FLHH vs GBRf trainee driver

[nb2001uk]

Hello I am just wanting to know who would be best to pick out of FLHH or GBRf. I have been offered a position at both companies but I'm not sure who to pick and so would be very grateful for some advice/opinions from people whom know better.

I don't have any family relying on me and am in early 20s so the shift work involved specifically with freight doesn't bother me.

Location wise: Both Tilbury/London Gway.

Traction wise: I understand FLHH only operates Class 66s out of Tilbury?

Salary wise: Salary isn't a negating factor as the difference is only £3k

Thanks for any advice.

 

[NorthernTech]

Out of the two I believe FL have better conditions and pension so I’d probably lean towards them but a great position to find yourself in, well done!

 

[Class2ldn]

I believe FL are the only freight company that are still part of the traditional RPS (railway pension).

 

[Overspeed110]

'Still' being the operative word.
I don't think anyone should base their next job on what the current pension position is, they are all subject to change.

 

[Crazyb]

I'm not on the freight now, but at a TOC, but worked for the Intermodal side from when we got TUPE'd over from RFD in the late 90's, so seen FOC's rise and fall over the years.

FLHH never really appealed to me when we got the chance to move over when the company original set up, the same with GBRF when they set up, I think in 2001/2, can't remember now.

Anyway...without slating any company.....Quite few have left GB...There were quite a few that moved from Felixstowe to Ipswich Intermodal. Though a big drop in salary, FL had better conditions (intermodal conditions) Drivers were fed with the rostering and middle management at GB, which is still the sort of the same now....I can only go on other drivers comments, which may not bother yourself.

Never worked for FLHH only Intermodal, but obviously HH ran along side us and mixing with HH drivers, you get some idea.....If I had the choice, I would go for FLHH, being in the Freight world most of my career.

I'm not sure on this, but I think FLHH also work intermodal traffic out of Gateway, I can't be 100% sure....It's a shame, as I could have got some more info today if I would of seen you post earlier.

Saying that, if your going to Gateway for GB, you could find that you could be only working Intermodal trains...Because of the nature of the traffic, you may be limited on ballast work, so maybe not abused so much...lol.

Not sure on the pensions, but if you went to GB, I think you will find that you will be put into another pension scheme....Freightliner fought and if I'm not corrected, you will go into the RPS......The RPS pension is a must, and will not be going anyway.....Something to seriously think about, even though your in your 20's.....I started at 17 on the footplate and I only have a few years to go, so it goes quick!!!!!!!! not sure where that time went...lol

Yep, you could most probably earn a lot of money at GB, but you will get used and abused, and I suppose to some extent at Freightliner, but with FL, they don't take it personally if you say NO, if you don't work the OT........ Money is not everything, and being moved all over the place, will take some toll on your body, believe me.

A good thing with Freightliner, you could most probably move about, I'm not sure what it's like now, but you could possibly move to intermodal, like some have done in the past. Freightliner are quite big, so if you did move, you have more depots to choose from.

My opinion only, and working in the freight sector for years, would be FL. This is due to the management side being better than the GB side, in my opinion......but like I said, FL might suit me, but not you. Only yourself can make that choice and good luck which choice you pick.

 

[66701GBRF]

Unless things are changing in the future there is no GB driver depot at gateway or Tilbury. The work is covered by Willesden, Ferme Park Temple Mills and Peterborough. You will also never do JUST intermodal.

 

[Biscuit 56]

There’s currently an advert for a qualified driver at Tilbury on Gbrfs website

 

[nb2001uk]

As you are young, footloose and fancy free, I'd go with GB. You will eventually earn eye watering amounts of money as long as you aren't bothered about the finer things like T&C's, knowing your RD's etc.
Pensions- I don't really care about, anything can happen to them and people who are currently on a good thing may just find that one day they aren't.

Yeah they said they had 25 drivers last year who earned on or above the 100k mark but that's with lots of overtime. I would love to know the contrast between FLHH and GBRf t&cs.

Thank you for your advice

Unless things are changing in the future there is no GB driver depot at gateway or Tilbury. The work is covered by Willesden, Ferme Park Temple Mills and Peterborough. You will also never do JUST intermodal.

I was asked where I wanted and that Tilbury is an option. Also something about Tilbury 2 opening in the coming years? What kind of work do you do and where are you based if i may asl?

I'm not on the freight now, but at a TOC, but worked for the Intermodal side from when we got TUPE'd over from RFD in the late 90's, so seen FOC's rise and fall over the years.

FLHH never really appealed to me when we got the chance to move over when the company original set up, the same with GBRF when they set up, I think in 2001/2, can't remember now.

Anyway...without slating any company.....Quite few have left GB...There were quite a few that moved from Felixstowe to Ipswich Intermodal. Though a big drop in salary, FL had better conditions (intermodal conditions) Drivers were fed with the rostering and middle management at GB, which is still the sort of the same now....I can only go on other drivers comments, which may not bother yourself.

Never worked for FLHH only Intermodal, but obviously HH ran along side us and mixing with HH drivers, you get some idea.....If I had the choice, I would go for FLHH, being in the Freight world most of my career.

I'm not sure on this, but I think FLHH also work intermodal traffic out of Gateway, I can't be 100% sure....It's a shame, as I could have got some more info today if I would of seen you post earlier.

Saying that, if your going to Gateway for GB, you could find that you could be only working Intermodal trains...Because of the nature of the traffic, you may be limited on ballast work, so maybe not abused so much...lol.

Not sure on the pensions, but if you went to GB, I think you will find that you will be put into another pension scheme....Freightliner fought and if I'm not corrected, you will go into the RPS......The RPS pension is a must, and will not be going anyway.....Something to seriously think about, even though your in your 20's.....I started at 17 on the footplate and I only have a few years to go, so it goes quick!!!!!!!! not sure where that time went...lol

Yep, you could most probably earn a lot of money at GB, but you will get used and abused, and I suppose to some extent at Freightliner, but with FL, they don't take it personally if you say NO, if you don't work the OT........ Money is not everything, and being moved all over the place, will take some toll on your body, believe me.

A good thing with Freightliner, you could most probably move about, I'm not sure what it's like now, but you could possibly move to intermodal, like some have done in the past. Freightliner are quite big, so if you did move, you have more depots to choose from.

My opinion only, and working in the freight sector for years, would be FL. This is due to the management side being better than the GB side, in my opinion......but like I said, FL might suit me, but not you. Only yourself can make that choice and good luck which choice you pick.

Thanks a lot for your in depth comment. May I ask why you decided to switch? I understand that GB drivers have to do train prep and shunt work too, is this the same with FLHH?

 

[mwest123]

Unless things are changing in the future there is no GB driver depot at gateway or Tilbury. The work is covered by Willesden, Ferme Park Temple Mills and Peterborough. You will also never do JUST intermodal.

Where is the depot/booking on point at Temple Mills for GB, as when I saw that I thought of the old depot that’s now on the site of the Olympic park

 

[NorthernTech]

Where is the depot/booking on point at Temple Mills for GB, as when I saw that I thought of the old depot that’s now on the site of the Olympic park

It usually states on the job advert on their website either where depot is or where the central pinpoint of the hub you are working for. (60 mins travel time from)

 

[mwest123]

It usually states on the job advert on their website either where depot is or where the central pinpoint of the hub you are working for. (60 mins travel time from)

Oh right. Would they book on at home or somewhere around Temple Mills as the only freight flows I can think of from memory in that area is the stuff from Felixstowe and maybe Gateway that goes through Stratford or the GOBLIN so it’s odd it wouldn’t be in Stratford

 

[NorthernTech]

Oh right. Would they book on at home or somewhere around Temple Mills as the only freight flows I can think of from memory in that area is the stuff from Felixstowe and maybe Gateway that goes through Stratford or the GOBLIN so it’s odd it wouldn’t be in Stratford

No idea mate, im just going by what I see on their job adverts. I don’t know the area sorry.

 

[66701GBRF]

There is no physical depot for Temple Mills. They usually use Stratford as a reference point.

 

[Juliet Barvo]

GBRf have a high staff turnover. It's a Red Flag.

 

[Carl98k]

Yeah they said they had 25 drivers last year who earned on or above the 100k mark but that's with lots of overtime. I would love to know the contrast between FLHH and GBRf t&cs.

Thank you for your advice


I was asked where I wanted and that Tilbury is an option. Also something about Tilbury 2 opening in the coming years? What kind of work do you do and where are you based if i may asl?


Thanks a lot for your in depth comment. May I ask why you decided to switch? I understand that GB drivers have to do train prep and shunt work too, is this the same with FLHH?

The ROs do the shunt work most of the time.

I'm not on the freight now, but at a TOC, but worked for the Intermodal side from when we got TUPE'd over from RFD in the late 90's, so seen FOC's rise and fall over the years.

FLHH never really appealed to me when we got the chance to move over when the company original set up, the same with GBRF when they set up, I think in 2001/2, can't remember now.

Anyway...without slating any company.....Quite few have left GB...There were quite a few that moved from Felixstowe to Ipswich Intermodal. Though a big drop in salary, FL had better conditions (intermodal conditions) Drivers were fed with the rostering and middle management at GB, which is still the sort of the same now....I can only go on other drivers comments, which may not bother yourself.

Never worked for FLHH only Intermodal, but obviously HH ran along side us and mixing with HH drivers, you get some idea.....If I had the choice, I would go for FLHH, being in the Freight world most of my career.

I'm not sure on this, but I think FLHH also work intermodal traffic out of Gateway, I can't be 100% sure....It's a shame, as I could have got some more info today if I would of seen you post earlier.

Saying that, if your going to Gateway for GB, you could find that you could be only working Intermodal trains...Because of the nature of the traffic, you may be limited on ballast work, so maybe not abused so much...lol.

Not sure on the pensions, but if you went to GB, I think you will find that you will be put into another pension scheme....Freightliner fought and if I'm not corrected, you will go into the RPS......The RPS pension is a must, and will not be going anyway.....Something to seriously think about, even though your in your 20's.....I started at 17 on the footplate and I only have a few years to go, so it goes quick!!!!!!!! not sure where that time went...lol

Yep, you could most probably earn a lot of money at GB, but you will get used and abused, and I suppose to some extent at Freightliner, but with FL, they don't take it personally if you say NO, if you don't work the OT........ Money is not everything, and being moved all over the place, will take some toll on your body, believe me.

A good thing with Freightliner, you could most probably move about, I'm not sure what it's like now, but you could possibly move to intermodal, like some have done in the past. Freightliner are quite big, so if you did move, you have more depots to choose from.

My opinion only, and working in the freight sector for years, would be FL. This is due to the management side being better than the GB side, in my opinion......but like I said, FL might suit me, but not you. Only yourself can make that choice and good luck which choice you pick.

Guys are booking not available for rest days, then calling the office the day before a rest day and asking to work on the proviso they get 12 hour's. I’ve seen from the routing sheets the amount that drivers earn with GB, and it’s a hell of a lot. But then I’ve seen some guys do contracted hours with odd rest day in. Still good money however you look at it.

Also depending on the depot will depend if you cover a lot of possessions, some work more than others.

 

[66701GBRF]

The ROs do the shunt work most of the time.


Guys are booking not available for rest days, then calling the office the day before a rest day and asking to work on the proviso they get 12 hour's. I’ve seen from the routing sheets the amount that drivers earn with GB, and it’s a hell of a lot. But then I’ve seen some guys do contracted hours with odd rest day in. Still good money however you look at it.

Also depending on the depot will depend if you cover a lot of possessions, some work more than others.

I thought you were a trainee driver still on the course? How do you know who has been asking or booking what?

 

[Carl98k]

I thought you were a trainee driver still on the course? How do you know who has been asking or booking what?

I am. Because the shifts are sent to our iPads so everyone gets sight of it.

 

[66701GBRF]

I was more referring to you saying RDNA people are calling the day before and asking for 12 hours. iPads might show the turn and who is doing it, but it doesn’t show the conversations leading up to it or who instigated what or when.

 

[Carl98k]

Ah I get you know. We’ve had visits from various people and we’ve been to to see planning. The RDNA was confirmed by the a planner. This is due to so many jobs not being covered

I was more referring to you saying RDNA people are calling the day before and asking for 12 hours. iPads might show the turn and who is doing it, but it doesn’t show the conversations leading up to it or who instigated what or when.

I assume you work for GB?

 

[nb2001uk]

The ROs do the shunt work most of the time.


Guys are booking not available for rest days, then calling the office the day before a rest day and asking to work on the proviso they get 12 hour's. I’ve seen from the routing sheets the amount that drivers earn with GB, and it’s a hell of a lot. But then I’ve seen some guys do contracted hours with odd rest day in. Still good money however you look at it.

Also depending on the depot will depend if you cover a lot of possessions, some work more than others.

I was told that you will have to do shunt work, train movements etc etc which is different from other FOCs. He said and I quote "if there is no shunter available to do the work you will be called up and expected to do it" I mean he didn't paint gbrf it the best of pictures and it backs up with the huge amount of negativity said on here

 

[Carl98k]

I was told that you will have to do shunt work, train movements etc etc which is different from other FOCs. He said and I quote "if there is no shunter available to do the work you will be called up and expected to do it" I mean he didn't paint gbrf it the best of pictures and it backs up with the huge amount of negativity said on here

Again this is depot specific. And to be honest, is doing some shunting the end of the world? Before this job I worked as a tanker driver for Hoyer. Loads of people slated them for this and that, I never had a problem. I came in, did my work and went home. I’m saying it’s the same on the railway, but some people didn’t want to work. And the first opportunity they had to drop work they would. I have, and always will take a company how I find them. And if the worse turns out to be true, you can leave after 5 years with all that experience and a train driver licence.

 

[Juliet Barvo]

So you joined GBRf, bad luck.

We all make mistakes.

If you're on a 5 year Training Agreement then you're Street to seat or shunter to driver. If you leave before the training agreement years is up then GBRf will chase you if it's in their financial interest or if you piss off senior management.

The question you really want to ask is: will they still have an Operating License once the investigations into Doncaster and Carlisle are complete?!

 

[Lancy99]

So you joined GBRf, bad luck.

We all make mistakes.

If you're on a 5 year Training Agreement then you're Street to seat or shunter to driver. If you leave before the training agreement years is up then GBRf will chase you if it's in their financial interest or if you piss off senior management.

The question you really want to ask is: will they still have an Operating License once the investigations into Doncaster and Carlisle are complete?!

Wow. Probably better keeping your opinions to oneself

 

[66701GBRF]

So you joined GBRf, bad luck.

We all make mistakes.

If you're on a 5 year Training Agreement then you're Street to seat or shunter to driver. If you leave before the training agreement years is up then GBRf will chase you if it's in their financial interest or if you piss off senior management.

The question you really want to ask is: will they still have an Operating License once the investigations into Doncaster and Carlisle are complete?!

You know the reasons for Carlisle then?

 

[hiall]

They do 12 hour shifts which is dangerous imo and even more so if it is a few of them in a row. Do they have 12 hour turnaround time rule?

 

[Jinky_1967]

So you joined GBRf, bad luck.

We all make mistakes.

If you're on a 5 year Training Agreement then you're Street to seat or shunter to driver. If you leave before the training agreement years is up then GBRf will chase you if it's in their financial interest or if you piss off senior management.

The question you really want to ask is: will they still have an Operating License once the investigations into Doncaster and Carlisle are complete?!

I am currently considering joining here so would like to know how they would lose their licence? What have the been guilty of? Ta.

 

[Carl98k]

So you joined GBRf, bad luck.

We all make mistakes.

If you're on a 5 year Training Agreement then you're Street to seat or shunter to driver. If you leave before the training agreement years is up then GBRf will chase you if it's in their financial interest or if you piss off senior management.

The question you really want to ask is: will they still have an Operating License once the investigations into Doncaster and Carlisle are complete?!

Since when did you become an accident investigator? Until the investigation is complete no one knows.

Yes I’m street to seat, and I’m also not stupid enough to sign a contract with out reading it.

I get fed up of reading “I wouldn’t work for X and Y company”. I heard the same crap when I worked as a petrol tanker driver. It’s easy for qualified drivers to spout this, people would give their right arm to be in my position.

And you know what if I’m not happy I’ll suck it up for 5 years then leave if needs be.

 

[baz962]

So you joined GBRf, bad luck.

We all make mistakes.

If you're on a 5 year Training Agreement then you're Street to seat or shunter to driver. If you leave before the training agreement years is up then GBRf will chase you if it's in their financial interest or if you piss off senior management.

The question you really want to ask is: will they still have an Operating License once the investigations into Doncaster and Carlisle are complete?!

Well I guess if a company lost their operating license then the employee would be free to take their license elsewhere and without the financial penalty. Win win for Carl98

 

[train_lover]

So you joined GBRf, bad luck.

We all make mistakes.

If you're on a 5 year Training Agreement then you're Street to seat or shunter to driver. If you leave before the training agreement years is up then GBRf will chase you if it's in their financial interest or if you piss off senior management.

The question you really want to ask is: will they still have an Operating License once the investigations into Doncaster and Carlisle are complete?!

Unsure on who you work for but I'm a driver for GB and I absolutely love it. I have a great route card that covers a variety of trains. Shifts can be heavy but I was more tired working passenger trains stopping every 2 minutes. I personally think your comments are completely unfair and misleading

 

[col68]

I've just joined gb from a toc and I absolutely love it at gb. Best move I've ever made. I certainly don't work as hard as I did at my toc and I'm nowhere near as tired.