A few years ago I recall FOCs actively seeking to recruit drivers from TOCs, but then it kind of all but disappeared overnight, and all FOCs then seemed to only recruit existing freight drivers for their qualified driver vacancies. I’ve noticed recently although FOCs don’t seem to specifically indicate they’d take applications from passenger train drivers, they equally just say “qualified driver” rather than “qualified freight train driver” in the adverts. I wonder if this is because they struggle to recruit existing freight drivers these days?
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Freight companies taking on passenger drivers
- Thread starter Stigy
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Dieseldriver
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To be honest, I can’t imagine Freight companies would be particularly picky about who they take on nowadays
Can't see many TOC drivers wanting to move to FOCs for various reasons.A few years ago I recall FOCs actively seeking to recruit drivers from TOCs, but then it kind of all but disappeared overnight, and all FOCs then seemed to only recruit existing freight drivers for their qualified driver vacancies. I’ve noticed recently although FOCs don’t seem to specifically indicate they’d take applications from passenger train drivers, they equally just say “qualified driver” rather than “qualified freight train driver” in the adverts. I wonder if this is because they struggle to recruit existing freight drivers these days?
Most probably recruit off the street.To be honest, I can’t imagine Freight companies would be particularly picky about who they take on nowadays
jjjjjjonny
Member
GB Railfreight say this for their driver jobs: "Freight Train Driving Experience is essential to apply for this role, with in date Traction competence and Route knowledge." Which I find weird because that must be such a small pool of people actually eligible to apply for each location.
You have to do a conversion course if you are a passenger driver moving to freight. Can't remember exactly how long it is but about 3 or 4 weeks with handling hours I think. If a freight company needs drivers up and running straight away that is probably why they sometimes want freight experience.
It’s generally the same the other way around. At SWR if you come from freight you have to do 50 hrs handling, but if you came from another TOC it’s 25.You have to do a conversion course if you are a passenger driver moving to freight. Can't remember exactly how long it is but about 3 or 4 weeks with handling hours I think. If a freight company needs drivers up and running straight away that is probably why they sometimes want freight experience.
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GB Railfreight say this for their driver jobs: "Freight Train Driving Experience is essential to apply for this role, with in date Traction competence and Route knowledge." Which I find weird because that must be such a small pool of people actually eligible to apply for each location.
I think GBRf have Freight Driver vacancies specific for qualified freight drivers, and some ads just say “train driver” (or Train Manager as they like to call them…)
It doesn't really surprise me. I know of several TOC drivers who went to freight. The majority were fine but some just didn't settle in and ended up back doing passenger work. It's a very different culture and if they don't have many vacancies to fill they're probably better off poaching existing freight drivers.