Freightliner - what’s it like?

[Tophat]

Hi everyone,

m just wondered whether anyone has any insight into what it’s like to work for Freightliner? Particularly Leeds depot!
What’s the work like?
Hours
Shift pattern
Management
Actual work/ life balance?
Would you prefer passenger or freight ‍

 

[class 9]

2 depots in Leeds. Heavy Haul at Midland Road, Hunslet and Intermodal at Stourton.

 

[4F89]

Hi everyone,

m just wondered whether anyone has any insight into what it’s like to work for Freightliner? Particularly Leeds depot!
What’s the work like?
Hours
Shift pattern
Management
Actual work/ life balance?
Would you prefer passenger or freight ‍

For what role?

 

[Heaps92]

Hi everyone,

m just wondered whether anyone has any insight into what it’s like to work for Freightliner? Particularly Leeds depot!
What’s the work like?
Hours
Shift pattern
Management
Actual work/ life balance?
Would you prefer passenger or freight ‍

I use to be an MSO at Stourton Leeds if you need any information

 

[Tophat]

For what role?

Driver

I use to be an MSO at Stourton Leeds if you need any information

Just wondered what it’s like as a driver there. Think stourton is one that’s advertised but a variety of things from good to horrendous really

 

[class 9]

Good little depot Leeds Intermodal.
Routes: Leeds FLT to Peterborough ( via ECML and via Lincoln)
Leeds FLT to Birmingham (via Erewash) not sure whether they still sign via Derby??
13 week link, mixture of days,afters & nights, only a couple of Saturday shifts & no Sundays.
Booked jobs in the link, also AL is in the link (week 1).

 

[Tophat]

Great stuff thanks for that, are they’re any nights away/ lodging?

 

[Heaps92]

Driver


Just wondered what it’s like as a driver there. Think stourton is one that’s advertised but a variety of things from good to horrendous really

Drivers I use to load loved it. Step on step off no going in-between. Draw train in shunter jumps on take it to end if terminal. Maybe one or 2 shunts then hook off and go home maybe take it to midland Road or whatever Diagram says. Terms and conditions are great from what I got told worth the lower salary which you can make up in rest day work anyway

 

[Dieseldriver]

Drivers I use to load loved it. Step on step off no going in-between. Draw train in shunter jumps on take it to end if terminal. Maybe one or 2 shunts then hook off and go home maybe take it to midland Road or whatever Diagram says. Terms and conditions are great from what I got told worth the lower salary which you can make up in rest day work anyway

The hours and terms and conditions are great compared to other FOCs. However, they are not great when compared to TOCs.

 

[class 9]

Great stuff thanks for that, are they’re any nights away/ lodging?

No

 

[Heaps92]

The hours and terms and conditions are great compared to other FOCs. However, they are not great when compared to TOCs.

Oh no totally agree, I'd do anything for a 13 week roster and not a weekly flex roster that I have at my FOC. I think if FL-IM paid what gbrf or colas do and kept there terms and conditions then a lot of passenger men would jump ship

 

[Eloise]

And maybe women too...

 

[4F89]

And maybe women too...

Ask Heather Waugh

 

[Crazyb]

Oh no totally agree, I'd do anything for a 13 week roster and not a weekly flex roster that I have at my FOC. I think if FL-IM paid what gbrf or colas do and kept there terms and conditions then a lot of passenger men would jump ship

When we first kicked off in 1998, I'm sure we were 3rd in the table, even above Virgin. It used to be Eurostar, GNER and then Freightliner....Not sure what went wrong there!!!

You can't really beat Freightliner IM, but like Heaps92 says, crap money really.

 

[Heaps92]

When we first kicked off in 1998, I'm sure we were 3rd in the table, even above Virgin. It used to be Eurostar, GNER and then Freightliner....Not sure what went wrong there!!!

You can't really beat Freightliner IM, but like Heaps92 says, crap money really.

Are aslef not after a better pay deal? Surely even 2.5% would be nice

 

[col68]

What is the basic salary for intermodal please?

What's the salary at fl please?

 

[Crazyb]

What is the basic salary for intermodal please?

What's the salary at fl please?

I moved to a TOC, but around the 52k mark at the moment.

 

[col68]

Cheers pal

 

[Tophat]

Drivers I use to load loved it. Step on step off no going in-between. Draw train in shunter jumps on take it to end if terminal. Maybe one or 2 shunts then hook off and go home maybe take it to midland Road or whatever Diagram says. Terms and conditions are great from what I got told worth the lower salary which you can make up in rest day work anyway

Hi, just wondered whether there’s much difference between Freightliner Heavy haul & intermodal if you happen to know?

 

[4F89]

Hi, just wondered whether there’s much difference between Freightliner Heavy haul & intermodal if you happen to know?

Heavy haul = ££££
Intermodal = conditions

 

[Heaps92]

Hi, just wondered whether there’s much difference between Freightliner Heavy haul & intermodal if you happen to know?

Yes read below haha perfect answer. Heavy haul more variety I'd say on routes aswell but you don't know what your doing really from week to week
Alot of ballast turns aswell lad I work with just left heavy haul

 

[TheAnswer89]

Heavy haul = ££££
Intermodal = conditions

What does that mean exactly? The basic salary diff is quite small and definitely much smaller than TOCs? Whats the catch?

 

[4F89]

HH you have more opportunities for some hard-core overtime, IM, not so much

 

[Tophat]

HH you have more opportunities for some hard-core overtime, IM, not so much

Do you happen to know what’s shifts are like between them both? 5/ 6 day weeks with 2/3 off?? Guessing all are about 10 hour turns

 

[dannydm1]

Heavy Haul ar on around 55k, slightly higher brick then IM however no benefits. Ie - no extra for rest days, bank Holidays etc. When you take into account the uplifts that IM get then there isn't much between them.

Are you looking at HH? Max 12hr turns. Plenty of guys working 60hrs + weeks. Roster comes out on Friday tea time for the following week, so difficult to plan anything out of work. Lots of weekend work. It follows a 52 week roster or either A bands, b bands, c bands or RD.

A = to start shift anytime between 00.01 - 08.00 , B - 08.01 - 16.00 , C - 16.00 - 23.00

Are aslef not after a better pay deal? Surely even 2.5% would be nice

Pay talks should have been in October. But nobody has informed the drivers of any result

 

[martin2345uk]

I wasn’t aware us IM folk get extra for rest days or bank holidays

 

[dannydm1]

You'll have to check with someone from IM. I know they do get allowances etc, such as for taking a phone call.

 

[martin2345uk]

Haha, I am from IM, we don't get any "extra" for rest days or bank holidays compared to HH, but yes we get little allowances like that to try and close the pay gap a bit.

 

[Tophat]

Yes read below haha perfect answer. Heavy haul more variety I'd say on routes aswell but you don't know what your doing really from week to week
Alot of ballast turns aswell lad I work with just left heavy haul

Hi can I ask what a ballast turn is please? Cheers

 

[4F89]

Hi can I ask what a ballast turn is please? Cheers

Dropping stone and other stuff inside posessions