way.

 

[MostlyHarmless]

I joined the railway as a driver when I was 52 after 29 years in the RAF. Age is absolutely not a barrier to becoming a driver. The TOCs and FOCs are interested in you and what you can offer, not how old you are. The tests you have to do are largely designed to show whether you are capable of becoming a train driver and that is what the companies will look at.

You might not be as sharp as when you were 21, but there are many other qualities that your age and experience might have enhanced such as willingness and ability to learn, ability to concentrate for lengthy periods, maturity, calmness, patience, tolerence and a sense of good customer sevice to name but a few (there are many young drivers who also have these attributes as well of course). You might also be less concerned about how disrupted your social live can be.

These are important factors for a driver and will be what the company is looking for, not whether you are the Dad's Army 'Godfrey' of your course (which I suppose I was haha). Loving the job by the way.

+1 for this...

And better to be a Godfrey than a Corporal Jones though! (I think I'm more of Sgt Wilson )