Trainee Driver & Route Learning

[traineemanc07]

Hi

I don't if anyone can help answer a question. Im currently a trainee driver and at 125 hours through my driving hours. There are currently 2 links at my depot. Upon starting our driving hours we were told we would be in one link and learn a certain route. However, we have now been told that this is likely to change and will be required to learn an additional route as part of our hours. Is this something that a TOC is entitled to do? Any help greatly appreciated

 

[anglian96]

Hi

I don't if anyone can help answer a question. Im currently a trainee driver and at 125 hours through my driving hours. There are currently 2 links at my depot. Upon starting our driving hours we were told we would be in one link and learn a certain route. However, we have now been told that this is likely to change and will be required to learn an additional route as part of our hours. Is this something that a TOC is entitled to do? Any help greatly appreciated

If its part of your hours then its no biggie. Also you can't really turn round to your employer and tell them no your not signing what they require you to sign so its either like it or lump it really haha

 

[AverageJoe]

Happened to me and many others.
The driving hours is really about experience and not route learning.
If you were to learn your routes as a qualified driver you would get way less than the 125 hours you have already completed.

If at the end of it you still don’t feel you are ready then you can request more time. But as regards the route itself that shouldn’t be an issue in most cases.

 

[driver9000]

Short answer would be yes and when you're qualified you'll get less time to learn new routes. As you haven't said where or who you work for it's impossible to give you a detailed answer based on your T&C's or Driver training standards but talk to your Instructor, union rep and management about any concerns you might have.

 

[Horizon22]

Short answer would be yes and when you're qualified you'll get less time to learn new routes. As you haven't said where or who you work for it's impossible to give you a detailed answer based on your T&C's or Driver training standards but talk to your Instructor, union rep and management about any concerns you might have.

Based on previous posts it appears to be at Great Northern.

 

[choochoochoo]

If it’s Great Northern then the only depots with trainees and 2 links is Cambridge and Welwyn.

I’m thinking it’ll be Welwyn as I believe they need drivers for the Sevenoaks link.

 

[traineemanc07]

Thanks all

 

[choochoochoo]

The one thing I'd add is if your training now takes longer because of new route learning speak to your reps about the potential of getting back pay at qualified driver rate.

 

[Stigy]

They can do what they want in terms of the routes you’ll sign. It’ll form part of the company’s Competence Management System (CMS) as far as is the bigger picture, but as trainees, you’ll effectively have to just learn whatever you’re told to learn, and be assessed on these accordingly.