Does anyone think Bus Driving is a good Career?

[Benny91]

I’m thinking of becoming one, as I see it quite an easy job. What do you think of Bus driving as a Career?

I’ve actually heard people say its a job for thick people, for which I doubt is very untrue to what people say! 🤔

It depends on if you like driving.

I don’t like driving so it wouldn’t suit me.

Cons: stressful dealing with traffic and members of the public. Very sedantry so would have to make sure got some exercise outside of work.

Pros: it’s fairly well paid. You don’t have to think about it outside of work, so low stress from that point of view. If you’re chatty it would be nice dealing with the public.

I’m not sure I’d class it as easy - you have to constantly be paying attention and it’s a huge responsibility. A lot of drivers also have to put up with a lot of abuse from passengers and other road users. I also drive as part of my job and it can be mentally exhausting.

I use London buses a lot and it's definitely not a job for thickos - never heard anyone say this!

I imagine it's a very stressful job at times, what with shift work, abuse and traffic.

Some time back I commented on a transport thread - I'd been in the front seats on a double-decker and just couldn't believe the things the poor driver had to contend with! Cyclists, scooters, mopeds weaving in and out and coming very close; pedestrians meandering across the road looking at their phones, oblivious to the oncoming traffic; not to mention cars and vans suddenly pulling out!

I couldn't do it - they deserve a medal!

That said, I do see many more women drivers now and they seem quite chilled

My DH is a bus driver and has been for about 7 years now.

Pros - pretty good pay, not sat at a desk all day. Our young DS’s think he has the worlds coolest job 😂

Cons - the general public can be pretty awful. He’s had people spit at him, swear at him, banging on the windows. He’s also had a number of collisions which isn’t uncommon! The hours can be pretty dreadful. DH got sick of the 4am starts at 1am finishes so now does school buses (for the same depot) which is Monday to Friday but are split shifts every day. Holidays are allocated and drivers are only given 3 days a year to book of their own choosing.

It’s my autistic son’s dream to be a bus driver when he is older. Never realised it was considered a job for “thick people” charming.

I know a view people who drive for private bus companies and they love it. Admittedly most are tourists buses and they get good tips.

One did work for the public bus service. He said the commuter buses were fine but he hated working in the City Buses

A job for ‘thick people’? Hardly.
The people who think that are probably a bit thick themselves.

Thick people?! It is skilled and you do have to pass a test so that doesn’t make much sense to me. That said it sounds a pretty awful job. Shifts including late nights and early mornings, abuse from passengers, doesn’t pay terribly well, limited career progression. I’d rather be an HGV driver personally- much better pay and limited dealings with the public.

I think its a job not a career, as there are no opportunities for progression

It depends on the region but some bus driving jobs are well paid.
It’s a lot of responsibility and requires specific training and licences.

Shift work can be hard but it’s worth giving it a go.

I have a mate who's a qualified electrical engineer. For various reasons he chucked that and became a country bus driver. Says he wishes he'd done it years ago. (he's single with no dependants if that matters).

I would say one thing that is probably not thought about too much. It is probably as secure a job as any.

Train driving sounds like a much nicer job - better paid and much less interaction with the general public. Also seems easier than having to manoeuvre busses in Central London.

I know a tube driver who used to drive buses. I asked why he moved… sitting on Piccadilly line all day (for over 20 years now) didn’t seem that appealing to me. He doubled his money. I’m not that sympathetic to tube drivers and their pay and conditions demands.

Skilled and responsible as others have said. There was advice about this on a Thread before, 2 or 3 years experience will help you get a job with either a coach firm or long distance trucks.
It could also lead to being Transport Manager.
It is the kind of job that you leave at work and don't get calls when home.

It's a decent job.
Yes it may not need loads of academic qualifications but it requires a good attention span, conflict resolution/crisis management skills and buckets of patience.

But I think I'd go for train driver for preference.

What about supermarket delivery driver? Some heavy lifting but you get a colleague discount & less dealing with completely random members of the public (at least you have their address).

@XelaM
https://www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk/about-us/careers/train-driver-recruitment

I think a few are hoping they can get female drivers for the more flexi-hours roles. The only downside I can see is the jumpers, which I can imagine would scar you for life.

As you can see, I used to drives buses for a living. I did 20 years.

UK driving hours ( 5 1/5 hours without a break, then only 30 mins then back on) are disgusting, unhealthy and unsafe.

The driving is only about 30% of the work, it's dealing with the public that is the work. Threats and abuse are normalised, as is being bricked.

There is a reason they are short of drivers, bus companies are notoriously poor employers.

I find driving difficult and stressful enough in a normal car, so I certainly wouldn't consider bus driving to be an easy job, esp in London where I am. I'd never pass the advanced driving test so it's not a job I've ever considered.
I've seen a lot of confrontation on buses and would hate to have to deal with that too.

Also the reason I’m asking is because, where I live in Surrey I’ve heard people say, that it’s a job for not very intelligent people. Again some people I’ve come across seem snobby about it and wouldn’t be seen dead doing that job! 😩

My ex BIL is a bus driver, he's definitely not thick, is close to retirement and he will have a great pension and other perks. Our buses are going 'no contact' with a complete screen going between the driver and passengers, meaning that there is meant to be no interaction between them. This should in theory make it more pleasant.

It’s fairly decent pay. Just as well as the some of the public are abusive scum.

It's not good pay considering what it entails.
Regarding it being a career, we had drivers who moved on to management, not many as like most jobs everything has been squeezed but there is a chance to move on.

Most drivers aren't thick, just not very ambitious, nothing wrong with that, we need workers like that.

But encased in a glass box the keep you safe from your customers, boiling hot in summer, freezing cold in winter, insane shifts and shift patterns. After 5 1/2 hours it can be difficult to stand up straight.

Not for me. There is reason they are always short of staff.

I know a couple of bus drivers and I don’t think it’s for thick people. I do think it’s underpaid considering you often have to make judgement calls that could have a big impact on other people and you frequently have to deal with rude, aggressive or violent people - especially if you end up driving the last bus or a night bus. You also have to decide if someone is being violent/racist destructive on your bus what the best course of action is.

I imagine the responsibility can feel daunting, navigating a very long, tall vehicle particularly in busy cities. Some of the public can be arseholes.

train driving I imagine is easier and better paid but isn’t it a closed shop and nearly impossible to get into from other industries?