TOC to FOC

[sorry4thedelay]

Why do FOCs now only seem to recruit either no experience Trainees or already fully qualified Freight Drivers?
A few years ago they would jump at taking on qualified TOC drivers as it would save allot of costs.
I work with many people who's done both and they don't see it as a disadvantage jumping from one to the other.

 

[Ducatist4]

I don't often see adverts for qualified drivers in either freight or passenger companies these days.
There are financial incentives for them to take on apprentices as they are now called. Also training people up from scratch means they work how the company wants them to work, not how another company trained them. Old habits die hard and all that.

 

[66701GBRF]

Why do FOCs now only seem to recruit either no experience Trainees or already fully qualified Freight Drivers?

Would have thought the latter is fairly obvious?

 

[PNutt]

I think FOCs would happily take on TOC drivers it’s just finding those who want to move over that’s the problem! From what I’ve seen the movement is either FOC to FOC or FOC to TOC, not much the other way!

Therefore, if a freight company needs a large increase in drivers they’ve got no choice but to take off the street.

In terms of FOCs/TOCs not advertising for qualified drivers anymore, that’s not true. I’ve seen adverts for CrossCountry, Chiltern, Avanti, GWR, Freightliner and Colas in the past month alone.

 

[Horizon22]

I don't often see adverts for qualified drivers in either freight or passenger companies these days.

Really? You can't be looking too hard then - they regularly appear on these forums!

Generally though TOC drivers don't want to go to FOCs and indeed many people here have done the reverse and not looked back. We have threads on this in the past.

 

[Paulm36]

Not sure where the perception comes from that TOC drivers don't move to FOCs . Plenty at Freightliner .

FOCs like a trainee for the same financial and training reasons TOCs do, and if they take on qualified Freight drivers then there's no element of conversion needed, apart from possibly traction. Again, it's the same reasons that TOCs would rather take on qualified pass drivers . They get productive drivers out earning quicker than having to have a driver out for 150 hours with a mentor.

 

[piers1234]

Generally though TOC drivers don't want to go to FOCs and indeed many people here have done the reverse and not looked back. We have threads on this in the past.

Any TOC drivers that leaves for a FOC needs there head read.

 

[Wrexhamfc]

Why do FOCs now only seem to recruit either no experience Trainees or already fully qualified Freight Drivers?
A few years ago they would jump at taking on qualified TOC drivers as it would save allot of costs.
I work with many people who's done both and they don't see it as a disadvantage jumping from one to the other.

Passenger Drivers can easily go Freight; just email all the freight companies with your CV and an expression of interest.

They just need to complete 150hrs Brake Handling and do 3 weeks in the classroom doing Freight Rules.

DC will not take on Pass drivers for TOC to FOC, they're a start up and too small and there's plenty of retired freight drivers looking for some work.

GBRf regularly take on Passenger Drivers and train them for Freight. That's because no freight driver in his right mind would choose to work for GBRf unless he's got no other choice ie past retirement age or worse. "they had a big meeting and some of the drivers were complaining to the Managing Director that they'd been on the same diagram for 5 years"

DB may take on Pass drivers, but they are slowly "getting smaller" as a business.

Freightliner often take on Pass drivers and train them up.

Colas might.

The smaller companies probably won't want to.

All you've got to remember is that a Pass driver may have been driving for 20 years, but in the freight sector their experience and seniority starts again at zero (yes you are PQS again even if you feel thats Offensive); and freight drivers don't know what next week's work is until the roster comes out on friday afternoon; and the hours are painful sometimes and often long.

 

[BarryGrant]

Any TOC drivers that leaves for a FOC needs there head read.

Passenger Drivers can easily go Freight; just email all the freight companies with your CV and an expression of interest.

They just need to complete 150hrs Brake Handling and do 3 weeks in the classroom doing Freight Rules.

DC will not take on Pass drivers for TOC to FOC, they're a start up and too small and there's plenty of retired freight drivers looking for some work.

GBRf regularly take on Passenger Drivers and train them for Freight. That's because no freight driver in his right mind would choose to work for GBRf unless he's got no other choice ie past retirement age or worse. "they had a big meeting and some of the drivers were complaining to the Managing Director that they'd been on the same diagram for 5 years"

DB may take on Pass drivers, but they are slowly "getting smaller" as a business.

Freightliner often take on Pass drivers and train them up.

Colas might.

The smaller companies probably won't want to.

All you've got to remember is that a Pass driver may have been driving for 20 years, but in the freight sector their experience and seniority starts again at zero (yes you are PQS again even if you feel thats Offensive); and freight drivers don't know what next week's work is until the roster comes out on friday afternoon; and the hours are painful sometimes and often long.

I notice GBRf’s recent advert for qualified drivers is specifically for qualified freight drivers.

 

[66701GBRF]

"they had a big meeting and some of the drivers were complaining to the Managing Director that they'd been on the same diagram for 5 years"

Where has that quote come from because quite frankly it is nonsense.

 

[Wrexhamfc]

I notice GBRf’s recent advert for qualified drivers is specifically for qualified freight drivers.

A freight company would be silly not to try and take on an experienced qualified freight driver. On the other hand are GBRf likely to get an experienced qualified freight driver under the retirement age with a clean record and a good reputation? Also, how long has that job opportunity with GBRf been advertised for?

 

[Horizon22]

Not sure where the perception comes from that TOC drivers don't move to FOCs . Plenty at Freightliner .

I’m not saying they don’t, it’s just there’s far more movement the other way.

It also depends where you’re coming from; a move from a an intensive Southeastern DOO depot to a FOC might be advantageous as an example. At other places, it’s much less attractive.

 

[Juliet Barvo]

Any TOC drivers that leaves for a FOC needs there head read.

I went freight from Passenger, because at the TOC where I trained, the White English trainees were more likely to be placed with Instructors (and qualified getting the big payrises) well before the non White, non English, the Gay and the Disabled trainees. I am amongst the later group. So I went freight as quickly as I could, mainly because they were the first people to offer me a job as a PQS driver. I love it.

The work's great, the management are great, the rostering is great, and the money's good

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Dec 2024 ==

Where has that quote come from because quite frankly it is nonsense.

Well at my GBRf depot, one of the senior blokes was on the same diagram everyday for over 12 months, my mate in the depot was next on that diagram for 2 years before he had an incident and was moved onto another diagram for nearly 2 years, I was on it for a long time, my mate at the nearby depot was on the same night turn for 2 years (which he was screaming in rage about).

So I don't think it's nonsense at all.

 

[piers1234]

I went freight from Passenger, because at the TOC where I trained, the White English trainees were more likely to be placed with Instructors (and qualified getting the big payrises) well before the non White, non English, the Gay and the Disabled trainees. I am amongst the later group. So I went freight as quickly as I could, mainly because they were the first people to offer me a job as a PQS driver. I love it.

The work's great, the management are great, the rostering is great, and the money's good

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Dec 2024 ==



Well at my GBRf depot, one of the senior blokes was on the same diagram everyday for over 12 months, my mate in the depot was next on that diagram for 2 years before he had an incident and was moved onto another diagram for nearly 2 years, I was on it for a long time, my mate at the nearby depot was on the same night turn for 2 years (which he was screaming in rage about).

So I don't think it's bollox at all.

So you have lost your RPS pension and free/discounted travel?

 

[66701GBRF]

So I don't think it's nonsense at all.

12 months or two years is not 5 years. So with respect yes it is.

 

[Ducatichick]

I think FOCs would happily take on TOC drivers it’s just finding those who want to move over that’s the problem! From what I’ve seen the movement is either FOC to FOC or FOC to TOC, not much the other way!

Therefore, if a freight company needs a large increase in drivers they’ve got no choice but to take off the street.

In terms of FOCs/TOCs not advertising for qualified drivers anymore, that’s not true. I’ve seen adverts for CrossCountry, Chiltern, Avanti, GWR, Freightliner and Colas in the past month alone.

Southeastern have had some qualified driver ads up for ages also.

 

[PNutt]

So you have lost your RPS pension and free/discounted travel?

GBRf aren’t part of the RPS and you only keep your discounted travel at a FOC if you drove for BR and are protected by the legacy stuff.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Dec 2024 ==

I’m not saying they don’t, it’s just there’s far more movement the other way.

It also depends where you’re coming from; a move from a an intensive Southeastern DOO depot to a FOC might be advantageous as an example. At other places, it’s much less attractive.

Exactly this! I also work for Freightliner and I’ve only ever seen one driver move to us from a TOC and that was because the depot was on his doorstep. Whereas many have moved the other way.

Are there a few of the older boys (50+) who have driven pass but that was back with BR and they’re got keep their boxes so they’re happy.

 

[Paulm36]

GBRf aren’t part of the RPS and you only keep your discounted travel at a FOC if you drove for BR and are protected by the legacy stuff.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Dec 2024 ==


Exactly this! I also work for Freightliner and I’ve only ever seen one driver move to us from a TOC and that was because the depot was on his doorstep. Whereas many have moved the other way.

Are there a few of the older boys (50+) who have driven pass but that was back with BR and they’re got keep their boxes so they’re happy.

Where I was based with Freightliner, I worked alongside plenty of ex pass drivers. Both protected and non protected, ex class 1 and metro drivers . Most of who thought I was stupid for wanting to move to pass . I guess it's different strokes for different folks .

 

[piers1234]

GBRf aren’t part of the RPS and you only keep your discounted travel at a FOC if you drove for BR and are protected by the legacy stuff.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Dec 2024 ==

Yes that was point.

Sorry I've reread my post and didn't mean it to sound like a question. It was a statement.

Also safeguard staff don't keep boxes if they transfer to a FOC.

Only FOC with RPS still open to new drivers is Freightliner.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Dec 2024 ==

Where I was based with Freightliner, I worked alongside plenty of ex pass drivers. Both protected and non protected, ex class 1 and metro drivers . Most of who thought I was stupid for wanting to move to pass . I guess it's different strokes for different folks .

Wow learn something new everyday

 

[whoosh]

The work's great, the management are great, the rostering is great, and the money's good

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Dec 2024 ==



Well at my GBRf depot, one of the senior blokes was on the same diagram everyday for over 12 months, my mate in the depot was next on that diagram for 2 years before he had an incident and was moved onto another diagram for nearly 2 years, I was on it for a long time, my mate at the nearby depot was on the same night turn for 2 years (which he was screaming in rage about).

So I don't think it's nonsense at all.

I'm seeing a little discrepancy between the statement that rostering is great, and being lumbered with identical work day in day out for months on end.
Especially if it's unsociable hours.

 

[Sly Sloth]

I'm seeing a little discrepancy between the statement that rostering is great, and being lumbered with identical work day in day out for months on end.
Especially if it's unsociable hours.

Typical freight putting a positive spin on it!

 

[Carl98k]

Are there any TOC to FOC, or FOC to TOC that’s actually got any experience of the move? I find most people comment on what they’ve heard or assumptions.

I was always told (by freight drivers) that TOC have to deal with passengers. I’m currently road learning and most of it is with pass drivers, and not once have they had to deal with a passenger.

 

[BrokenSam]

Are there any TOC to FOC, or FOC to TOC that’s actually got any experience of the move? I find most people comment on what they’ve heard or assumptions.

I was always told (by freight drivers) that TOC have to deal with passengers. I’m currently road learning and most of it is with pass drivers, and not once have they had to deal with a passenger.

Plenty of dealing with passengers on platforms and during disruption etc.

 

[martin2345uk]

Are there any TOC to FOC, or FOC to TOC that’s actually got any experience of the move? I find most people comment on what they’ve heard or assumptions.

I was always told (by freight drivers) that TOC have to deal with passengers. I’m currently road learning and most of it is with pass drivers, and not once have they had to deal with a passenger.

I'm FOC to TOC, we are fully guarded so I have not really had any passenger interaction yet; though my roster isn't all that much better than when I was on the freight though I was Freightliner Intermodal which is a bit of an outlier in terms of freight rostering.

 

[Carl98k]

Plenty of dealing with passengers on platforms and during disruption etc.

I get collared quite a bit when I’m passing too

 

[PNutt]

I'm FOC to TOC, we are fully guarded so I have not really had any passenger interaction yet; though my roster isn't all that much better than when I was on the freight though I was Freightliner Intermodal which is a bit of an outlier in terms of freight rostering.

Will put your French language skills to the test

 

[Wrexhamfc]

12 months or two years is not 5 years. So with respect yes it is.

So you don't deny that at GBRf drivers have been rostered the same diagram for 12months or 2 years at a time

 

[NorthernTech]

GBRf seem to adverting for a fair few drivers including trainees at present, have they gained new work or lost drivers elsewhere?

 

[Nym]

I went freight from Passenger, because at the TOC where I trained, the White English trainees were more likely to be placed with Instructors (and qualified getting the big payrises) well before the non White, non English, the Gay and the Disabled trainees. I am amongst the later group. So I went freight as quickly as I could, mainly because they were the first people to offer me a job as a PQS driver. I love it.

The work's great, the management are great, the rostering is great, and the money's good

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Dec 2024 ==



Well at my GBRf depot, one of the senior blokes was on the same diagram everyday for over 12 months, my mate in the depot was next on that diagram for 2 years before he had an incident and was moved onto another diagram for nearly 2 years, I was on it for a long time, my mate at the nearby depot was on the same night turn for 2 years (which he was screaming in rage about).

So I don't think it's nonsense at all.

I wouldn’t say that’s a TOC to FOC thing. I’d say it’s a singing praise of GBRf.
I was in discussions to move to them on the engineering side and had a very lengthy discussion about LGBTQ+ policies and company culture and it was a very good approach, with their engineering lead surprised I’d ever had issues elsewhere.

Plenty of FOCs and TOCs are the oppersite of “good” for people identifying with the above initialism or from other groups of protected charicteristics seen as “minorities”. (Same with and if anything worse within engineering companies)

 

[bengley]

Any TOC drivers that leaves for a FOC needs there head read.

Absolutely not.
I did exactly this and I now enjoy my job, am treated like an adult and not being constantly micro managed anymore. Love my job!