Taking The 'D'

[ECML180]

So my employer's pocket has suddenly lost weight as I convinced him to pay for my bus driving (Cat. d.) course! My long term aspirations certainly don't involve being a bus driver but being able to drive a bus is necessary, if that makes sense.

I thought I'd post a little blog/thread/talingtypething so anyone else interested might get a bit of advice on how to upgrade your licence and likewise anyone been through before might be able to offer me some tips!

I passed my theory tests today and was slightly disappointed...I got 98% and never found out which 2 questions were wrong. The next step is my CPC Case Study which is booked for next Tuesday, but this is not necessary for the practical tests so if I do fail it can just wait until after. After that is the practical non-crashing test which is due in a couple of weeks. I'll keep you updated on the (likely mundane) events as they progress.

 

[90019]

I thought I'd post a little blog/thread/talingtypething so anyone else interested might get a bit of advice on how to upgrade your licence and likewise anyone been through before might be able to offer me some tips!

I did it about two and a half years ago, after doing my class 2 (Cat C) a few months previously.

For the CPC Case Studies, my advice would be to not bother reading the case study bit first, just go to the questions. You can answer most, if not all, of them without bothering to read that bit.


When you do the show and tell part of the practical, if the examiner asks what you need to check on the inside of the bus, tell them about checking the seats by commenting that you don't want any of the passengers going on a magic carpet ride to the front of the bus when you brake.

 

[RJ]

The CPC tests are the kind of test you can't fail unless you don't give any answers. Anyone who does manage to fail them ought to consider a different line of work!

Good luck anyway

 

[ECML180]

Much appreciated advice guys, thank you!

 

[ECML180]

Well it's been good news! I passed my CPC on Tuesday and now I'm getting ready for my practical training to start on Monday. As mentioned above, the case part of the case study is fairly pointless, not bearing much relation to the questions sometimes and the questions follow each other so little it seems pointless!

 

[90019]

Well it's been good news! I passed my CPC on Tuesday and now I'm getting ready for my practical training to start on Monday.

Good luck.
Don't drive into anything I wouldn't drive into.

 

[ECML180]

What, like Sheffield?

As the only member of the operations department in the depot today I got permission to shunt the yard(at the time, this was easy-1 solo VOR, 1 school bus VOR and a routemaster that didn't need to move). But as we had people coming off school runs and private hires(St Leger week so extremely busy), and onto other work, buses were getting abandoned all over. In the end reversing a 15m triaxle around our brand new 8 seaters(4-delivered today!) was quite a baptism of fire!

 

[ECML180]

So, I'm pleased to report a passed Mod 4 and Practical Test! I'm very proud of myself as are my colleagues (I've never seen my boss so surprised or pleased!) and depending on requirements I might be driving in service by Friday, hopefully not seeing as I move away and back to uni on Sunday.

My tips for anyone taking the tests...
1) People will try and catch your bus. Don't let them!
2) Take it easy and go slow, even in the test. A hesitation fault is better than rushing into a big mistake!
3) Do it with a proper operator, a bus company with a training division is much more able to teach you than a training company with a bus.
4) As a graduate/management trainee/etc don't do it internally, those more experienced than me have said it builds an 'us and them' situation.
5) Enjoy it! If you don't like driving then the addition of ticketing and timetables and tourists will quite possibly ruin the job.

I'll add any more as I think of them.