It’s gone a bit quiet...

[Locomotivation]

Hi all,

New member here.

I applied for the first time to be a trainee driver with Freightliner in November.

After the initial application, the first and second assessment days, I’m now waiting for Freightliner to contact me to arrange a DMI.

The OPC confirmed on the 18th December that I’d passed everything so is it usual that I should wait this long for a response from Freightliner?

In addition, am I allowed to apply for other trainee driver jobs in the meantime? I’m worried about missing out, for example, on current opportunities with Northern but I don’t want to jeopardise my chances with Freightliner.

Lastly, I’m currently employed and i’ve got a notice period of 2 months. Would such a lengthy notice period be a disadvantage?

Many thanks in advance!

 

[crebbs1]

If you passed all your OPC tests then apply for every trainee driver jobs in your area.
This is a numbers game and freightliner keep people waiting for a long time, there is talent pools going back to mid 2018 for FL.
You are not tied to them just because they put you through your assessments.

 

[OneLowban]

Agree with above, railway recruitment often seems quiet at all different stages. If you have passed the assessments then absolutely apply for anything you can.

Regarding notice, I had 4 weeks notice before I started but actually started the course 8 weeks after getting offered the job, so depends on whoever you get through with and when the courses are starting.

 

[Coach Carter]

Hi all,

New member here.

I applied for the first time to be a trainee driver with Freightliner in November.

After the initial application, the first and second assessment days, I’m now waiting for Freightliner to contact me to arrange a DMI.

The OPC confirmed on the 18th December that I’d passed everything so is it usual that I should wait this long for a response from Freightliner?

In addition, am I allowed to apply for other trainee driver jobs in the meantime? I’m worried about missing out, for example, on current opportunities with Northern but I don’t want to jeopardise my chances with Freightliner.

Lastly, I’m currently employed and i’ve got a notice period of 2 months. Would such a lengthy notice period be a disadvantage?

Many thanks in advance!

You could be waiting for ever to hear from freightliner. There is little to no contact from them in terms of updates while you wait either. (They might be bit quicker to get dmi done but expect to be left hanging after that).

I passed everything with them and was put in the talent pool from Nov18 waiting for a start date....was told at start of my interview I would be starting in 3 months if successful. I’ve heard off them twice since then, each time saying we can’t give any info on a start date yet but will be in touch when they can.

To answer your question on being able to apply for others, yes go for it! You have your OPC test passes so hopefully you will go straight to interview at other places now (as long as you get past paper sift at start).
I’m currently mid way through my training with another company having jumped straight to the interview stage with them.
Three of the other guys on my course were also in the same situation with freightliner.

You’ve got one of the major obstacles out the way by passing the OPC tests so just keep pressing freightliner for dates and putting applications in everywhere you can.

 

[Locomotivation]

Great replies guys. Thank you so much.

I’ve just applied to Arriva/Manchester so fingers crossed!

 

[Stigy]

To mirror what others have said; definitely nothing wrong with applying to other TOCs/FOCs, in fact, I’d encourage it. Freightliner are renowned for keeping people in limbo unfortunately. I had a DMI with them in October 2018 and wasn’t successful. I was gutted, but applied to my current TOC a month later and by July last year I was on a course. Because I had current psychometric assessment passes I went straight to DMI with GWR which was good. You may be applying seemingly in vein for months, but one day you’ll get that magic phone call! Good Luck!

 

[PickleTree]

What depot did you apply for @Locomotivation? I am in the process too and having flown through stage 1 and 2 in roughly a month I am now waiting on a DMI date.

 

[Locomotivation]

Tunstead

 

[sorry4thedelay]

I wonder how many people have actully passed the assesment and are still looking for roles. Just curious, I have seen allot on here.