r/BusDrivers

Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

Passed my Cat D PCV test this morning 6 minors , but a pass is a pass, I'm over 60 and grinning like a Cheshire cat, a bit more training next week, ticket machine etc. and then out with a mentor route learning, can't describe how pleased I am , big career change for me after being an Engineer for over 40 years, funnily enough I did my apprenticeship on the buses all those years ago

I(29M) moved from the US to Ireland last year. In this time I've earned an Irish B licence for a regular car.

However I have several years driving experience from the US and Canada. I've done intercity, local and commuter runs so I've got a decent amount of experience under my belt.

None of the bus companies here in Ireland will take me on as I don't have my Irish licence two years, despite me having experience and them having a driver shortage.

Meanwhile I'm currently working as a cleaner at a factory while I live with my parents and honestly I want to get out of my parents house, I had my marriage fall apart due to my partner developing what is likely Bipolar/schizophrenia and her having delusions about me.

While I've gotten better since all of this I'm looking to get my life back on track and be independent again. I'm also missing the bus driver life as crazy as it sounds.

My main question is could I go to the UK and get a job as a bus driver trainee with my Irish car licence? Or could I at least exchange my Irish car licence for a UK one and then become a trainee bus driver?

Also which bus companies are best to go to?

Thanks in advance

“Get these people back what they want,” a bus driver said. “Meet the demands so we could move forward, because it’s just not fair. I think what they’re aiming for, they should get it. That’s it. Bottom line.

“We all should unite collectively. Do what we need to do to get done because that’s the only way it’s going to get done. And we collectively do it, you know, as a whole and stand on it and be consistent and mean it. You know, we move the city. The city don’t move us.”

“We all should unite”: New York bus drivers speak out in support of Long Island Rail Road strike

Hey everyone. Just wondering if anyone else gets scheduled for 7 days as a bus driver. Is this normal? 7 days 2 days rest. If I had known bus drivers are scheduled like that I wouldn’t have taken the job.

Hi there to all,

I currently work as a Customer Delivery Driver for Tesco driving their vans and delivering etc, however i’m looking for a change in career and my eyes dart this way.

I’ve always had an interest in operating bigger vehicles such as a 14ft double decker bus and or a single decker bus.

Main question, Is it worth becoming a bus driver? I’m aware each company offers its own perks and benefits however I’d just like to know overall if you (as drivers) are happy with the work that you do, would you recommend it for others? (such as my self)

Also i’m in London so ideally if I was to go ahead with the job switch what company is more ideal in regards to pay after training and benefits?

Thanks!

American urban/suburban transit question: is it your agency or employer’s standard operating procedure to pull the spring brake (or set the parking brake) when serving passengers at a typical on-street bus stop? Setting aside special cases like loading bikes on a front bike rack or serving a transit center where you’ll be dwelling out of the travel lane.

I’m advising an agency on new bus routes, and their SOP is to put the cutaway in park or set the spring brake (they run 30/35’ Gilligs) whenever they are picking up or dropping off passengers. I have not encountered this as SOP and surely adds a significant amount of dwell time per stop, especially considering they’re typically boarding only one or two passengers per stop.

Hi everyone! I've finally made the decision to learn to drive a bus/coach/PCV! It's been a difficult decision as I have wanted to think about my plan for the future with my Cat D licence once I am fully qualified, but I have made a decision, and I think it's finally time I get behind the wheel of a PCV and serve the community for a bit. I will be learning in a coach, but from what I've heard there shouldn't be too much difference between driving a coach and a bus, just getting used to each vehicle I guess. I have my PCV multiple choice and hazard perception booked in for a month's time, and once fully qualified, I am planning to get a part time driving job alongside studies to make a little extra money for myself. The reason I put the Question flair on this post was because I wanted to ask if there's any little quirks that I may encounter doing PCV training in a coach then potentially transitioning to a bus when I get a driving job, and if there's anything I should expect specifically looking for a part time driving job to accommodate my studies instead of full time? If you're a driver already - especially having done part time driving - have you got any advice for me going into this? Thank you to anyone who upvotes or replies to this post, and I can't wait to join the bus driving crew!

Hi all. I’ve looked all over for some guidance in relation to the title. Can’t find anything specific.

I’m 25(m) looking to get in to Bus Driving with Stagecoach, to later (asap) take an internal apprenticeship to become an Engineer. I’m just wondering if anyone here has done the same thing, and if it’s a realistic expectation?

I went for a Bus Driving interview recently, and they told me it’s “totally doable” - But I know some companies lure people in with “progression” that never comes.

I don’t want to go in to the job and then be waiting 5-10 years for an “opportunity” to arise, ideally I wouldn’t even start bus driving in the first place.

I have BTEC qualifications (D*) in motor mechanics from school, but was never able to utilise that any further as couldn’t afford apprenticeship wages. I have no “NVQs” or further education such as A-Levels with mechanics - But I would love to take the job. I have no real “career” as of yet, and would absolutely love to pursue a career in Bus / HGV mechanics as it would effectively be transferable skills (and a job) for life. I love problem solving and working hands on, and the pay for engineers seems to be quite good too.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I’ve got meeting tomorrow due to me jumping a temporary traffic light. I done a drug and alcohol test recently and the been accused of jumping a red light got a disciplinary meeting wondering what are my options should I attend or just apply to a new company

This is quite concerning especially because I am planning to become one soon..

I'm a driver for Transdev Phoenix out of the North Transit Facility, and recently, a finalized contract between the union (ATU) and the company was settled. I've been trying to figure out generally what all is in the contract, but haven't had much luck. I only know of one union rep, but I hardly see her (and don't know her name). Any attempts I've made at contacting the union have been a fail. Is there anyone else here out of the Transdev Phoenix North/South that can give me a rundown? I wanted to try and avoid figuring out by making a post on Reddit, but I don't know much about trying to reach out to someone in the union, even though I've been with the company for almost a year.

TL;DR - I passed out driving an artic. Nothing bad happened. Advice welcome.

Just what it says. Im taking a strange trip into unknown territory. Last month, I had just left my downtown garage for the start of my route, and realized that something was wrong with me. No passengers yet. At that point, I was on one interstate, soon to take a ramp to another interstate. Usually busy but fortunately it was about 5 am and light traffic. I stopped quickly to assess and had a foggy thought that I was stopped on a sharp left curve. It would be better if I moved the bus to a safer spot. Clearly not thinking clearly.
I merged back off the shoulder, made the ramp onto a right hand curve, and at that point, I do not have any further memory. My next conscious memory is being helped off the bus and into an ambulance. According to the video I stopped the bus, secured it, and just sat there. I was told at the emergency department that I should not drive at all until they understand why I passed out.
I go see the garage safety guy and he said that I did what I was supposed to do, no concerns, no action. But I still have a gap where I don’t know what happened. It’s eating at me. I’m pursuing getting a look at the video so I can fill in the gaps. Oddly, Im getting pushback.
I’ll keep at it until I see it because I need to know. Meanwhile, I’m off work, and I think I’m about to run out of time so I’m expecting to be unpaid soon. My doctor confirmed that by law, I can’t drive until mid July. And even then I have to see a company doctor to get released back into driving. No one has said for sure why I passed out but the leading idea is that my blood pressure dropped enough to knock me out. But then why did that happen??
Anyone have an incident like this? I am trying to think of all the stuff I should be doing to keep my job and career. Like following the doctor’s instructions. Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated greatly!

I don’t know why but I feel like American busses are more appealing than Europe busses like MAN and Mercedes, I just love the traditional look that busses like gillig has, with the big steering wheel and the actual mirrors instead of the e mirrors, something feels more like home when it comes to American busses, what do yall think ?