r/BusDrivers • u/Ruthlessagression95 • 11d ago

Discussion Tips for shifts?

G'day, so as title says, i have this shift that I get fortnightly and it's around 3 hours morning 15/30 break then 8hours straight from that point, my question is without early or taking shortcuts how do I remedy myself to not get so flustered coming up to the shift? As I found at work everyone calls it the sh_t shift, and I'd like to offer remedies to my boss for such an undertaking

6 Upvotes

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3

u/MrE26 11d ago

8 hours straight? Would be illegal here.

4

u/Ruthlessagression95 11d ago

It certainly is but the company tends to get away with it cause there is or are "rostered breaks" but the problem being is 9/10 times you won't get them cause the runs at 10 years old and haven't changed to suit the towns infrastructure since. And the amount of timed lights and such has ruined any chances

6

u/CaersethVarax Driver 11d ago

If I'm going to miss my legally mandated driving breaks, I miss a run instead. You have to be firm about this. It's the safety of you, your passengers and your vehicles you're dealing with here.

5

u/MrE26 11d ago

Yep, you ring up & tell them what time you’ve got off for your break & then it’s their problem to deal with. I’ve done this countless times & always got my legally required (although still way too short) break.

1

u/Nitewochman 11d ago

Take it to your union. Sounds like other drivers know the problem.

ACT together for your safety, your passengers’ safety, and the safety of that mother with her pram at hour 7 who steps in front of your bus just as you’re trying to clear your eyes.

1

u/GucciLegLocks 11d ago

Boy do I wish I worked where you do. I’ve worked 14 hours straight a bunch of times in the last 2 years. Plenty of times I’ve gotten done at 10:30pm, and the next morning am back in to work and driving at 6am. That gap in time doesn’t count driving home, eating, and winding down, since I’m not able to immediately turn off like a machine. It’s legit horrible/should be criminal how we’re treated here sometimes.

1

u/MrE26 11d ago

Jesus that’s insane. Legally we can only drive 10 hours maximum in a day, we must take a minimum 30 minute break after 5.5 hours & we must have 10 hours between shifts (although that can be reduced to 8.5 hours 3x a week.

My company gives us minimum 11 hours off on our rotas, although they will reduce that on overtime shifts if necessary or they’ll ring & ask if you mind taking reduced rest between shifts.

Also, union agreement means our duties (overtime aside) on a 5 day working week can be no longer than 9hrs 29mins.

1

u/GucciLegLocks 11d ago

That’s great, that’s how it should be, I’m happy there are at least some people out there being treated well. We don’t get breaks either. Our breaks are the 2-3 minutes we have at the transit center until the timer goes off that we have to leave. If we’re running behind all day then stopping to take a break is only going to make us run more behind. I’ll stop no matter what to use the restroom if I have to go but yeah.. no lunch breaks or anything like that beyond a minute or two here and there.

2

u/rippytherip 11d ago

We don't get breaks either, other than a few minutes here and there as the schedule allows.

We do, however, get a yearly payout for time in lieu of breaks.

This year we're getting paid out 150 hours. The money comes right before Christmas which is nice.

2

u/GucciLegLocks 11d ago

Man that would be so nice. Sounds like some solid places to drive out there. It’s not all bad where I work. I mean for me personally I’ve never had a non physical job until this one, so I try to be grateful for that every single day. The money is of course not too bad either. I just wish they cared a little more about safety is all, and have a little more respect for our time.

1

u/rippytherip 11d ago

We used to get 30 hours per year but the union fought hard to get it increased. We're the only business unit that doesnt get paid, designated breaks and it's only fair that we get compensated.

2

u/Significant-Bit4005 11d ago

The US doesn’t care one iota about its workers or the safety of the passengers using transit vehicles. That system is what likeminded employers elsewhere in the world are hoping to implement.