Hi as you know im looking for a driving job , I have applied to the first group as a trainee bus driver ,
Just wanted to know how difficult the test is and what the job is like these days , im ex class1 ?
Test is a piece of ■■■■.
Job depends on the person - you… If you can let stuff slide easily, then it’s fine, if you take ■■■■ personally like I did, then you’ll last 2 minutes.
Once you’ve got your licence though, you can move around. I think First only do an auto licence, but your HGV will automatically upgrade it to a manual - at least it does if you do PCV 1st…
I was manual anyway, so didn’t bother me, but my mate was auto on his PCV and when he did his HGV the restriction was removed.
Thanks wayne well im ok with not getting wound up ie road rage , in fact I cant even remember the last time I used my horn , if people pull out in front of me I just let it go , so I reckon that side of things be ok , as for the test its not to difficult then ? I obviously will get training but I just wondered how difficult it is to remember all the diff prices to charge for fares ? but I guess all that will be in the training , also you have 2 have a medical , what is involved in that is it really strict ? as far as I know my heart is ok and I reckon working in Ipswich it wont be as busy and no where near as bad as driving in London , I passed my hgv 1 in 1987
LGV manual will upgrade PCV auto to manual no matter which way around they are done
All that is going to be mute in the new year because a manual car licence will give any PCV or LGV auto the category in manual
Hi, Ricardo,
When I passed my PSV test I had to get up at four in the morning to groom the horse first- well, perhaps it wasn’t quite THAT long ago, but you get the drift!
In those days we were taught that the first thing to remember was , " The safety and comfort of your passengers is paramount".
Judging by the driving style of drivers in our area I think it’s safe to assume that this has now changed.
As for the prices, tickets, etc.- I would think that, in these computerised times, this would be largely automated but rest assured, any bus company won’t let you handle their cash until you have been properly trained.
If you can stand stopping & starting every few yards, all day, every day, then go for it. If not, maybe consider coach work? After having your free training and test with the local bus company, of course! 
Thanks buddy , yep I guess it will all fall into place once ive been trained , the money and fare working out and prob not like the old days having to handle lots of cash ,I wouldn’t of minded being a conducter but I dnt seem to remember seeing them on buses lately , ie giving out little brown tickets with the machine they had ,oh well all up to the company to contact me now , the only thing im a bit worried about is reversing , ie everytime ive gone frm an artic to a rigid its hard to remember to turn the wheel the other direction , I find it harder to reverse a rigid than an artic?
Ricardo, I don’t think waynedl meant how you deal with traffic. I think it’s more aimed at some of the humans you will have to encounter along your travels. Best of luck.
Best of luck with the training. Let us know how you get on with the lesson on always stopping with the arse end sticking out into the road regardless of the size of the layby…
m1cks:
Ricardo, I don’t think waynedl meant how you deal with traffic. I think it’s more aimed at some of the humans you will have to encounter along your travels. Best of luck.
This is true, except I’d use the terms ‘humans’ loosely.
Test was all about being comfortable and safe, no harsh accelerating or braking, but as I said, we had a manual - Leyland Leopard with a ‘crash box’.
I don’t remember a reversing exercise on the PCV test, I’m sure there was 1 though… I just don’t remember it.
There was a braking exercise, and a drive around.
The medical is the same as the HGV one, mainly making sure you’re not ■■■■■■ or high, deaf or blind.
Theory and hazard perception will be the same too.
Yes, you’ll be fully trained, we also had a ‘mentor’ with us for 2 weeks when we went on the road. I think modern ticket machines update the fare stages automatically, so you just issue a ticket to where they’re going.
Learning routes can be a pain though, a lot of routes use the same roads, and it’s not unknown to forget which route you’re on until 20 people shout “you’re going the wrong way…” 
To which you usually reply “there’s a diversion on…” 
Or you do a route that goes near your home and turn a double decker into your road thinking about home time (you only do it once!)
Test does involve a reverse manoeuvre too. We had a total of 6 weeks from starting training to getting on the road but this included all theory and practical training plus learning routes and ticket machine, fare, company rules etc. It depends how well they want you trained and how quickly you pick it up.
I drove a bus in glasgows biggest hell holes.it was common for people to pee and crap on the bus,fight and try spit at you.good luck bud,id rather open a mcdonalds in iraq than drive a bud again
I did a blog 2 years ago when I trained with First.
m1cks:
Ricardo, I don’t think waynedl meant how you deal with traffic. I think it’s more aimed at some of the humans you will have to encounter along your travels. Best of luck.
Oh yeah! and “humans” is being generous. Some passengers are the most obnoxious, arrogant, ignorant, ill-mannered pieces of pond scum to ever float around the gene pool. If you smile at them they think there’s something wrong with you, “please” and “thank you” have no place in their vocabulary, and some of their personal hygiene standards make Compo look like man at C&A.
And then we have the management…Me? bitter?? whatever gave you that idea? 
Bridges, bridges, bridges… 
Socketset:
Bridges, bridges, bridges…
…:lol::lol:
Cheers everyone ive applied so its now wether I get a interview , im really hoping , and yes I agree the clients can be trying lol , but hey its a job and id be gratefull 4 the chance ,I don’t think Ipswich is quite as bad as Glasgow so shouldn’t be to bad ,
The cargo argues back and that can be a real problem. In London fares are mostly done via Oyster and therefore nearly no money, but you have to provide your own float and cash up at the end of the shift.
dar1976:
I did a blog 2 years ago when I trained with First.
brilliant read dean I just hope if I get a drive I can get used 2 the diff way a rigid turns compared 2 a artic ie tail swing out
There’s also the front overhang…which is more than on a truck.
Drive past the junction, then turn, and you should see the shocked face of the cyclist who thought it was a good idea to ‘nip through on the inside’ as you’d obviously left your indicator on by accident through the doors just before impact!
Good luck with the public…