Transit Jobs NOW!!! Coast Mountain Bus is HIRING!

Don't worry about the fares; we're out there to move people, not get into any arguments.

Practice; Practice; Practice.

You might need to either drive a few routes in your own car first or ride some of the buses on your days off.

I've driven my own car to learn the #104, C98 and the C92 routes.

Don't sweat the small stuff.

 

Don't be terrified. You'll be fine. My first shift I was nervous as hell too but just take your time... I made it and you will as well.

But I agree - line training is 4-5 hours? Not enough. Conventional is NINE days! Mind you, after nine days of line training, my first conventional shift was pretty nerve wracking too so...

But seriously, we all make it through. You'll be fine!

 

Welcome to Community Shuttle! Congrats on making it through the training. You've also finished at a good time, as you still have until tomorrow to apply to switch to full or part-time for the next signup if you want. And like people have said above, it will get better with practice.

 

I've heard that Surrey was (and probably still is) a more "senior" depot to get into. Why is that?

 

Possibly more senior drivers live out that way.

For me personally, Richmond depot is like 12 minutes away.

 

I got bumped up a day so that's not too bad, I'll take that!

 

LOTS of senior ops live in Surrey. Who wouldn't want to work closer to home?

 

I put in for my interest in part time... I would like full time but I thought part time would be better to start off with. My chances of getting part time right away, I'm guessing, are pretty slim. But I'm hearing a lot of Shuttle operators are going conventional, so maybe I got a shot. I put in my availability for next pay period. Right now I can only do the minimum ( 4 days) I still got my other job, relatives coming from Scotland, a wedding. After that I can do more hours. The ADP is not an option for me right now.

 

FYI: It takes many new drivers, months if not 2 winters 9snow) to fully feel comfortable in the job. Each sheet change brings new experiences, so whenever we change shifts, it's almost like starting new again!

For Conventional Op's every summers sign up (for September) brings the annual questions from your Union rep about Vacation sign up: Do you want to bank any stat weeks (0, 1, or 2); We earn 12 Stat holidays each year. You can choose to get them paid out as they occur in the calendar (don't bank) OR can take one or two weeks off as vacation weeks. Just NOT able to take Stat weeks off in Prime Time. Prime Time is generally whenever kids are out of school.

Do you want to bank any Overtime in the New calendar year (0, 5 days, or 10 days). You can get Overtime paid into an Overtime bank and then book days off as needed thru out the year. Always a great option to have 5 or 10 days available to book off to cover appointments or family emergencies. Or your Bday.

Once you reach 23 years you gain a 6th week of Vacation. So every Summer you'll be asked if you want to take that 6th week as a full week, OR 5 individual random Days next year. Personally: I choose the 5 random days. I can then make long weekends whenever I desire.

 

Yea that's all really wonderful stuff. im super excited to work for this company. Mind you, Ill be 50 by the time I have 23 years seniority so I'm in no rush for that lol.

Friday was my 5th day on the job. I rotated runs on the 136 and 134. After doing each one once I started feeling really comfortable and I was creeping myself out with how comfortable I am becoming doing this job already. Mind you things would be different if I remained in VTC driving trolleys around downtown.

I was really intimidated going to Burnaby when I noticed how many turns each route had, many with 20 or more. Then I found out it was all interlined! I was so panicked when I got my first days work with 5 different trips included, including the 110 and 144!. Still I got through it okay, and I've got to the point where I'm getting comfortable tackling new routes each day. I take it slow the first time, then the second time around I know what I'm doing pretty well.

I was gonna take a notice run out of class, but I found being spareboard is giving me very favourable hours that no noticerun can match.

At the end of the day though the thing that really makes me happy isn't the favourable wage, benefits, or vacations. Its that I really seem to enjoy driving a bus. It doesn't feel like work, rather an adventure.

 

HAHA! Give it a few weeks lol! Kidding!

While it has it's moments like any other job, it is great to be "out and about" while working!

It was described to me perfectly by one of my instructors: Where else can you have a corner office with a view, non-stop entertainment, a big screen tv in front of you to see said entertainment and views and no end of different characters, and no "boss" breathing down your neck? I hated being behind a desk and this is a perfect way to get paid while enjoying the city. And once your shift if done, you don't have any work to take home. Awesome!

Keep your eyes open, your head down, stay alert and enjoy the ride!

 

You haven't done 17 weeks on a #20, or an #8 yet have you???Lol!

 

Clearly!

 

4 others including myself are going to BTC in consolidation, and 4 to 6 I believe are on holding list to BTC.

 

4 Newbies were out learning Richmond routes today.

 

So... yesterday was fun on the 99. Always entertaining on that special Wednesday of every month.

Hope all you recent grads are enjoying your new chosen profession so far!

 

Hello.... I'm confused and need some help. Today was a day I put down on my availability. I haven't been out yet. I was told to check OPS-web after 4 the day before to see if I have work. I did that, in fact it was around 4:30-5:45. There was nothing there on my assignment list. I was told if nothing there after 4 there isn't any work. I get a call at 12:30 from dispatch saying I was supposed to be at Haney Place mall at 12:11pm today! I told dispatched I checked yesterday and there wasn't anything. What did I do wrong?? Am I supposed to keep checking every hour to see if I'm scheduled? From now on I'm calling dispatch the day before to make sure I get the schedule. I tried calling dispatch to talk to the supervisor and explained what happened but was told he wasn't in and I asked for his direct number but all she told me she wasn't sure if I'll be called in to see him or not. I've been a wreck all day today but what's done is done. Lesson learned.

 

Sorry to hear. I am not up on how Shuttle does things; maybe one of the guys who has worked shuttle can shed some light on it?

Don't worry about it too much, we are all human. The idea is to not let it happen again.

I made a boo boo last year, by picking a piece for overtime, but forgetting about it later and the shift went uncovered! I won't ever do that again.

 

Yeah I guess you guys won't have that problem because you know your schedule already. Thanks for trying tho...

 

Hey Kr, you were right to check the OPS-web after 4pm the day before. But did you check the "Assignment Calendar" and check to see if there was work posted for the next day there? A possibility is that you checked the "Assignment List" and did not specify the time range to show next day's work as well.

If you checked everywhere and still haven't seen any work after 4pm... then I'm not sure what could have happened. If you are called by Dispatch or T-Comm after 4pm to be assigned work, they should always confirm with you before assigning work to you. If you did everything you could, then I wouldn't worry too much. Hopefully this kind of thing doesn't happen to you again. Good luck.