Some may remember me. I took my Class 2 and Class 1 tests last year . Though I did get a Class 1 job , I wasnt very successful at it, having two knocks in the yard and getting the sack . I worked for an Agency for a while doing Class 2 work for Royal Mail , unfortunately there wasnt much work to be had…Only had a months work from Jan-March of this year.
Decided it was time for drastic measures so I applied for a job as a bus driver.Trained with the bus company and passed my PCV test first time…should have done ,as they make you drive around for 4 weeks before test!!
Been on the road for approximately 1 month now, and am really enjoying it .Heard a lot of horror stories about crappy passengers etc, but I have found so far, that if you just switch off its all pretty good. I aint gonna argue with someone who dont want to pay their fare…it aint my £2 .
Its shift work, which is taking some getting used to…and the fact that I sometimes have to work Sat & Sun is a bit of a downer but the pay is decent…so far between £335 and £400 take home depending on hours worked per week , and an average of about £140(gross) if I work one of my rest days.
Will maybe look into HGV work when my year is up (or I have to pay £1000 for the training), but happy enough at the moment.
SalTheWop:
Some may remember me. I took my Class 2 and Class 1 tests last year . Though I did get a Class 1 job , I wasnt very successful at it, having two knocks in the yard and getting the sack .
Caro/cara Sal.
I’ve done that too (and been sacked) it happens to the best of us. Less forgivable in my case, because I was “experienced” at the time.
SalTheWop:
Decided it was time for drastic measures so I applied for a job as a bus driver.Trained with the bus company and passed my PCV test first time…should have done ,as they make you drive around for 4 weeks before test!!
Bravo/a, I didn’t like the idea of freight that talks, so I stuck to trucks.
SalTheWop:
Been on the road for approximately 1 month now, and am really enjoying it .Heard a lot of horror stories about crappy passengers etc, but I have found so far, that if you just switch off its all pretty good. I aint gonna argue with someone who dont want to pay their fare…it aint my £2 .
Do bus the bus firms still have inspectors who check for correct fares vs. head count??
SalTheWop:
Will maybe look into HGV work when my year is up (or I have to pay £1000 for the training), but happy enough at the moment.
Yes, stick with it, because your PCV licence is then “yours.” If you did PCV “auto” you might think about an upgrade to manual- better wages??
Distinti saluti,
Well I already have my Class 2 so PCV is upgraded to Manual .
I may have made the bus driving sound better than it is . Dont get me wrong, its not as bad as I thought it would be .Of course there are times when I wish it was just me in the vehicle…like when I want a pee…or take a phone call…or listen to the radio…or just stop for 5 minutes…or take a short cut
SalTheWop:
Well I already have my Class 2 so PCV is upgraded to Manual .
I may have made the bus driving sound better than it is . Dont get me wrong, its not as bad as I thought it would be .Of course there are times when I wish it was just me in the vehicle…like when I want a pee…or take a phone call…or listen to the radio…or just stop for 5 minutes…or take a short cut
I thought you’d find more reasons why i didn’t do PCV- well done
Been there, done that and got the t shirt.
Late night drunks, schoolkids, passengers that think you’re driving a 35’ taxi and can drop them anywhere regardles of safety or legality
Had 8 years on the buses and wouldn’t go back for all the t in china (already tried that when I got desperate)
Do bus the bus firms still have inspectors who check for correct fares vs. head count??
Yes they do and I came close to a bollocking 1 day so became a stickler for checking passes.
On one occassion, I requested a pass off a black lady (no relation to the story apart from the outcome as she was last on and i had checked ALL passes) She showed the photocard but not the pass although I could see the colour of the pass and it was the old one that expired 3 months ago.
Eventually got the pass and confirmed what I already knew so confiscated the card (that had been illegally usesd for 3 months)
Apparantly I was a “racist brat” for that according to her
another occassion, again checking all the passes, bloke argues that he showed his pass 2 days ago. I politely explain that I have to check he has it with him today, to which he complains that I am victimising him because he is BLIND.
Again I politely inform him that “I” check all passes all the time.
His reply “well I’ve never seen you check them”
each to their own but I don’t think its worth the hassle
(and don’t get me started on coaching with nightclub runs, school runs and the “blue rinse brigade”
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