Dublin Bus looking for Drivers

Careful_now!

Dublin bus are looking to recruit part time drivers working late shifts Thursdays to Sundays, and Fridays to Mondays.

I'm a Dublin bus driver and I'm just letting people know about it.

Whatever other people tell you, it is a good job and its not a bad place to work.

If you have any questions about the job I'd like to help

http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/Human-Resources/

TheBandicoot

What kind of time frame is a 'late shift'? 1600->midnight?

Trebor176

It's great that the company is hiring again, so it's obviously a good sign that things could be on the up. It's certainly a job I'd like to do, and I do agree that it's a good one. Working late is grand as well, but it would mean having to sacrifice a social life on weekends, which may not suit all.

Unfortunately, it seems harder to get into now, unless one has the D licence (easily obtainable) and the CPC course as well, so obviously some previous experience in a similar role, or experience driving a HGV is needed.

Careful_now!

TheBandicoot wrote: »

What kind of time frame is a 'late shift'? 1600->midnight?

Generally it would start between 1500 and 1600 and finish between 12 and 0100

Hilly Bill

I find it strange that they are hiring considering they were looking for cuts. Still good news on the job front though.

Careful_now!

Hilly Bill wrote: »

I find it strange that they are hiring considering they were looking for cuts. Still good news on the job front though.

Dublin bus are short staffed by about 100 drivers.

By hiring more drivers they will save on paying drivers overtime rates to cover the work

Hilly Bill

Careful_now! wrote: »

Dublin bus are short staffed by about 100 drivers.

By hiring more drivers they will save on paying drivers overtime rates to cover the work

Would that overtime rate be more than the weekly wage of the new drivers?

Careful_now!

A new driver would probably get about €110 for a days work.

A driver there at the moment would get about €175 for a days overtime.

corktina

"Dublin Bus looking for Drivers"

where did it last remember leaving them?

Grandad99

Careful_now! wrote: »

If you have any questions about the job I'd like to help

Hi Careful_now,

The website says;

You will be employed to operate scheduled services covering late shifts on a 4-day week from Thursday to Monday with the opportunity to progress to a 5-day week with rotating shifts''

Do you think initially this job would be on the night links ?

How long do you think it would be to get on the rotating 5-day shift ?

Thanks.

Careful_now!

No. It wouldn't be the night links. You would be working late duties usually starting between 3 and 4 o'clock and finishing about 12.30. Night links are optional and when you are assigned which depot you are going to you should be able to apply to get the night links if you want them.

As for getting on the 5 day shift. Honestly, that's up to the company. Shouldn't be more than a year or two.

Grandad99

Thanks.

Grandad99

Hi Careful_now!,

I live just off the N11 on the QBC.

If successful with my application Donnybrook Garage would be ideal for me.

Would they likely place me in my preferred depot ?

Is Donnybrook one of the harder or easier ones to get into, or what way does this work ?

Thanks.

Careful_now!

Grandad99 wrote: »

Hi Careful_now!,

I live just off the N11 on the QBC.

If successful with my application Donnybrook Garage would be ideal for me.

Would they likely place me in my preferred depot ?

Is Donnybrook one of the harder or easier ones to get into, or what way does this work ?

Thanks.

Donnybrook is probably the biggest depot so you would have a good chance if getting that one.

They do try to facilitate everybody with the depot that's nearest their home, but that's not always possible.

If you are put in a depot that you don't like, you are suppose to wait 3 months before you can apply for a transfer, but if you talk to your union rep they can usually speed up the process.

emmbaasee

Can anybody tell me what date the applications have to be submitted by ?
Took a look at the website but i couldn't see anything.
Thanks.

StreetLight

At the moment, it's open-ended. It will give potential applicants who currently do not possess the D licence and CPC qualifications time to obtain them.

emmbaasee

Ah great thanks. I kind of thought that might be the case allright. It's a job i've considered before but i'm still not sure if i could hack the general public and all that comes with dealing with them.
I don't consider it an easy job and i think they deserve the wage.

coolbond

Does anyone know what the recruitment process is like,is it just an interview and driving assessment? or is it aptitude tests and assessments and role plays etc like alot of jobs??

Careful_now!

When i started 8 years ago it was an aptitude test and do a report on an accident you were in or seen.

Then the next stage is a Driving assesment and interview.

I don't think its changed.

Then the next stage is a medical at the company doctor.


Once you pass that HR will call you with your start date.

It all happens very quickly

Ironman76

Fair play for posting. My brother is a bus driver. It's a great job.

Mafamude

Thanks for the post! Can I ask something?

I have a Portuguese drivers licence and I worked 5 years for the equivalent of Dublin Bus in Lisbon, have reference letter, Portuguese CPC, all that jazz. Do you think they would consider my cv even with a Portuguese licence and I can change it while the process runs?

I would love to get in because driving is all I love to do!

Thanks!

cdebru

Mafamude wrote: »

Thanks for the post! Can I ask something?

I have a Portuguese drivers licence and I worked 5 years for the equivalent of Dublin Bus in Lisbon, have reference letter, Portuguese CPC, all that jazz. Do you think they would consider my cv even with a Portuguese licence and I can change it while the process runs?

I would love to get in because driving is all I love to do!

Thanks!

CPC is EU wide AFAIK and your Portuguese license is recognized here so as long as it's all up to date you should be good.
They would asess your driving either way.

Boa sorte.

cdebru

Grandad99 wrote: »

Hi Careful_now,

The website says;

You will be employed to operate scheduled services covering late shifts on a 4-day week from Thursday to Monday with the opportunity to progress to a 5-day week with rotating shifts''

Do you think initially this job would be on the night links ?

How long do you think it would be to get on the rotating 5-day shift ?

Thanks.

The last time they had 4 day week drivers some of them did the nitelinks as a days work so it could involve the nitelinks on Fridays and Saturdays.

Mafamude

cdebru wrote: »

CPC is EU wide AFAIK and your Portuguese license is recognized here so as long as it's all up to date you should be good.
They would asess your driving either way.

Boa sorte.

Obrigada !

Going to send my application today and fingers crossed !

punisher5112

Hi all and best of luck to all that apply for the job.

I am a driver myself and have been driving many years now and like anything in life the job has it's ups and downs.

I like to drive so I applied and went through the process all starting with the interview then called to do aptitude test, then you are brought for a test drive in a car or van to see if you can handle that, then you are sent to training school for as far as I can remember 2 weeks minimum(may have changed). They will train you whether you have experience or not to make sure you are up to their high standards.

One thing I would like to add is that you all say it's a great job and I have to disagree to a degree.
You are going to be dealing with the public who will eat away at you and if you have any feelings at all leave them behind if you take the job as you will deal with all sorts from the nicest of people to the type you wouldn't p**s on if they were on fire.
The hours and rosters are very bad and extremely poor if you are any way at all new. It is getting to the pointwhere 8 and 9 year service you are still spare and on a completely different roster to those who would have been on the proper roster up to max year and half.

Over the years I have been attacked verbally and physically, spat at, followed by other road users and also blocked in and not let out for reasons god only knows as the cops wouldn't even figure out what was the other peoples problem. I have had incidents involving threats with knives and syringes including the odd bomb threat(crazy talk).

I find that the aggresion in people is on the rise and you will get a lot of you are lucky to have a job and why are you all going out of service and why are there 2 or 3 buses together and so on ....

Mafamude

punisher5112 wrote: »

Hi all and best of luck to all that apply for the job.

I am a driver myself and have been driving many years now and like anything in life the job has it's ups and downs.

I like to drive so I applied and went through the process all starting with the interview then called to do aptitude test, then you are brought for a test drive in a car or van to see if you can handle that, then you are sent to training school for as far as I can remember 2 weeks minimum(may have changed). They will train you whether you have experience or not to make sure you are up to their high standards.

One thing I would like to add is that you all say it's a great job and I have to disagree to a degree.
You are going to be dealing with the public who will eat away at you and if you have any feelings at all leave them behind if you take the job as you will deal with all sorts from the nicest of people to the type you wouldn't p**s on if they were on fire.
The hours and rosters are very bad and extremely poor if you are any way at all new. It is getting to the pointwhere 8 and 9 year service you are still spare and on a completely different roster to those who would have been on the proper roster up to max year and half.

Over the years I have been attacked verbally and physically, spat at, followed by other road users and also blocked in and not let out for reasons god only knows as the cops wouldn't even figure out what was the other peoples problem. I have had incidents involving threats with knives and syringes including the odd bomb threat(crazy talk).

I find that the aggresion in people is on the rise and you will get a lot of you are lucky to have a job and why are you all going out of service and why are there 2 or 3 buses together and so on ....

Had that experience for 5 years and a couple of months until I started with international routes, Spain, France and Switzerland. Been spat on, showed knives, broken beer bottles and so on. However I had nice times also and I miss the one in a million smile when a passenger shows gratitude for your hard work. I think the users are not that different from the Portuguese ones but if you ask me, in between being in an office and facing a computer 8h per day and drive, see people, face rush hour and so on, I rather take the second option.

Careful_now!

cdebru wrote: »

The last time they had 4 day week drivers some of them did the nitelinks as a days work so it could involve the nitelinks on Fridays and Saturdays.

Nitelinks are counted as a late duty but as far as I know in all garages you have to opt in to it. If you want to do it you can, if you don't want to do it you don't have to.

If you did a nite link you are paid 2 hours over time for it as long with your days pay

cdebru

Careful_now! wrote: »

Nitelinks are counted as a late duty but as far as I know in all garages you have to opt in to it. If you want to do it you can, if you don't want to do it you don't have to.

If you did a nite link you are paid 2 hours over time for it as long with your days pay

Yes that is for current staff but for new 4 day drivers I don't know if it will be the same also afair the last time they had 4 day drivers there was no overtime paid for working nitelinks as your days work.

coolbond

anyone have any idea when they-ll start contacting applicants?I applied just under 2 weeks ago

Careful_now!

coolbond wrote: »

anyone have any idea when they-ll start contacting applicants?I applied just under 2 weeks ago

Early January as far as I know

AlekSmart

cdebru wrote: »

Yes that is for current staff but for new 4 day drivers I don't know if it will be the same also afair the last time they had 4 day drivers there was no overtime paid for working nitelinks as your days work.

The new entrants may be rostered for Nitelink Duty as part of their normal working week,however as they will be working a mixture of Thurs-Sun and Fri-Mon this will be a moveable feast.

Incidentally,the settlement agreement states that ALL of the roster/rota changes WILL be implemented by 31st May 2014,so the full complement of New Drivers should be in service by then.

punisher5112

I have seen the L bus out and may be new drivers as the ones seen had no uniforms on. Possible mechanics but doubt it.

coolbond

anyone apply and hear back from DB I see theyve taken their recruitment advert down

thebrick

Dublin bus hiring is a good thing, all those who say they would do the job for €20,000 now have there chance to be payed €32,000.
They wont be able to criticize the next time the drivers go on strike.

With all honesty i would say to all bus enthusiasts put your name in for the job.
The beginning when you are spare is a pain , but once marked in the job is decent.
Im a driver and if you have any questions ask here.

Careful_now!

thebrick wrote: »

Dublin bus hiring is a good thing, all those who say they would do the job for €20,000 now have there chance to be payed €32,000.
They wont be able to criticize the next time the drivers go on strike.

With all honesty i would say to all bus enthusiasts put your name in for the job.
The beginning when you are spare is a pain , but once marked in the job is decent.
Im a driver and if you have any questions ask here.

I'm a driver too, being spare is a pain, you make it sound like people are only spare for a short while. I'm spare almost 8 years and will be spare for another 7 or 8 years.

So that's a lot of pain

AlekSmart

Careful_now! wrote: »

I'm a driver too, being spare is a pain, you make it sound like people are only spare for a short while. I'm spare almost 8 years and will be spare for another 7 or 8 years.

So that's a lot of pain

I would stop short of calling it "pain".

Sure it can be inconvienient,disruptive and downright mind-numbing when your rostered duty conflicts with some other element of one's life,however I would suggest that the shiftwork nature of Dublin Busdriving actually allows more flexibility than other employments.

However this is all hugely personal,and largely depends upon one's view of the working/living balance.

The ONLY filter,I would suggest an individual need apply,is whether they recognize the FACT that we,as Busdrivers,commit to WORKING when EVERYBODY ELSE is OFF.

IF this causes you to go HMmmmmmm ,then this Job is NOT for you,Full Stop !

This is not Dublin Bus specific and is an intrinsic part of Mass Urban Transit operations worldwide.

Sure it is addressed in different ways by different operators,but I would challenge anybody to find a Capital City Public Transport Operation where Employees enjoy the ability to enjoy the exact same rest & recreation opportunities as their customers.

I regularly hear colleagues speaking about people they know who work for "London Transport" or whatever and who enjoy FAR better hours and conditions of work.....Usually it will be a second or third hand account and will,as a result,have benefitted from much addition and embellishment.

That fact is,that Public Transport Operations worldwide,particularly Busdriving,depends upon having large numbers of employees available at these hours of operation,and these same Operations ALL feature the same scenarios in terms of what we call "Spare" operation.

Some countries work around these requirements by employing Part-Time/Casual driving staff,which tends to be supported by State Supports paid to these individuals based upon their social welfare status.
Thankfully,although some attempts are continually made to deride it,the Dublin Bus Driver positions are FULL-TIME jobs,albeit with different core-hours of availability (IE: Late Thurs-Sun/Fri-Mon).

The numbers of current Staff who are describing these new jobs as Part-Time is,IMO,sad even worrying,as it appears to indicate these people do not know the difference between a FULL-TIME and a PART-TIME Job.

The notion that a person could enter the Job,and spend only a short period on the spare rotas,was only true during a specific period when Staff Turnover was very high.

Dublin Bus has enjoyed a very high Staff Retention ratio for many years now,something which any applicant might perhaps consider as a more accurate barometer of the Job than any amount of "Canteen Talk" or disaffected gasbagging,which tends to form an integral part of any large scale company.

Busdriving today,is a highly focused occupation which entails bringing together many disparate functions and skills.

As Humans,we cannot always manage to combine ALL of these functions effectively ALL of the Time,but the Training and Development regime should allow MOST successful applicants to achieve a high average which can then be maintained and improved upon.

BUT...If you're NOT comfortable with working regular late or week-end duties,then walk-on-by...at some speed !!!! :eek:

Stella Virgo

AlekSmart wrote: »

I would stop short of calling it "pain".

Sure it can be inconvienient,disruptive and downright mind-numbing when your rostered duty conflicts with some other element of one's life,however I would suggest that the shiftwork nature of Dublin Busdriving actually allows more flexibility than other employments.

However this is all hugely personal,and largely depends upon one's view of the working/living balance.

The ONLY filter,I would suggest an individual need apply,is whether they recognize the FACT that we,as Busdrivers,commit to WORKING when EVERYBODY ELSE is OFF.

IF this causes you to go HMmmmmmm ,then this Job is NOT for you,Full Stop !

This is not Dublin Bus specific and is an intrinsic part of Mass Urban Transit operations worldwide.

Sure it is addressed in different ways by different operators,but I would challenge anybody to find a Capital City Public Transport Operation where Employees enjoy the ability to enjoy the exact same rest & recreation opportunities as their customers.

I regularly hear colleagues speaking about people they know who work for "London Transport" or whatever and who enjoy FAR better hours and conditions of work.....Usually it will be a second or third hand account and will,as a result,have benefitted from much addition and embellishment.

That fact is,that Public Transport Operations worldwide,particularly Busdriving,depends upon having large numbers of employees available at these hours of operation,and these same Operations ALL feature the same scenarios in terms of what we call "Spare" operation.

Some countries work around these requirements by employing Part-Time/Casual driving staff,which tends to be supported by State Supports paid to these individuals based upon their social welfare status.
Thankfully,although some attempts are continually made to deride it,the Dublin Bus Driver positions are FULL-TIME jobs,albeit with different core-hours of availability (IE: Late Thurs-Sun/Fri-Mon).

The numbers of current Staff who are describing these new jobs as Part-Time is,IMO,sad even worrying,as it appears to indicate these people do not know the difference between a FULL-TIME and a PART-TIME Job.

The notion that a person could enter the Job,and spend only a short period on the spare rotas,was only true during a specific period when Staff Turnover was very high.

Dublin Bus has enjoyed a very high Staff Retention ratio for many years now,something which any applicant might perhaps consider as a more accurate barometer of the Job than any amount of "Canteen Talk" or disaffected gasbagging,which tends to form an integral part of any large scale company.

Busdriving today,is a highly focused occupation which entails bringing together many disparate functions and skills.

As Humans,we cannot always manage to combine ALL of these functions effectively ALL of the Time,but the Training and Development regime should allow MOST successful applicants to achieve a high average which can then be maintained and improved upon.

BUT...If you're NOT comfortable with working regular late or week-end duties,then walk-on-by...at some speed !!!! :eek:

also add in,fare dodgers,dealing with the public/drunks/junkys.being verbally abused by same, being asked the same stupid questions every single day,
trying to short change you on the ticket price,car and taxis blocking the bus lane,
your last run at night will be full of drunken gob****es,who would rather kill you,than pay the 2/3 euro fare....otherwise tis a grand job :rolleyes:

Grandad99

Can anyone tell me exactly what being Spare means in Bublin Bus.

I'm guessing it means not being on a set roster or route for many years, but how does it work ?

Do you have any set days off that you know you will not be rostered ?

Will you always get a weekend off every 2/3/4 weeks ?

Or is is the case that you get a roster say on Friday for the following week and you have no way of knowing which days, routes or times you will be working until you get this roster ?

Thanks.

thebrick

Stella Virgo wrote: »

also add in,fare dodgers,dealing with the public/drunks/junkys.being verbally abused by same, being asked the same stupid questions every single day,
trying to short change you on the ticket price,car and taxis blocking the bus lane,
your last run at night will be full of drunken gob****es,who would rather kill you,than pay the 2/3 euro fare....otherwise tis a grand job :rolleyes:

All rookie problems, within a year none of it will bother you.

thebrick

Grandad99 wrote: »

Can anyone tell me exactly what being Spare means in Bublin Bus.

I'm guessing it means not being on a set roster or route for many years, but how does it work ?

Do you have any set days off that you know you will not be rostered ?

Will you always get a weekend off every 2/3/4 weeks ?

Or is is the case that you get a roster say on Friday for the following week and you have no way of knowing which days, routes or times you will be working until you get this roster ?

Thanks.

You know which days you are not working, that cant be changed.
You only find out what duty you are working when you get a text around 0930 today to tell you what you are doing tomorrow.

Grandad99

So realistically, a 5 day rotating roster will be many years away for new entrants.

In the interim you guaranteed days off, I'm guessing will probably be mid week, so no weekends off.

And your hours for working days are only notified the day before.

I have no issue working nights or weekends, but all nights initially and all weekends for many years, and not knowing until the day before if you are on earlys, mid's, late's or a combination, must make life very difficult trying to plan anything around family, childminding, social or other commitments.

AlekSmart

Grandad99 wrote: »

So realistically, a 5 day rotating roster will be many years away for new entrants.

In the interim you guaranteed days off, I'm guessing will probably be mid week, so no weekends off.

And your hours for working days are only notified the day before.

I have no issue working nights or weekends, but all nights initially and all weekends for many years, and not knowing until the day before if you are on earlys, mid's, late's or a combination, must make life very difficult trying to plan anything around family, childminding, social or other commitments.

This is exactly the point I try to make.

The individual must attempt to decide for themselves whether they wish to work within these constraints.....I'd recommend that anybody who sees this form of working as an imposition,really needs to look elsewhere.

Otherwise you will be faced with a Job which you start out hating,and believe me,it will not improve from this level....:(

Some people however DO find the job quite difficult as Stella Virgo outlines..

Also add in,fare dodgers,dealing with the public/drunks/junkys.being verbally abused by same, being asked the same stupid questions every single day,
trying to short change you on the ticket price,car and taxis blocking the bus lane,
your last run at night will be full of drunken gob****es,who would rather kill you,than pay the 2/3 euro fare....otherwise tis a grand job

Not to take away from Stella Virgo's points in any way,but "Dealing with the Public" is the essence of the job and cannot be worked around,all of the other elements described can and do occur,but if you end up experiencing it on every journey then something is very much amiss.

IF,however,you can square away the basic compatibility with working hours issue,then it's a damn good job.

Grandad99

So initially the job will be for 4 nights between Thurs and Mon.

There is a possibility of getting a five day rolling roster, but before you get this you would be spare for many years. (Some are still spare after 8 years)

Spare means guaranteed 2days off which might not be together and will probably be Mon – Fri, so never a weekend off.

You are notified the day before of your shift for the following day which could be early, mid, late or a combination, this would continue to be the case as long as you are spare.

Putting all the other issues aside is my assessment of the job being offered regarding rosters, days off, notification of duty’s etc correct ?

Thanks.

cdebru

Grandad99 wrote: »

So initially the job will be for 4 nights between Thurs and Mon.

There is a possibility of getting a five day rolling roster, but before you get this you would be spare for many years. (Some are still spare after 8 years)

Spare means guaranteed 2days off which might not be together and will probably be Mon – Fri, so never a weekend off.

You are notified the day before of your shift for the following day which could be early, mid, late or a combination, this would continue to be the case as long as you are spare.

Putting all the other issues aside is my assessment of the job being offered regarding rosters, days off, notification of duty’s etc correct ?

Thanks.

No the job being offered is a 4 day week always late duties, always weekends.

There is the possibility of moving to a 5 day week rota, as space becomes available that would be earlies and lates , with 2 days of per week and initially it is a junior spare cycle with one weekend off in 6 weeks. As space becomes available you could move up to the senior spare rota, that is 2 weekends off in 5 weeks.
Then eventually you can get marked in ie follow a particular rota that would be one or two routes.

At present the most senior spare drivers would be 10+ years spare.

clunked

Its a long time since I was in Dublin Bus but I would imagine that it would take longer again to get marked in in say Summerhill or Clontarf than other garages and that an initial marking-in might be on one of the let's say more unsociable routes.

Careful_now!

clunked wrote: »

Its a long time since I was in Dublin Bus but I would imagine that it would take longer again to get marked in in say Summerhill or Clontarf than other garages and that an initial marking-in might be on one of the let's say more unsociable routes.

People getting marked in at the moment are in the job 9 and a half - ten years and its not getting any better. Anybody coming into the job now shouldn't be thinking that they will get their own route any time in the near future. You get s days notice of what your working and it could be any route in that garage.

You won't be asked to do a route from a different garage in case you were thinking that.

cdebru

clunked wrote: »

Its a long time since I was in Dublin Bus but I would imagine that it would take longer again to get marked in in say Summerhill or Clontarf than other garages and that an initial marking-in might be on one of the let's say more unsociable routes.

Yeah they would probably be more senior but 10+ seems to be across the board. A good few garages regularly have no vacancies for marking in. TBH by the time anyone joining now would be senior enough to get marked in it is not worth worrying about unsocial routes they will have had plenty of them at that stage.

stinkbomb

According to the recent cost cutting agreement with the unions new drivers will be on the 4 day ( all late shifts ) weekend roster for a maximum of 2 years but with a bit of luck it might be less.

Rabbitt

punisher5112 wrote: »

Hi all and best of luck to all that apply for the job.

I am a driver myself and have been driving many years now and like anything in life the job has it's ups and downs.

I like to drive so I applied and went through the process all starting with the interview then called to do aptitude test, then you are brought for a test drive in a car or van to see if you can handle that, then you are sent to training school for as far as I can remember 2 weeks minimum(may have changed). They will train you whether you have experience or not to make sure you are up to their high standards.

One thing I would like to add is that you all say it's a great job and I have to disagree to a degree.
You are going to be dealing with the public who will eat away at you and if you have any feelings at all leave them behind if you take the job as you will deal with all sorts from the nicest of people to the type you wouldn't p**s on if they were on fire.
The hours and rosters are very bad and extremely poor if you are any way at all new. It is getting to the pointwhere 8 and 9 year service you are still spare and on a completely different roster to those who would have been on the proper roster up to max year and half.

Over the years I have been attacked verbally and physically, spat at, followed by other road users and also blocked in and not let out for reasons god only knows as the cops wouldn't even figure out what was the other peoples problem. I have had incidents involving threats with knives and syringes including the odd bomb threat(crazy talk).

I find that the aggresion in people is on the rise and you will get a lot of you are lucky to have a job and why are you all going out of service and why are there 2 or 3 buses together and so on ....

Firstly , fair play , you guys do a fairs days work for very little thanks. It is tough dealing with all sorts.
Do you know if many drivers who are involved in serious accidents return to work and if they feel they can't return does Dub bus look after them?
I'm thinking of the driver of the 145 on Nassu St and the 27 on Greenhills Road

Rabbitt

Careful_now! wrote: »

I'm a driver too, being spare is a pain, you make it sound like people are only spare for a short while. I'm spare almost 8 years and will be spare for another 7 or 8 years.

So that's a lot of pain

What is a spare?

Careful_now!

Rabbitt wrote: »

What is a spare?

When you start in the job you are a spare driver. Spare means you can be put on any route in the garage and you only get a days notice. It has its good points and bad points.

Good point would be you don't do the same route every day do you get a bit if variety.

Bad point is you only get a days notice and can't always plan stuff because you don't know if you will be early, middle or bogey (bogey is usually 7 - 7 with a long break)

Although new drivers starting now will be all lates starting off so that will give you a bit of structure. You know you will be off every morning and won't be starting work til about 3 or 4