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SWR - Trainee Driver - Recruitment Discussion

the_bear

Member
Joined
19 Aug 2024
Messages
41
Location
South East
No worries mate.

Feel free to keep me updated on how you get on. And maybe you’ll have a way of narrowing down the TRP 2 to me that’ll help me get a better way understanding it
Hi Mate,

Passed my paper tests. The best way to explain the TRP2 I think is to break it down into two checks.

Firstly, check the colour the needle is pointing in for each dial. If they’re all pointing in different colours then you can work your answer out from this alone and don’t need to do the second check. Move on to the next set of dials.

However, if you have multiple dials with needles in the same colour then you have to look at what number the needle is pointing to on each of those dials. The numbers are in different places on each dial so you have to look at them individually. For us the dial with the lower value took the higher priority.

The main difference between the actual test and the practice ones I found was that you just have to work out the number the needle is pointing to for the secondary priority check instead of it just being given to you as a numerical value.

The whole oil, power, heat (or whatever it was) you just use for your answer instead of A, B, C or D and doesn’t factor into what you give priority. It’s purely there to represent each dial and form your answer.

Our assessor was really good and explained stuff for anyone who didn’t get it. Next time I’d just 100% make sure you are confident before starting, they’re there to help!

Hope this helps in some way.
 
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Twin82

Member
Joined
24 Mar 2026
Messages
205
Location
Wandsworth Road
Hi Mate,

Passed my paper tests. The best way to explain the TRP2 I think is to break it down into two checks.

Firstly, check the colour the needle is pointing in for each dial. If they’re all pointing in different colours then you can work your answer out from this alone and don’t need to do the second check. Move on to the next set of dials.

However, if you have multiple dials with needles in the same colour then you have to look at what number the needle is pointing to on each of those dials. The numbers are in different places on each dial so you have to look at them individually. For us the dial with the lower value took the higher priority.

The main difference between the actual test and the practice ones I found was that you just have to work out the number the needle is pointing to for the secondary priority check instead of it just being given to you as a numerical value.

The whole oil, power, heat (or whatever it was) you just use for your answer instead of A, B, C or D and doesn’t factor into what you give priority. It’s purely there to represent each dial and form your answer.

Our assessor was really good and explained stuff for anyone who didn’t get it. Next time I’d just 100% make sure you are confident before starting, they’re there to help!

Hope this helps in some way.
That’s an excellent explanation mate. Spot on. That’s exactly what I said about the whole oil power heat stuff that’s it’s just replacing having to use ABCD. You couldn’t of explained it any better.
 
Joined
7 Jul 2026
Messages
19
Location
Southampton Airport Parkway
Hi Mate,

Passed my paper tests. The best way to explain the TRP2 I think is to break it down into two checks.

Firstly, check the colour the needle is pointing in for each dial. If they’re all pointing in different colours then you can work your answer out from this alone and don’t need to do the second check. Move on to the next set of dials.

However, if you have multiple dials with needles in the same colour then you have to look at what number the needle is pointing to on each of those dials. The numbers are in different places on each dial so you have to look at them individually. For us the dial with the lower value took the higher priority.

The main difference between the actual test and the practice ones I found was that you just have to work out the number the needle is pointing to for the secondary priority check instead of it just being given to you as a numerical value.

The whole oil, power, heat (or whatever it was) you just use for your answer instead of A, B, C or D and doesn’t factor into what you give priority. It’s purely there to represent each dial and form your answer.

Our assessor was really good and explained stuff for anyone who didn’t get it. Next time I’d just 100% make sure you are confident before starting, they’re there to help!

Hope this helps in some way.
Hiya mate,

That’s brilliant. I’m chuffed for you.

Thank you ever so much for narrowing it all down for me in the hope of it helping me next time round.

How did you find the rest of the tests overall as well? Seeing as I’ve seen many people worry more about the group bourdon test i look back and thought that was the easiest to get through. If that’s the correct way to put it.

Can you remind me which depot this is for as I’m not sure if I’d got round to asking you already and if so how many times

Did you attend this day at the Overline House Centre in Southampton? Also, Have you been given a date for when you’re attending stage 2 assessments?
 

DanTaylor

Member
Joined
2 Apr 2026
Messages
8
Location
Hackbridge
Morning all

Having passed my last assessment in May I’ve now got my date for the DMI . They don’t give much notice, received a call on Wednesday to say the interview will be the following Thursday (8 days time). Change of location as well, South Bank as opposed to Southampton. Depot im going for is Wimbledon fyi

Has anyone had their DMI recently? Is it run by just the driver manager or are there other colleagues assisting?

Any other hints/tips are more than welcome!
I’ve heard accounts of these interviews on this forum as being anywhere from an informal chat to an interrogation, so intrigued to hear recent accounts
 

s01omorg

Member
Joined
28 May 2024
Messages
44
Location
Dorset
Morning all

Having passed my last assessment in May I’ve now got my date for the DMI . They don’t give much notice, received a call on Wednesday to say the interview will be the following Thursday (8 days time). Change of location as well, South Bank as opposed to Southampton. Depot im going for is Wimbledon fyi

Has anyone had their DMI recently? Is it run by just the driver manager or are there other colleagues assisting?

Any other hints/tips are more than welcome!
I’ve heard accounts of these interviews on this forum as being anywhere from an informal chat to an interrogation, so intrigued to hear recent accounts
Well done on getting to this stage.
I had my DMI in May last year. It was with two Driver Managers - one happened to be from the depot I'd applied, but I've heard it could be two randoms, just depends on availability.
They were very nice and chatty, but don't get drawn into being too relaxed and chatty yourself. Yes, they want to get to know you, but stay professional. Mine was 2 hours, so quite a grilling, but not as bad as the MMI! Best of luck
 

DanTaylor

Member
Joined
2 Apr 2026
Messages
8
Location
Hackbridge
Well done on getting to this stage.
I had my DMI in May last year. It was with two Driver Managers - one happened to be from the depot I'd applied, but I've heard it could be two randoms, just depends on availability.
They were very nice and chatty, but don't get drawn into being too relaxed and chatty yourself. Yes, they want to get to know you, but stay professional. Mine was 2 hours, so quite a grilling, but not as bad as the MMI! Best of luck
Nice one, appreciate the info
 

Twin82

Member
Joined
24 Mar 2026
Messages
205
Location
Wandsworth Road
I applied for Woking on 16/07 and still not heard back. So 6 weeks - is this normal?
Have you done the online assessment? I applied for Waterloo and immediately got online assessment. Passed it and have been waiting since. If you only applied and haven’t heard anything, I think you should drop them an email. They are quite good when it comes to responding.
 

Ducatichick

Member
Joined
30 Nov 2024
Messages
60
Location
South Coast
I applied for Woking on 16/07 and still not heard back. So 6 weeks - is this normal?
When you say you applied-is this the initial application online? If so, yes absolutely normal. If this was for a talent pool position then you may well be waiting for many many months before you hear back. There are so many adverts that have gone out earlier than yours which still have yet to be assessed (mine included which I applied for in March). They only run tests on Mondays and Fridays and there are an awful lot of people applying. I'd recommend just practicing your group bourdon while you wait.
 

dilwar04

Member
Joined
2 Jul 2025
Messages
15
Location
london
6 weeks is nothing, I waited almost 18 months from application to initial assessment day.
Wow that’s a long time. I applied at the end of April. By 10th May they invited me to do 1st part of the psychometric test. So 2-3 weeks for me. Part 2 they booked me in 2 weeks later for the computerised test. Then 3-4 weeks for the DMI. so far mine have been quite quick. But MMI might have be by the end of the year. Not sure when they’ll call me for it.
 

Train Me Up

Member
Joined
16 May 2026
Messages
13
Location
SW London
That's interesting - thanks for the responses. I had previously applied for Guildford and passed the assessment so I don't think I need to do that again. I did notice they had only posted Woking a couple of weeks before so probably still going through the first batch.
 

005leo

Member
Joined
29 May 2026
Messages
13
Location
Hounslow
Hello everyone, I've been given a DMI date for next month. Is there anybody who have recently passed their DMI for SWR and is willing to share some tips....)
 

Avoidz

Member
Joined
23 Jun 2021
Messages
11
Location
London
Hello everyone, I've been given a DMI date for next month. Is there anybody who have recently passed their DMI for SWR and is willing to share some tips....)
Couple months ago but from what I remember it’s standard competency questions. Always use the STAR format when answering and give yourself plenty of time before interview to work or come up with answers before hand.
Some of the questions I can remember being asked are as follows.
Tell me a time you helped solve a complex problem for a colleague?
Tell me a time you had to really concentrate at work?
Tell me a time you took responsibility for a mistake?
Tell me how you self improve both professionally and personally?
Hope this helps.
 

005leo

Member
Joined
29 May 2026
Messages
13
Location
Hounslow
Couple months ago but from what I remember it’s standard competency questions. Always use the STAR format when answering and give yourself plenty of time before interview to work or come up with answers before hand.
Some of the questions I can remember being asked are as follows.
Tell me a time you helped solve a complex problem for a colleague?
Tell me a time you had to really concentrate at work?
Tell me a time you took responsibility for a mistake?
Tell me how you self improve both professionally and personally?
Hope this helps.
Thank you.... did they ask general questions about the TOC or about the depot you're applying for?
 

Avoidz

Member
Joined
23 Jun 2021
Messages
11
Location
London
I am internal so they skipped all those questions for me and it was sometimes a chat and sometimes formal questions like the ones I listed above. Hope it goes well for you.
 

driver3112

Member
Joined
16 Jun 2026
Messages
5
Location
london
Hi guys, I passed my DMI 4 months and still have not got any information regarding my MMI? I’m wondering is it normal to wait this long for a MMI date? I applied for the stains depot, if anyone knows what I should do please let me know because I’m thinking I’m not even in the talent pool anymore because it been that longed since I passed my DMI any information will help
 

Avoidz

Member
Joined
23 Jun 2021
Messages
11
Location
London
Hi guys, I passed my DMI 4 months and still have not got any information regarding my MMI? I’m wondering is it normal to wait this long for a MMI date? I applied for the stains depot, if anyone knows what I should do please let me know because I’m thinking I’m not even in the talent pool anymore because it been that longed since I passed my DMI any information will help
You can give them a call they are usually very helpful when it comes to answering these questions. You also need to understand that you are on a list and there’s others ahead of you not to mention Staines depot usually takes a while as well.
 

dilwar04

Member
Joined
2 Jul 2025
Messages
15
Location
london
Hi guys, I passed my DMI 4 months and still have not got any information regarding my MMI? I’m wondering is it normal to wait this long for a MMI date? I applied for the stains depot, if anyone knows what I should do please let me know because I’m thinking I’m not even in the talent pool anymore because it been that longed since I passed my DMI any information will help
I most likely are still in the queue. Give them a call for an update. But I passed my DMI JULY 27th so 1 month ago. They said I’ll have an MMI most likely end of the year DECEMBER or January early next year. So, 4 months isn’t long in these processes. Just keep urself busy, forget about it for a while and carry on until they tell you.
 

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