Driving Licence Convictions & Bus Operators.

[BusmanBry]

Hi to all,

My name is Bryan, i`m 48 years old and single and currently live in Altofts which is a small village between Normanton and Castleford here in West Yorkshire. I have my bus driving licence but dont have my bus driver CPC card as its expired.

I want to get back driving buses again as its a huge passion/hobby of mine and i`ve been involved in the bus/coach industry since 1992 but have been interested in buses since i was about 15 years old.

I`ve always wanted to run a few buses of my own but i simply don`t have the finances.

I figure that my plan B need`s to maybe be closley involved with a small independant company who will be happy to have someone on board who is happy/willing to be totally on board and undertake every aspect of the bus operation regardless of what that task may be.

My only problem with all this and the whole reason why Arriva Yorkshire or EYMS wont allow me to join them is due to a DR10 conviction code thats on my licence.

The DR10 conviction code is one of the lowest conviction codes which can be applied to your licence following your conviction through the courts for being tested above the legal limit via alcohol whilst driving.

So my DR10 was applied to my licence in June 2014, i was banned from driving in June 2013 and given a 17 month ban but i went on a driver awareness course in Hillsborough ( Sheffield ) which made things a tad easier by reducing the ban to 12 months, so i got my licence back on July 14th 2014. So my question is are there any bus companies that would consider me for driving duties if i was willing to pay for and attend my cpc course at my own expense?. My DR10 expires in July 2024. I`m currently un employed and so to try and raise the funds for the CPC will be difficult but i`m very determined and passionate to get back behind the wheel of a bus and do what i do best, to get folk where they need to be in a safe and timely and proffesional manner. If anyone happens to read this and feels they may be able to give me any help or advice then i`d sure be gratefull as i`m really struggling right now. Best wishes, Bryan.

[wibble]

Officially your conviction is spent after 5 years, so you don't have to declare it, however for some strange reason it doesn't disappear from license for year. Which is why you don't declare it on car insurance after 5 years.

However as it would be on a license check they would do on you around 2nd/3rd interview stage, it still stops you from becoming a driver.

I know someone in West Yorkshire who was kept on with a DR10 who was a mechanic and then they put him through his bus test as soon as the ban was over. He has since moved on to other large bus groups in West Yorkshire, but engineering and Ops have different ways of working.

[BusmanBry]

Hi there Wibble,

I cannot apologise enough for this late reply to your reply to my enquiry with regards driving buses and convictions.

So here is what i`ve found out so far.

Arriva and Firstbus and EYMS wont set me on till my DR10 has expired in 2024, Stagecoach would set me on but there are no vacancies. Southern Vectis wont ever set me on because i had the DR10 to start with and so their policy is to never ever set anyone on to drive one of their buses because they ended up with a DR10 in the 1st place.

Rosso bus is or had the same principal.

I`m kind of struggling here to get back driving buses...

If anyone knows of any bus company that would help me to get my CPC and then let me get back behind the wheel of a bus please let me know.

Many thanks,
Bryan.

[wibble]

Have you looked at joining as a shunter or something, so you're not 'on the road'. Then it would be much easier to just 'volunteer' to do CPC on rest days and tag along when there's space, they also get to know you and build trust.

[BusmanBry]

Hi there wibble,

Good to hear from you again.

I dont suppose we happen to know of any bus operators who currently need shunters/cleaners do we?. I do have transport and i`m only a mile from junction 31 of the M62 so can easily access most towns/city`s and am pretty close to the M1 and A1 motorway network.

Bryan.

[Arriva Wakefield]

Jun 7, 2020 13:36:27 GMT 1 BusmanBry said:

Hi there wibble,

Good to hear from you again.

I dont suppose we happen to know of any bus operators who currently need shunters/cleaners do we?. I do have transport and i`m only a mile from junction 31 of the M62 so can easily access most towns/city`s and am pretty close to the M1 and A1 motorway network.

Bryan.

You may have more luck with a smaller operator.

[BusmanBry]

Hi there Arriva Wakefield,

Thanks ever so much for your input on my dilema, it sure is appreciated.

I don`t suppose you happen to know of any small independant operators who may be interested in hiring someone who wants to learn all aspects of running a bus company do you?

Cheers,
Bryan.