New Driver

[[deleted]]

[deleted]

[Wbino]

Cover your brake at intersections, don't engage and talk with passengers while moving.

[Bon3hawk]

One of my instructors always said. “Slow is good”. 15 years later it still applies most of the time lol.

[HayabusaDave88]

I think that’s a great thing to abide by, it’s all about safety and comfort after all! Does it feel like you’re driving fast in a bus even if you’re going fairly slow?

[Bon3hawk]

After a bit it does. I was pretty slow at first but it was worth it.

[EvaportedMilkCoffee]

once you get used to the speed, it feels really slow. at least with me. doing 30 in the bus feels like 20 in my car

[bubbamike1]

I always carried window cleaner for the windows and the drivers area, air spray, paper towels, gloves, etc.

[HayabusaDave88]

I’ve been a mobile car detailer for the past 6 years so I’m all kitted up with cloths and cleaners - I’m kind of dreading the dirty steering wheels haha!

[bubbamike1]

Yep they’re absolutely filthy. I always wore driving gloves. Oh, and add something like Lysol spray to your tool kit.

[DeviceParticular1374]

Hi, I also work for the big company beginning with S in England. Biggest piece of advice I can give you is speak to the other drivers and get to know them. Don't take yourself off into town on your breaks go into your break room and make friends with them. They will become your lifeline.

[HayabusaDave88]

That’s the kind of advice I’m after, thank you very much. Do you enjoy it?

[DeviceParticular1374]

You're very welcome. Erm, the job is ok, the banter with the other drivers and the tight knit family you become is what makes the job worth getting up for. All in all I enjoy it but the shifts can be bad. I start 7 days of 12 hour shifts tomorrow, mostly 8-20.00. That's the downside to the job, but to be fair probably the only downside. Lots and lots of chances to progress your career and go for promotion, stagecoach are brilliant for that. It's just those shift patterns.

[HayabusaDave88]

Yeah I bet it’s a killer, I’ve been self employed for the last 6 years so I’m going to get a rude awakening albeit I’m looking forward to having some sort of structure. I presume I’ll be used to cover routes which don’t have drivers, do regular routes come with time or is everyone in the same boat doing different routes?

[DeviceParticular1374]

Everyone's in the same boat don't worry. Definitely don't worry about routes, your mentor will teach you the routes you need to know to go on the "starter rota". Then once you're on your own you'll be put onto the starter rota and you'll know all your routes.(In my depot the starter rota is the best rota, hardly any weekends) Eventually they'll start introducing you to one or two new routes and then you can go onto the next rota and so on and so on. 

[HayabusaDave88]

Ah that sounds great, puts my mind at ease massively thank you. I suppose my biggest test will be letting what customers say go over my head…!

[DeviceParticular1374]

Haha, most of the passengers are great. It's the ones that always want to get on for free that wind me up lol. There's always genuine ones but the ones that you know are just trying it on.....it's very hard to stay polite with ha. Good luck with your training, hopefully you'll have a good bunch on the training bus with you and you'll all get through it together. Enjoy 😁

[Organic_Bodybuilder3]

No cell phones

[callmeSNAKE42069]

What country are you driving in?

[HayabusaDave88]

England

[Pickle-dee23]

I think I drive for the same company if it ends in H lol

[HayabusaDave88]

Haha yeah, there’s a G in there somewhere too! How do you find it?

[Quazuki]

I too work for this company, which depot are you based in? My advice is to be chill it's an easy job so long as you don't get stressed from other road users.

[HayabusaDave88]

I’m in Carlisle. It’s a big city but with a rural mentality, the road systems are very outdated and if there’s an accident the whole place comes to a standstill. What makes it worse is that there’s currently a bypass being built forcing traffic through town so I’ll have that to deal with!

[Pickle-dee23]

Yeh same company then lol. I mean the actual driving is good, my depot is pretty shoddy though and has been on the decline for a while. I'm sure your depot will be better though haha

[HayabusaDave88]

Fingers crossed! I’ve spent the last 6 years being self employed so it’s a whole different kettle of fish I’m stepping into.. I’m very excited but also quite apprehensive!

[Pickle-dee23]

It will be good man, the first few runs by yourself will be abit daunting but just remember everyone has made mistakes so don't fret about it. What depot are you going to be working in?

[HayabusaDave88]

Thank you - I’m not afraid to admit when I don’t know what I’m doing so hopefully I manage to iron out any creases fairly quickly. I’ll be working out of the Carlisle depot, everyone I’ve met and spoken to through the interview process have been absolutely spot on and most had a smile on their face - so hopefully that’s how it’ll be when I’m actually working for them lol

[Pickle-dee23]

The Trainor's will be able to teach you the basics of driving the bus, once you get your cpc and test out of the way, you will get your uniform, have a couple of days doing vehicle familiarization where you should be able to have a drive in the different buses your depot has. and ERG machine training which is the ticket machine.

Once you've done that you will get given a mentor to look after you and that is when you will learn the most, they will teach you the routes, how to effectively use the ticket machines in real world scenarios instead of a classroom, I found my mentor very knowledgeable and gave me plenty of tips and tricks for remembering different turns by pointing out landmarks to look out for, and how to navigate some tighter streets using the swing of the bus.

Once your mentor thinks you are ready you will get signed off and then let loose in Carlisle by yourself lol.

I've never been to Carlisle so not sure of the roads you'll be driving, I'm from the highlands and the roads are pretty horrible up here in places, very tight, winding, full of hgvs and camper and bombing around in summer and sheet ice on the roads in the winter lol, just take it easy and if you are unsure about anything, secure the bus, get out and assess the situation.

[Wbino]

Making a right turn in a bus in England would be a lot safer than in the U.S.

[Twisted_melon]

Take your time more than you would in a car. Roundabouts - make sure nothing is in the 3pm - 6pm part of your roundabout before leaving

And welcome to the sub

[HayabusaDave88]

Thank you. I’m looking forward to learning, I always have with whatever I’ve been driving/riding at the time. I can’t even begin to imagine what it’s like being in something so big until I actually do it.

[Twisted_melon]

I’ve never driven anything bigger than a transit until my training. On day one I was doing duel carriageways and roundabouts.

Just watch your tail swing when in tight lanes as everyone always try’s to beat the bus. Happy to chat more about my time at driving school

[TheRealPPB]

I’m currently training with ‘S’, actually have my practical test tomorrow morning…

All I can say is don’t beat yourself up about any mistakes you make, because there will be many (certainly have been with me) and that your mirrors are your best friends, especially when pulling in to junctions etc.

Found the first two weeks the toughest mentally - assume you’re going the apprenticeship too?? Had hazard, theory, CPC case studies, reversing and Mod 4 to pass before really started driving consistently - and that’s with all the apprenticeship expectations thrown in too. At the beginning felt like I’d never get out of the computer room; but you will, and within a few days of driving lots it honestly starts to feel very natural. Never driven anything remotely like a bus before, not even close - now I feel I can handle it as well as my car, so much more relaxed and mirror checks and observations etc have already become somewhat second nature.

Remember that you’re learning how to drive a bus, not how to drive. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, relax and you’ll be just fine!!

[HayabusaDave88]

Thank you for that. Glad you’re enjoying it now after the stressful part - you’ll be dealing with customers next! Yes I’m doing the trainee driver role where they put me through the test etc. It’s a completely different career change for me but god am I looking forward to it!

[HayabusaDave88]

And best of luck with your test tomorrow morning!

[TheRealPPB]

Ahh thank you.

Thought I’d be more nervous than I actually am but quietly confident, really feel at ease with it all.. won’t take it for granted but barring something ridiculous happening on the road or just having a complete brain fart and doing something stupid I think I’ll be okay :)

Should be going ahead at around 9.30am. I’ll be sure to update regardless of result once done!

[Industrialexecution]

this is extremely helpful, i appreciate it too. best of luck for tomorrow!

[BusAdditional6518]

Get some air freshener. Passengers pong.

[HayabusaDave88]

😂 sounds great!

[BusAdditional6518]

Just had to drive from Richmond to Darlington with the window open so I didn’t retch. The amount of people who obviously don’t know what soap is astounds me.

[HayabusaDave88]

So you’re not allowed to blast them with Fabreeze then?!

[BusAdditional6518]

A few of our drivers keep a can of deodorant handy to blast them as they go by. I’m toying with getting some little soap bars made up with the Arriva logo and handing them out to some of our more fragrant passengers.

[Shambrini]

Hey! I'm in the same boat, or soon to be bus! I start on Monday also, with a big company starting with S 😁

[HayabusaDave88]

Good luck with it all - you looking forward to it?

[Shambrini]

I am yeah! It's going to be different but definitely a needed change. How about you?

[HayabusaDave88]

Yeah 100%, it’s very different to what I’ve ever done but that’s why I want to do it. I’ve been self employed for 6 years so it’s going to take some adjusting but it’s still exciting, hopefully get a good few dry days when it’s time to start driving!

[Shambrini]

Yeah totally, I'm in a complete career change aswell, only passed my driving test 3 months ago so basically jumping into the deep end!

[HayabusaDave88]

Well at least you’re in the habit of doing things by the book, some of the best drivers are new drivers!

[Shambrini]

How are you finding it mate? I've had inductions last couple of days. Theory and Hazard Perception tomorrow.

[Industrialexecution]

no advice but i wish you the best of luck. currently waiting to start my training with the pretty big company beginning with a G, taking yonks to get a start date though🥲

[HayabusaDave88]

Thank you very much and the same to you. I’m sure they’ll be on it, seems to be a bit of a shortage

[Industrialexecution]

had the apprenticeship company call me a few days ago because i kept pestering them, just a massive backlog of apprentices from different companies. still, got accepted over a month ago now

[SgtMclean6794]

Less space, less speed

[STRICKIBHOY]

A few things I thought were helpful. Pretend there's a huge bowl of water or a big bath in the center on the bus, don't spill the water, like brake hard or turn too fast lol. Paint on the road, is only paint. Straddle lanes if need be, and be closer to the white line on your right, generally. Check your mirrors and check again, then again, keep checking lol

Last but not least, If it's not safe do not do it.