So, am going for a career change and getting my class 2 then 1. I currently am a bus driver and have been for the past 18yrs with the same company.
Would a prospective employer look at this and take it into consideration or do they only look at experience of driving class 2 or 1 ?
thoughts
cheers in advance
A bit like drivers, employers vary wildly. Some will, some won’t . Personally I’d think it better than someone with no experience and as I class diplomacy as part of truck driving, I’d think you’d be well ahead on that score having dealt with the public! 
'Tis true thst employers are wild for a variety of reasons.
A steady reliable employer would appreciate someone with a good steady employment record wouldn’t they?
If you wanted to join a circus employing clowns and rodeo riders they may not be so impressed?
If it’s a fair guess you’re not a cowboy, your record should be good.
Sent from my GT-S7275R using Tapatalk
When you go for interview tell them that you have multi drop experience.If you do bin lorries remember the zb goes in the back. I also do buses and agency work in school holidays.
Very true…
‘some’ of the general public are one of the main reasons I’m going for a change. Society has changed in the last 20 yrs and so have the people travelling on the bus. The driving and traffic I can handle and doesn’t bother me, but some of the people are starting to and takes a bit to bite my tongue, maybe am getting old and grumpy… 
Cheers for the feedback
Don’t bother mate, the jobs crap. Extremely long, unsociable hours for £9/10 per hour.
Same as my pay hours now then… but without carrying some of the worlds idiots and layabouts around all day.
DH74:
So, am going for a career change and getting my class 2 then 1. I currently am a bus driver and have been for the past 18yrs with the same company.
Would a prospective employer look at this and take it into consideration or do they only look at experience of driving class 2 or 1 ?thoughts
cheers in advance
For me my bus experience counted for squat. All employers were looking for hgv experience.
Thats not to say someone wont still take you on but going from class 2 then straight to class 1 with minimal class2 experience might count against you despite bus experience. They are two different vehicles that handle and are driven differently.
In short, someone might take it into consideration but I doubt itll be seen as a bonus
Mickey mouse:
Don’t bother mate, the jobs crap. Extremely long, unsociable hours for £9/10 per hour.
Then mines £12.00, paid through breaks, training/DCPC paid for, 12 hours min paid abroad. Again jobs vary wildly.
The-Snowman:
DH74:
So, am going for a career change and getting my class 2 then 1. I currently am a bus driver and have been for the past 18yrs with the same company.
Would a prospective employer look at this and take it into consideration or do they only look at experience of driving class 2 or 1 ?thoughts
cheers in advanceFor me my bus experience counted for squat. All employers were looking for hgv experience.
Thats not to say someone wont still take you on but going from class 2 then straight to class 1 with minimal class2 experience might count against you despite bus experience. They are two different vehicles that handle and are driven differently.
In short, someone might take it into consideration but I doubt itll be seen as a bonus
If I was presented with a choice of two drivers, and all things being equal other than one having no experience and one having been on buses for 18 years, the experience of a large vehicle would help.
Thanks for the input.
I reckon it’s a case of right place right time kind of situation, but at least i’m still in full time employment and not having to grab the first job that comes up. At least i’ve seen how companies, (even the one I still work for) the traffic managers can ‘mislead’ new drivers into some driving hour practices, if they not too sure of the regs.
Thanks again… onward and upward
The-Snowman:
DH74:
So, am going for a career change and getting my class 2 then 1. I currently am a bus driver and have been for the past 18yrs with the same company.
Would a prospective employer look at this and take it into consideration or do they only look at experience of driving class 2 or 1 ?thoughts
cheers in advanceFor me my bus experience counted for squat. All employers were looking for hgv experience.
Thats not to say someone wont still take you on but going from class 2 then straight to class 1 with minimal class2 experience might count against you despite bus experience. They are two different vehicles that handle and are driven differently.
In short, someone might take it into consideration but I doubt itll be seen as a bonus
Same here. In my early twenties I was driving coach loads of holiday makers across Europe as far as Budapest yet this like Snowman counted for squat. Transport is a fairly stupid industry in this regard and the bus and coach business is way ahead. I wrote a bit about it this subject in my first Commercial Motor column… 
Look at me name dropping my column. Next one it next Thursday, it’s called the Red Line and I appear monthly
switchlogic:
Same here. In my early twenties I was driving coach loads of holiday makers across Europe as far as Budapest yet this like Snowman counted for squat. Transport is a fairly stupid industry in this regard and the bus and coach business is way ahead. I wrote a bit about it this subject in my first Commercial Motor column…Look at me name dropping my column. Next one it next Thursday, it’s called the Red Line and I appear monthly
Weird… must be the depot I am working at, as the management and higher don’t seem to know how to run a bath never mind a company. I thought the haulage industry was ahead of the bus and coach.
Ah well live and learn
The-Snowman:
DH74:
So, am going for a career change and getting my class 2 then 1. I currently am a bus driver and have been for the past 18yrs with the same company.
Would a prospective employer look at this and take it into consideration or do they only look at experience of driving class 2 or 1 ?thoughts
cheers in advanceFor me my bus experience counted for squat. All employers were looking for hgv experience.
Thats not to say someone wont still take you on but going from class 2 then straight to class 1 with minimal class2 experience might count against you despite bus experience. They are two different vehicles that handle and are driven differently.
In short, someone might take it into consideration but I doubt itll be seen as a bonus
The vast majority of employers don’t consider class 2 experience to have any value when stepping up to class 1 so if I was the OP I’d get onto class 1 asap without hanging around on class 2.
My coach driving experience did not make a blind bit of difference either…but i still got the job.
Some might take an inrerest some might not, no harm trying though
Mickey mouse:
Don’t bother mate, the jobs crap. Extremely long, unsociable hours for £9/10 per hour.
Only if you allow it to be. Usual moaner on here thinks the jobs crap just because his is.
TiredAndEmotional:
The-Snowman:
DH74:
So, am going for a career change and getting my class 2 then 1. I currently am a bus driver and have been for the past 18yrs with the same company.
Would a prospective employer look at this and take it into consideration or do they only look at experience of driving class 2 or 1 ?thoughts
cheers in advanceFor me my bus experience counted for squat. All employers were looking for hgv experience.
Thats not to say someone wont still take you on but going from class 2 then straight to class 1 with minimal class2 experience might count against you despite bus experience. They are two different vehicles that handle and are driven differently.
In short, someone might take it into consideration but I doubt itll be seen as a bonusThe vast majority of employers don’t consider class 2 experience to have any value when stepping up to class 1 so if I was the OP I’d get onto class 1 asap without hanging around on class 2.
Yes, intending to go to class 1 rather than 2
cheers
Good luck with the change fella. Most employers I would imagine would appreciate the fact you have driven a larger vehicle and have a good record so that should be in your favour.
On another note you say you have a problem with passengers.
I travel on buses and find the majority of passengers to be very polite along with drivers and conductors.
What I do find though is the standard of driving is generally very poor.
Very few drivers seem to know how to use air brakes which is especially important on a bus as I am sure you know.
Progressive braking is a rare feature.
Why oh why is this?
Dr Damon:
Good luck with the change fella. Most employers I would imagine would appreciate the fact you have driven a larger vehicle and have a good record so that should be in your favour.On another note you say you have a problem with passengers.
I travel on buses and find the majority of passengers to be very polite along with drivers and condutors.
What I do find though is the standard of driving is generally very poor.
Very few drivers seem to know how to use air brakes which is especially important on a bus as I am sure you know.
Progressive braking is a rare feature.
Why oh why is this?
True… I don’t have a problem with passengers as such, in fact sometimes have a laugh with them, probably more than 90% of the passengers are polite, even if they don’t speak, but it’s the last 10% or so that spoil it. Can’t speak for the driving standards, maybe training is rushed, newer drivers or even established drivers, want to be on time
As the starting rate is about £8/hour ( I think, but couild be wrong ) some of the newer drivers don’t feel it’s worth the money to drive professionally for that money and hours worked. 5 and a half hours driving, 30 min break then another 4 and a half driving, it’s understanable.
I am very rarely on time, take my time, speed limts, when I am late, phone Inspector put the ball in their court, either come back out of service or they cover my next run.
Sometimes the way the bus is set up with engine retarder and gearbox can make the driver look like they cant drive, but that isn’t always the case, also if the Eco management is not working it also impacts the drive. Budgets are unreal here at our depot, engineers can’t order new parts till old ones actually give up…instead of replacing ahead of time…but that’s why the top people get paid the big money…
All about saving money…false economy? Above my pay scale…
cheers
Cheers fella, thanks for your opinion.