Cross Country looking for QDrivers Bristol and Leicester.

[Visualhappy]

Leicester and Bristol Qualified Drivers.

 

[cbrstu]

On speaking to a Great Northern Driver who was a train spotter at Derby last Monday. He stated Cross Country pay great money almost up to £70k but they are devils for messing your shifts around. Stories of staff booked annual leave stated it is cancelled as we need you to work. I don't know how true this is it may be rumour as well as the legalities of this and what is their union doing about it . Cross country may be a very good employer and one of the better TOCS. I stand to be corrected or the comments put right.

 

[Tom Quinne]

XC are no worse than anyother TOC.

Both sides (ex Central and ex Virgin) both sold a few conditions to attain the salary.

It’s three stages for new (qualified) drivers leading to full pay at point 3 after two years service.

Loads of horror stories about leave being cancelled etc, all rubbish.

Good work content, good salary, turns the same as any other toc - horses for courses.

 

[lammergeier]

On speaking to a Great Northern Driver who was a train spotter at Derby last Monday. He stated Cross Country pay great money almost up to £70k but they are devils for messing your shifts around. Stories of staff booked annual leave stated it is cancelled as we need you to work. I don't know how true this is it may be rumour as well as the legalities of this and what is their union doing about it . Cross country may be a very good employer and one of the better TOCS. I stand to be corrected or the comments put right.

Completely untrue. We work a fixed four or five day roster (depending on depot/link) which does not change so you know what you're doing one week/month/year to the next. Your annual leave is your annual leave and does not change unless you swap it, same as at any other TOC.

There are a lot of misconceptions about XC, not really sure where they come from to be honest but happy to say it aint true.

 

[Minilad]

Seems quite a few people always like to have a pop at XC. Quite a few on this forum included. Usually by people who don't work for them.
Absolute rubbish about AL being cancelled if previously agreed. What I think might be the case is people requesting a Sunday off and not given it. As it's committed Sundays on XC a Sunday off is only given if cover is available.
AL have set numbers that are guaranteed on a daily basis. For floating days if you are inside this number when applying then you get it whatever happens. If outside then they will give it you in cover is available. But once agreed then they cannot take it back off you.
I would imaging working for XC is no worse or better than any other TOC in that it's swings and roundabouts. Personally I do not have a problem working for them and while there might be a few small individual issues that I have they certainly don't outweigh the benefits

 

[Dieseldriver]

Seems quite a few people always like to have a pop at XC. Quite a few on this forum included. Usually by people who don't work for them.
Absolute rubbish about AL being cancelled if previously agreed. What I think might be the case is people requesting a Sunday off and not given it. As it's committed Sundays on XC a Sunday off is only given if cover is available.
AL have set numbers that are guaranteed on a daily basis. For floating days if you are inside this number when applying then you get it whatever happens. If outside then they will give it you in cover is available. But once agreed then they cannot take it back off you.
I would imaging working for XC is no worse or better than any other TOC in that it's swings and roundabouts. Personally I do not have a problem working for them and while there might be a few small individual issues that I have they certainly don't outweigh the benefits

In my experience the ones who spout the untruths the loudest about XC are Drivers who are bitter but also lack the guts to put themselves out there and apply.
Also, generally speaking if they spent less time getting angry about non issues and more time concentrating on actually being good at their jobs, they could end up with less incidents on their record which would make them more desirable

 

[lammergeier]

In my experience the ones who spout the untruths the loudest about XC are Drivers who are bitter but also lack the guts to put themselves out there and apply.

So very true.

Another classic being "they will only employ ex driver managers and instructors as qualified drivers."

 

[Darkinsider]

deleted

 

[lammergeier]

What about the rumour you can be moved 9hrs. So an 0500 book on becomes 1400 book on and hence it effectively blights anything you try and plan at any time of the said day?

There is big movement off spare but in reality it's rarely used as it's not usually needed and can be problematic for the previous/next turn of duty. Plus once the roster is posted four days before the day your booking on time cannot be moved without agreement, and even then they use rest day volunteers before asking spares.

Other companies, including the one I moved from, will repost the roster the day before giving another chance for spares to be moved. When I left that TOC everyone went on about movement off spare being this massive big deal without realising that it's far better at XC than where I left in terms of planning your life.

 

[Minilad]

I have worked for XC for 17 years and have never been moved off spare anywhere near 9 hours. And I am not aware of anyone who has.
Moving you that much in practise won't happen as it will mess with the next day.
Remember it is only off spare where you can be theoretically moved and not off your booked duty. Once the daily sheet is posted then that's that.