What is a Qualified Driver?

[jamess115]

Prize for the stupidest question? ...

But, perhaps someone could explain to me what length of experience TOC's are looking for when they advertise for Qualified Train Drivers?

 

[Lrd]

Probably anyone that is fully passed out and is allowed to drive without a minder.

I've got a feeling that some TOC's add something into the contract saying that you must stick around for a while after finishing your training, so they can get their moneys worth out of you as it is very expensive to train a new driver.

This is only what I gather from reading posts on this site, I am not a driver.

 

[notadriver]

Prize for the stupidest question? ...

But, perhaps someone could explain to me what length of experience TOC's are looking for when they advertise for Qualified Train Drivers?

Are you a qualified driver looking to apply for another TOC?

 

[455driver]

A qualified drver is one who has a driving licence!

If you are looking to move TOCs then they will normally stipulate that you are not PQA (post qualified, ie less than a year productive) and some TOCs stipulate all applicants must be at least 3 years incident free.

Some TOCs do take on PQA drivers though, there is no hard and fast rule.

 

[carlejo]

Probably anyone that is fully passed out and is allowed to drive without a minder.

I've got a feeling that some TOC's add something into the contract saying that you must stick around for a while after finishing your training, so they can get their moneys worth out of you as it is very expensive to train a new driver.
This is only what I gather from reading posts on this site, I am not a driver.

Any idea how much ?

 

[ballast rat]

Circa £100k apparently

 

[fowler9]

Prize for the stupidest question? ...

But, perhaps someone could explain to me what length of experience TOC's are looking for when they advertise for Qualified Train Drivers?

I think that is a very good question mate. Since I believe drivers would be signed on various types and routes. Obviously you have various answers already but there is (almost) no such thing as a stupid question.

 

[Vicpaul]

The only TOC I've seen stipulating experience as a time scale was virgin.

A lot of TOCs have it written into contracts that should you leave within a certain time frame you have to pay money back. This is worth nothing and cannot be done

 

[Pompy]

If you look at the DB Shenker application they have a sample of the learning contract.
Even though its a sample I'm guessing the real one is something along those lines.
£52k paid back over 5 years.

 

[PG]

The only TOC I've seen stipulating experience as a time scale was virgin.

A lot of TOCs have it written into contracts that should you leave within a certain time frame you have to pay money back. This is worth nothing and cannot be done

Will start by saying that I'm not involved in TOC HR or a legal expert.
Surely if you agree and sign a contact of employment or engagement which stipulates that if you proceed through training and subsequently qualify as a train driver then decide to leave within a certain (specified) period you have to reimburse the TOC a percentage of the amount that they have invested in training you then I don't see why the TOC cannot enforce that?

However maybe someone with more knowledge or expertise is in a better position to provide an answer.

 

[TDK]

Prize for the stupidest question? ...

But, perhaps someone could explain to me what length of experience TOC's are looking for when they advertise for Qualified Train Drivers?

A qualified driver is a driver who had completed the minimum of one journey on their own without a minder. However, there is a term called post qualified and this is a driver with under 2 years experience with most TOC's. this period can be extended if a driver has an incident (s).

For employment purposes many TOC's will prefer a qualified driver with at least 3 years experience with no safety of the line incidents. It all depends on the company and the demand for jobs for instance it will be rare for a driver to quit VT or XC to go to Northern for instance but the other way round there will be many applicants and the experienced drivers with a clean record will acquire the job above anyone who is PQ.

Just for information I see many people on here referring to a PQ driver as PQA - The PQA actually means Post Qualified Assessment the correct terminology for a PQ driver is PQD

 

[RB5Bird]

I was chatting to a driver before my interview the other day, he said it can and does happen.
Although you have signed a training contract the future employer can "buy you out". Like a mobile phone contract.
I'd like to think I had a bit of loyalty to my employer/trainer. If you think about it, the rival company does save money by doing it, alright they do (indirectly) pay for your training, but they are not paying your training salary, which is a saving.

 

[Vicpaul]

I know of many people that have left more or less immediately that have had no repercussions, threatened within it but nothing of substance. Same as the buses were doing with PCVs.

I always had the intention of coming onto the mainline so I could move north but have a conscious so would honour my contract

 

[notadriver]

I've found the TOCs willing to take on such drivers that have only recently qualified tend to be at depots with suburban stopper type work.