The great big bus driver shortage. Why in the name of god would you drive a bus these days anyway...

ITV2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122459497#Comment_122459497

you can get marked in within 2 years these days.

AX636

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122460203#Comment_122460203

Not anymore

McGrath5

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122462722#Comment_122462722

Where did I say that? Why can’t everyone get a regular roster in good time?

StreetLight

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122464625#Comment_122464625

When you said the marked in system was of a Victorian era and should be removed. Being marked in appears to be the only hope of being able to give certainty to one's working hours.

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122462467#Comment_122462467

How would that change impact retention of old entrants in their roles, do you think?

BusCaptain

Everyone uses this roster over 5 weeks.

R is Rest Day

L is Late

E is Early

M is Midday but could be anything.

Also your early/late could be a bogey which could be spread over 10 to 12 hours with breaks in between which can be as long as 4 hours. Basically you'll never get used to the roster but Dublin Bus don't care.

BusCaptain

Everything is done between the company & the unions. They work out the rosters between them. Nothing makes sense. Nobody running the company care about childcare or quality of life for drivers. If they did drivers could try work around there own schedules. As I've said before if you have young children forget about this job.

BusCaptain

Dublin bus is annoying a lot of the older drivers in hope they retire early. Been marked in means you know what you'll be working for the year ahead. You also don't have to work bogeys when your marked in unless you get marked in on bogeys but that's just another kettle of fish & not worth explaining 😂

BusCaptain

27s & 15s nobody wants to work them so its easier to get marked in on them routes. Some lads have got marked in on them in less than 2 years. Most other routes you can get marked in about 3/4 years.

mikeybhoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122477290#Comment_122477290

Why are the 27s and 15s so undesirable. 27 I can kind of understand as it goes through some rough areas but the 15 doesn't seem to go anywhere too bad is it just how busy is it is?

BusCaptain

15s would be better than the 27 for passengers but they are the busiest route on the Dublin bus roster. Buses are always full. From talking to other bus drivers there's a lot of work on them & not much rest time.

BusCaptain

Also theres arguments with Dublin Bus refusing to pay drivers for working night shifts which was agreed & also the extra days holidays. Lots of drivers are leaving & also loads of drivers are taking early retirement.

LF403

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122483837#Comment_122483837

Really counting my blessings that I didn't bother jumping ship from my current company to DB or BE - I'll take my longer commute to the airport and much preferable clientelle in exchange for the shite you have to deal with in DB or BE. Even from a working conditions standopint.

That rota would be an absolute nightmare. Even as a spare man where I am currently, they tried their best to get you consecutive RDs. A few ex DB lads have joined the ranks recently, and they don't know themselves - all carry the same sentiment: "don't work for them, for love nor money"

biker16

Are you doing shuttle buses at the airport? What sort of rosters are you working out of intrest

Dublin bus rosters are prob the main reason they lose alot of drivers...the whole set up is pre historic

mikeybhoy

Meanwhile Go-Ahead seemed to be having a mass exodus of drivers going to DB a while back. Has this died down now?

ITV2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122483837#Comment_122483837

All sorted now.

Oscar_Madison

I think Dublin Bus driver would suit someone semi-retired - X amt of hours per week guaranteed - just no guarantees of what hours - someone looking to supplement their pension for a few years like guards etc who retire earlier than most - probably safer than taxi driving - keep the permanent fulltime staff sweet but supplement with temp hours permanent staff and you’ll have a good mix

mikeybhoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122525108#Comment_122525108

If they had employed part time drivers that would suit that demographic. Afaik DB used to have mandatory retirement at 66 not sure if that's changed now.

Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122525823#Comment_122525823

Some people after a “career” just want a “job”- we need to be creative if we’re to navigate the future job market is my thinking

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122525823#Comment_122525823

I think Part Time drivers are a smart way to do it. Plenty of students and single parents would happily do a few at weekends or shifts as short as 4-5hrs.

Burt Renaults

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122534954#Comment_122534954

Not only that, but a lot of drivers might opt against retiring early if they could wind down the end of their career with a three day week. It might not be a very physical job, but it can take its toll.

LF403

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122524677#Comment_122524677

I don't do the shuttles at the airport - though I did right at the very beginning due to lack of experience.

Rosters were grand, never any more than 4 days on in a row. They were a 24 hour spread, so some early starts and late finishes were to be expected. Car park drivers also only get a 30 minute break during their shift. If you want to keep at the carparks you can get "marked in" on a specific shift/car park and you'll always be on the same.

I can't speak for them now as they're different to when I started, though probably not wildly.

zell12

What does the bold part mean?

The company said the cuts are due to a combination of operational challenges, including a chronic shortage of drivers, lack of bus lanes, congestion, illegal bus stop use, and lack of enforcement of parking regulations.

..the company said its driver headcount shortfall has reduced from 42 in late May to 16, but it is still 27 drivers short for service delivery. It said it is making strides in recruitment, with a €2k sign-up bonus for D-licence drivers helping to attract candidates, and with 11 people currently in driver training school. The company is also recruiting in Malta.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster/arid-41491847.html

beachhead

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119826086#Comment_119826086

??????????????????

PopePalpatine

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122699662#Comment_122699662

I assume that if it's in the same breath as "lack of bus lanes", it's Wankpanzers parking in them.