Trainee drivers Freighliner HH

[TDK]

10 weeks away from depot on rules, traction plus other bits. Then about 3 months handling.

So in 3 months you van get 275 hours done?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

It's 275 hrs handling. Perhaps 3 months is a wrong guess.

Why are you guessing answers for people asking questions? If you are not sure don't give false info.

 

[Hynod]

So in 3 months you van get 275 hours done?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Why are you guessing answers for people asking questions? If you are not sure don't give false info.

Why are you suggesting I'm not sure?

20 hrs a week average is 13 weeks, that's pretty close to 3 months the last time I checked.

 

[Pacerpilot]

Took me from late April til July to complete the required 150 hours when I jumped from passenger work. That was with mimimal rest days taken. Many jobs are van/Pass in one direction so some weeks can be very short on driving hours.

 

[Dave1987]

Why are you suggesting I'm not sure?

20 hrs a week average is 13 weeks, that's pretty close to 3 months the last time I checked.

It's wheels turning hours, if you are working a 35 hr week you will not have 20 hrs wheels turning a week.

 

[GB]

It's wheels turning hours, if you are working a 35 hr week you will not have 20 hrs wheels turning a week.

You may well be doing a lot more than 35hr weeks through...all depends what diagram and what line on the roster you are on as I believe the weekly hours is averaged over 12 to 16 weeks.

 

[JAMBO]

On a typical 12 hr HH diagram you will do more van driving than train driving. 200 plus miles in a shift easily,several hours on the road. So it will take you quite some time getting 275 hrs in.

 

[TDK]

Why are you suggesting I'm not sure?

20 hrs a week average is 13 weeks, that's pretty close to 3 months the last time I checked.

You was the one who said you had guessed? See Below

Originally Posted by Hynod View Post
It's 275 hrs handling. Perhaps 3 months is a wrong guess.

You will not get 20 hours of driving in a week every week, you also need a certain percentage of daylight and darkness hours. Sorry buddy but you have no idea on how the hours works for a trainee driver.

 

[Hynod]

Ok buddy.

 

[JAMBO]

Ews it was 150 hrs train handling,around 50 at night, and around 25 light engine, why HH have nearly doubled it is a strange one. Be interesting to see how many get trained up as driver mentors?! Or get asked for that matter. I think it will be trainees sharing a minder if im honest. As for jobs at a Yorkshire depot the only one is Doncaster, heard ferry not recruiting even though there several short with drivers bailing out.

 

[TT66]

Db still is 150 hours but then there's x number of hours on the simulator aswell. I would say for HH 6months to do the handling would be a more realistic estimate!

 

[saracen]

As far as I'm aware, 225 DRIVING hours need to be completed as industry standard. If Freightliner HH opt for more then that is down to their own company policy.

EWS/DBS would indeed allow drivers to pass out after 150 hours, however this was in combination with simulator training, which by the way they no longer have in operation.

Believe me, 200+ hours will take longer than 3 months!

 

[JAMBO]

The simulator at EWS is for rules and regulations, has nothing to do with train handling hours.

 

[TT66]

They have two new simulators which will now be part of the training. The current trainees have to do 150 hours with mentor and then 75 on simulator. This is part of your train handling hours so I've been told. Would imagine freightliner will do a similar thing for there trainees. 75 simulator 200 practical maybe?

 

[saracen]

The simulator at EWS is for rules and regulations, has nothing to do with train handling hours.

Yes, it was used for rules and regulations which in turn meant EWS/DBS reduced the hours to 150hrs.

Recent drivers at EWS/DBS (pre June 2013 intake) who did NOT have access to a simulator were made to complete 225hrs.

 

[Dieseldriver]

If that's correct then that sounds ridiculous. A simulator does not teach you how to drive a train, it teaches you how to deal with out of course events. It should be used to supplement driving hours, not replace them!

 

[JAMBO]

The sim at EWS covered stuff like, tbw,slw,aws/tpws,passing signals at danger, and loco failures, it doesn't show you how to drive, plus it ain't a full motion sim so you can't get the feel for braking, weight of the train and such. Drivers who had spads or incidents used to find themselves back in the sim for the day going through the events, so a good bit of kit in that respect but useless showing a trainee how to drive.I would still say 150 hours is about right to get a trainee up to the standard to pass out, that on average still takes 6 month. Always helps when you get yourself a good mentor who knows the job inside out and can pass on valuable experience which will carry you through your career.

 

[benno79]

I applied, must admit the test threw a bit as I wasn't expecting it and I hadn't done some of the stuff since I was at school. Good luck everyone

 

[Pudsey]

Does anyone here work for Freightliner HH?
I am wondering what a typical day consists of.
Thanks

 

[TDK]

Yes, it was used for rules and regulations which in turn meant EWS/DBS reduced the hours to 150hrs.

Recent drivers at EWS/DBS (pre June 2013 intake) who did NOT have access to a simulator were made to complete 225hrs.

A train simulator is a glorious computer game as far as I am concerned. The 150 hours you quote is this for qualified drivers or trainees? If the latter what is your source? For freight I feel 225 hours is not enough and it should be 300 at least and 300 in the driving seat of a train not playing on a glorified computer simulator.

 

[JAMBO]

I think 300 hrs is quite excessive to learn how to handle a train. You can be fully competent in handling a 66 to a professional driver standard, and be able to comply with rules and regs after 150 hrs.

 

[Pacerpilot]

There definitely needs to be a bit of variety in that 150hrs. I did my hours entirely working pass braked HHA/HXA coal sets.
So some months down line, working a long rake of coalfish on a ballast job, a baptism of fire was had. "A quick dab of brake, rolling up towards a red...Oh we're coming to a stand here then are we?" Rinse and repeat until I actually got to where I wanted to stop.

 

[JAMBO]

Does anyone here work for Freightliner HH?
I am wondering what a typical day consists of.
Thanks

Long and tiring!

 

[TDK]

I think 300 hrs is quite excessive to learn how to handle a train. You can be fully competent in handling a 66 to a professional driver standard, and be able to comply with rules and regs after 150 hrs.

And this is your opinion? Group standards think different and that is why 225 hours is the minimum requirement. Freight is totally different and a lot more taxing than passenger work and as a previous instructor and assessor I would not think that a candidate will be anywhere near ready for pass out after 150 hours.

 

[JAMBO]

And this is your opinion? Group standards think different and that is why 225 hours is the minimum requirement. Freight is totally different and a lot more taxing than passenger work and as a previous instructor and assessor I would not think that a candidate will be anywhere near ready for pass out after 150 hours.

So your saying all those Ex EWS trainees several years ago were not fit and competent to drive a 66 on a job after there 150 hrs with there minder?

 

[westbrom]

hopefully her something soon,not got my hopes up though as said im not willing to re-locate...........maybe easy to relocate when on full wages but if dropping to 18k a year would be a bit of an ask to do it the price it costs these days.

 

[GazUk]

I've applied, only wish i'd taken more time on the test as i fear i've fallen at the first hurdle, so i've not got my hopes up this time even though i'd do anything to be an engine driver!

 

[Pudsey]

hopefully her something soon,not got my hopes up though as said im not willing to re-locate...........maybe easy to relocate when on full wages but if dropping to 18k a year would be a bit of an ask to do it the price it costs these days.

I've said I'd relocate and £18k would be a nice pay rise for me!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Long and tiring!

Thanks JAMBO!

 

[JAMBO]

Any of you guys heard from freightliner yet??

 

[Prism333]

Nothing yet for me.

 

[Lincoln_biker]

Any of you guys heard from freightliner yet??

They quoted the 22nd on the application form as an indicator for a response.