UPDATE just this second checked my e mails and they e mailed saying ive passed the interview stage , but big but ! they are putting my application on hold as they dnt have any vacancies at the mo and will be in touch when they have .
the ad said they were looking for a driver when I applied !!! so why post an ad if they don’t have a position going , it really makes me want to give up
ricardo: 1st off…don’t give up!! There may well be vacancies very soon!!! New Year - new recruitment budget perhaps■■? Also the big companies naturally get high staff turnover - retirement, long-term sick, people quitting for pastures new, internal promotions etc.
As for skid-pan training…not reqd except in films like On The Buses!!! Driving test basically same as LGV with added exercise to pull up safely & correctly at bus stops. Your PCV test will actually be much easier than your LGV - as training/testing will be done in fully-automatic vehicle - piece of cake!!!
RE: Customer service, good answer you gave from personal experience. If asked similar again try to relate it to passengers i.e. helping young mothers on & off bus with buggy/pushchair (if on a quiet route), handing in any lost property you come across, ensuring elderly/disabled get a seat, advising passengers on stopping points/fares/best(cheapest)tickets/timetables/last buses etc. - all CAN be part of job role!!! Not just about driving!!! Somebody once said ‘bus driving would be a great job - if it weren’t for the passengers!!!’ Ha Ha!!!
Good luck
Make sure you email them once a week.
Only needs a driver to leave/get sacked and you’ll be top of the list to start.
Thanks Daz and Rambo , yes I imagine on hindsight the test prob wont be 2 bad , compared to the test for an artic , and being auto will be easier , I will e mail them regularly , and thank you for commenting on my reply ie good customer service , it just baffled me why they said there was not a vacancy when they went to all the trouble of interviewing me and stating on the jobsite that there was , it just is hard to keep optimistic when you keep applying for jobs and having interviews and not getting anywhere , its soul destroying ,how can anyone live on 70 pounds a week benefit is beyond me , I cant even afford to put heating on . That’s why I really need to get back into employment .
rambo19:
Make sure you email them once a week.
Only needs a driver to leave/get sacked and you’ll be top of the list to start.
As above, keep contacting them once a week shows that your intrested not a stalker lol.
Not only on here but there really is a lot of peeps who put people off with saying you have nothing but hassle off public its not like that as I’ve said earlier, our garage doesn’t do many schools I don’t do any of those runs, I get quite a few on a service bus though & there fine, only people I don’t like is pensioners, especially when trying to get on before 9.30am with there blue pass they only get a loaf of bread then go home, I think all our drivers get annoyed at them.
If you want any advice if or when you have been selected pm me.
daj911:
rambo19:
Make sure you email them once a week.
Only needs a driver to leave/get sacked and you’ll be top of the list to start.As above, keep contacting them once a week shows that your intrested not a stalker lol.
Not only on here but there really is a lot of peeps who put people off with saying you have nothing but hassle off public its not like that as I’ve said earlier, our garage doesn’t do many schools I don’t do any of those runs, I get quite a few on a service bus though & there fine, only people I don’t like is pensioners, especially when trying to get on before 9.30am with there blue pass they only get a loaf of bread then go home, I think all our drivers get annoyed at them.If you want any advice if or when you have been selected pm me.
ok will do and thanks again Daz tbh I just would be happy to be back behind the wheel and earning
My application was on hold at my interview depot but the depot manager rang the other local depot manager and got me in there. The travelling time was similar as I lived between the two depots.
It may be worth investigating if there is another local depot that has vacancies.
Well done for getting through interview stage.
Just one bit of advice. When you go out on assessment, it’ll probably be in a ropy minibus with 9 seats. Treat it as though you are driving a full length bus. Don’t rush around and use mirrors often as if you had no side windows.
Best of luck
First in Ipswich use a plaxton bodied Volvo for assessments and testing.I still say present yourself down to Constantine road @Ipswich Buses.
First wont be in Ipswich much longer i can assure you of that. the nearest other depots are Norwich or Colchester for Ricardo. just a thought have you tried carters at capel !!! ask for viv carter.
other than that Chambers are advertising look on their website.Its for the Sudbury depot. might be worth calling beestons in Hadleigh also. as they are expanding.
Thanks wingndprayer will do …
Here you go
chambersbus.wordpress.com/ right hand side invites you to send in a cv. i have a mate on with them and they will train someone. usual thing you sign to say 2 years service etc etc. they are now owned by Go Ahead for your info.
Wing and a prayer:
Here you gochambersbus.wordpress.com/ right hand side invites you to send in a cv. i have a mate on with them and they will train someone. usual thing you sign to say 2 years service etc etc. they are now owned by Go Ahead for your info.
Thanks again will apply
You could try Bolton brothers at great blakenham , not buses but I have seen notices up there in the past for driver vacancies .
Cheers MIke
Mikey D:
You could try Bolton brothers at great blakenham , not buses but I have seen notices up there in the past for driver vacancies .
Cheers MIke
Thanks mikey but I don’t have an hgv anymore all I have is 7.5 ton entitlement but no cpc training and no digi card so basically all I can really drive now unless I pass a pcv test is a van
Oh I right I didn’t see that bit ! If you have lost your lgv entitlement , how are you going to get a Pcv licence , surely the medical etc is the same 
Good luck with it anyway ,
Chees mike
I will cross that bridge when I come to it mikey but at end of day ive gt to keep trying to get back into wrk , maybe my new doctor might not know of my sleep apnea and just give me a medical exam and pass me , who knows , but I have 2 try I cant keep sittin indoors doing nothing
ricardo62:
I will cross that bridge when I come to it mikey but at end of day ive gt to keep trying to get back into wrk , maybe my new doctor might not know of my sleep apnea and just give me a medical exam and pass me , who knows , but I have 2 try I cant keep sittin indoors doing nothing
Your doctor can pass what they want, if your sleep apnea is recorded at DVLA you will not be issued a PCV provisional or licence - although they may give it you it’d be suspended based upon proving your suitability regarding your health I’d have thought.
You’d get your HGV back at the same time I should think?
Yep agreed.
DVLA will have it on record and it’s only their medical dept that can overturn a revocation.
Get onto them and find out what evidence is required to consider reinstating your higher categories.
The D4 Medical form is a legal document and lying to gain a licence category WILL end in tears
Find Bob Newhart on Youtube or similar - he gives some very good advice on driving service buses 
DVLA wont issue a vocational licence if you have sleep apnea.You must get this addressed first ,if you are overweight then lose some I know its not easy .I think that you could be entitled to some disability benefits if your health is standing in the way of you finding work.
You have a treatable condition which is preventing you from following your chosen profession.
You need to go to your GP and work out a plan to restore your health. You may have to push your GP to make him/her take this seriously. If he/she won’t, then you can elect to change GPs, and find one who is prepared to help.
There are a number of treatments and strategies for your condition…but one of the easiest is to avoid sleeping on your back.
Losing weight helps if you have a large collar size, and there are other treatments, including surgical interventions.
As said, you may also be able to obtain a disability allowance to tide you over in the mean time.
Good luck.