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trainee driver

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By 'eck

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14 Jun 2012
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Hi new on your forum
I'm interested in becoming a driver and particularly a depot driver, I'm a qualified HGV technician with management and supervisor experience, what age would be considered too old to train? I'm in my late thirties
Thanks in advance
 
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westcoaster

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Hi new on your forum
I'm interested in becoming a driver and particularly a depot driver, I'm a qualified HGV technician with management and supervisor experience, what age would be considered too old to train? I'm in my late thirties
Thanks in advance



your never to old, we had guys on my intake in there early 50's.
 

letmedrive

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Late thirties ???? A mere baby, haha.

Ive got my medical in a few days and I'm 54. So maybe you should wait a few years.

Seriously though go for it, good luck.
 

JRKirky

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19 Jun 2012
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Hello folks

I am a 32 year old Police Officer who is seriously considering a change in career! I have been in the Police service for 12 years of a 30 year contract. For the last 8 years I have been on Armed Response and Roads Policing. However, as I'm sure some of you have read in the newspapers, our pensions are under Government review. At present I'm due to retire in 2028, I will be 48 years old but if the Home Secretary gets her way I will be 60 years old (a 12 yr extention on my contract) outside nightclubs and pubs fighting with drunks and chasing criminals on foot that are 40 years younger than me. I have met a degree of danger in by 12years, been injured on three occasions and spend a good degree of my off duty time on call. It's a way of life not just a 'job' and it's not necessarily what I want to do until I'm in my 60s.

I have decided that if that review becomes a reality (Not confirmed yet) I will try and leave the service that I once loved to work for. The path I want to follow is into the world of train driving. I am absolutely and completely fully aware that this is a difficult and popular industry to get into but should the situation with the Police pensions become a reality I want to give it my best shot!

I have done my homework, both online and by contacting TOCs directly. There are a few questions I would love to put out there though, especially to the experienced train drivers on this forum.

1. Any golden tips?? Be honest with me!
2. What is the general salary when fully qualified? I have found figures that are pretty much all over the shop!
3. Where can I find up to date vacancies the second they are advertised?
4. Is it still possible to come from outside a TOC and be employed straight as a trainee driver?

Look forward to the responses :)
 

E&W Lucas

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4. Is it still possible to come from outside a TOC and be employed straight as a trainee driver?

Most definitely. Ignore posts on here from trainspotters who can't get the job!

There's plemty in the two threads at the top of this section from myself and the other experienced drivers on here about what qualities are needed, etc. You're thinking along the right lines already, and there's plenty of ex - police driving trains, so you should be a strong candidate.

Whereabouts in the country are you, because that can seriously affect the number of opportunities?
 

westcoaster

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2. Check here http://www.aslef.org.uk/information/102222/102225/companies/
May not be up to date but gives you a general idea.

3. You just have to keep checking the toc's websites I'm afraid.

4. For sure lots of people from out of the industry join! We have lots of ex prison officers and military at our company and an ex met officer, toc's do like these kind of backgrounds.
 
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JRKirky

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19 Jun 2012
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Morning Gents

Thank you both for your responses. I live in Lincoln so I'm a stones throw from Newark but within 45mins of Doncaster, Grimsby, Immingham and about an hour from Hull, Nottingham and Sheffield. Do you think that leaves me with limited opportunities? Lincoln is not the most accessible place, I must admit.
 

E&W Lucas

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Morning Gents

Thank you both for your responses. I live in Lincoln so I'm a stones throw from Newark but within 45mins of Doncaster, Grimsby, Immingham and about an hour from Hull, Nottingham and Sheffield. Do you think that leaves me with limited opportunities? Lincoln is not the most accessible place, I must admit.

Not the best part of the world to be in. The area is also full of soon to be redundant RAF types, who have also had the same idea as you.

Try Northern at Doncaster and Hull or FCC at Peterborough.
 

W230

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Do you think that leaves me with limited opportunities? Lincoln is not the most accessible place, I must admit.
In the same boat as you (with nearly 9 years service). Decided that it was defintely time for a change in career, though this is mainly due to becoming very disorientated with the job in general. The pension situation and extension of service by several years has been the final push (without getting into a prolonged debate about such things I feel I have to really accept that as everyone is living longer, we'll all have to pay more into and get less out of pensions). Like yourself though, I do not want to be rolling around fighting with drunks in my late fifties but certainly do not want to be sat around in an office either!

I have been successful with an application and start with a southern based TOC in late August, so am relocating as a result as I currently live up north. I used my family address when applying, which is local to the job. I have since been told i've also been sucessful with another TOC closer to home but I took the first confirmed job that came up.

In my opinion, by far the most difficult part of getting a job with a TOC is getting the initial assesment invite. I have applied to a variety of TOCs in the past and the first time I have been invited to an asseesment, I have been lucky enough to get through everything and be offered a job. If you do get invited to an assessment make sure you do your homework!

After speaking to people on here with a much greater knowledge of the recruiting procedure, I would also advise that living a long way from the job for which you are applying for, may result in you not even being considered (even if you say you are willing to relocate). I think this may have been a stumbling block for me in some of my earlier applications.

Good luck!
 

387star

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Like yourself though, I do not want to be rolling around fighting with drunks in my late fifties but certainly do not want to be sat around in an office either!


Good luck!

Were you going for a drivers role or have been successful?

I thought driving trains was akin to being in an office
 

Silv1983

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There seems to be a trend developing here! W230 I already know about your situation and now JRKirky - another cop looking to jump from a soon to be battered ship (I've been a PC with GMP for 5 years and im sick of the utter contempt in the way im treated by the organisation).
Keep us posted on how you get on. Also, have you looked into what will happen to your pension build up? I've not asked yet but some are saying it's stuck and others are saying it can be transferred or withdrawn as cash and reinvested etc.

Good Luck all the same.
 

JRKirky

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Hi Silv1983

A colleague called Mouchell (think that's how it's spelt) who currently manage our pensions. He was told that the pension contributions thus far would be transferable to another scheme. As for withdrawing them, I think that is doubtful.

W230, thank you for your post, is interesting to see someone else who is not only thinking along the same lines as me but has actually taken the step. Good luck and I'm sure you will be fine.

I am not doing anything yet other than gathering as much information as possible should the pension issue become a reality. If they leave the 1987 scheme alone I will only have another 16.5 years in the Police and can retire at 48. Seems to good to be true though in light of this governments intentions.
 

TDK

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Hello folks

1. Any golden tips?? Be honest with me!
2. What is the general salary when fully qualified? I have found figures that are pretty much all over the shop!
3. Where can I find up to date vacancies the second they are advertised?
4. Is it still possible to come from outside a TOC and be employed straight as a trainee driver?

Look forward to the responses :)

1. Golden tips are usually sought after when a job arises, apply for everything is the best option.
2. Salary does vary from 39k to 55k however this salary is for uaually a 35 hour week and Sundays are extra there is also the scope of overtime so a driver on 39k will normally hit 45k plus.
3. Register with all the TOC's sites for vacancies and register on their email alerts this is by far the quickest method of finding potential vacancies, rmember if you apply you must live within an hour from the depot at most and if not must guarentee relocation.
4. Yes is the answer to this, this is usually common.

As a police officer you will be seriously considered as you previous work experince is in favour of a drivers job as you will fall neatly onto many of the criteria required to pass the sifting, the only part you may be weak on is the mechanical experience however if you do have a mechanical backgreound for your previous employment great.

Good luck fella
 

JRKirky

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TDK and to everyone else who has taken the time to respond to my posts, thank you to you all. The information you have provided is fantastic. Kindest Regards
 

Beveridges

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2. What is the general salary when fully qualified? I have found figures that are pretty much all over the shop!

It seems to vary but some TOC's give a lower salary even when qualified for the first two years! Northern for example pay £32k when fully qualified for year 1, then 36k for year 2, only paying the £39k on year 3 after qualifying.
I believe some other TOCs do the same. Training rate can be as low as £17k for some TOCs and that training can take a year.
 

kevjohnno

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18 May 2012
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Hey guys, I've got a quick question about the assessment day.

I live up North and have my assessment day with SWT and will this harm my chances of getting the job if I am not within the 30min required distance? I am planning to relocate, however, only if I pass all the required elements.

Any help on this matter would be much appreciated.
 

bezzer

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Hey guys, I've got a quick question about the assessment day.

I live up North and have my assessment day with SWT and will this harm my chances of getting the job if I am not within the 30min required distance? I am planning to relocate, however, only if I pass all the required elements.

Any help on this matter would be much appreciated.

Usually any job offer is subject to relocation. If you pass your assessment then they will expect you to move otherwise they will withdraw the job from you.

So no, distance should not affect you application and assessment.
 

reapz

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7 Jan 2011
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227
Hey guys, I've got a quick question about the assessment day.

I live up North and have my assessment day with SWT and will this harm my chances of getting the job if I am not within the 30min required distance? I am planning to relocate, however, only if I pass all the required elements.

Any help on this matter would be much appreciated.

You will have to provide them with evidence you have moved after you sign the contract and before your start date
 
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