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dB apprenticeship trainee drivers

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Carl95

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Joined
29 Aug 2019
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11
Location
Cambridgeshire
don’t make things worse lol ah well good luck on your course, hopefully won’t be far behind you ! Do you do the full 10 weeks in the school as well, I’ve been told I’ve to do the full 10 weeks plus 75hours mainline work then finish off the other 75once they are ready to let me .
They told me there's a mixture of classwork and driving hours that I have to meet to qualify, specific details will be in my contract which is in the post. Also they said beings it's an apprenticeship , there are maths, english, ict and business studies learning that I would have to do to comply ( although they explained to me as I already have qualifications that cover all of the above I can provide them with my certificates and I will be able to skip all that)
 
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C001

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30 Aug 2019
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148
Ah right so it is a proper apprenticeship then .. that’s good you have most of it already ! Thank god I won’t need to do all that lol... just 10 weeks driver training in a school then straight onto handling hours.. hopefully you won’t be long till your start all that .
 

whitney0307

New Member
Joined
15 Oct 2019
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1
Location
Cornwall
Is anyone in the talent pool for db cargo st blazey depot? Have been told that I have to wait for a business outcome for the specific depot before they can give me any more info.

Is anyone else in the same position as I am? And do you have anymore information that you could enlighten me with?
 

JT93

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Joined
26 Jan 2020
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2
Location
Barking
I’m looking at applying for Barking Junior/ trainee driver role for DB. Is anyone able to answer the following for me please:

1. What are the shift patterns at this depot?

2. How long are you expected to be a Junior driver for in order to progress to mainline and is there a good possibility of this happening?

3. What is the salary for a junior driver once training is completed? It states just under 30k but wondering if this increases?

many thanks in advance
 

MA8141

Member
Joined
23 Jun 2019
Messages
92
I can’t comment on the shift patterns but for my depot shifts can start at any time between 0001 and 2359 in a day, there is no set early, late or night shift patterns, just as and when the train will run.

There is no timeframe to progress, you will move up as and when the vacancies arise, no need for a mainline driver, no move up. Although you may strike lucky and get the trainee mainline role straight away.

for Junior Driver, there is no increase in salary, what you start on is what you carry on with post training.

I’m looking at applying for Barking Junior/ trainee driver role for DB. Is anyone able to answer the following for me please:

1. What are the shift patterns at this depot?

2. How long are you expected to be a Junior driver for in order to progress to mainline and is there a good possibility of this happening?

3. What is the salary for a junior driver once training is completed? It states just under 30k but wondering if this increases?

many thanks in advance
 

Atishyou

Member
Joined
1 Jan 2012
Messages
485
Location
North West
I can’t comment on the shift patterns but for my depot shifts can start at any time between 0001 and 2359 in a day, there is no set early, late or night shift patterns, just as and when the train will run.

There is no timeframe to progress, you will move up as and when the vacancies arise, no need for a mainline driver, no move up. Although you may strike lucky and get the trainee mainline role straight away.

for Junior Driver, there is no increase in salary, what you start on is what you carry on with post training.

To add to that, yard shifts are usually a set time, but can be amended as required.

I've known people start as a junior driver, pass out and a week later, be told they're going on a mainline course soon. I've also known some who were a junior for a year or so.

Look at it for what it is, an entrance to the driver grade.

It's a basic salary, but it's well paid for doing what you'll do and still a reasonable salary all in. Some areas get a travelling allowance as well depending on how far they go to different booking on points. Don't forget there's likely to be overtime available too.
 

Atishyou

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Joined
1 Jan 2012
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485
Location
North West
I’m hoping to get in to Toton, and I’m interested to find out how many days they work to how many rest days? Ie 5 on 2 off

It varies, some weeks might be 4 or 5 on, but then with 2 or 3 off.

It's an average 32 hour week (across the year) and 192 instances of work.

In each cycle of the roster (usually 13 weeks), you have 1 week of leave, followed by 1 week of rest days, so to accrue that week, you generally have less 'large' blocks off through the roster. There will still be the odd block of 3 and maybe 4 off.
 

Roulstone

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Joined
3 Jan 2020
Messages
10
Location
Loughborough
It varies, some weeks might be 4 or 5 on, but then with 2 or 3 off.

It's an average 32 hour week (across the year) and 192 instances of work.

In each cycle of the roster (usually 13 weeks), you have 1 week of leave, followed by 1 week of rest days, so to accrue that week, you generally have less 'large' blocks off through the roster. There will still be the odd block of 3 and maybe 4 off.
Thank you Atishyou, great.
 

anglian96

Member
Joined
17 Nov 2018
Messages
158
I’m looking at applying for Barking Junior/ trainee driver role for DB. Is anyone able to answer the following for me please:

1. What are the shift patterns at this depot?

2. How long are you expected to be a Junior driver for in order to progress to mainline and is there a good possibility of this happening?

3. What is the salary for a junior driver once training is completed? It states just under 30k but wondering if this increases?

many thanks in advance
Hi I'm a driver at barking. There is no junior drivers at barking as we don't have any yard moves etc so you'll only be a junior driver just whilst in training and then on Completion you'll be mainline straight away.

Shift patterns vary from 5 hour turns to 11 but average around 8. All different start times around the 24 hours.

If you have any other questions pm me not a problem
 

Aftv49

Member
Joined
21 Jan 2020
Messages
51
Location
London
Hi I'm a driver at barking. There is no junior drivers at barking as we don't have any yard moves etc so you'll only be a junior driver just whilst in training and then on Completion you'll be mainline straight away.

Shift patterns vary from 5 hour turns to 11 but average around 8. All different start times around the 24 hours.

If you have any other questions pm me not a problem
Hi mate, I recently applied to the Barking depot. Do you have any idea when they are likely to start shortlisting?

Also, I have passed stage 1 and 2 with the OPC. However, for DB are there any other assessments required?
 

anglian96

Member
Joined
17 Nov 2018
Messages
158
Hi mate, I recently applied to the Barking depot. Do you have any idea when they are likely to start shortlisting?

Also, I have passed stage 1 and 2 with the OPC. However, for DB are there any other assessments required?
Not a clue unfortunately.

After stage 1 and 2 there's a MMI and a DMI and that's it for DB
 

Aftv49

Member
Joined
21 Jan 2020
Messages
51
Location
London
Not a clue unfortunately.

After stage 1 and 2 there's a MMI and a DMI and that's it for DB
Cheers mate! I appreciate your response.

On a different note, I have a DMI coming up for another TOC. I was hoping if you could share some insight as to the possible questions that pop up in a DMI and if you have any advice in general for the DMI?

Thanks!
 

anglian96

Member
Joined
17 Nov 2018
Messages
158
Cheers mate! I appreciate your response.

On a different note, I have a DMI coming up for another TOC. I was hoping if you could share some insight as to the possible questions that pop up in a DMI and if you have any advice in general for the DMI?

Thanks!
My DMI was just like any other interview and it was very relaxed. They just asked me a few questions on company history and asked what I could bring to the firm basically
 
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