Stagecoach Trainee Bus Drivers

[Aictos]

I've found out my local Stagecoach company is taking on trainees with deadline being October 2014, just curious but what can anyone tell me about what to expect ie terms and conditions, using the ticket machines to sell tickets etc...

What's the route learning like, do you have to learn ALL routes within a week or do you learn one route, stick to that then as time go by learn the other routes?

As to the ticket machines, what are they like to operate? Do you have to be quite good at maths to use them or are they idiot proof?

What's the pay/holiday like?

Just wondered that's all

 

[TheWalrus]

Ticket machines are relatively easy. You will probably learn all the main routes first then other routes later as you move between rosters. You don't really need maths to operate the ticket machines it can do it for you. All I Know about holiday is I think you get an extra week after 5 years.

 

[GaryMcEwan]

The ticket machines are quite simple to use, there are buttons up each side of the ETM and 4 buttons at the bottom of the screen and then a row of buttons on the bottom eg, Adult, Riders and so on...

They are quite idiot proof really but from what I've seen topping up the Smartcards via ETM seem to be quite time consuming, maybe that's because the system has just gone live at Western and they haven't gotten fully used to it yet...

I can't remember how long it takes to get your Purple Staff Card and you'll also get a Yellow one for a member of family...

 

[Aictos]

Just wondered if it's worth going from a reasonable job with a long commute to a job which is more driving but only a 10 min drive to the depot, obviously pay and conditions will be different.

 

[BestWestern]

Just wondered if it's worth going from a reasonable job with a long commute to a job which is more driving but only a 10 min drive to the depot, obviously pay and conditions will be different.

Depends entirely on what you mean by 'reasonable' job?! If you mean a respectable position with decent pay and some worthwhile career prospects, then for heaven's sake stick with it! Bus driving is, sadly, poorly paid and lacking any career structure.

 

[34D]

Depends entirely on what you mean by 'reasonable' job?! If you mean a respectable position with decent pay and some worthwhile career prospects, then for heaven's sake stick with it! Bus driving is, sadly, poorly paid and lacking any career structure.

I more or less second this. However, if enjoyment and job satisfaction matter to you, and you are reasonably sure that bus driving will give what you want, then go ahead.

 

[notadriver]

34D you surprise me. I thought you pro buses.

Stagecoach ordered the largest about of new buses ever in the UK. So you'd be driving something new. There's also an opportunity to progress and drive Megabuses arguably the most luxurious fleet of scheduled coach services in the country. And well paid too.

 

[Shrimper]

Prospects vary by depot. At Stagecoach Manchester it seemed almost every management position was filled by someone who had been a driver at some point (and they seemed to prefer internal promotion) within the company; so there was the Megabus option for progression but at our depot you could also apply for allocator/router positions when they came up which had potential to lead into management. However every depot is different, and smaller ones are unlikely to have the same opportunities.

 

[34D]

34D you surprise me. I thought you pro buses.

I am. But I am also realistic about the state of the industry.

 

[ECML180]

Sadly bus driving is poorly paid, but I'm told can be very enjoyable, certain routes especially so. If you like driving, don't dislike people and enjoy a bit of responsability you are likely to enjoy it, just be warned of the hours worked!

As for ticket machines they are dead easy unless you have to do anything particularly complex, I taught myself destination blinds and ticket machines in an afternoon at the company where I work, you'll be fine!

 

[anthony263]

certainly I am enjoying my time working for First here in Worcester. £9.00 per hour is a pretty dent wage I think and yes this job has its bad points however it can also be very enjoyable especially driving country routes in this good weather

 

[notadriver]

There's lots of things I want to see to encourage new blood into the industry. Things like shorter working hours and paid breaks.

 

[34D]

There's lots of things I want to see to encourage new blood into the industry. Things like shorter working hours and paid breaks.

My company give the first 45 minutes of a break as unpaid (for everyone) then the remainder is a paid break (the longest break is 2.5 hours, so that's potentially 1h 45m of being paid to drink coffee etc.

The whole industry needs an overhaul though.

 

[burns20]

Stagecoach in Liverpool pay £10.25 p/h with enhancements for Bank Holiday working with a payrise to £11.00 p/h next month.

I got learnt all the routes as you go onto an all route roster at first then can put in for a route you like. I prefer the variety.

2 days off a week with one long weekend off a month.

 

[Stan Drews]

It will vary greatly depending on which part of the country you are talking about. The image that some portray on here is not one that I recognise, and I've spent all my working life in the bus industry. There is plenty of opportunity to progress within Stagecoach if you have what it takes, and are willing to try for them when they come along.
Whilst bus industry pay rates are not what you see in the rail industry, that doesn't mean that bus driver pay rates don't compare very favourably with many other hourly pay rates where similar skills are required at the outset.
If you like working with people, and are prepared to work a wide variety of shifts across all seven days of the week, then at least submit an application. Remember that the recruitment/selection process is a two way thing, so does no harm if you realise it isn't for you if you get to the interview stage.

 

[notadriver]

I've worked for stagecoach and would still be working for them if they accepted casual drivers. But their pay rates are easily the highest in the area and they can be choosy when it comes to drivers. They also have the newest vehicles in the area.

 

[RT4038]

It will vary greatly depending on which part of the country you are talking about. The image that some portray on here is not one that I recognise, and I've spent all my working life in the bus industry. There is plenty of opportunity to progress within Stagecoach if you have what it takes, and are willing to try for them when they come along.
Whilst bus industry pay rates are not what you see in the rail industry, that doesn't mean that bus driver pay rates don't compare very favourably with many other hourly pay rates where similar skills are required at the outset.
If you like working with people, and are prepared to work a wide variety of shifts across all seven days of the week, then at least submit an application. Remember that the recruitment/selection process is a two way thing, so does no harm if you realise it isn't for you if you get to the interview stage.

I think this is a fair reflection of working as a Bus Driver for Stagecoach. Naturally you will come across people who hate the job for all sorts of reasons, or feel that it should pay more for shorter hours etc. Your life is going to be regulated by the clock, and by a set of procedures and rules that will sometimes be irksome and even mildly contradictory. But there are plenty of people who live with this and enjoy it. Every Stagecoach company (and at some companies individual depots) have different pay, conditions and rostering arrangements, but you can ask about this for your particular location should you get to the interview stage.