Would you do it again?. Bus or Coach Driving

[BusmanBry]

Hello and good morning to everyone,

I`m posting this simply to get people`s views in general.

So this actually goes out to all the people on here who are Bus or Coach drivers.

Knowing what you know now since you started as a driver in the Bus & Coach industry, if you had your time allover again would you choose the same line of employment?.


For what its worth if ever i got chance again to be a bus driver knowing what i know then hell yeh i sure would. No better feeling than being out on the road and helping people to get from where they are to where they are hoping to be.


If anyone actually finds this, i`ll look forward to any comments.

Cheers,
Bryan.

[ratty]

All I will say is 44 years so far, and 9th September next year cannot come fast enough. I've had good times and in the last few years bad times but no, I would not do it all over again. The spirit, respect and comradeship has gone down the toilet, and to be quite honest the general standard of driving today is diabolical in ALL classes. My best years were undoubtably at Yorkshire Rider Halifax, with WYPTE a close second, but after then I have seen the massive decline in the industry now run by 'bean counters', with no thought for staff or passengers, and the respect.... well!!!

[driver6540]

Sept 5, 2023 13:23:53 GMT 1 ratty said:

All I will say is 44 years so far, and 9th September next year cannot come fast enough. I've had good times and in the last few years bad times but no, I would not do it all over again. The spirit, respect and comradeship has gone down the toilet, and to be quite honest the general standard of driving today is diabolical in ALL classes. My best years were undoubtably at Yorkshire Rider Halifax, with WYPTE a close second, but after then I have seen the massive decline in the industry now run by 'bean counters', with no thought for staff or passengers, and the respect.... well!!!

Chris, believe you me mate it's exactly the same in the HGV industry that iv'e been in for 42 years. I completely echo your sentiment's regarding respect, i used to my love my job "back in the day" we felt valued and were treated fairly and equitably, not now though!. The company iv'e served for 42yr's man and boy is now run by Accountants not "proper" transport managers, and i too am looking forward to retirement in a few short years. In answer to the question, would i do it again?, Knowing what i know now the answer is, Would I ****!

[BusmanBry]

Hello,

Thank you to ratty & driver6540 for your views.

Does anyone else have any views on this topic?.

[driver6540]

Sept 10, 2023 11:42:10 GMT 1 BusmanBry said:

Hello,

Thank you to ratty & driver6540 for your views.

Does anyone else have any views on this topic?.

Hello Bryan. Although me and Chris have obviously been settled in our respective position's for many years (actually decades), i guess we've both seen the highs and lows and upsides and downsides of the job. Like any job things evolve in time maybe even sometimes for the better, although me and Chris are obviously reaching the end of our careers and are maybe basking in our halcyon days when the world seemed a better place in general. Just because me and him are perhaps rather negative in the answer to the question you first posed, it is indeed only our personal opinion's. From reading your previous posts it seems you are itching to get back behind the wheel, that being the case i would suggest getting into the mindset of accepting things will have changed since you last commanded the steering wheel, adapt to suit and i'm sure you'll be ok. Anything that's your true vocation you can usually make work. Keep posting and let us know how you get on. Best of luck.

[Deleted]

I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum, young, still figuring out what to do next in my career, and bus driving is nowhere near on my list. I wouldn't have the patience to deal with the public, if you've seen my posts on the forum, you will know how impatient I am with people. I can easily get annoyed and have a bit of a temper, so I wouldn't hold back if a customer comes to me and complain, I'd be brutally honhest with people. I don't think I'd be able to cope with the pressure set on by the management either, I wouldn't be able to cope with the hours either, unsociable and varied shift patterns, I'm autistic, so I'd want to start and finish at the same time every single day, even just finishing an hour late, disrupts my routine, and upsets me, and my honesty towards customers won't go down well with management either. So I wouldn't be suited to work in a bus driving position. Thats my view of someone whos looking towards to make a career in something but haven't figured it out, but realised Bus driving won't be it. I've seen the respect the drivers get from the public and that is none! Public report drivers these days for going to the toilet! and going by the attitude of people on social media towards drivers, they wouldn't let them have a break either.

Bryan, have you thought maybe working at one of the bus dealerships? Like Bus and Coach World, preparing buses for sale, ect. Or maybe working at Coach and Bus Week Magazine, as they are looking for people knowledgable about the industry and those with a licence.

[johnboy1948]

yes i worked for west yorks rcc ltd in the 70s 80s love every minute i made some good friends at keighley depot i left through ill health when they found i had an enlarged heart thats35years ago

[steve440]

I worked for West Yorkshire RCC in the 70s and 80s but not in a driving capacity. Following redundancy in 1986 I took what I thought would be a temporary job with Yorkshire Rider driving minibuses. I then progressed on to full sized buses at Bramley in 1989 and at first really enjoyed the job. The start of the downfall for me was when short-sighted union reps recommended moving from a 5-day week with overtime to a 4-day week with the same number of hours. Oh joy, an extra day off, but having to drive for up to 10 hours a day spread over 12 to 13 hours meant that the extra day off was spent just recuperating! I left eventually in 2009 and took a lower paid but more relaxing Monday to Friday job. Having said all that I probably would do it all again, there were more good times than bad.

[BusmanBry]

Hello and good afternoon to all.

I`ve really enjoyed reading all the various comments that have been added to my original post and want to genuinely thank all of you.

I`m not giving up hope yet of re joining the bus industry in some type of capacity. Ideally driving but on late turns as in 1pm onwards due to my reallybad sleep patterns or failing that as someone stated finding a role with a dealer or manufacturer which may involve me moving out of the area.

I do realise too that the whole ball game is way different now to what it was in 1992 when i passed my PSV test at Belle Isle Wakefield ( West Riding Buses ). However i`m a very patient and relaxed person and i do adapt extremley well to whatever changes are put my way.

So we shall see...

Bryan.

[Deleted]

Have you thought about contacting Tetleys in Leeds, maybe you could help out doing the Wakefield City Free Bus? But not any lates though unfortunately,

[MetrolineGA1511]

Sept 24, 2023 18:19:34 GMT 1 Deleted said:

Have you thought about contacting Tetleys in Leeds, maybe you could help out doing the Wakefield City Free Bus? But not any lates though unfortunately,

A perk about working for Tetley's is that you can have free brews any time of the week.