The public was nothing compared to the management.
Best of luck.
just had email saying there going to ring me on fri nxt week 4 telephone interview , also I thought it be a good idea to take the opportunity to bring my address on my licence up to date, I went online and did it and was expecting to have 2 pay money to alter it , but I found out it was free , there sending a new 1 in the post ? I always thought you had 2 pay for change of address ?
Ricardo. can i please give and hope you heed my advice. do not i repeat do not join worst Bus in Ipswich. the manager is cliff bussey. he is a idiot. since he took over worst bus in Ipswich has gone to the point of non existence. Ipswich Buses is allot better and will train you. call and ask for Malcolm Robson or whoever answers the phone will help. Worst bus in Ipswich will not exist very soon. the depot on star lane. the lease expires next year. and they have given up the depot at ransomes. they have just given up 30% of the local routes eg the 88/56 etc and basically only have the 66/70 series and the 60. as-well as the competing route 53 to Ipswich buses 13. Ipswich buses run 2 minutes ahead and also run at evenings and the people of Belstead wont use the worst bus. Having given up 30% of all routes why are they looking for drivers then ?. then tells you the story. My brother works for Ipswich Buses and is a happy man with his take home and pension etc as its owned by the council and will never be sold as it is profitable and very well run.
Wing and a prayer:
Ricardo. can i please give and hope you heed my advice. do not i repeat do not join worst Bus in Ipswich. the manager is cliff bussey. he is a idiot. since he took over worst bus in Ipswich has gone to the point of non existence. Ipswich Buses is allot better and will train you. call and ask for Malcolm Robson or whoever answers the phone will help. Worst bus in Ipswich will not exist very soon. the depot on star lane. the lease expires next year. and they have given up the depot at ransomes. they have just given up 30% of the local routes eg the 88/56 etc and basically only have the 66/70 series and the 60. as-well as the competing route 53 to Ipswich buses 13. Ipswich buses run 2 minutes ahead and also run at evenings and the people of Belstead wont use the worst bus. Having given up 30% of all routes why are they looking for drivers then ?. then tells you the story. My brother works for Ipswich Buses and is a happy man with his take home and pension etc as its owned by the council and will never be sold as it is profitable and very well run.
Thank you very much Cliff I will heed your advice and ring the person you mentioned , really appreciated , strange how they are advertising for a trainee if there going dwn the pan ,
Im Not Cliff. thats the managers name
Wing and a prayer:
Im Not Cliff. thats the managers name
woops so I see ok I will contact ips buses
Wing and prayer can I ask you as a favour to ask your brother if ips buses are taking on a trainee ? as I don’t have the pcv licence , mind you if first group put me through the test then I can always leave after I have passed
just been on ips buses website and theres no vacancys at mo , but im looking for any work I can use my car licence ie van driving but not courier jobs so if anyone knows of any companys looking for a driver in the Ipswich area please get in touch im desparate for a job and want to get back into work , im apllying to companys everyday but no luck yet
Ipswich buses will always take on trainees and if you take your test with First you will be tied to them.
Just a word about the test-
When I did mine I didn’t have any training. I was desperate for a job and the local coach operator was desperate for a driver. I believe that the DoT (probably Swansea) still publishes a booklet about passing the pcv test. I read that through a couple of times then just went & passed the test. If I can do it, anyone can.
Best of luck.
ricardo62:
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 ?
I’d like that sort of job …
Drive around all day picking no-one up cause I’m on L plates 
Hat coat TAXI …
Would you try National Express or Eurolines on long haul runs.?
Or trips to the European ski resorts and summer beaches.?Sounds ok to me.Paid to stay in a hotel.
i prefer local town , not really my cup of tea long distance but everyone to there own , i need 2 get home every night , 1 of the reasons is i have a doggy that needs walking etc so that’s why a bus driver job appealed 2 me doing shifts , and wing if i leave first bus after i take my test , what can they do ?
If you quit first will claw back the cost of your training you sign an agreement before you start training. The money will be deducted from your final pay packet if that dont cover it they willset debt collectors on you. Im not sure how long you need to stay before you can quit without a penalty. But its around 2 years.
I have held a pcv for nearly 30 years and made a decent living from it done every type of bus /coach work you can think off.service work sounds like what your looking for. Get your entitlement with a view to sticking around until you dont owe them for your license. I would advise finding a good medium sized independent operator maybe family owned decent fleet doesnt need to be a new fleet just well looked after. Wages can vary a lot depending on competition, location ect ect.
The attitude of the passengers can depend a lot on the attitude of the driver i try to be nice it keeps the blood pressure down. As for managment in this industry i find if you turn up on time go out do your job they tend to leave you alone.
Same goes for other drivers there are some great guys who will go out of there way to help you. But like everywhere there are the ■■■■■■■■■ who you just avoid like a dose of the clap.
Good luck
I did that with First.
Good side. You get paid while you’re on training. Think it was 250 p/w after taxes.
Must stay with them for 12 months to clear your “debt”. But…
This year Unite been fighting for driver pay rise. They got it but on the cost of trainees.
Think it was 18 or 24 month “debt” contract.
4 week holidays compare 5 week for “regular” drivers. Not sure for how long time think it was 5 years.
Something else but can not remember straight away.
Loads of depots have been closed during last 2 years.
May be there’s a point to make sure that your one not on the “black” list!
.
Mario
thanks a
after reading all the advice it now sounds quite not so attractive , jeez all I want is a job , I didn’t think I would keep coming up against all these downsides , ideally a small van delivery job would do me car parts electrical goods etc , but everytime I apply for those jobs in my area there are no vacancys , ive tried all I can think of I know I wouldn’t be suited to multidrop courier wrk ive tried it before and could not manage
ND888 BIGJ:
If you quit first will claw back the cost of your training you sign an agreement before you start training. The money will be deducted from your final pay packet if that dont cover it they willset debt collectors on you. Im not sure how long you need to stay before you can quit without a penalty. But its around 2 years.I have held a pcv for nearly 30 years and made a decent living from it done every type of bus /coach work you can think off.service work sounds like what your looking for. Get your entitlement with a view to sticking around until you dont owe them for your license. I would advise finding a good medium sized independent operator maybe family owned decent fleet doesnt need to be a new fleet just well looked after. Wages can vary a lot depending on competition, location ect ect.
The attitude of the passengers can depend a lot on the attitude of the driver i try to be nice it keeps the blood pressure down. As for managment in this industry i find if you turn up on time go out do your job they tend to leave you alone.
Same goes for other drivers there are some great guys who will go out of there way to help you. But like everywhere there are the [zb] who you just avoid like a dose of the clap.
Good luck
A hell of a lot off thread but…To ND888 BIGJ - Your avatar just sent me into reminiscing mode… we used to run a Guy Big J as a wrecker with about a 3 tonne concrete block where 5th wheel used to live. We also mounted a Hi-Ab to rear of cab…What a machine that was!!! Interesting to drive, lovely gearbox…until you were under a little pressure!!! Top engine, Rolls Royce IIRC??
ricardo62:
Wing and prayer can I ask you as a favour to ask your brother if ips buses are taking on a trainee ? as I don’t have the pcv licence , mind you if first group put me through the test then I can always leave after I have passed
They used to charge you if you left within 2 years ( or did when it was eastern counties?) I hear Ipswich busses ain’t such a happy place any more I know it used to be a good number ( a mate on their until recently )
chester1:
ricardo62:
Wing and prayer can I ask you as a favour to ask your brother if ips buses are taking on a trainee ? as I don’t have the pcv licence , mind you if first group put me through the test then I can always leave after I have passedThey used to charge you if you left within 2 years ( or did when it was eastern counties?) I hear Ipswich busses ain’t such a happy place any more I know it used to be a good number ( a mate on their until recently )
@ Chester Thats the infamous dean Robbie element lol. he is quiet as a mouse these days. he got hauled up to the ivory towers to explain 52 sackings in one year and an undisclosed sum of money paid out in tribunals for unfair dismissal claims.
Daz1970:
ND888 BIGJ:
If you quit first will claw back the cost of your training you sign an agreement before you start training. The money will be deducted from your final pay packet if that dont cover it they willset debt collectors on you. Im not sure how long you need to stay before you can quit without a penalty. But its around 2 years.I have held a pcv for nearly 30 years and made a decent living from it done every type of bus /coach work you can think off.service work sounds like what your looking for. Get your entitlement with a view to sticking around until you dont owe them for your license. I would advise finding a good medium sized independent operator maybe family owned decent fleet doesnt need to be a new fleet just well looked after. Wages can vary a lot depending on competition, location ect ect.
The attitude of the passengers can depend a lot on the attitude of the driver i try to be nice it keeps the blood pressure down. As for managment in this industry i find if you turn up on time go out do your job they tend to leave you alone.
Same goes for other drivers there are some great guys who will go out of there way to help you. But like everywhere there are the [zb] who you just avoid like a dose of the clap.
Good luck
A hell of a lot off thread but…To ND888 BIGJ - Your avatar just sent me into reminiscing mode… we used to run a Guy Big J as a wrecker with about a 3 tonne concrete block where 5th wheel used to live. We also mounted a Hi-Ab to rear of cab…What a machine that was!!! Interesting to drive, lovely gearbox…until you were under a little pressure!!! Top engine, Rolls Royce IIRC??
Yesi its a big j but with the 8 pot 240 garnder engine the one in my avi is one of a fleet my dad drove in the 70s
what engine was in your wrecker? please tell me its the 240 lol
there were less than 40 big js with the 8 pot built if fact some say the BIGJ with a 8 pot gardner never ever existed