Trainee drivers at DB schenker

[Geargrinder]

None of the tedious, repetetive, sort anyway - the type where you're doing exactly the same task multiple times in a row or over a long period of time.

Driving my car to work used to be by far the most monotonous thing about my job, don't commute now after relocating, the closest thing to monotony now is when on fuelling/toilet duties when its unshared; but thats more of a dirty, filthy, hard job than a monotonous one.

£33k as a db schenker driver operator where the worst thing so far mentioned is a repetetive shunting move still sounds pretty good.

 

[Beveridges]

It really depends what job you're coming from. Not saying its a bad job, it just doesnt sound good enough to persuade me to leave my current Driver Operator role with a TOC.

 

[Dave1987]

Like I said the travel perks of working for a TOC alone are worth a few thousand a year. Also the shift of working for a FOC will be more unsocialable, and you dont have the job security of working for a TOC but each to their own and is wish everyone who has applied for these positions success.

 

[saracen]

It really depends what job you're coming from. Not saying its a bad job, it just doesnt sound good enough to persuade me to leave my current Driver Operator role with a TOC.

So £42,500 doesn't sound attractive enough? Not forgetting that at DB Schenker, there will be many opportunities to work the odd rest day or overtime. Plus the varied jobs and routes that you'll learn/sign?

 

[Dave1987]

So £42,500 doesn't sound attractive enough? Not forgetting that at DB Schenker, there will be many opportunities to work the odd rest day or overtime. Plus the varied jobs and routes that you'll learn/sign?

You can get £42,500 working as a TOC driver, plus plenty of opportunity for rest day work and sundays. Also get travel perks and more job security. Would say working for a TOC probably better than working for FOC unless you wan the varied work of a FOC.

 

[saracen]

You can get £42,500 working as a TOC driver, plus plenty of opportunity for rest day work and sundays. Also get travel perks and more job security. Would say working for a TOC probably better than working for FOC unless you wan the varied work of a FOC.

Job security? I can't remember the last time I ever heard of DB Schenker or Freightliner getting rid of drivers.

That's £42,500 as a starting salary. It's not uncommon for DBS drivers to be earning 50-60k plus with over time or working rest days at the busier depots. Also, as its a fixed contract, around 1580 hours, once a driver has completed them towards the end of the year, you're entitled to just take the rest of the time off work until the new year.

In my opinion, I would prefer the varied freight routes, driving the Royal Train and Orient Express, getting my hand on MPV's and the other traction involved in Freight/Track Maintenance rather than just going from A to B, all day, every day.

 

[Beveridges]

So £42,500 doesn't sound attractive enough? Not forgetting that at DB Schenker, there will be many opportunities to work the odd rest day or overtime. Plus the varied jobs and routes that you'll learn/sign?

I was talking about the "Driver Operator" role with DB which pays £34k, when its only about the same as what I get now. As for the Mainline Driver role in DB Schenker I don't think I could hack the shifts, and its at least one year (or more?) training on £20k.

 

[saracen]

I was talking about the "Driver Operator" role with DB which pays £34k, when its only about the same as what I get now. As for the Mainline Driver role in DB Schenker I don't think I could hack the shifts, and its at least one year (or more?) training on £20k.

True, anyone know how 20k compares to other Trainee Roles? I work for DB and have no idea.

 

[Scaramanga]

Its the lowest Ive heard of within the industry, especially if its for two years. Im surprised its less than half the full wage for a driver as other TOCs ive seen either have a higher training salary or stagger it every year until qualified.

 

[doubleamber]

20k is not a lot of cash, but speculate to accumalate, as an Engineer i earn 30k for 4 on 4 off, which is pretty good in the food industry, so earning 43k plus a bit of overtime will turn into 50 k very easy, so im going to give it my best shot and see how i go, i self funded the driver assesment at DBS and passed first time, just hoping that goes in my favour. but as has been said there is a pecking order so lets hope i get an interview.

 

[saracen]

20k is not a lot of cash, but speculate to accumalate, as an Engineer i earn 30k for 4 on 4 off, which is pretty good in the food industry, so earning 43k plus a bit of overtime will turn into 50 k very easy, so im going to give it my best shot and see how i go, i self funded the driver assesment at DBS and passed first time, just hoping that goes in my favour. but as has been said there is a pecking order so lets hope i get an interview.

I agree. Plus I think that having already passed the DBS Assessment should certainly give you an advantage.

 

[GB]

Job security? I can't remember the last time I ever heard of DB Schenker or Freightliner getting rid of drivers.

That's £42,500 as a starting salary. It's not uncommon for DBS drivers to be earning 50-60k plus with over time or working rest days at the busier depots. Also, as its a fixed contract, around 1580 hours, once a driver has completed them towards the end of the year, you're entitled to just take the rest of the time off work until the new year.

In my opinion, I would prefer the varied freight routes, driving the Royal Train and Orient Express, getting my hand on MPV's and the other traction involved in Freight/Track Maintenance rather than just going from A to B, all day, every day.

DBS have gotten rid of many drivers over the last few years.

 

[Beveridges]

Its the lowest Ive heard of within the industry, especially if its for two years. Im surprised its less than half the full wage for a driver as other TOCs ive seen either have a higher training salary or stagger it every year until qualified.

My TOC Northern must have the award for having the lowest training rate, £17k for Mainline Drivers (external) though its not for 2 years.
If DB Schenker is 2 years then they must want newly qualified drivers to have a very lot of route knowledge unlike some of the passenger TOCs.

 

[Scottw]

wish the north east was one of the areas they wanted drivers !
think i might re-locate ...

 

[bigbad82]

wish the north east was one of the areas they wanted drivers !
think i might re-locate ...

Im in the same boat, just discussed this with the wife and i'm going to apply and we'll relocate if need be, providing they accept applications on that basis.

 

[Quickthorn]

True, anyone know how 20k compares to other Trainee Roles? I work for DB and have no idea.

I applied for a TPE trainee job, and the training stage is £18k if I remember rightly.

Am I the only one on here who would find the trainee pay package an improvement on what they earn already? I'm on just over £15k in summer and a lot less in winter!

 

[Silv1983]

My TOC Northern must have the award for having the lowest training rate, £17k for Mainline Drivers (external) though its not for 2 years.
If DB Schenker is 2 years then they must want newly qualified drivers to have a very lot of route knowledge unlike some of the passenger TOCs.

Just had the 2nd payrise which means trainer drivers now get £18.8k. Not too shabby. Northern aren't too far behind other TOCs in fairness - and with their extra sundays its £2k per annum on top of the salary so pretty balanced.

 

[Beveridges]

Northern aren't too far behind other TOCs in fairness - and with their extra sundays its £2k per annum on top of the salary so pretty balanced

Yes but with other TOCs like TPE Sundays are inside the working week so don't have to work overtime to make that extra £2k per annum. Its not balanced if you have to work overtime to be on the same wages as someone who doesn't although yes Northern arent far behind

 

[Silv1983]

Yes but with other TOCs like TPE Sundays are inside the working week so don't have to work overtime to make that extra £2k per annum. Its not balanced if you have to work overtime to be on the same wages as someone who doesn't although yes Northern arent far behind

Working one sunday in five or six voluntarily to get an extra £2k a year is far preferable to having to work loads of sundays and getting a slightly bigger salary surely? Thought you'd be all over that Bev as you often share your view on here that a bigger salary isn't always worth it! (And thats arguing against a 10k raise not 2k) :roll:

 

[Beveridges]

I could already give myself a £20k payrise if I wanted by working tonnes of overtime. But sometimes a bigger salary isnt worth it.

However, I would have no problem with working loads of Sundays, if it mean't having more days off in the week. That is what you get if Sunday is part of the working week. I do not however call it balanced to work Sunday as overtime in addition to working 35 hrs in the week, to be on the same salary as someone else who worked Sunday inside the 35 hr working week and done no overtime.

 

[Scottw]

Well I've applied...bit of a long shot but you never know.

 

[Silv1983]

I could already give myself a £20k payrise if I wanted by working tonnes of overtime. But sometimes a bigger salary isnt worth it.

However, I would have no problem with working loads of Sundays, if it mean't having more days off in the week. That is what you get if Sunday is part of the working week. I do not however call it balanced to work Sunday as overtime in addition to working 35 hrs in the week, to be on the same salary as someone else who worked Sunday inside the 35 hr working week and done no overtime.

Just about every mainline driver at Northern (in the Victoria Messroom anyway) would disagree with you on that. We much prefer it that Sundays arent included in the working week. Whose ever heard of a TPE driver bragging that he gets monday off instead of Sunday? Im guessing having sunday to see friends and family is important to some people (85% of the time anyway) compared to having weekdays off. The choice is a bonus, work as many as you can, work the 10 a year you're offered, or do nothing with no salary drop. No brainer.

 

[Geargrinder]

As they havent recruited trainees for years do DB Schenker need more drivers because of more work and contracts or have they lost drivers to passenger tocs ?

 

[HSTfan!!!]

As they havent recruited trainees for years do DB Schenker need more drivers because of more work and contracts or have they lost drivers to passenger tocs ?

Other companies have spent the last few years poaching drivers, it wouldn't surprise me if a lot have gone to TOC's especially given the fact a lot of drivers were made redundant not so long ago. I believe FGW at least took on a lot of redundant DBS drivers.

 

[notadriver]

As they havent recruited trainees for years do DB Schenker need more drivers because of more work and contracts or have they lost drivers to passenger tocs ?

They probably have new contracts and/or drivers are moving to other FOCs. How's things on the trucking side mate ?

 

[Beveridges]

Judging by how many have moved from DB Schenker to my TOC (Northern) over the last few years, it seems like DB are just losing drivers.

Any sudden increase in work would also see locomotives being reinstated for traffic, and as far as I know, it has not happened.

DB cant be that good to work for if drivers leave there to come to Northern. Drivers certainly don't come from anywhere else to join my TOC, normally they leave my TOC to go anywhere else is more like it!

 

[TDK]

Yes but with other TOCs like TPE Sundays are inside the working week so don't have to work overtime to make that extra £2k per annum. Its not balanced if you have to work overtime to be on the same wages as someone who doesn't although yes Northern arent far behind

Sundays are compulsary with TPE and the salary includes the Sundays where with Northern and TOC's that do not have Sundays in their working week it is classed as overtime so to be fair TPE isn't that much above the others in real terms

 

[Robbie89]

i'm looking at applying for the trainee driver position but not sure if my age will work against me? i'm only 23 but looking to get my foot on the ladder and having a long career as a train driver

 

[Dave1987]

i'm looking at applying for the trainee driver position but not sure if my age will work against me? i'm only 23 but looking to get my foot on the ladder and having a long career as a train driver

Go for it, your age isnt a problem, as you need to be 21. Look out on your local TOC's website for trainee positions regularly. They will usually only be open for a week or two at the max. But you must be willing to relocate if needed.

 

[LCC106]

Quickthorn and others, my starting salary as trainee driver was £18,500 approx. in 2012. Passed my assessment last year and had £13,000 approx. pay rise, which increased by 1% again this month. My salary increases again by a few thousand this year, then goes to the full amount in 2014. I'd never previously earned more than £19,000 so am happy with that.