Trainee Driver vacancies DBS

[Legzr1]

... optimism aside for a second, i can see myself fighting fires for a good while yet :roll: haha

heres hoping.

You get to do that on the railway too

 

[cabbage]

Vacancies removed from website - now the waiting game begins!

I've also got a question - I'm currently a bus driver but if successful with DBS I'd like to return to coach driving on a casual basis. A friend of mine is a manager at my previous company and I could work whenever I liked - probably no more than two or three days a month with the odd weekend trip.

As long as this did not interfere in any way with railway work which would obviously take full priority would a rail company have an issue with this?

My move from coach to bus driving was purely financial (9k a year better off) so I would never return to it full time, but I loved the job so would like to keep a hand in the bus industry with the odd bit of work.

 

[Legzr1]

That could be very naughty - a lot of time, money and fighting/negotiating has gone into limiting train driving shifts and giving quality time off to get a proper rest (even to the point of recommending diet and water intake).

I'd be very surprised if a manager would give the ok for you to drive a coach when you have two rest days between a night shift and early morning shift for example - when serious incidents occur the last 72 hours of driver activity are looked at and it's going to look very strange if you then disclose the fact that you had a second job that you failed to mention when you should have been 'resting'.

If money is the issue simply do some o/t driving trains - it pays a little more than bus/coach driving and you still have the safeguards of sufficient rest between shifts.

If £45K - £60K plus o/t still isn't enough then I politely suggest you look for a better paid job

 

[TT66]

You can do as you wish on your days off, however if you've worked a 50hour week driving trains and then work your days off driving coaches then this could become dangerous. Would all depend on the amount of hours etc but if was just a couple of days a month then I wouldn't even mention it.

 

[cabbage]

That could be very naughty - a lot of time, money and fighting/negotiating has gone into limiting train driving shifts and giving quality time off to get a proper rest (even to the point of recommending diet and water intake).

I'd be very surprised if a manager would give the ok for you to drive a coach when you have two rest days between a night shift and early morning shift for example - when serious incidents occur the last 72 hours of driver activity are looked at and it's going to look very strange if you then disclose the fact that you had a second job that you failed to mention when you should have been 'resting'.

If money is the issue simply do some o/t driving trains - it pays a little more than bus/coach driving and you still have the safeguards of sufficient rest between shifts.

If £45K - £60K plus o/t still isn't enough then I politely suggest you look for a better paid job

It isn't financial, and as I said I would only consider working occasions that would have absolutely no impact on my main job. I would fully declare it and only do so with full permission/consent.

Strange as it may sound I do enjoy driving coaches but it isn't a viable long term job financially - in all likelihood it would probably just be the odd morning or afternoon school run than anything demanding.

I would gladly never drive a bus again if I were to achieve a train driving job and the company did not find the two compatible, I just wanted to find out if this was likely to be the case or not


Regardless, thank you both for your helpful replies

 

[GB]

Are there no tax implications if you don't mention it? ( in reply to TT66)

 

[Legzr1]

You can do as you wish on your days off, however if you've worked a 50hour week driving trains and then work your days off driving coaches then this could become dangerous. Would all depend on the amount of hours etc but if was just a couple of days a month then I wouldn't even mention it.

Obviously you can do as you please in your own free time - the issue (as you've then gone on to mention) is the impact this could have when returning to a safety critical role driving trains.

A 30 min school run is one thing.
Taking 50 people skiing on a four day return trip and having a bare minimum rest period with six eleven hour shifts to come starting at 0200 is quite another.

Personally, I wouldn't mention it at any interview - the seed of doubt will already be sewn in the interviewers mind - not a good thing to do when there's another 50 candidates to come...

Have a quiet word with a line manager if you get the job - I'll guarantee the answer will be a default NO - it's the easiest answer for a manager to give.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Are there no tax implications if you don't mention it? ( in reply to TT66)

If correctly declared then no.

If not declared and paid cash in hand then, errrr, no

 

[notadriver]

Are there any coach drivers who actually drive trains in this forum ?

 

[cabbage]

Obviously you can do as you please in your own free time - the issue (as you've then gone on to mention) is the impact this could have when returning to a safety critical role driving trains.

A 30 min school run is one thing.
Taking 50 people skiing on a four day return trip and having a bare minimum rest period with six eleven hour shifts to come starting at 0200 is quite another.

Personally, I wouldn't mention it at any interview - the seed of doubt will already be sewn in the interviewers mind - not a good thing to do when there's another 50 candidates to come...

Have a quiet word with a line manager if you get the job - I'll guarantee the answer will be a default NO - it's the easiest answer for a manager to give.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


If correctly declared then no.

If not declared and paid cash in hand then, errrr, no

I would never do anything like that (working excessively then taking a minimum rest period) - where I am currently I can work as much overtime as I like (while staying legal) but I never do so much that I'm too tired to safely work - even if the money is tempting.

As I said it would be the odd couple of hours here and there, but after reading your advice I'll shelve the idea completely.

If I do get the job, I might quietly suggest it once settled in and would take no for an answer. The only reason I'm asking is its something I enjoy doing. If I was offered an Austria trip I'd probably do it for free!!

 

[notadriver]

I would never do anything like that (working excessively then taking a minimum rest period) - where I am currently I can work as much overtime as I like (while staying legal) but I never do so much that I'm too tired to safely work - even if the money is tempting.

As I said it would be the odd couple of hours here and there, but after reading your advice I'll shelve the idea completely.

If I do get the job, I might quietly suggest it once settled in and would take no for an answer. The only reason I'm asking is its something I enjoy doing. If I was offered an Austria trip I'd probably do it for free!!

Coach drivers wages are bad enough without people with full time jobs offering to do it for free :roll::roll::roll: I'm a coach driver.

 

[SPADTrap]

Coach drivers wages are bad enough without people with full time jobs offering to do it for free :roll::roll::roll: I'm a coach driver.

Don't you do both?

 

[notadriver]

Don't you do both?

Not for free!

 

[SPADTrap]

Not for free!

Fair play

 

[cabbage]

Coach drivers wages are bad enough without people with full time jobs offering to do it for free :roll::roll::roll: I'm a coach driver.

I was joking

And I agree on the wages, it can be a fantastic job at times but unless you're put on jobs that tip very well you have to work alot of hours to earn a decent amount.

Although the work is far more stressful, I earn alot more here than I ever did as a coach driver. I'd just turned 21 when I left my previous company to come here so I didn't get the opportunity to drive abroad, i'm 24 next month and passed my Cat D when I was 18.

 

[notadriver]

I was joking

And I agree on the wages, it can be a fantastic job at times but unless you're put on jobs that tip very well you have to work alot of hours to earn a decent amount.

Although the work is far more stressful, I earn alot more here than I ever did as a coach driver. I'd just turned 21 when I left my previous company to come here so I didn't get the opportunity to drive abroad, i'm 24 next month and passed my Cat D when I was 18.

Ah i see - you're driving buses now right?

 

[cabbage]

Ah i see - you're driving buses now right?

Yes. I'll have been here 3 years in October. My original post was in relation to doing casual work for the coach company I worked for previously - although they now do stage services and have a large national express contract.

 

[Fred Dinenage]

Got my confirmation e-mail from DBS today, i posted my application so probably down to that. I hope.

 

[cabbage]

Got my confirmation e-mail from DBS today, i posted my application so probably down to that. I hope.

I should turn off notifications for this thread, every time I see ""Trainee Driver vacancies DBS" update" hit my inbox my heart skips a beat!

 

[notadriver]

Yes. I'll have been here 3 years in October. My original post was in relation to doing casual work for the coach company I worked for previously - although they now do stage services and have a large national express contract.

Ah I understand - in any case being so new to the railway I'll think you'll find driving a very tiring role should you get it - you wont have the energy to do anything else!

 

[cabbage]

Ah I understand - in any case being so new to the railway I'll think you'll find driving a very tiring role should you get it - you wont have the energy to do anything else!

The last few weeks i've averaged at least 55 hours, last week I did over 70 as I had two duties as a spare driver . Luckily for me spare meant spare and I did next to bugger all!

I spend most of my work time driving bendy buses on two very, very busy routes. It can be very challenging and tiring and i'm sure the railway will be just as tiring, if not more (i'll take your word for it! ), but in a different way.

In four trips (4.5 hours) I easily carry 300-500 passengers and take around the same in cash - not an easy job by any stretch of the imagination but I enjoy it. However my goal has always been to get a job on the railway, and bus/coach driving has been a fantastic experience that i've learned alot from but for me it's time to move on.

 

[Suraggu]

my confirmation came on Friday and they explained as this is for the 2015 intake we will not hear anything for many many months.

 

[cabbage]

my confirmation came on Friday and they explained as this is for the 2015 intake we will not hear anything for many many months.

I've seen posted in the thread previously that assessments would be in September with a start date in January for those who are successful?

I could be imagining things though with wishful thinking on my part?

 

[Hughqq]

Hi,Did the assessments include a mechanical comprehension test and if so do you have any advice tips on preparing for it?

Thanks

Hi folks just a heads up, I recently passed my assesmessment and Mmi interview with db schenker for a previous vacancy but was unsuccessful , I've been put in the talent pool for 3 years and when anymore vacancies become available local to you you will get another interview .
Those successful will get a assessment date at Doncaster and a pack will also be included ,so you can practice similar tests.

 

[Suraggu]

I've seen posted in the thread previously that assessments would be in September with a start date in January for those who are successful?

I could be imagining things though with wishful thinking on my part?

My confirmation email did not state any information like that. It stated that it was for the 2015 intake and it could be many months before we heard anything.

 

[cabbage]

My confirmation email did not state any information like that. It stated that it was for the 2015 intake and it could be many months before we heard anything.

I think someone posted a few pages back who had spoken with HR - I'm on my phone atm but will try to dig it out later.

 

[Fred Dinenage]

Hi

I've had a phone call from DBS HR asking if they can remove my application for the recent vacancies (still short listed else where).

This intake is for the 2015 intake in those locations and if you haven't received confirmation don't worry has this all kicks off with testing in September if your successful.

Hope this helps some of you.

But I haven't read all previous replies so apologise if already been posted

Better memory than me

 

[cabbage]

Better memory than me

I've read pretty much every DBS related thread start to finish!

 

[Cerebral]

If the assessments are in September, here is hoping we hear something back during August then!

Someone mentioned the training might be starting in January 2015. Are there any further dates expected or is this intake going to last them for the whole of 2015?

 

[JCLeeds]

Ive not seen the current form myself, but is that it???

Yes, unless I have missed a huge section somehow. I'm not hopeful because the only thing I can see they could sift from is last 3 job types; and mine are nowhere near the stated ones they say they are asking for

 

[cabbage]

Could anyone say if DBS still use the mechanical comprehension test for their assessments?