Freightliner Various Trainee Drivers

[slidingdoors]

Train won't work without the other stuff so you won't need brakes. At least I assume that's their thinking.

 

[xtradj]

A pre fault is still a fault that needs fixing

 

[martin2345uk]

A pre fault is still a fault that needs fixing

Really hope so otherwise “ahm oot” as they say

 

[Stigy]

Hiya mate, were you the blonde haired chap I spoke to? I was the one you asked if it was the DFFT next and I said "I think so" despite it being the tea-occ instead!
I'm in the same boat as you with feeling a little unhappy with my performance, but that is natural I guess when you want it so much, anything less than perfect and you feel you let yourself down. Hope you get through mate

No, not blonde wasn’t me

I thought you were on a different time to me? Mine was from 1300hrs?

Cheers mate, hope you do too, good luck!. I think you’re right and I did feel like this with the VSE and SJT too some I’m keeping everything crossed.

 

[PaulBusDriver]

No, not blonde wasn’t me

I thought you were on a different time to me? Mine was from 1300hrs?

Cheers mate, hope you do too, good luck!. I think you’re right and I did feel like this with the VSE and SJT too some I’m keeping everything crossed.

Ahh right, yeah I was in at 9am. My toes, finger and testes' cords are all gonna be crossed

 

[Pete C]

If Im right and correct, the order of priority was : Solar Panel, Battery, Engine then Brakes. I found that a bit odd tbh what with brakes being pretty critical but took it on face value. You might be OK mate

Yeah I'm not saying I put the brakes before everything, I did it in the order they said

 

[Jay_t]

Really hope so otherwise “ahm oot” as they say

Then im screwed. I was under the assumption that we were looking for actual faults not pre faults as the train can still run. Only a 2 week wait to find out

 

[Jay_t]

How many people were at the assesment today? There must have been a good 70-80 yesterday!

 

[PaulBusDriver]

How many people were at the assesment today? There must have been a good 70-80 yesterday!

I counted 12 in three rows so 36 in the morning, give or take few.

 

[slidingdoors]

It doesn't really matter what we think or what is the logical order of faults. Only what the priority order was on the sheet.

 

[Jay_t]

It doesn't really matter what we think or what is the logical order of faults. Only what the priority order was on the sheet.

True!! And like the lady said, they arnt out to trick us so its as explained on the papers!

 

[Pete C]

It doesn't really matter what we think or what is the logical order of faults. Only what the priority order was on the sheet.

Very true, but it wasn't completely clear, to me anyway.

If someone thinks they saw something that said specifically how to prioritise the pre-faults I'd be interested to hear, I might be talking total arse!

 

[Stigy]

There were 20 or 30 in the PM today (and a female.....I know somebody mentioned a lack in female attendees....is she here somewhere!m? *looks around* ).

I think re the DFFT, that we need to get away from disputing what is and isn’t actually a problem on a real life train and thus what we would really prioritise etc. The test is ficticeous and so the could have said the brakes don’t matter at all and we’d have to just go with that for the benefit of the assessment, when in reallity the brakes are kind of important

All the info is there and as has been said, they’re not trying to catch us out. I got my head around it but I’m hoping it wasn’t too late. Good luck all!

I think this makes sense...

 

[Pete C]

To be honest I can't remember in question 1-13 a time when I had to make the decision of whether to prioritise the pre-fault over something lower down the order anyway, so it's probably a moot point unless it's in the questions I didn't get to.

 

[Val3ntine]

Remember aswell guys that the tests are designed to assess that you can always follow instructions laid down in front of you and not go off on your own methods because you think it’s easier, quicker or more logical etc

 

[FriedEggs]

Do the tests always take place in Crewe ?

 

[Stigy]

To be honest I can't remember in question 1-13 a time when I had to make the decision of whether to prioritise the pre-fault over something lower down the order anyway, so it's probably a moot point unless it's in the questions I didn't get to.

I just wish I got to question 13!

I also don’t recall ever needing to prioritise this either though

 

[Jay_t]

How many do you think they will allow through to the next stage?

 

[Stigy]

How many do you think they will allow through to the next stage?

As many as meet the standard? However that’s measured. There could be a set standard, or it could be based on the results of candidates tested. Potentially fewer could get through if it’s the former?

 

[Stanstaff]

As many as meet the standard? However that’s measured. There could be a set standard, or it could be based on the results of candidates tested. Potentially fewer could get through if it’s the former?

Any tips on the dfft would be greatly appreciated

 

[Stanstaff]

Any tips on the dfft would be greatly appreciated

Are the faults obvious when you look at the question. ?

 

[Stigy]

Are the faults obvious when you look at the question. ?

It takes time to get your head around (or did with me at least), but once you get in to the swing of it it’s not too bad. I wish I’d completed more (I made a stupid mistake on the first one and corrected it, losing a couple of minutes I think) and aren’t sure if I’ve done enough, but just bear on mind all the info you need is there, and try and ignore the fact that the copious amounts of paperwork is a nightmare on the desk in front of you. It’s as much about organisation as it is about completing the actual physical task. If you’re not organised with the paperwork in front of you, it’s a lot more difficult to complete.

I thought the faults were obvious, it’s just prioritising what you do in terms of investigating each fault, as well as making sure you READ everything you need to in order to get the correct code. It’s really self explanatory once you have done a couple.

Good luck!

 

[Stanstaff]

It takes time to get your head around (or did with me at least), but once you get in to the swing of it it’s not too bad. I wish I’d completed more (I made a stupid mistake on the first one and corrected it, losing a couple of minutes I think) and aren’t sure if I’ve done enough, but just bear on mind all the info you need is there, and try and ignore the fact that the copious amounts of paperwork is a nightmare on the desk in front of you. It’s as much about organisation as it is about completing the actual physical task. If you’re not organised with the paperwork in front of you, it’s a lot more difficult to complete.

I thought the faults were obvious, it’s just prioritising what you do in terms of investigating each fault, as well as making sure you READ everything you need to in order to get the correct code. It’s really self explanatory once you have done a couple.

Good luck!

Thank you very much for the advice, is there always 2 faults or do some questions have only one?

 

[Stanstaff]

Thank you very much for the advice, is there always 2 faults or do some questions have only one?

I am sure you will be ok sounds like you cracked it.

 

[Stigy]

Thank you very much for the advice, is there always 2 faults or do some questions have only one?

Some only have one, but some have more than two so you have to disregard one. This I think is easier than the practice material as half the ones you have to disregard or prioritise are far clearer, as all faults that occur in the carriage are trumped by those which occur in the loco if that makes sense? It’ll be far clearer when you are actually there. You’ll be okay.

 

[Stigy]

One thing I did pick up on was that maybe there’s a chance as I’ve been tested and passed all but one test at the basic standard, maybe anything I do at the enhanced standard if I fail, might not count as one of my lives at basic standard? They assessors could only speak on behalf of Freightliner obviously so wouldn’t give anything away, and of course I could be completely wrong, but that’s what I got reading between the lines?

 

[Stanstaff]

One thing I did pick up on was that maybe there’s a chance as I’ve been tested and passed all but one test at the basic standard, maybe anything I do at the enhanced standard if I fail, might not count as one of my lives at basic standard? They assessors could only speak on behalf of Freightliner obviously so wouldn’t give anything away, and of course I could be completely wrong, but that’s what I got reading between the lines?

Thank you again for your help and advice, one of my good friends is a train driver but passed it years ago and I asked him about the tests but he never really knew much about the new tests. But what he did tell me was some of the new drivers who took the tests got through on that test by only doing 9 questions and I think that was enhanced standard so I have a feeling that you done well mate.

 

[Stanstaff]

Some only have one, but some have more than two so you have to disregard one. This I think is easier than the practice material as half the ones you have to disregard or prioritise are far clearer, as all faults that occur in the carriage are trumped by those which occur in the loco if that makes sense? It’ll be far clearer when you are actually there. You’ll be okay.

So the faults on the loco are the priority ones?

 

[Stigy]

So the faults on the loco are the priority ones?

Yes. Although sometimes two faults appear on the loco only, likewise the same could occur on the carriage only. All the instructions on priority are there and one of the biggest pieces of advice is to read them thoroughly yet quickly. With some of the faults once you have priority figured out, you don’t have to read all the instructions, which saves vital time. For example they might say at the very beginning, if xyz occurs, write fault code as xxxx. That might be in the first sentence, so there’s no need to read the rest as that’s your fault code. I don’t want to confuse matters, so hope I’m making sense haha.

 

[Stanstaff]

Yes. Although sometimes two faults appear on the loco only, likewise the same could occur on the carriage only. All the instructions on priority are there and one of the biggest pieces of advice is to read them thoroughly yet quickly. With some of the faults once you have priority figured out, you don’t have to read all the instructions, which saves vital time. For example they might say at the very beginning, if xyz occurs, write fault code as xxxx. That might be in the first sentence, so there’s no need to read the rest as that’s your fault code. I don’t want to confuse matters, so hope I’m making sense haha.

Yeah I think I get what you mean, once you spot a fault go straight to the guide and take it from there.? Sorry for all the questions your help is much appreciated.