Juliet Barvo
Member
- Joined
- 24 Oct 2017
- Messages
- 252
Do they still have a "High Turnover" of staff?
And is a high staff turnover a red flag?
-
Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
TOC to FOC
- Thread starter sorry4thedelay
- Start date
- Status
Do they still have a "High Turnover" of staff?
And is a high staff turnover a red flag?
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
It normally is at most organisations.
If you don't mind me asking, which FOC did you go?
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
Which FOC? PM if you prefer
bengley
Established Member
- Joined
- 18 May 2008
- Messages
- 1,987
I went from Transpennine Express to DB Cargo. I have since moved on from DBC but not because I didn't enjoy it, just a lack of contracts. I'm still on the freight.
I've moved from TOC to FOC around 18 months back. The experience has broadly been very positive. The work is massively more varied and the traction more interesting. In the last year or so my depot has pulled in atleast 4 drivers I can think of from TOCs.
There's all sorts of reputations about freight only taking drivers on plans etc - absolutely not true as myself and, I know certainly 3 of the 4 from TOCs are incident free.
The downside is the lack of pension and travel, however the pay tends to be better and the work far more engaging/rewarding.
Ultimately it just depends what you want from work.
There's all sorts of reputations about freight only taking drivers on plans etc - absolutely not true as myself and, I know certainly 3 of the 4 from TOCs are incident free.
The downside is the lack of pension and travel, however the pay tends to be better and the work far more engaging/rewarding.
Ultimately it just depends what you want from work.
Thanks for the replies.its all very interesting.
As you said you have given up a final salary pension. With respect that's madness. I do hope you took pension advice.
I'm glad your happy with your new. company. Job satisfaction is a good thing
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
TPE to DBC I'm lost for words.
bengley
Established Member
- Joined
- 18 May 2008
- Messages
- 1,987
Don't be. TPE were a truly terrible employer (although I understand they aren't so bad now) with extremely poor management and shocking industrial relations.
People have individual needs and requirements of their employment which may be different to yours so don't be so surprised when people have a good experience moving from pax to freight. I know several people who have done the same and they have started loving their jobs again.
whoosh
Established Member
- Joined
- 3 Sep 2008
- Messages
- 1,884
I think that is a very important thing. Having a very good pension, but being miserable in the meantime, or enjoying going to work and having less of a pension, is something to weigh up. Living for now, and being happy now, is very important and carries a lot of weight in that decision.
DRS. I joined there from Metrolink - my reference from TOC to FOC was for at least two other drivers I know of; one came from Greater Anglia with a recent recruit coming from Transport For Wales.
Personally I think anyone wanting to work for a TOC wants their head read.
Repetitive work, limited route and traction knowledge, getting mythered by idiot passengers, constant micromanagement and being treated like a child by managers (who only went into managment as they either couldn’t hack shifts, or were a whisker away from losing their key).
I went from TOC to FOC and started enjoying going to work again. I’m still in the RPS, I’ve got decent roster, sizable route card and job variety, decent management who let me do my job. It’s excellent and I’ve got no interest in going back pass.
357
Established Member
- Joined
- 12 Nov 2018
- Messages
- 2,282
I left TOC for open access and haven't looked back. Much better working environment and working conditions.
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
Have you ever been a driver for either company before making these judgements?
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
In your opinion it might be. But you don't know anyone's personal situation.
I took a pay cut to leave one particular TOC, however my salary is now the same as theirs.
Even if they doubled the salary I wouldn't even think about going back unless they had huge changes within management and diagramming.
BarryGrant
Member
I’m another who has made the move from TOC to FOC, I personally prefer freight to passenger. As has been said, everyone’s personal circumstances are different.
Dieseldriver
Member
- Joined
- 9 Apr 2012
- Messages
- 1,019
See having done both, I couldn’t disagree with you more. I think a lot of this is depot/company dependant but at a TOC, for the most part, if you turn up and do your job you’re generally left alone. I can honestly say I was micro managed more when working for a freight company.
Probably the only plus side freight has is, yes, route cards are generally larger which does make things more interesting.
Everyone is different and wants different things but personally I am firmly in the TOC camp
This is key. Obviously people have strong opinions on which is "right" and can advise and give their own story but ultimately it's a personal decision.
I will keep the thread open as it is an interesting discussion, but if people can please be mindful and keep comments respectful and approriate.
I went from DBC to TPE and left to go back to DBC as soon as possible. Loads of weekend work and 0300/0400/0500 starts, dealing with idiot passengers, tedious work far outweigh not having a final salary pension
Last edited:
bengley
Established Member
- Joined
- 18 May 2008
- Messages
- 1,987
Was there any suggestion it should be closed?
There were some deleted posts earlier which were not in line with the forum rules. As I said, I am hopeful the discussion remains broadly respectful and approriate.
bengley
Established Member
- Joined
- 18 May 2008
- Messages
- 1,987
Fair enough! We don't always see what is happening behind the scenes
Traindriver40
Member
A big bonus in freight having less weekend work, i cant remember the last time i worked a Saturday tbh, christmas is a lot quieter also.
PudseyBearHST
Member
For passenger drivers who went to a freight company, what was training like? How many hours of handling did you have to do?
It’s odd how these threads get so polarised. There are good and bad employers on both sides, and which is “best” is very much down to the individual. I’m TOC through and through, and wouldn’t go to a FOC, however I can see why those who do it enjoy it, as FOC work is almost always going to be more varied and challenging than driving passenger units up and down the same few routes each day.
My TOC is one of the more desirable in terms of work, and we have drivers who have joined us from freight, but also a couple I can think of who have gone back because passenger work didn’t suit them. I can also think of one who tried to go to freight and got knocked back, so it’s definitely not the case that all one way traffic towards passenger work, or that it’s only people on plans who move to freight!
A TOC to OA thread might be really interesting, actually, as again there are good and bad points to both, depending on peoples’ individual situations.
My TOC is one of the more desirable in terms of work, and we have drivers who have joined us from freight, but also a couple I can think of who have gone back because passenger work didn’t suit them. I can also think of one who tried to go to freight and got knocked back, so it’s definitely not the case that all one way traffic towards passenger work, or that it’s only people on plans who move to freight!
A TOC to OA thread might be really interesting, actually, as again there are good and bad points to both, depending on peoples’ individual situations.
Last edited:
Zontar
Member
Any toc to foc drivers manage to fill the brass/pension gap? For me it's the only real hold back, be interesting to hear what others did
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
Who are you with to keep rps?
Last edited:
DB. I came over a few years back, before they buggered about with the pensions and stopped new entrants in the DB RPS scheme.
DB - 6 year pension cap.
As stated above. The only FOC with RPS still open to new drivers is Freightliner.
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
Only for intermodal.
All other FOCs drivers will have to do 12 hour T3/ballast on the weekend. Lots of nights as well.
Last edited by a moderator:
Nah, loads of FOC drivers don't work ballasts.
Here's my pros/cons:
TOC pros:
Know exactly what jobs you're working 6 months in advance.
Priv travel.
Better PNB facilities.
More job security.
RPS (although a large minority of freight drivers are in the RPS)
Shift times less extreme.
TOC cons:
Repetitive work.
Multiple stops.
No flyers.
Dealing with passengers (especially if DOO)
Annual leave requires swaps unless you get lucky.
FOC pros:
Varied routes.
Less intensive work.
Light touch management.
Annual leave more likely to be to granted as needed.
Flyers.
Ballast work can literally be be sat watching your iPad for your entire turn.
FOC cons:
Extreme shift times.
No priv
Less job security (although, generally contracts get lost not jobs, so TUPE comes into force)
More chance of being out of the RPS FS scheme.
Here's my pros/cons:
TOC pros:
Know exactly what jobs you're working 6 months in advance.
Priv travel.
Better PNB facilities.
More job security.
RPS (although a large minority of freight drivers are in the RPS)
Shift times less extreme.
TOC cons:
Repetitive work.
Multiple stops.
No flyers.
Dealing with passengers (especially if DOO)
Annual leave requires swaps unless you get lucky.
FOC pros:
Varied routes.
Less intensive work.
Light touch management.
Annual leave more likely to be to granted as needed.
Flyers.
Ballast work can literally be be sat watching your iPad for your entire turn.
FOC cons:
Extreme shift times.
No priv
Less job security (although, generally contracts get lost not jobs, so TUPE comes into force)
More chance of being out of the RPS FS scheme.
Incorrect.
I’m FLHH & I don’t work T3’s. I don’t even sign T3’s.
I don’t work for 2 weeks over Christmas (except the odd frost turn for a couple of hours on a couple of days over the festive season every 3 years).
I work roughly 1 Saturday morning shift in 8 and 1 Sunday night shift in 8. Otherwise I’m off every weekend.
Full night shifts roughly one week in every 6 weeks (and even then it’s either 3 or 4 nights max a week).
36 days leave a year. In RPS. Don’t have free/priv travel but with the reliability of my local TOC, it’s not something I’m bothered about or would really use much anyway.
Absolutely love my job and honestly, hand on heart, the only thing that would make me move on is if my company went bust or lost the contract, neither of which looks like happening for the foreseeable future.
Last edited:
Zontar
Member
Which foc is this please?
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
Depot sorry
"Have to"? You only have to work if you are rostered to work and they are only 12 hours if the diagram requires it. I haven't done a weekend T3 for nearly a year and did not pick up any shifts over Christmas or New Year.
- Status