So today I decided, as part of my research in Freightliner, to visit the depot I applied to. It’s easy enough because a) I work for a TOC anyway and B) Their Office is at a Railway Station. My intention was to just talk to a few drivers to get an insight in to the role, find out about routes and what they their views are on Freightliner etc. The only driver I spoke to had been driving trains for 30 years and to be honest just didn’t seem to care much, however he did point me in the direction of the Driver Managers’ Office next door.
I wasn’t expecting to actually be able to speak to a manager so that was a bonus and they both gave me some great info about routes, shifts and likely things to focus on at the interviews. I didn’t want to ask too many specifics because as I said, I went there with the view of doing some research in order to prep for the interviews.
One thing I did ask was what exactly are the differences between IM and HH, and I now have more of an insight in to the two;
Intermodal
Shipping containers basically. The appaealing thing about IM is that (as has been said before) the shifts are very structured. Certainly at the depot I applied for they work to a 13-week roster. There’s some lodging but not a lot
Heavy Haul
Less structure and the roster comes out in a Friday afternoon. You basically don’t know what you’re doing until you see the roster. Because of the extra flexibility required, HH drivers apparently get more in terms of salary. Not sure on specifics regarding salary but as I said, I didn’t want to start asking stuff that I should really be asking at interview.
I also said I don’t recall having an option between HH and IM on the initial application so wasn’t sure what the score was in that respect, and was told if successful I’d be offered either and basically wouldn’t have a say in which.
On the whole the managers seem like a really genuine bunch and were very welcoming to me, which was great considering I basically just turned up on the off chance. I don’t think I made a tit of myself either which is of course, a bonus.