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Any bus drivers here?

6 replies

Pinkypong · 10/10/2022 07:18

I’ve seen an ad and it quite appeals!
am I being silly? It’s a huge responsibility and I imagine it’s shifts etc.
anyone tell me what the day to day is like?
thank you!

OP posts:
Nolongera · 14/10/2022 09:43

Ex bus driver here, I did 20 years.

Money looks great on paper for a job you can learn in a few weeks.

But it's not, long days, split shifts, 5 1/2 hours driving solid with a 30 minute break then another 4 1/2 hours, all of this can be without access to a toilet.

There is a reason many bus drivers carry an empty plastic milk bottle.

Depending on where you are, starting can be from 04 00, finishing can be 01 30, not the same shift obvs.

Most of the customers are great, but a significant percentage are just awful, I have been threatened and spat at more times than I can remember.

Bus driving ( outside London) , most of the work is selling and checking tickets, trying to keep the bus on time with no support from the company.

The actual driving is the easy bit.

COVID ripped through the industry, they worked throughout with very little support, so many deaths.

There is a reason they can't recruit and retain staff, and it's because it's a crap job.

Might be better in some places, the only happy drivers I know work in London.

So, from me, it's a no.

UserLoserInTheBoozer · 14/10/2022 13:44

Not being able to access a toilet for 5 1/2 hours would rule out a lot of women (probably men too!) A plastic bottle might work for a bloke but might be a bit awkward for me. 😅

Totalcrash · 14/10/2022 20:07

Thanks, nolongera that’s very useful. How on Earth did you manage 20 yer?! There must be good bits? Being spat at and using a bottle does not sound appealing I have to say! And no, I don’t live in london. A friend just said there’s a reason they need so many drivers and it’s because the company is crap.
it still is appealing though, I couldn’t get those wages anywhere else.

Nolongera · 15/10/2022 09:49

It wasn't that bad when I started, wages and conditions have been ground down for years.

In the end I got family friendly Monday to Friday day shifts, but these are very hard to get.

I left for band 3 in the NHS, better hours, better support, slightly better money.

That's how bad the buses are, worse than the NHS.

As I said, the driving bit is only a small part of the job, if you really want a driving job I would go for HGV 2, it's more or less the same driving experience but without the hassle of the public.

forevercooking · 15/10/2022 14:46

My ExH is a bus driver; was definitely a factor in our marriage breakdown. There's not routine for absolutely no reason whatsoever they have to completely different shifts every week. You can't plan ahead, they're always badgering him to do overtime because they don't have the drivers.

Totalcrash · 15/10/2022 16:33

This isn’t sounding so good! I thought it would be fairly calm, do my hours and go home. I’ll apply anyway, and report back, though have to say am less keen.
thank you!

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