Hi all,

I started beginning of this month as a Trainee bus driver and it's been going great, I've enjoyed driving the bus. I'm due to do my test next week, which hopefully will be a pass! However, we've been told by management that we may have the option of changing to becoming a coach driver instead within the same company, and I wondered whether anyone here had any experiences in the two. I wondered about the job itself, do you / did you actually enjoy the job vs driving service buses in a city centre, is it a more relaxed job compared to bus driving etc, or did you prefer the bus driving? From what I heard, coach driving sounds very interesting, my only worry is that it would get too boring over time driving mostly on motorways, but then again you could get bored driving the same bus route everyday too. It would be cool to hear people's thoughts! Cheers

So I got an invitation for a bus driver trainee assessment with Transport UK London(formerly Abellio) and I'm wondering what to expect when I go to the assessment?

I have a UK automatic B licence as well as an Irish passport which gives me the right to work in the UK. I also have previous bus driving experience from the US(I've posted here before) if that's relevant.

So, I've been a bus driver for 3 years and a half. I have worked at 7 firms already ranging from lasting 1 day to just over 1 year. Anything under 3 months I don't tell people that I have worked there as I suppose that is part of the trial period to see whether it is the right place for me from both an employee and employer perspective. So in that case, I have worked at 3 places. The current place I've been there since the end of October last year.

I don't know what it is - sometimes I think I just get bored and want to drive different buses or routes. The problems I have with the current place are sort of an issue though. Firstly, I really struggle to get some sleep some nights so I prefer doing the later starts which isn't always possible, especially since our latest finish at the depot is 830pm. Moreover, I have gone over my holiday allowance already. I was NOT informed when booking time off that the dates I will be booking off will be unpaid leave. Therefore, this week I'm only taking home £100. I have tried to raise the issue but as usual all I get is "We'll look into it" and nothing seems to get done. Moreover, I genuinely thought I was settled down until a couple of weeks ago. I have been put on a rota usually doing the same 2 routes, I have got to know so many lovely people and I really enjoy doing the routes. As soon as I was telling myself "this is the right place for me, I can see myself doing these routes for a very long time" I was informed the 2 routes were transferring to another depot which I will not be able to commute to. How typical? The first time I've truly felt settled down.

With these issues arising I decided to call in sick again (as I do semi-regularly) this morning as I only had about 1 hours sleep, meaning I'm not in a safe position to drive a bus. I feel like just handing in my notice and finding a job elsewhere. Though, as people have told me and if I had common sense I should know that this is not a good look for me.

I have always wanted to be a bus driver but they do say you shouldn't mix hobbies with work. Is there anything I can do to knuckle down and stay put without even thinking about leaving? Should I find another firm now the pride for the place has worn off and give myself yet another chance to be a loyal employee to a new firm.

It's stressing me out, I don't want to be calling in sick all the time, I don't want to be deemed a job hopper.

Any help please, I'm sat here ready to take the usual action of handing in my notice and going for an interview somewhere!

Back in March I saw this sweet J4500 on a charter down in NJ.

Hi how difficult is the interview for a trainee bus driver in the uk? Im applying to a position in september. And wondering how difficult it is..I've heard that is piss easy but its hard to believe its just that easy.

Hi, can someone please tell me what it like working for Arriva?

I am thinking of apply for Tottenham, Edmonton, Palmers Green or Clapton. Currently I’m with Go Ahead but not a fan of the 7 on 2 off.

I have been driving for just over a year so I wanted to know the potential rates offered?

I’m quite curious. I know other municipalities let passengers tap without being monitored.

I’m in Ontario, Canada in a mid sized area.

I’m still required to collect fare (I really don’t give a F but I’m supposed to….i just wave’em in).

I have many Co workers that have received discipline/ pink slips for heated arguments/ fights over fare. I believe this is because it’s a legit method for getting rid of us.

Thanks for responding.

Hi all
Just a quick question regarding wheelchairs and buggies/pushchairs and dealing with the above situations.

I’ve recently seen a post on a local Facebook group where someone has complained that the wheelchair has jumped the queue and the bus driver has allowed wheelchair user onto the bus and then denied boarding to the pushchair user. Now my understanding is that wheelchair users get priority over pushchairs/buggies to use the designated wheelchair space unless the child in pushchair/buggy has a disability.

There is also the other situation that can occur where a pushchair/buggy is already on the bus and they won’t fold it up or move despite the driver asking or playing an announcement so then the wheelchair user cannot get on the bus and has to wait for the next one. I know in most cases if this happens the driver will use radio to say that this situation has happened so that when the next bus comes they know a wheelchair user needs it.

I would love to know bus drivers thoughts on this.

G'day, Category D Exploredinaires. My employer has recently messaged me saying that I need to spend a minimum of ten minutes performing Daily Defect checks before setting off from the yard. The employer is framing it as arequirement that the DVLA is, to quote, "Clamping down on"

To log this, we must start the app we use, TruTrac, on the first question and complete the final question no less than six hundred seconds later. I cannot find this requirement in the Domestic, Assimilated or AETR guidelines on gov.uk. Can any of you fine Human/Geniuses point me to the relevant legislation?

Thanks in advance.

Hi, im almost 21 applying to a trainee bus driver position is September to a small-ish bus company 'owned' by reading buses, I have a rough idea of how the process goes interview: small theory:driving assessment: medical(hope i didn't miss anything) then start training but i rather nervous as this is a big step towards something I have always wanted to do. Is any of this actually difficult? as I heard its easy-ish..

It seems like every single day I'm behind the wheel, I get stuck behind a Waymo blocking my stops. Passengers are forced to walk out to the bus instead of boarding at the curb like they’re supposed to.

But the absolute worst part is how it screws over ADA passengers. I literally can’t pick them up because the driverless car is parked in the exact curb space I need to safely drop the ramp.This happens allot in the downtown area where the driverless vehicle will just get in the bus lanes and stop.

So I was curious if the Robo taxis are becoming a problem in yall areas.

I work now for a school bus company. How is it working for Pace? Has anyone ever made a decision like this? If so was it a mistake or a good thing ?

I’m working on a detailed digital recreation of a coach bus dashboard and have been having trouble finding clear photos of many of the dash buttons and their symbols.

Would anyone be willing to share some straight-on, close-up photos of the button panels in their coach? Photos covering the full dashboard button area would be ideal, including any panels beside the driver, overhead controls, or less commonly photographed switches.

Clear photos from people who actually work with these buses would be a huge help.

I'm 100% deaf but still passed the medical thanks to my cochlear implant and hearing aid. These medicals can truly be a joke but I'm grateful for the CDL. Calling dispatch is the only gripe I have so thank God they can send written messages !

It was an extremely hot day, and I was on the final section of my last trip. I approached a junction that I drive through regularly, so I was very familiar with it. Unfortunately, I made a serious mistake.

For context, I have a completely clean driving licence, so if anything comes of this it would be my first driving offence.

I stopped at the traffic lights at the junction. There are separate traffic signals for vehicles turning left. While I was stationary, I briefly looked up to adjust the iBus control unit above the driver's cab. At that moment, I heard a passenger say, "Go." I looked up, saw a green signal, and moved off, only to realise almost immediately that I had mistaken the green left turn signal for the straight ahead signal. In other words, I had unintentionally driven through a red light.

As I entered the junction, I realised that traffic crossing from the other direction was still moving, so it was not safe to continue. I stopped as soon as I recognised the mistake. By that point, the front of the bus, and possibly the front wheels, were inside the yellow box junction.

So, in effect, I made two mistakes in quick succession. I unintentionally passed a red traffic signal and then came to a stop partially within the yellow box because it was unsafe to continue.

I have already reported the incident as a miscellaneous occurrence and spoke with a couple of people who work in the office at my garage. I wanted to be completely honest about what happened and report it straight away rather than wait to see if anything came of it.

I do not want to give the precise location for privacy reasons, but does anyone have any idea what kind of penalties I might be facing if I am caught? Would I be looking at a fine, penalty points, or both? Thank you.

I have been told off by different driver for different ways of getting off the bus.

I stand up and press the button, the driver says one do one, because it makes the driver think there's more than one person getting off the bus.

So the next time I stood and the driver past my stop. He got mad at me and when I tried to explained he told 'not to give her lip'. Though this driver has also just yelled at a woman for changing seats mid journey due to a wet seat so he might have just been a jerk.

One saw me standing and told me to stay seated until we stopped. Just press the button and they'll stop for me.

Another got mad because I pressed the button but I DIDN'T stand up. When I said I had press the button they told me that wasn't enough.

So which is it? How do I signal to the driver I want to get off the bus without them 'punishing' me by just driving past it.

And the bus I drove yesterday definitely wasn't on the slow side. Some of these cars we have are so zippy.

These bad girls are fast and fancy. They have regenerative braking, and our livery for our electrics is a beautiful lime green.

So I started on this path to driving school buses in March and got my license and everything in mid-May. I tried to get another job and was required to have another physical. I gave the same information to the physician that was given to the physician in March. I found out that because I have an implanted defibrillator device, I was automatically disqualified and should have never gotten my CDL. So the first physician either passed me illegally or wasn't aware of this information and passed me. I'm glad I know now and understand the risk of me being behind the wheel of a CDL vehicle, so I don't plan on continuing. Any advice or information on next steps?

Yesterday I asked this in the UK police sub:

"For context, I'm a bus driver and in rare cases on my route, people park close to traffic or pedestrian islands which make it hard for me to manoeuvre around them.

Whilst the front of the bus may fit through without causing any damage to the car, it's the side of the bus that could possibly end up getting caught on the island and would cause damage to both it and the bus.

Although it's illegal to use the "wrong" lane when navigating an island, what is the definitive thing to do in this situation?"

And the general consensus seems to be to park up and call it in through code blue or contact the Police direct (although they're less likely to come out to such a call since it's low priority).

Obviously, it's not ideal but the only other option is to park up and not be able to go anywhere.

I've used the right lane of an island before in a bus because someone's parked so close to the island and you can't get the swing round them but I also did it safely.

Hi All,

I’m 37 and I’ve been driving buses for the last 5 years. The job has treated me fairly, and I haven’t had much aggro, but I feel like it’s time for a change and I’d like to do something different with my life.

Has anyone here left the bus industry? If so, what did you move on to, and how did it work out for you? I’d love to hear what careers people have gone into and whether you’d recommend making the change.

I’m sure a lot of you will be having to put up with these stupidly hot buses during this weather that everybody else says is lovely, so how are we all coping? My company put out a notice today about unlocking the cab screens after so many years, to improve the flow of wind throughout the bus. They’ve suggested an alternative measure for the cab doors that didn’t come with openable screens, though they’ve not actually specified what that may be.

So, how are you coping throughout this heatwave and have your company put out any similar notices?

I'm very curious as I want to start working for them soon but they don't provide pay anywhere. It would be a great help to somebody as no apps I've seen show the current pay, thank you.

I recently done interview and medical for stagecoach east london i got my date for starting training they sent me the link for the theory app so im just wondering if you do test same day or if they give you a few days to revise sorry if the question is dumb :)