DB Cargo AG has opened applications for a three-year freight train driver apprenticeship starting September 1, 2027, at its Sindelfingen facility, db.jobs reported. The program prepares candidates for careers as shunting locomotive drivers in freight transport, combining practical fieldwork with theoretical instruction at a vocational school located in Esslingen.
Trainees manage freight cars at regional marshalling yards
Trainees in the Eisenbahner im Betriebsdienst Transport program spend the majority of their time managing freight cars at regional marshalling yards. Apprentices learn to assemble freight trains by coupling and uncoupling individual cars, inspect the functional capability of freight trains, and secure cargo loads. The curriculum requires trainees to master the technical mechanics of their vehicles alongside safety regulations for railway operations. On select occasions, apprentices operate locomotives to transport goods to regional customers before concluding their shifts at their home marshalling yards.
Candidate Requirements and Evaluation Process
Applicants must possess an educational qualification recognized in Germany and demonstrate German language proficiency at a B2 level or higher. The role requires working outdoors, an affinity for technology, high reliability, and a readiness for shift work that includes weekends and public holidays. Prospective trainees undergo a mandatory medical and psychological aptitude assessment during the selection process. DB Cargo AG states that it evaluates candidates equally regardless of gender, nationality, social background, religion, disability, or age.
Where apprentices study and how they are evaluated?
Where does the vocational school instruction take place?
Apprentices attend vocational school in Esslingen while completing their practical training at the Sindelfingen facility.
What are the physical and scheduling demands of the position?
The role involves outdoor work in all conditions, technical equipment operation, and shift scheduling that includes weekends and public holidays.
What evaluations occur before hiring?
Candidates must successfully pass both a medical and a psychological aptitude test as part of the standard selection process.
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