Colas Rail Trainee Train Drivers

[NI 271]

Is it confirmed they have zero-hour contracts? Haven't heard anything convincing.

Could do with knowing, would save me the bother of going to an interview 200 miles away if so.

 

[Monty]

Is it confirmed they have zero-hour contracts? Haven't heard anything convincing.

Could do with knowing, would save me the bother of going to an interview 200 miles away if so.

This is my concern also, I have no interest in a zero hours contract and certainly wouldn't even consider a relocation unless it was for nothing less than a perminant full time hours.

 

[mickeyjenson!]

Surely they wouldn't spend all the time and money training you up to put you on a zero hour contract.

 

[caro22]

surely someone out there knows about whether or not the contract is zero hours and what the salary is??? come on...........

 

[Phatdan]

Thanks Phatdan, I did the same as you, already passed all the tests (waiting on Freightliner to get back to me, freightliner's recruitment period has been extended until 31 October with more trainee drivers being taken on, should be music to your ears and it explains what the DM said to me at interview that has completely done my box in, but still have a good feeling about Freightliner-I think they may be arranging a later start date for me to coincide with personal plans about relocating) Anyway Colas said that they would arrange a line manager interview once they verified my OPC results, should hear Tuesday, great plan B!! Thanks again for the heads up.

no worries.

Glad to be of help.

I still havent heard back from colas but i suppose if we dont need to sit the tests we wont be hearing back for a week or two?

I passed my CBI by the way )

 

[mickeyjenson!]

surely someone out there knows about whether or not the contract is zero hours and what the salary is??? come on...........

Would also love to know!

 

[Scaramanga]

Im sure the original advert said words to the effect of 'an attractive salary'.
Suggests to me that it would be a fixed contract. I think Colas pay around £42k for fixed contract drivers.

 

[TDF]

I don't think Colas drivers are unionised so the salary doesn't show on the ASLEF website

 

[Rocombe11]

no worries.

Glad to be of help.

I still havent heard back from colas but i suppose if we dont need to sit the tests we wont be hearing back for a week or two?

I passed my CBI by the way )

Hey Phatdan, Good luck with interview, I asked for Crewe and I think you want the SE area, it is a very relaxed interview. Should be in Leeds.

 

[Phatdan]

Hey Phatdan, Good luck with interview, I asked for Crewe and I think you want the SE area, it is a very relaxed interview. Should be in Leeds.

Hey rocombe11 ,

Got my letter today do FLHH interview next Thursday , too short notice to get time off work so gonna have to think of something else "cough".

Was your medical the same day ?

I'm praying that 1 I get the job and 2 I get posted in the SE like you say .

Thanks for the heads up .

What questions were they asking or was it more of a "meet and greet" ?

 

[Holt0121]

I've just sent my CV off for the recent advert for trainee freight trainers... Does anybody know how long it takes to hear back?

 

[anthony263]

I've just sent my CV off for the recent advert for trainee freight trainers... Does anybody know how long it takes to hear back?

If you mean Cola's I sent my cv in at around 3pm and heard back the next day

 

[bacooke1987]

Hello Antony which email did you send your cv off to? I sent mine Saturday just gone but haven't heard back yet so wasn't sure if it was the correct one. I have all my assessments under my belt and had been offered a job for freightliner but had to decline. Cheers Ben

 

[outseyuk]

I spoke to one of the Colas managers yesterday (can't remember his name unfortunately) and he said the following:

Training salary £20k
After 12 weeks £34k

Looking at taking 60 drivers with the majority being already qualified.

I was only there to do the Mechanical test as did the rest a few weeks back with GA.

Now waiting for letter confirming interview date.

 

[Rocombe11]

Hello Antony which email did you send your cv off to? I sent mine Saturday just gone but haven't heard back yet so wasn't sure if it was the correct one. I have all my assessments under my belt and had been offered a job for freightliner but had to decline. Cheers Ben

It took 3 days for Colas to get back to me, offered me an interview this week gone but it was too short notice for me.
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I spoke to one of the Colas managers yesterday (can't remember his name unfortunately) and he said the following:

Training salary £20k
After 12 weeks £34k

Looking at taking 60 drivers with the majority being already qualified.

I was only there to do the Mechanical test as did the rest a few weeks back with GA.

Now waiting for letter confirming interview date.

Is £34k the final salary, or is that still the training salary while you complete your driving hours?

 

[outseyuk]

I didn't confirm as i was only there for an assessment and didn't want to press too hard until interview stage.

Their contracted drivers are on around £42k i think, so i would hazard a guess that after 12 months/driving hours complete or whatever, you'd go up to that, which is similar in scales to another TOC that i looked at recently.

 

[Rocombe11]

I didn't confirm as i was only there for an assessment and didn't want to press too hard until interview stage.

Their contracted drivers are on around £42k i think, so i would hazard a guess that after 12 months/driving hours complete or whatever, you'd go up to that, which is similar in scales to another TOC that i looked at recently.

If that is the case then that is a very decent training salary. Better then most FOCs are offering.
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--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Hi all, just to let everyone know that Colas are starting the DM interviews, mine is in Rugby on the 5 November. As they have asked no questions yet, CV upload being the application would I be correct in thinking that this could be like a CBI/job interview all in one so the range of possible questions will be horrendous.

 

[benno79]

Didn't you pass the cbi with a previous application?

 

[Rocombe11]

Didn't you pass the cbi with a previous application?

I have already passed the cbi, they offered me a interview last week, at Swindon but I would only have had 2 days to rearrange my days off, so had to decline. But they gave me a choice of interview slots on the 5 November which would lead me to believe that I am not the only one with a interview on that day.

What I was trying to get at in the reference to the cbi was that thus far Colas have asked no questions as the other TOC/Focs might prior to interviewing you, describe a time when you have given excellent customer service, describe a time when you have had to deal with a difficult customer, what is your attendance record to. Basically they could ask anything? The interview is scheduled to last a hour.

 

[benno79]

I assume your interview will be like a traditional managers interview and it will be more like why you want to be a driver, what skills will make you a good driver, why do you want to work for colas etc. I can't see them going through all the questions of the cbi when you have answered those proficiently as part of your freightliner application and they have been given the pass mark by the opc.

Just my two cents
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As I understand it they are taking on qualified as well as trainee drivers so I assume qualified drivers could be having their dm interviews on the 5th November or other candidates who have previously passed the old style tests.

 

[Rocombe11]

Just doing the prep for my interview, and in case the DM asks about route knowledge, does anyone know what routes are covered by Colas from Westbury?

 

[mickeyjenson!]

Anyone had their results back from last weeks assessments?

 

[DunfordBridge]

Anyone had their results back from last weeks assessments?

I was beginning to wonder when they would let you know.

 

[benno79]

Check your email folks, just got one inviting me to stage two

 

[Rhaun]

Ditto.

 

[outseyuk]

Check your email folks, just got one inviting me to stage two

Do you mean structured interviews? I only did the mechanical test in swindon as passed everything else with another TOC. Or did you do the first interviews on the day?

 

[benno79]

I understand stage two consists of the new style reaction and coordination tests followed by the new style structured interviews.

This is what was in the practice material anyway.

 

[outseyuk]

Thanks. I don't expect to hear anything then.

I was told on the day that i passed the MT4.1 so would be awaiting a letter confirming DM interview. Having said that, they're expecting people to start in December so I would think they need to get a shift on

 

[nick40uk]

I haven't heard anything yet. They said it would be a couple of weeks so I'm not panicking just yet.

 

[anthony263]

Havent heard anything myself yet