TOCs offering Career Breaks

[DeparturesBeck]

Is it common for TOCs to offer career breaks to those in the driving grade?

Any specific examples of how much service is required before becoming eligible, and what duration of break is permitted would be much appreciated.

 

[A-driver]

It depends why you need the break. If you are ill then it's different but after about 2 years you will need to start over as a trainee driver again. A colleague of mine had this after being long term sick for a few years. Once back to work he had to do a full trainee course including 250 hours driving etc. It was slightly odd that his di for this was actually one of his trainees from a number of years earlier!

 

[theironroad]

SWT used to, not sure if still do. Local manager and head of drivers need to sign off, so not automatic and will defend on why you want it, whether the depot establishment can cope without you, whether you have good sickness record and stuff like that. Max 1 year. If you don't return on agreed date then your contract ends. Think you needed to have 12 months permanent service befow eligible, but as a new driver I think you'd struggle to be signed off unless it is very good reason.

 

[DeparturesBeck]

Thanks for the replies. At my TOC (LOROL), our blue book permits one career break of one to four years, after two years productive driving has been completed. Six months notice has to be given, and it's just the one career break permitted during employment.

Was just wondering if this is common throughout the industry.

 

[theironroad]

Thanks for the replies. At my TOC (LOROL), our blue book permits one career break of one to four years, after two years productive driving has been completed. Six months notice has to be given, and it's just the one career break permitted during employment.

Was just wondering if this is common throughout the industry.

I don't think you'd be allowed to do a break in xcess of 12months now if you are a driver. The European train licensing rules which will be mandatory for all from 2018 essentially say that if you don't drive for 12 months your licence will be suspended. It's doesn't seem to stipulate exactly what you would have to do the regain it, but imagine refresher training at least.

From the euro licence regs:

Register updated with date driver stopped work. Continuous unemployment as a driver for a period of twelve months or more will cause the licence to be suspended as general competence cannot be maintained.
In the case of the death of a driver, the status of the licence will be changed to withdrawn.

 

[DeparturesBeck]

That's an interesting twist IronRoad, thanks for the info.