• Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

Freightliner heavy haul

Status
Not open for further replies.

Chuggachugga92

On Moderation
Joined
14 Feb 2021
Messages
47
Location
South
Hello, I was wondering if anyone can let me know what it's like working for heavy haul. @hope depot earles sidings I would be grateful. I have interview with them for fully qualified driver and I am NERVOUS HAHA

Thanks In advance

Any info appreciated eg work, contracts, terms and conditions
 
Last edited:
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

4F89

Member
Joined
17 Aug 2018
Messages
860
Mainly stone I think at hope, 35 hours a week avg, happy check if u bust em, rdw aplenty, lots of sitting in loops etc. I think Hope / Earles is / are more intense than crewe etc, but still, if you like freight, its a doddle. Roster comes out on Friday for following week, go all over the shop. Not as intense for nights as IM, overall roster in bandings for start times, so u know your banding a year in advance and can stick to it if you want to. If you come with a sizeable card, you will get to go all sorts of places. I like it.
 

GB

Established Member
Joined
16 Nov 2008
Messages
6,457
Location
Somewhere
I have heard that if you don't meet your contracted hours they take the shortfall off any rest day hours you have done...is this right?
 

Chuggachugga92

On Moderation
Joined
14 Feb 2021
Messages
47
Location
South
Mainly stone I think at hope, 35 hours a week avg, happy check if u bust em, rdw aplenty, lots of sitting in loops etc. I think Hope / Earles is / are more intense than crewe etc, but still, if you like freight, its a doddle. Roster comes out on Friday for following week, go all over the shop. Not as intense for nights as IM, overall roster in bandings for start times, so u know your banding a year in advance and can stick to it if you want to. If you come with a sizeable card, you will get to go all sorts of places. I like it.
Nice one cheers
 

4F89

Member
Joined
17 Aug 2018
Messages
860
I have heard that if you don't meet your contracted hours they take the shortfall off any rest day hours you have done...is this right?
No. I was 300 under contract last year, but didn't lose any rd payments.
 

4F89

Member
Joined
17 Aug 2018
Messages
860
I'd swap you for a couple of years if I could get 300+ over.
 

4F89

Member
Joined
17 Aug 2018
Messages
860
You don't HAVE to bust your contract you know.... take 10 weeks off! You can't be complaining too hard if you choose to bust it.
 

Chingy

Member
Joined
24 Jan 2020
Messages
171
Location
Frome
I'm pretty sure most of the current, active trainees at FL Heavy Haul are either Merehead or Acton based trainees?

Should have a whole load of new drivers passing out soon.
 

cossie4i

Member
Joined
2 Jun 2014
Messages
314
Location
Somerset
I'm pretty sure most of the current, active trainees at FL Heavy Haul are either Merehead or Acton based trainees?

Should have a whole load of new drivers passing out soon.
They might pass rules and traction.
The hold up at the moment is a lack of mentor driver’s.
 

Chingy

Member
Joined
24 Jan 2020
Messages
171
Location
Frome
I think that's improved slightly too.

Obviously the backlog due to Covid isn't helping, but speaking to fellow drivers at Aslef branch meetings, I know a couple of drivers that have recently become mentor drivers at Merehead and Eastleigh at least.
 

cossie4i

Member
Joined
2 Jun 2014
Messages
314
Location
Somerset
I think that's improved slightly too.

Obviously the backlog due to Covid isn't helping, but speaking to fellow drivers at Aslef branch meetings, I know a couple of drivers that have recently become mentor drivers at Merehead and Eastleigh at least.
Two have started to do it, two have stopped doing it.
Net result no change.
As you say COVID has unfortunately played a massive part in delaying the training process.
 

Class67

Member
Joined
16 Feb 2021
Messages
10
Location
Doncaster
Sorry for the late reply, I was on nights last night!

It's steady work, nice scenery. Do you live local to the depot?
 

Chuffedtobits1

New Member
Joined
16 Feb 2021
Messages
2
Location
Doncaster
Wow lucky you already being a qualified driver! I'm guessing at interview stage they will ask you previous experience etc.etc and my best advice in interview is to stay relaxed and talk about what you already know and elaborate on that as a starting point.
 

Chuggachugga92

On Moderation
Joined
14 Feb 2021
Messages
47
Location
South
Sorry to hear that. Did they say why? Is your Safety Record clean as with most companies, they're pretty hot on that, particularly for SPADs and derailments if you might have had any of those.
They thought 60 minutes journey on a good day was too far
 

Class67

Member
Joined
16 Feb 2021
Messages
10
Location
Doncaster
How strange, couldn't you relocate? Many people have moved over the years! Are you going to stay with your current TOC/FOC then?

Where are you at and what was attracting you to FL out in the sticks if you don't mind me asking?
 

Welshman04

Member
Joined
1 Jul 2020
Messages
8
Location
Northampton
Hello.. Im getting my CV ready to apply for the heavy haul position at Bristol. Was wondering if anyone could give me their personal opinion about the position?
Also any help with the following questions would be greatly appriciated:

Do you have to lodge? if so how often and can it be swapped if necessary?
Job security? Do contracts get cancelled? Ive heard theres currently a 10 year contract in place with a stone quarry
General terms and conditions?
General job satisfaction? All I hear is horror stories about freight work but people do it so it cant be that bad surely?

Im currently waiting for my union to get back to me with a contact number for the union office there as I need to ask whether I can even apply. I had an overrun in December so not sure if Ill even get an interview
 

Class67

Member
Joined
16 Feb 2021
Messages
10
Location
Doncaster
Hello.. Im getting my CV ready to apply for the heavy haul position at Bristol. Was wondering if anyone could give me their personal opinion about the position?
Also any help with the following questions would be greatly appriciated:

Do you have to lodge? if so how often and can it be swapped if necessary?
Job security? Do contracts get cancelled? Ive heard theres currently a 10 year contract in place with a stone quarry
General terms and conditions?
General job satisfaction? All I hear is horror stories about freight work but people do it so it cant be that bad surely?

Im currently waiting for my union to get back to me with a contact number for the union office there as I need to ask whether I can even apply. I had an overrun in December so not sure if Ill even get an interview

I can't answer specifically about Bristol, as I don't know anyone down there, but I think that's the Mendip work that we won from from DB not long ago.

Contracts come and go on freight, it's the nature of the job. Sometimes they need to reshuffle staff, if there's any job losses, they usually ask for volunteers first.

You'll hear horror stories from people who probably have never been near freight. I enjoy it, a lot of my mates enjoy it. There's usually a lot more nights than passenger work. Speak to some freight drivers at Bristol, see what they think of the work there. Not much point me saying I enjoy the work at my depot, as it's different to Bristol jobs.

Sorry to hear about your incident. FL are quite accommodating, just show that you have learnt from it. I was trying to get an updated digital copy of the Terms and conditions, but haven't managed to do so yet unfortunately.

Bear in mind that, unless you're protected, you'll likely lose any travel concessions.
 

Welshman04

Member
Joined
1 Jul 2020
Messages
8
Location
Northampton
Yeh Im going to go for it and chuck my application in this weekend and see what happens. Its a shame about the travel concessions but I lived without it before I was a driver so its not the end of the world. If anyone on this forum has any material for the interview or just knowledge about the process that would be a massive help!
 

class 9

Member
Joined
18 Nov 2010
Messages
948
You don't HAVE to bust your contract you know.... take 10 weeks off! You can't be complaining too hard if you choose to bust it.
You are expected to tell the company at the start of each year that you don't want to work over your annual contracted hours and rosters are meant to manage your hours accordingly. If you were at a busy depot & decided to take 10 weeks off, it wouldn't go down well!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top