mexicansteve
South West
Posts: 683 
Club RR Member Number: 31
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Jan 22, 2014 14:08:48 GMT
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So I went for an interview as a trainee bus driver today and am awaiting the results of the interview.
What are your opinions of this job o people of the roads?
I've been self employed for 18 years and I'm fed up of struggling, the idea of a security blanket in the form of a company sounds quite appealing right now. and clearly, I like driving.
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BeQuietandDrive
1989 Bedford Astra Van
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mudpud
Part of things
Posts: 109
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Jan 22, 2014 14:22:39 GMT
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In a word "NO" unless you have nerves of steel , the patience of Job , and like Grey hair at an early age.Been there, done that,never again.
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Jan 22, 2014 14:48:51 GMT
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A great deal depends on your temperament and you will certainly need the qualities described by mudpud, along with many others, as it isn't an easy job!
It also depends on the company you've applied to and the training regime they offer. I presume that you don't currently hold a PCV licence and that they will be signing you up to a training indemnity, which means that they'll be wanting to recoup the cost of the training if you leave within a certain period after passing your test.
Your location and the type of work you'll be expected to perform is a factor too. I certainly wouldn't want to working late shifts in certain towns/cities for instance.
If you are certain that you can handle dealing with the public on a regular basis, don't mind working odd hours and are a disciplined individual, then it could be a safe career move. However, there is an awful lot more to it than sitting behind a wheel and transporting people from A to B these days and it's not a job for everyone.
Chris
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Jan 22, 2014 14:55:39 GMT
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I think it sounds like a good idea but if I'm honest I would not be able to deal with the argy-bargy of the dross that is in the world these days. I hate to sound negative about something but I just couldn't do it! Having said that there is nothing to be lost in giving this a damn good try I suppose. Good luck with your decision...
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***GARAGE CURRENTLY EMPTY***
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grumpy
Part of things
Posts: 557
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Jan 22, 2014 15:27:58 GMT
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TYhe most important thing is providing for you and your family ,the security and being able to provide are the most important . I would put up with any negative stuff if i new i ws definately getting £xxxx at the end of the month .
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Jan 22, 2014 15:44:33 GMT
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Cant offer you any useful info, but my mate has been a conductor & driver for sheffield supertram & he found both stressful - he's now a manager so all he does now is shout at people - he quite enjoys that lol.
If you can get on trains, the money is much better & you don't have to deal with the public.
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LowStandards
Club Retro Rides Member
Bigging Up The Sum Sum Man Since '99
Posts: 2,647
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Jan 22, 2014 16:00:15 GMT
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I went on a bus the other day, it had members of the public on it, actual people I didn't know. The highlight was watching a woman - at least I think it was - drinking a can of Stella and sharing it with her 11-13 year old daughter The only other time I can remember a bus journey is stopping to help the driver eject 3 males with there cocks out If it was me, it would be a no, but hey, I dislike people so take it as you will  |
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mexicansteve
South West
Posts: 683
Club RR Member Number: 31
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Jan 22, 2014 17:02:11 GMT
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A great deal depends on your temperament and you will certainly need the qualities described by mudpud, along with many others, as it isn't an easy job! It also depends on the company you've applied to and the training regime they offer. I presume that you don't currently hold a PCV licence and that they will be signing you up to a training indemnity, which means that they'll be wanting to recoup the cost of the training if you leave within a certain period after passing your test. Your location and the type of work you'll be expected to perform is a factor too. I certainly wouldn't want to working late shifts in certain towns/cities for instance. If you are certain that you can handle dealing with the public on a regular basis, don't mind working odd hours and are a disciplined individual, then it could be a safe career move. However, there is an awful lot more to it than sitting behind a wheel and transporting people from A to B these days and it's not a job for everyone. Chris Well I live in the west country which doesn't have that je ne sais quoi of a London night bus, (I recall the odd knife fight) and at the moment I put up speakers at gigs, no rock n roll glamour and lots of gig going t***s, and teenagers who stink of sweat and testosterone...ha ha.
Thanks for the entertaining responses.
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BeQuietandDrive
1989 Bedford Astra Van
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Jan 22, 2014 18:05:02 GMT
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I went this route once (no pun intended) ..... got through the interview, but in the end i declined the position.
Depending on the company you work for,this one you had to provide,and maintain, your own 'float' of change to give change to customers. This was based in Watford at the time,so i could have been going anywhere Bucks,Herts Beds London etc,at all times of day,early doors and the late night shifts.
Then of course you get the general public to deal with ......which isn't for me ( even now its said i don't have 'friends',just people i hate less than everyone else)
On the flip side, once i'd gotten the PSV licence as it was then, i could have gone on to coach work,with the opportunity for travel abroad. which at that time was where the money was.
I have a mate who's a bus driver, and he loves it. But he has a lot more patience than i do.
Good luck.
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Jan 22, 2014 23:26:08 GMT
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Another NO vote, been there, done it , three times just to make sure it is really that bad.. Shift patterns can be curse word especially if split shifts (4 hours early, 4 hours off followed by another 4 or 5 hours shift or similar), The old people, who get free travel, moan endlessly about the buses being late/ kids being too noisy/ bus is dirty/ TV last night was curse word etc. etc., most kids have no respect and the drunks/ stoners are in a league of their own then you get eth upper class snobs who think you are their personal chauffeur and what dropping outside their house or shop I even had people ask for me to wait whilst they 'popped into the shop' , motorists yell at you and purposely hinder your progress by driving like curse word, the bosses (in most bus companies) are jumped up  holes who usually have never been on a bus let alone driven one. The bus drivers are the targets for every walk of life who what to take out their anger, don't forget you get paid to be abused and insulted, well at least that's what they think. everything will be your fault including the weather and traffic jams. I found most of the other drivers were good chaps and the main thing that spoilt the jobs enjoyment were the passengers, without them it would be an easy job. To be fair there is one company who I found to be good employers and that was a local independent coach operator who run a few mostly country routes but their buses where cheap curse word that kept breaking down and where a nightmare to drive due to the aging years of the buses. In general buses are easy to drive, auto boxes, very light steering, good brakes just remember that they don't fit through car sized gaps. Would I drive buses again, yes and I still do but only for my own pleasure or for functions when I get paid a lot for half a days work. This is my friends toy which I take out to play occasionally...  |
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Jan 22, 2014 23:26:20 GMT
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As above, avoid anything that involves a training indemnity.
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mexicansteve
South West
Posts: 683
Club RR Member Number: 31
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Thanks for your help folks. Taken under advisement.
sent from the '70's
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BeQuietandDrive
1989 Bedford Astra Van
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omega
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,060
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I drove one for 5 years and it is so BOREING driving round the same route 6 times a day
Shifts mess your life up as well
money isn't/wasn't very good either
but I did 2 years on the coaches and that was fun,made good money,lots of perks as well
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Last Edit: Jan 24, 2014 8:59:39 GMT by omega
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Jan 24, 2014 22:42:06 GMT
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I once auditioned to be a bus driver, again in watford. I had more patience aged 23.
I couldn't do it now ten years later
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andyborris
Posted a lot
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.
Posts: 2,161
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No, for all the reasons above and brake fade on a Routemaster.
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fred
Posted a lot
WTF has happened to all the Vennies?
Posts: 2,957
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Going to made jobless in April, and thought of a career change to bus driving
reading the above comments .... maybe not .....
may go to selling snap on tools or owt....
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'79 Cossie ran Cortina - Sold
2000 Fozzer 2.0 turbo snow beast
'85 Opel Manta GSI - Sold
03 A class Mercedes
Looking for a FD Ventora - Anyone?
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mexicansteve
South West
Posts: 683
Club RR Member Number: 31
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Jan 25, 2014 14:35:06 GMT
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Back to hunting for work putting up speakers I think. I've not been known to be the calmest person in the world and tend towards opinionated...and I want more money than is on offer anyway...and a host of all the reasons mentioned above.
again, thanks.
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BeQuietandDrive
1989 Bedford Astra Van
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lilbob
Part of things
Posts: 419
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Jan 25, 2014 20:37:06 GMT
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I sat an interview the local bus company and was told about the inhouse fine for silly things like not wearing a hiviz jacket when driving the bus being fined if your fares money was short and facing disciplinary action if it happened 3 times in a year they also sent out people in cars to make sure the drivers kept the headlights on at all times and if you were caught without them that was a fine aswell
the money wasn't the best for the amount of hours you have to work and if they put you through your psv test you have to sign a 3 year bond or you get royaly shafted by them the holidays were rota'd for you and you cannot swap them
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Jan 25, 2014 22:30:53 GMT
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I sat an interview the local bus company and was told about the inhouse fine for silly things like not wearing a hiviz jacket when driving the bus being fined if your fares money was short and facing disciplinary action if it happened 3 times in a year they also sent out people in cars to make sure the drivers kept the headlights on at all times and if you were caught without them that was a fine aswell the money wasn't the best for the amount of hours you have to work and if they put you through your psv test you have to sign a 3 year bond or you get royaly shafted by them the holidays were rota'd for you and you cannot swap them The only thing that makes sense with those ideas are that you pay back any shortages as if is you fault if you are short on your takings other than that it sounds like a bad managed money grabbing company, did they say where the money from these 'fines' went? the bosses back pocket I'm guessing. The headlights on might be an insurance agreement but if that's the case he buses could be wired to have lights on all the time. |
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i did it for about 5-6 mths when I got laid off , I was working in the bodyshop at the time and the choice was redundancy or go bus driving , I choose to go bus driving , I can honestly say I hated every minute of it .still it forced my hand to get another job , again at another bus company , I have worked at a few bus firms in the body/paintshop and always found the garage side to be just like "on the buses" ,and although I have now had a complete change of career I find myself missing the paintshop and its happening a lot .
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