Bus Driving.....

FTRXR8 · 20-05-2007, 03:50 PM

In a similar style to the 'Truckies' thread.

Anyone drive buses or coaches?

Ive been driving public buses in Adelaide since my 19th Birthday and that was two years ago,Anyone else?

NARCEA · 20-05-2007, 04:22 PM

I suppose trains don't count?

Cheers,

Ian

FTRXR8 · 20-05-2007, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NARCEA

I suppose trains don't count?

Cheers,

Ian

Start a train one aswell and see if it flys or dies.

AUIIForte · 20-05-2007, 05:45 PM

If you don't mind me asking, whats the average pay for a daily bus driver? Its always been on the back of my mind how much bus drivers earn. Here in my town, I see more and more young people getting into the business. A pot of gold for the young ones?

FTRXR8 · 20-05-2007, 07:06 PM

Generally about $20 P/H casual and $18 P/H full time,depending on work place agreement IE some pay penalties after 7pm which adds 15% to the tally.

FTRXR8 · 20-05-2007, 07:09 PM

I work for a large operator and average is $18 full time and $20 casual,its dependant on workplace agreements,AWA or EBA, and associated penalties that come with the latter.

Decent money for getting paid to cruise in a company vehicle.

schmidty · 20-05-2007, 08:21 PM

I've got my HC license and work full time truck driving at the moment, but seriously, 1 of the funniest things to do after hours is driving a bus for bucks parties and hens nights!!!! I could never knock 1 of those back!! Esp the hens night!

1 thing i notice when driving a bus though, is you look in that mirror, see just how many precious lives you're responsible for at the time, and it sure as hell makes you concentrate on driving safely and smoothly! Big responsibility carrying bulk numbers of people.

merlin · 21-05-2007, 08:08 AM

Hey guys I work for STA (Sydney Buses) - I'm in management, not a driver, but we are screaming out for drivers at the moment, if anyone needs a job...

Base salary is $55K, average guys earn around $60-65K + super, with the top earner last year on $95K (overtime). Full training and costs provided all you need is a car license to apply. Sorry for the "ad" (maybe I should start a thread in the bar...).

Ridin-High · 21-05-2007, 08:43 AM

55k base is mad, how many hours a week for that?

merlin · 21-05-2007, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ridin-High

55k base is mad, how many hours a week for that?

The $55K base is a "package price" - so includes super ect...and is based on a 38 hour week. Basically though 99% of drivers will not work a standard day (as in 9 to 5) so you will get shift penalties, overtime (voluntary), and weekends (sundays are voluntary too) hence why the average guy is earning mid $60K + super.

Shifts are based around the peaks - there is a few different types of shift - an AM shift (start very early, finish around lunch), midday shift (start around midday, finish 8pm), PM shift (start late, fnish very late) and whats called a broken shift (do four hours in the morning, big unpaid break in the middle of the day, then four hours in the afternoon). Allocation of shifts is based on seniority so new drivers get the "bad" shifts unfortunatly until they build up the seniority...(this means, in a worst case scenario, one week you might have PM shifts, the next AM shifts, the next brokens ect)

Above is for full-timers though, you can come straight in as a part timer on a set shift that does not change.

T3man · 21-05-2007, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by merlin

Hey guys I work for STA (Sydney Buses) - I'm in management, not a driver, but we are screaming out for drivers at the moment, if anyone needs a job...

Base salary is $55K, average guys earn around $60-65K + super, with the top earner last year on $95K (overtime). Full training and costs provided all you need is a car license to apply. Sorry for the "ad" (maybe I should start a thread in the bar...).

Sorry mate, not enough money to lure me away from my country bus run. I'd want double that to work under the conditions those poor bugggers in Sydney have to put up with.

I work an average of 35 hours on casual basis and net around $20 an hour after tax - can't complain about that for sitting on your bum all day eh? BUT there is a lot of responsibity goes with it when you're dealing with the public, AND a lot of sh!t as well

merlin · 21-05-2007, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T3man

BUT there is a lot of responsibity goes with it when you're dealing with the public, AND a lot of sh!t as well

Yep exactly, it is not an "easy" job - from speaking to drivers the bad includes - negotiating traffic all day in a heavy vehicle, dealing with irate passengers, taking money, threat of assault/drunk passengers at night ect. ect. - these are the bad things - but at the same time, a lot of good things too, it can be a very rewarding job...

redranga · 21-05-2007, 12:47 PM

I used to fix and maintain them in Adelaide for six years until a company took over and wasnt interested in spending the dollars to maintain them safely and legally.

I have a conscience so I left and got another job.

Black S · 21-05-2007, 01:44 PM

Yo I drive for STA. You have to basically work the weekends, Public holidays and do some Day Of Cancels to earn 60K+. The penalties are great for STA. 1.5 on Saturdays and sundays are Voluntary and are paid at Double. Good job to be in if you
enjoy driving and don't mind the traffic. True all your training is paid for and the upgrade of your licence. Think about this. You getting paid to learn to drive for your first week and a half, upgrading your licence.

MeLLy · 21-05-2007, 02:00 PM

so ur the hot bus driver my friends always talk about LOL

new2ford · 21-05-2007, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by merlin

Hey guys I work for STA (Sydney Buses) - I'm in management, not a driver, but we are screaming out for drivers at the moment, if anyone needs a job...

Base salary is $55K, average guys earn around $60-65K + super, with the top earner last year on $95K (overtime). Full training and costs provided all you need is a car license to apply. Sorry for the "ad" (maybe I should start a thread in the bar...).

What's the maximum intake age? (not that I'm admitting to anything)

Is it compulsory to catapault standing passengers through the windscreen when you brake and lay them out flat on the floor when you accelerate or is that optional nowadays? (one thing that always distinguished govt buses from the private sector) (sorry just a bit of cheek!)

RogueDriver · 21-05-2007, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by new2ford

What's the maximum intake age? (not that I'm admitting to anything)

If you're in Adelaide you don't have much to worry about. Both major companies are struggling for drivers (most of us are leaving).

Quote:

Originally Posted by new2ford

Is it compulsory to catapault standing passengers through the windscreen when you brake and lay them out flat on the floor when you accelerate or is that optional nowadays? (one thing that always distinguished govt buses from the private sector) (sorry just a bit of cheek!)

Not compulsory but adds to the excitement of the day :P
It all comes down to timetables. Some guys (especially the new ones) care if they're on time and drive like maniacs. The rest of us gave up trying to break the land speed records required to be anywhere near on time. Now we just have to ignore the abuse!

Fun job, this.

Laminge · 21-05-2007, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BAXTC

Start a train one aswell and see if it flys or dies.

How about we just start a general thread rather than going into specifics for every form of transport

Feathers · 21-05-2007, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by new2ford

What's the maximum intake age? (not that I'm admitting to anything)

Is it compulsory to catapault standing passengers through the windscreen when you brake and lay them out flat on the floor when you accelerate or is that optional nowadays? (one thing that always distinguished govt buses from the private sector) (sorry just a bit of cheek!)

Even more fun than that was when we sent a bus for its yearly inspection, and the mechanic armoralled the seats.
That was fine until the next morning the bus was sent out on it's route and the little old ladies going shopping started sliding off the seats into the aisle.

Luckily we pretty much carried the same people all the time (small route service in Arncliffe/Earlwood/Rockdale area), and it was mostly pensioners and retirees, so no one was fussed enough to sue us.

Sold the run back to the Govt. before the olympics, because the Ministry of Transport wanted the services to run until 9pm at night, and weekends until late, which wasn't really going to be viable for the kind of patronage that we had. (Once it started to get dark, the number of passengers dropped off to nothing, so we let the Govt. lose money by running empty buses, paying drivers, etc.)

Also, we don't really hire drivers under 50.
Dad prefers semi-retired people, who might only want to work a few days a week here and there. They have more experience, and a more relaxed/polite manner with the passengers.

Most of our work now comes from schools. A lot of sports buses, and excursions. We still do the odd wedding or buck's/hen's night.
Even more occasionally we still do long distance trips and overnight coach tours, but these are almost always for long standing customers (or if people agree to the ridiculous price Dad quotes them when he really doesn't want the job)

As for me, I'm hoping to very shortly tell Woolworths to shove it, and leave to work full time with Dad, since I inherit the company one day, I should really get my act together and learn how to run it.
One of the conditions of that is that I get my HR licence, so I'm working on that at the moment, then I'll have to go to Sydney Uni and do the Accreditation course required by the Ministry of Transport, to run the operation.

Interestingly, I'm currently the ONLY daughter of a private bus propreitor in Sydney, old enough to hold a heavy vehicle licence, who DOESN'T drive for their father!!

merlin · 22-05-2007, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by new2ford

What's the maximum intake age? (not that I'm admitting to anything)

I beleive they just hired a driver who is 65...no real max age, as long as you pass the medicals.

Quote:

Originally Posted by new2ford

Is it compulsory to catapault standing passengers through the windscreen when you brake and lay them out flat on the floor when you accelerate or is that optional nowadays? (one thing that always distinguished govt buses from the private sector) (sorry just a bit of cheek!)

Totally optional ;-)

sgt_doofey · 22-05-2007, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by merlin

Totally optional ;-)

Seems like a mandatory thing here in Adelaide as well. Thankfully I'm catching the trains 4 out of 5 days a week now. The bus is the other 1 day and that's enough of face planting in to the chair in front for one week.

Black S · 22-05-2007, 08:17 PM

LOL Melly!!
Sure why not. I'm still young.

Black S · 22-05-2007, 08:19 PM

Merlin. Doesn't The MOT require yearly medicals if over a certain age?

Feathers. Why not get your licence. Not bad to have at all. Cost the same
as a regular licence to renew anyway.

FTRXR8 · 24-05-2007, 05:01 PM

Awesome replies..

I didnt think so many were involved in the bus industry,good to see voices from many differant aspecst joining in.

I work 3pm-Midnight and just let the drunks ride,Its not worth an assualt for $20 an hour.

Feathers · 24-05-2007, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black S

Merlin. Doesn't The MOT require yearly medicals if over a certain age?

Feathers. Why not get your licence. Not bad to have at all. Cost the same
as a regular licence to renew anyway.

Yeah I'm working on getting my HR now. Had 3 lessons in 8 months.

:
Already done the knowledge test with the RTA, so now I just want more practice.
Dad asks sometimes when I'm going to quit Woolies and go work for him, cause he's always looking for drivers.
Then when I say I'm ready to tell Woolies to shove it and leave, I get no answer.
Even his friends are on his back now to pull his finger out and get a move on!!

I tried ringing around the other day to get ahead with the paperwork, without having to wait for him, but apparently I have to. He is supposed to have the application for the authority in the office, and there is a course to do as well, but the trainer we know will sign me off on that without me actually doing it.

And to go to a driving school to do the competancy based assessment is $990. As opposed to using our own vehicles and paying $42 for the RTA test.
Dad says I'm pretty good for having not had many lessons, but I have to learn on a non-synchromesh manual, so I'd like a lot more practice to feel comfortable with it.

Oh and the MoT require people over the age of 60 to have a medical every year. Think it's 3 years for everyone else.