|
|
Post by VPL630 on Jul 20, 2015 18:31:37 GMT
So as you might have known from other post's, I'm currently training to be a bus driver with Stagecoach London, I thought I might as well do a brief blog of what happens so the rest of you will know what to expect if you do decide to do the deed. First off I will start with do you really, really want to do this? even if you do, 95% of the people you tell or find out you are doing it will tell you don't, aim higher and do something else hence the title don't do it and it's a fair point, There are much better things you can do that be a bus driver but sometimes you have to start from the bottom and work your way up. I'm just going to list the various steps that I've been through to get this job Applied on-line and filled in the application form along with CV Got a phone call around 45 mins later after sending off my application to say they would like to invite me along to an interview and assessment The assessment was split into 6 parts SECTION ONE Comprehension: You will read a short passage of text and answer questions based only on the information given. SECTION TWO Writing: You will be given a series of pictures showing a customer service situation on a bus. You will be asked to write a short description of what happened. SECTION THREE Accident Report: You will be given a photo of an accident. You must complete an accident report form as though you were the driver of the bus SECTION FOUR Numerical: This test is in two parts. You will be required to answer various questions and must calculate the numerical answer’s, you may use a calculator for this test. (Very easy) SECTION FIVE Customer Service: You will assess various customer service situations and decide which action you would take if you were in the given situation. SECTION SIX Driving: Undertake a preliminary driving assessment in a large van followed by 10 Theory test questions. If you pass each section you then have a interview discussing reasons why you want the job ect etc, following the interview a medical is booked for you, after having the medical you then send off for your provisional D licence. On receiving your licence back in the post which takes around a week/2weeks you go back to WH to have your licence photocopied, if they have received your references they will arrange for a start date of training pending availability of vacancy's at your chosen garage or if they are yet to receive references they will call you back when they receive them. Week 1: Day 1 of Training - Paperwork, Company Induction, H&S, Uniform order, pensions, Green Road, policy's ect Day 2/3/4/5* - Out on the road in a bus driving *Day 5 - Due to Eid, all the training instructors were sent out to cover duties, so instead of being out on the road we had a disability awareness course which is something you would normally do just before being signed off to your garage Weekend Off  Week 2: Day 1 - Theory Test (Passed) Hazard Perception Test (Passed) and Module 2 Driver CPC case study test (Passed) Day 2/3/4/5 - Out on the road in a training bus After around 15 hours driving time you will have a progress check to make sure you are on target, if not your training will be extended for a further 10 hours, The average amount of hours you should need is around 37/38, After passing your practical driving test, You will have 3 more days at WH which will cover type training on buses that will be at your preferred garage*, ETM and iBus training and finally disability awareness course after which all being complete you will signed off to your garage to start either the next day or Monday of the next week. *"Every effort will be made for you to commence employment at your preferred location, but this will be subject to the vacancy situation at the time you complete training", Also if you applied for full time driving you could also be put on the night rota when requested (You do get extra pay for this) All Training is done at WH unless you apply for a South London garage where you driving training only will be done at Catford (You test will still be done from WH currently) Will let you know how it goes, I've just completed Week 2 day 1 as of the date of this post, any questions feel free to ask |
|
|
|
Post by greeny253 on Jul 20, 2015 19:38:33 GMT
Keep up the blog mate, always nice to hear how people do. With regards to equipment training, I personally feel the iBus training does not teach you enough. I figure as someone who has spent enough time on here you know what's what there but the material is, in my mind, inadequate. 3 examples. 1/. On returning to London service after a stint in Essex, I (the new guy as I was!) was teaching my mentor how to make a public announcement using the radio. 2/. On a CPC course regarding customer service, two drivers managed to call the radio room when asked to make an announcement. 3/. I once saved a 174 driver the hassle of announcing at every stop (over the PA!) that he wasn't going to Dagnam Park Square. Poor guy had no idea how to change he announcements! Also, not enough is done to show drivers how to cancel a curtailment on the radio. If you need any help ask on here. Despite what every other driver will tell you, it is possible to cancel an Oyster transaction *providing* the next passenger hasn't yet touched in and if someone says they "put £5 pound on it this morning" take a printout and check! Don't be letting people on without some sort of fare (oyster or contactless or whatever colour the customer service pads are now!) for any length of the journey. You *will* get a revenue report for it and certain garage managers will GDE you for the privilege - which can smack a bit if you've otherwise got a clean record! And don't rush. The only thing you'll end up doing is filling out an accident report. If your radio controller utters the words "you're the only bus I've got running late" he's probably being flexible with the truth! Also, if you do stick at not rushing expect to get asked if you're new a *lot*! My final point is the most important one of the lot. The first trainee to hit the kerb buys the tea  |
|
|
|
Post by snoggle on Jul 20, 2015 19:51:27 GMT
When do they do the "prove you are a British Citizen, prove you can work in the UK, prove you are not a terrorist / child molestor / murderer" check? I thought this was now an essential check in our wonderfully paranoid country.
No mention of the Big Red Book so far? Has it been mentioned / handed out to you yet? Has anyone explained how to stop at a bus stop - in terms of people waiting / people pressing bells (or not) / people sticking their hand out (or not bothering and expecting you to be psychic)?
|
|
|
|
Post by greeny253 on Jul 20, 2015 19:58:02 GMT
When do they do the "prove you are a British Citizen, prove you can work in the UK, prove you are not a terrorist / child molestor / murderer" check? I thought this was now an essential check in our wonderfully paranoid country. No mention of the Big Red Book so far? Has it been mentioned / handed out to you yet? Has anyone explained how to stop at a bus stop - in terms of people waiting / people pressing bells (or not) / people sticking their hand out (or not bothering and expecting you to be psychic)? First (both London and Essex!) was the only bus operator I ever worked for that required an enhanced disclosure  |
|
|
|
Post by snoggle on Jul 20, 2015 20:43:06 GMT
When do they do the "prove you are a British Citizen, prove you can work in the UK, prove you are not a terrorist / child molestor / murderer" check? I thought this was now an essential check in our wonderfully paranoid country. No mention of the Big Red Book so far? Has it been mentioned / handed out to you yet? Has anyone explained how to stop at a bus stop - in terms of people waiting / people pressing bells (or not) / people sticking their hand out (or not bothering and expecting you to be psychic)? First (both London and Essex!) was the only bus operator I ever worked for that required an enhanced disclosure I'm genuinely surprised by that given bus drivers' contact with the public from children upwards and also the fact that the TfL network is fully contracted and subject to political oversight. Strikes me as a bit of a gap if TfL haven't insisted on a more rigorous disclosure. I know bus driving's not in the same league as people working in education, social care, the NHS etc but there is still that public contact and, in some scenarios, decision making about how / if people travel. |
|
|
|
Post by YY13VKP on Jul 20, 2015 22:48:29 GMT
First off I will start with do you really, really want to do this? even if you do, 95% of the people you tell or find out you are doing it will tell you don't, aim higher and do something else hence the title don't do it and it's a fair point, There are much better things you can do that be a bus driver but sometimes you have to start from the bottom and work your way up. Week 2: Day 1 - Theory Test (Passed) Hazard Perception Test (Passed) and Module 2 Driver CPC case study test (Passed) Day 2/3/4/5 - Out on the road in a training bus After around 15 hours driving time you will have a progress check to make sure you are on target, if not your training will be extended for a further 10 hours, The average amount of hours you should need is around 37/38, After passing your practical driving test, You will have 3 more days at WH which will cover type training on buses that will be at your preferred garage*, ETM and iBus training and finally disability awareness course after which all being complete you will signed off to your garage to start either the next day or Monday of the next week. *" Every effort will be made for you to commence employment at your preferred location, but this will be subject to the vacancy situation at the time you complete training", Also if you applied for full time driving you could also be put on the night rota when requested (You do get extra pay for this)
All Training is done at WH unless you apply for a South London garage where you driving training only will be done at Catford (You test will still be done from WH currently) Will let you know how it goes, I've just completed Week 2 day 1 as of the date of this post, any questions feel free to ask When i told my dad i wanted to be a train driver, he also told me don't aim for that, and to aim to become something like a doctor or dentist (which my dad was before he retired) but my careers teacher told me that a train driver is a good job, but since then, I'm also thinking of aiming to become a controller for either a bus or train company Also, let me guess, will your preferred location be NS? Also, out of interest, how much do you get paid working for Stagecoach? As I'm going to resume studying about different careers (main focus for me is in the Transport Industry) when i go back to school in September, It was really interesting to read what steps you have to take to become a bus driver, Thanks for sharing! I wish you the best of luck for the rest of the tests you have! |
|
|
|
Post by LX09FBJ on Jul 20, 2015 23:06:31 GMT
It's the driving element I personally find desirable, and the 'exclusive' access to new stock before Joe Public (and Joe Bus Enthusiast in my case) does. I would like to become either a part-time driver every couple weekends a month or after early retirement (should I take it, which will be in at least 30-35 years time! ). Even contemplating the idea of me as a bus driver sends my parents awol. My first choice would be Stagecoach but the nearest garage to me is Catford which is about an hour-and-a-half away by rail. I would likely pick London United at FW or Abellio at TF or BC if I did go ahead with it, which is highly unlikely for now, as I've not even passed my car licence yet! Interesting insight into the training regime at Stagecoach, and good luck on the training! |
|
|
|
Post by greeny253 on Jul 21, 2015 7:09:48 GMT
It's the driving element I personally find desirable, and the 'exclusive' access to new stock before Joe Public (and Joe Bus Enthusiast in my case) does. I would like to become either a part-time driver every couple weekends a month or after early retirement (should I take it, which will be in at least 30-35 years time! ). Even contemplating the idea of me as a bus driver sends my parents awol. My first choice would be Stagecoach but the nearest garage to me is Catford which is about an hour-and-a-half away by rail. I would likely pick London United at FW or Abellio at TF or BC if I did go ahead with it, which is highly unlikely for now, as I've not even passed my car licence yet! Interesting insight into the training regime at Stagecoach, and good luck on the training! Shame you're on the wrong side of London. I'm told Bow are looking for weekend night drivers! |
|
|
|
Post by stubag on Jul 21, 2015 8:09:43 GMT
We need disclosure checks??? Thought all bus drivers were perverted.... Has no one seen "on the buses"  ?? |
|
|
|
Post by snoggle on Jul 21, 2015 9:27:33 GMT
Light hearted interlude. Whenever I read the title of this thread it reminds me of this tuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnne  |
|
|
|
Post by vjaska on Jul 21, 2015 13:28:21 GMT
Light hearted interlude. Whenever I read the title of this thread it reminds me of this tuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnne Such a great tune just like 'The Message' which is a classic rap tune. "Don't do it, baby" lol |
|
|
|
Post by VPL630 on Jul 21, 2015 13:53:01 GMT
When do they do the "prove you are a British Citizen, prove you can work in the UK, prove you are not a terrorist / child molestor / murderer" check? I thought this was now an essential check in our wonderfully paranoid country. No mention of the Big Red Book so far? Has it been mentioned / handed out to you yet? Has anyone explained how to stop at a bus stop - in terms of people waiting / people pressing bells (or not) / people sticking their hand out (or not bothering and expecting you to be psychic)? Sorry at the time of writing that, I was shattered so missed out a few things but then again I did say a brief overview. On the assessment day you need Both parts of your current driving licence, Your Passport, with any relevant immigration documents to prove you can work in the UK, There is no DBS check as you shouldn't have any contact will children, With First it's a different story but there was good reasoning behind why they wanted CRB checks but that's another story. The Big Red Book was given to us along with the highway code on the first day of training, I've read it from start to finish missing out all the road names and routes ect. Yes we have been fully briefed on how to stop at a bus stop as it is part of the practical test, It has been explained to us that unless you are sure no one wants you bus you must stop at the bus stop, if a bell is pressed you stop at the correct bus stop for your route. |
|
|
|
Post by VPL630 on Jul 21, 2015 14:09:12 GMT
Also, let me guess, will your preferred location be NS? Also, out of interest, how much do you get paid working for Stagecoach? As I'm going to resume studying about different careers (main focus for me is in the Transport Industry) when i go back to school in September, It was really interesting to read what steps you have to take to become a bus driver, Thanks for sharing! I wish you the best of luck for the rest of the tests you have! I wouldn't mind being a tube driver, they seem to get decent pay. Wrong, I'm going to Leyton garage, then going to put in a Transfer request for NS, I've spoken to 3 instructors and they say in over 10 years they have never trained a driver that went to NS, They never seem to be short of drivers for some reason. Through training I'm being paid £10ph for a 40 hour week, When I get signed off it's £451 a week before tax, after 2 years this becomes £492 a week, after 5 years this becomes £533 a week. Study and do something else, I've got DMM in IT so I always have something to fall back on if this doesn't work out Thanks |
|
|
|
Post by VPL630 on Jul 22, 2015 16:06:26 GMT
Week 2 Day 3 So today instead of the normal slightly boring drive round East London, we drove the A13 to Rainham, Then through to Harold Hill Via Upminster to find some tight corners that are no longer tight corners since we have mastered them , then quick journey up to Passingford bridge, Abridge and up Theydon Bois, You really don't notice how hilly Essex is until you are in a bus, later on after lunch at WH we ventured up to Highbury & Islington station to appreciate the overzealous cycle way 'improvements'. Something I have noticed is you have a false awareness of where the front right corner of your bus actually is, so when taking left corners you think you are closer to cars and objects on the right more than you actually are, I don't know if this is just with ALX400's but after parking and noticing how much distance you still have to play with safely you think "why didn't I get any closer" ect ect, You don't seem to get this with the nearside of the bus, You more or less know exactly where it is and where it's going to go |
|
|
|
Post by snoggle on Jul 25, 2015 21:51:43 GMT
Have you got your "thank goodness I can now travel for free on TfL services" pass and your "ha ha ha I can travel on any Stagecoach bus in the UK" pass yet? I'm guessing you get the latter from Stagecoach but what company specific benefits do you get as a trainee / qualified driver? Enjoying your updates btw - interesting to get some other input than what appears on the TV. |
|
?? 
