Now ye're talking - to a bus driver

mikemac2 wrote: »

Is inspector considered a promotion and is it very competitive to get that job? You get a hat :cool: Or maybe most drivers are happy to stay in the cab and don’t want the role?


Ever deal with a lazy cow who won’t fold up her buggy and so the wheelchair user gets left at the stop? And yet when I moved to Dublin fadó fadó the buses had steps and mothers managed somehow ?!?

Inspector grade was once the only promotional avenue available to busdrivers in the Public sector,however Supervision never interested me,so I never applied.


The advent of "Accessibility" legislation,and all that came with it,has brought a whole new raft of situations for Busdrivers AND Passengers to deal and cope with.


Once the Busdriver realises that they can only request cooperation in this regard,then things usually work out,but not always.


Modern Society,in general,has lost certain coping skills and instead now requires explicit directions for the most minor interactions,whereas previously a dollop of common-sense might have done the trick.

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

Do you get to choose your route? If so why would anyone have chosen the old 77 route? Or if it wasn't a choice did drivers kick up a storm on such routes as the 77

Drivers work what they are allocated generally,some have preferences and will attempt to swap onto particular routes etc.


As Drivers attain marked-in status,they then work that particular route or block of routes.



Plenty of Drivers spent decades on routes such as the 77,and had no issues.

Deleted User wrote: »

Just looking to throw my question in the hat again incase you missed it:

Just to reassure those who have questions relating to the Job of busdriving,that I'm not ignoring them,but I don't have unlimited time available to do the Boards Shuffle,so if it takes a few days,I humbly beg pardon.


Also,the point of this AMA is to offer assistance,advice and personal experience on the Job in General.


I try to stay clear of Canteen Talk,over-the-garden-wall gossip,rumour and the Us & Them Union stuff,which many observers appear to think fully occupies a Busdrivers every waking moment....however,for me,It really does'nt,so those who might need such input will have to search elsewhere for it,no offence intended.


To return to your point KKV,regarding Sleep,it's something I have not experienced.
It is a condition of employment,and also a legal requirement that a Driver be in a fit state to perform their duties,so ensuring you get sufficient rest,is part & parcel of the job.


People differ in their ability to cope with sleep deprivation,an issue which is very well known across all Professional Driving sectors.


The advent of ongoing Driver CPC courses ,and particularly the Health & Safety module,did raise awareness regarding Tiredness and also highlighted issues such as Sleep Apnoea and Narcolepsy,both of which can end a Professional Driving career.


So I'd suggest that most Truck,Coach and Bus drivers are far more aware of the dangers now,than at any time up to this,but yet again,the individual human being van have vastly differing tolerances.

Maldesu wrote: »

Are there 'starter' routes for new drivers? How do you learn all the stops for a new route and are routes allocated based on proximity to where you live?

Different operators have differing approaches I suspect.


The prevailing situation in my own company is based on a gradual progression through routes in the location...gradually leading to full familiarity by the end of the probationary period.


Training is the key.


It is somewhat commonsensical to keep staff within a reasonable distance from their base,however the demands of individual locations can alter,so no guarantees can be given.


Often a new entrant will become quite comfortable in their first location,and not bother following through on moving closer to home.

Yer Da sells Avon wrote: »

Do you ever tactically use the accelerator to 'help' elderly passengers to sit down more quickly?

Absolutely not....why would any trained Busdriver even want to do this ?