Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2015 22:22:44 GMT
Firstly, i wasn't sure if this deserved a place in the general bus discussion board, if any mods think it does feel free to move it.
Anyway, I'm currently 15 years old and I'm seriously considering becoming a bus driver and I wanted your opinion (particularly of bus drivers) if it's a job you'd recommend, how it is to be a bus driver, and also what companies you'd recommend. I don't want to work too far so these are the options:
Stagecoach
Go Ahead London
Tower Transit
Arriva
CT Plus
Abellio (last resort)
Also, if anyone knows, what the pay is like for these companies.
|
|
|
|
Post by YY13VKP on Jan 5, 2015 2:35:08 GMT
Firstly, i wasn't sure if this deserved a place in the general bus discussion board, if any mods think it does feel free to move it. Anyway, I'm currently 15 years old and I'm seriously considering becoming a bus driver and I wanted your opinion (particularly of bus drivers) if it's a job you'd recommend, how it is to be a bus driver, and also what companies you'd recommend. I don't want to work too far so these are the options: Stagecoach Go Ahead London Tower Transit Arriva CT Plus Abellio (last resort) Also, if anyone knows, what the pay is like for these companies. I picked up this leaflet from one of Metrobus's Darts earlier this month (6344 on the 409) they say on this leaflet that "After 4 weeks, you can expect a salary (for learning) of £22,000 before overtime, rising to £26,000 after just 2 years" Might want to put them as a consideration to work for Metrobus at CY. Only thing is the journey to Crawley for you might be take too much time, depends where you live (I wish not to ask) |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2015 8:11:35 GMT
Firstly, i wasn't sure if this deserved a place in the general bus discussion board, if any mods think it does feel free to move it. Anyway, I'm currently 15 years old and I'm seriously considering becoming a bus driver and I wanted your opinion (particularly of bus drivers) if it's a job you'd recommend, how it is to be a bus driver, and also what companies you'd recommend. I don't want to work too far so these are the options: Stagecoach Go Ahead London Tower Transit Arriva CT Plus Abellio (last resort) Also, if anyone knows, what the pay is like for these companies. I picked up this leaflet from one of Metrobus's Darts earlier this month (6344 on the 409) they say on this leaflet that "After 4 weeks, you can expect a salary (for learning) of £22,000 before overtime, rising to £26,000 after just 2 years" Might want to put them as a consideration to work for Metrobus at CY. Only thing is the journey to Crawley for you might be take too much time, depends where you live (I wish not to ask) That's too far for me, I live in Bow. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2015 16:51:48 GMT
Bearing in mind all companies will need you to be at least 24 before they even let you get behind the wheel of a bus. You can get a CPC qualification but even then some companies will consider you too underage.
|
|
|
|
Post by DT 11 on Jan 5, 2015 17:04:24 GMT
Bearing in mind all companies will need you to be at least 24 before they even let you get behind the wheel of a bus. You can get a CPC qualification but even then some companies will consider you too underage. During my research last year most companies state 1 or 2 Years Driving Experience. Stagecoach London take people from the age of 18 & I have certainly seen people younger than 24 Driving London Buses. |
|
|
|
Post by guybowden on Jan 5, 2015 17:56:43 GMT
Bearing in mind all companies will need you to be at least 24 before they even let you get behind the wheel of a bus. You can get a CPC qualification but even then some companies will consider you too underage. Your wrong with 24. When I was training for go ahead it was a minimum of 2 years driving experience and no more than 6 points in your license, which means you can be a minimum of 19 before you can drive a bus. After driving buses for just over 2 years in london, I would suggest you try and get work in a shop dealing with the public as they are the most awkward, unhelpful and stupid people to try and deal with, they also don't listen to a word you say. That way you can make you mind up if it is the right career path for you and don't forget you have to deal with other road users who are just as bad as the public. |
|
|
|
Post by snoggle on Jan 5, 2015 22:46:48 GMT
One way to test out if you are made of the right stuff for the bus industry is to perhaps do some conducting (with Ensign or one of the sightseeing / private hire companies that run Routemasters) or to do some customer assistant work for rail replacement buses. That at least would give you a sense of what goes on and will expose you to the "great British public" with all the joys, heartaches and sheer unmitigated stress that involves. I would strongly support Mr Bowden's remark about testing out if you can handle dealing with the public - some are lovely but a minority are just awful and will test you to breaking point. I did that type of work as my first job and it was very trying at times. I've also done it subsequently during LU strikes and have had people yelling at me, calling me a scab and a class traitor etc while I was stood out in the street by Turnpike Lane tube station.  |
|
|
|
Post by DT 11 on Jan 6, 2015 0:32:44 GMT
One way to test out if you are made of the right stuff for the bus industry is to perhaps do some conducting (with Ensign or one of the sightseeing / private hire companies that run Routemasters) or to do some customer assistant work for rail replacement buses. That at least would give you a sense of what goes on and will expose you to the "great British public" with all the joys, heartaches and sheer unmitigated stress that involves. I would strongly support Mr Bowden's remark about testing out if you can handle dealing with the public - some are lovely but a minority are just awful and will test you to breaking point. I did that type of work as my first job and it was very trying at times. I've also done it subsequently during LU strikes and have had people yelling at me, calling me a scab and a class traitor etc while I was stood out in the street by Turnpike Lane tube station. Having conducted with Ensign a few times I have quite enjoyed it, a good experience of conducting on an older bus, people just board with a smile, compared to modern buses a lot of people don't even acknowledge the driver, a simple Good Morning can make a day go well. The Working in the shop idea is better as you get good and bad customers & rude ones, after a while you get to know your regulars, you get some idiots who come in the shop daily asking the same questions. Just have to be calm with all customers really, people who want to cone to a shop to be rude need must remember if they come back they will be remembered and don't have to be served. |
|
|
|
Post by vjaska on Jan 6, 2015 1:46:22 GMT
I work for a retail company and it's hell - if you conquer that, then you've a decent chance of cracking bus driving.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2015 3:51:27 GMT
I work for a retail company and it's hell - if you conquer that, then you've a decent chance of cracking bus driving. Two words for retail jobs - Boring & Repetitive lol |
|
|
|
Post by DT 11 on Jan 6, 2015 9:15:02 GMT
I work for a retail company and it's hell - if you conquer that, then you've a decent chance of cracking bus driving. Two words for retail jobs - Boring & Repetitive lol Many people working in them are always sick as well. Stress & Burnout... For many hours 6 days a week some places, not worth it, especially in CrapDonalds. Have heard from someone who works there is awful. |
|
|
|
Post by snoggle on Jan 6, 2015 9:20:45 GMT
I work for a retail company and it's hell - if you conquer that, then you've a decent chance of cracking bus driving. Is it hell when Peter Andre is in store or when he isn't there?   |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2015 9:56:01 GMT
Bearing in mind all companies will need you to be at least 24 before they even let you get behind the wheel of a bus. You can get a CPC qualification but even then some companies will consider you too underage. Your wrong with 24. When I was training for go ahead it was a minimum of 2 years driving experience and no more than 6 points in your license, which means you can be a minimum of 19 before you can drive a bus. After driving buses for just over 2 years in london, I would suggest you try and get work in a shop dealing with the public as they are the most awkward, unhelpful and stupid people to try and deal with, they also don't listen to a word you say. That way you can make you mind up if it is the right career path for you and don't forget you have to deal with other road users who are just as bad as the public. Cosidering the Gov.uk website states 24 WITHOUT a CPC, my comment stands. www.gov.uk/vehicles-can-drive/y/bus-category-d/yes/under-24 |
|
|
|
Post by DT 11 on Jan 6, 2015 10:53:41 GMT
Your wrong with 24. When I was training for go ahead it was a minimum of 2 years driving experience and no more than 6 points in your license, which means you can be a minimum of 19 before you can drive a bus. After driving buses for just over 2 years in london, I would suggest you try and get work in a shop dealing with the public as they are the most awkward, unhelpful and stupid people to try and deal with, they also don't listen to a word you say. That way you can make you mind up if it is the right career path for you and don't forget you have to deal with other road users who are just as bad as the public. Cosidering the Gov.uk website states 24 WITHOUT a CPC, my comment stands. www.gov.uk/vehicles-can-drive/y/bus-category-d/yes/under-24"Drivers of category D and D+E (bus entitlement), who wish to drive on a non professional basis must be at least 24 years of age. These vehicles can be driven professionally at a younger age if you hold a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) qualification." It is pretty much the same thing you stated in detail. To drive one on a Non Professional basis must be 24. www.nidirect.gov.uk/sm/buses-and-lorries-you-can-drive-and-minimum-ages |
|
|
|
Post by vjaska on Jan 6, 2015 11:09:09 GMT
I work for a retail company and it's hell - if you conquer that, then you've a decent chance of cracking bus driving. Is it hell when Peter Andre is in store or when he isn't there? Lol, he'd never step into the Brixton branch, even management dislike coming to our store for fear of their lives. |
|
