Bus/Coach or Truck ?

westgolf

Trying to decide which to attempt. Which one would you do and why ?

neris

you need to decide what you want to do with the license you get. do you want to be a bus driver or truck driver? also will you use the license you get? if you get the bus (cat D) you can drive any bus where as with the truck if you want to go onto artics you need to do the C first and then C+E so added expense and time.

Del2005

westgolf wrote: »

Trying to decide which to attempt. Which one would you do and why ?

If it's to have a career and earn a decent wage go to your local supermarket and start packing shelves, more money for less hours and way less responsibility.

Hooleyo

Thats hardly true now is it. Dublin Bus drivers earn decent money compared to those on minimum wage stacking shelves in shops.

Del2005

Hooleyo wrote: »

Thats hardly true now is it. Dublin Bus drivers earn decent money compared to those on minimum wage stacking shelves in shops.

One heavily unionised semi state with decent wages doesn't mean that the rest of the industry pays well.

Silvera

As stated, you need to decide which licence you want and why.

I did my C in 1999 and C+E in 2014...mainly because I wanted to get all the truck and trailer categories on my licence for future (private) usage (I'm into classic cars, so wish to use recovery/transport trucks and car transporter trailers)

boardsuser1

I started out with my category C licence in 2012. then the category D in 2013.

Got the CE (Artic) licence last year. my wages are ok but not mind blowing.

Only the likes of semi state companies for trucks and buses will pay great money.

Plus remember the key thing nowadays is EXPERIENCE.

Insurers have imposed that on most companies by inserting it into the t&c's of the insurance.

I made it from vans to buses to artics in 4 years.

I had a 95% rejection rate from employers along the way for having no experience and yes it is a catch 22 situation.

Any other queries drop me a line.

From previous experience of talking to Silvera he is very approachable also if you need any advice OP.

westgolf

KC161 wrote: »

I started out with my category C licence in 2012. then the category D in 2013.

Got the CE (Artic) licence last year. my wages are ok but not mind blowing.

Only the likes of semi state companies for trucks and buses will pay great money.

Plus remember the key thing nowadays is EXPERIENCE.

Insurers have imposed that on most companies by inserting it into the t&c's of the insurance.

I made it from vans to buses to artics in 4 years.

I had a 95% rejection rate from employers along the way for having no experience and yes it is a catch 22 situation.

Any other queries drop me a line.

From previous experience of talking to Silvera he is very approachable also if you need any advice OP.

Excellent reply, Thanks. Well done on getting all that done in a relatively short time. How did you get around the catch 22 issue of having the licence but no experience ?

Westgolf

neris

westgolf wrote: »

Excellent reply, Thanks. Well done on getting all that done in a relatively short time. How did you get around the catch 22 issue of having the licence but no experience ?

Westgolf

You can get all your licenses in less then a year if your that keen but your better focusing on bus or truck first for few years. Get your C and just persist with hauliers by calling and emailing CVs. Some companies will take guys on as a general dogs body in the yard, cleaning cabs and trailers, shunting trailers and other crappy jobs but your in the door your names knowna and you got the license. Get C experience first rather the skipping staright into C+E lessons once you get the C. No one is going to hand you the keys to a 50k truck and 20k trailer without the basics

boardsuser1

neris wrote: »

You can get all your licenses in less then a year if your that keen but your better focusing on bus or truck first for few years. Get your C and just persist with hauliers by calling and emailing CVs. Some companies will take guys on as a general dogs body in the yard, cleaning cabs and trailers, shunting trailers and other crappy jobs but your in the door your names knowna and you got the license. Get C experience first rather the skipping staright into C+E lessons once you get the C. No one is going to hand you the keys to a 50k truck and 20k trailer without the basics

Buses are easier to get a start in rather than trucks. Bus Eireann are always taking on people nowadays. I won't go there with Dublin Bus. I forgot to ask is the OP paying for them. they can all be obtained through FAS/Solas/E.T.B if they aren't presently working.

westgolf

KC161 wrote: »

Buses are easier to get a start in rather than trucks. Bus Eireann are always taking on people nowadays. I won't go there with Dublin Bus. I forgot to ask is the OP paying for them. they can all be obtained through FAS/Solas/E.T.B if they aren't presently working.

Hi

I'm working so it would be myself paying for it. Would prefer to do bus over truck but would also like to be assured of a potential start at the end of it. Plan would be to do part time or weekends to build up experience and possibly go full time in due course if all works out. Galway based if that makes difference.

neris

no ones going to assure of a job driving a bus at the end but do it get your license build up experience and persist with it. look at starting on something smaller even but not too small and build up, no ones going to hand you the keys to a 50k bus and 50 passengers on your 1st day after getting your test

westgolf

neris wrote: »

no ones going to assure of a job driving a bus at the end but do it get your license build up experience and persist with it. look at starting on something smaller even but not too small and build up, no ones going to hand you the keys to a 50k bus and 50 passengers on your 1st day after getting your test

Appreciate that. Would ideally do small coaches for experience, say sprinters or unvi's and persist at that for a while.

boardsuser1

neris wrote: »

no ones going to assure of a job driving a bus at the end but do it get your license build up experience and persist with it. look at starting on something smaller even but not too small and build up, no ones going to hand you the keys to a 50k bus and 50 passengers on your 1st day after getting your test

I was handed the keys of an 8k bus and 47 passengers on my first trip. Last bus I drove was with 91 passengers worth 150k