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

Discussion in 'Employment and Students' started by Superchecker, Nov 19, 2011.

  1. user

    user Full Member

    Hey NiceGuy604,

    There isn't really much to tell as others have already explained it well before.

    Some tips from me:
    • The road test begins and ends at the VTC employee parking lot. There is a speed limit in the lot, so watch out for that.
    • Right turn on red (if there's no sign prohibiting it): Don't feel that you have to/must turn right on red. If you feel more comfortable turning on a green light, do that.
    • Scan the intersection both ways before you proceed through.
    • Can't remember where exactly but I remember driving to a three way intersection with a stop sign on the far side and a railway crossing just past the stop sign. Watch out for that.
    It's just like a Class 5 road test, minus freeway driving. You'll do just fine. :up:
     
    Last edited: Aug 2, 2016
    Superchecker likes this.
  2. twong91

    twong91 New Member

    Thanks! Do you know any of classes that are starting soon, like this month?
     
  3. Gc13

    Gc13 Junior Member

    Their doing classes every 2 weeks, mind you I can't tell you how far in advanced those classes are already booked.
     
    Superchecker likes this.
  4. Janfeel

    Janfeel New Member

    Hi Superchecker and ConventionalMan,

    today I drove a nova bus hybrid in the city for the first time!!!! at first I was so scared but it was great!!! I need to improve on my shoulder checks though.
    Going back to study now, just wanted to give you an update!!! tomorrow day 3 :)

    Cheers,
     
    Last edited: Aug 3, 2016
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  5. ConventionalMan

    ConventionalMan Full Member

    Awesome! Enjoy and before you know it you'll be graduated!
     
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  6. Tezzer

    Tezzer New Member

    Hi Guys, thanks for all the helpful posts, I have soaked it all up, it's a fantastic resource, and has given me such an insight and motivation to carry on with my application for conventional operator, I have my interview on Wednesday at VTC, and feel prepared. However, one thing I can't get my head around, it has been suggested I should have a few questions ready for the panel.....kind of lost at this point, don't know what subjects should be left out, any suggestions / advice would be greatly appreciated.
     
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  7. Kr6505

    Kr6505 Full Member

    Hey guys! I need to make a very important decision so I'm hoping you guys will help me decide on what to do. Right now I can only work two days a week with Coast Mountain as I have another job that I've had for six years. Its part time, medical and dental,vacations, sick leave but the pay is crap and can be physically and psychologically demanding. I'm really getting sick and tired of cleaning up after people. My title is " housekeeper " in a women's shelter in the downtown east side that's has 52 women staying in it. Its low barrier, which means 90% of the women are hardcore drug users. Anyhow I've been cleaning for a living almost twenty years now and I really want to get away from it. Now that I'm in with CMBC I want to make this my number one priority, but I'm scared that if I quit my job I won't get many hours with the buses. Summer is almost over and people will be back from their vacations so maybe there won't be as much work anymore. I found out you need at least 400 hours to be even considered for a part or full time position and with me only doing two days a week it would take forever to reach that many hours. If I was available seven days a week would I be guaranteed work every week? Even 3 days a week would be fine by me. So if anyone could give me an idea on what i should do please tell me. Being a bus operator is what I want to do with my life so should I risk it? Thanks for listening.
     
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  8. ConventionalMan

    ConventionalMan Full Member

    Hey @Kr6505, I feel your pain... A few years ago, I too was in exactly the same boat (different job, same situation - long time in an industry but it was just stale and I'd had enough) I too was a casual and needed to get as many hours as possible. Changing careers in mid-life for me was tough; mortgage, three kids, car insurance, groceries... blah blah blah you get it. After a couple of particularly rough weeks at my old job I finally gave in and gave my notice and haven't looked back since.

    Has it been a struggle? Yes. Has it been all rosy? No. But, after 2 years, I'm finally back at a spot where I am comfortable again. It was hard and tested a lot of patience all around, but it is doable. If you have your family and friends' support it's even easier. And I don't mean have them pay for everything but even just a little backup now and then. It took a lot of adjustment to our lifestyle but for the short term it was worth it. We still have a house and a car (or two) and even the kids stuck around through the lean times lol.

    All kidding aside, there are no guarantees when it comes to hours (as a casual) and I'm not sure how much has changed since I was in CTS (I wasn't aware of the 400 hour thing) but here's what I did:

    Every time a roster opening came up, I would apply. Also, if possible, make yourself available to EVERY depot, ANY time. It was a bit more travelling around but I gained the experience and the hours quickly, plus I would get lots of hours, including overtime, because they could use me wherever they needed someone. The paychecks were good! Again, it's only short-term because once you get that reduced or full-time spot you get a regular schedule and you finally get those benefits and vacation time back (remember, at some point you can also eventually move over to Conventional for another jump in pay and hours) Casuals used to have no problem getting hours as long as you were flexible and able to work everywhere. I found that as a reduced-time employee, I could still get a little overtime to top up my hours a bit. I went to conventional after that so I never did a full-time spot in shuttle although I heard OT is non-existent for FT shuttle ops. Once you go to Conventional it is guaranteed minimum 37.5 hrs a week, shuttle is not quite as many.

    Obviously, none of us here knows your personal situation and no one can tell you how to live your life and make your decisions for you. It is an extremely difficult and important personal choice, but clearly it sounds like you desire a change (and you did ask ;) lol) so I say GO FOR IT! I am glad I did.

    I hope this helps. It is really a great gig and even though it has it's challenges at times (what job doesn't?), it can be amazingly interesting too. I like to say (as one of my instructors told me a long time ago):

    How can you beat a corner office with a constantly changing view, the largest big-screen hi-def TV full of entertainment in front of your face all day, a guaranteed seat even when the bus is full and seeing some of the city's most colorful (and pungent) citizens grace your front step every day?

    Good luck!

    P.S. - BTW... I commend and applaud you for the work you do on the DTES. After driving many of those folks around a lot on Hastings, I couldn't imagine what you might have to put up with on a daily basis to try a make their live a little better. Bravo.
     
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  9. ConventionalMan

    ConventionalMan Full Member

    I'm not sure anyone can tell you what questions to ask. I think it's a personal thing as something may come up that you are perhaps expecting of the job or the people you encounter. As for subjects to be left out don't worry too much... obviously asking personal questions about someones sex life may not fly but...:laugh:

    Anyway, if something possible job related triggers a thought or concern or question in your mind then ask away I would say. I don't believe they are looking for anything specific, just opening up the mic so to speak so you don't go away wondering about anything.
     
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  10. Superchecker

    Superchecker Active Member

    For me, personally, transit has worked out well! I started out with a 3 month temp job which lead to longer term job and eventually full time.

    Is it possible to get
    Hello! I didn't have as much at stake back when I was just 20, but I was working retail grocery back then (6 years) and when a 3 month temp job at Transit presented itself: I JUMPED at the chance!
    I then applied for each and every internal job vacancy that came along; which led to longer term positions and eventually driving full time. For a few months i worked both Transit and Grocery, but ultimately left the grocery industry.

    For me personally, I was a "temp" for about 18 months. And I couldn't be happier working here.

    Whether it's driving, or getting your foot in the door and then switching to office jobs (Bus Information $22.13 hr); or cleaning buses; there are so many avenues at Transit. Some drive for a few years but also take courses to get into supervisory roles. One guy I used to drive with is now Depot Manager out in PoCo! Many get on as Road Supervisors or Operations Supervisors. I know of at least one guy who was a driver and made the transition into the tech department. Some become Instructors.

    If you could maybe cut down on the hours at the first job and try and get more hours at Transit: That would be my advice! Maybe seek out weekday shifts with Transit and only weekends with the other job?

    Best of luck! They are almost contiuously hiring more and more. The secret is to get that seniority number ASAP!
     
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  11. MunchMunch

    MunchMunch Junior Member

    Nuff Said!
     
  12. Superchecker

    Superchecker Active Member

    On a side note: City of North Van has a new posting up looking for a FT Truck Driver (2)/Swamper, $28.58 hr, plus benefits, Day shifts. Either 4-ten hour days, or 5- Eight hour days per work week.

    I saw it posted on one of my favorite sites: www.civicinfo.bc.ca/careers OR Google City of North Vancouver.
     
  13. Tezzer

    Tezzer New Member

    Great stuff, thanks again.
     
    ConventionalMan likes this.
  14. twong91

    twong91 New Member

  15. NiceGuy604

    NiceGuy604 Junior Member

    Hey guys,

    Got the email, grateful to pass the road test. Pheww. Now I'm supposed to go and do the Class 2 BC Commercial Learner’s Permit with air brake endorsement. Is that like a knowledge test for the air brakes and learners permit? I'm not too sure how it works and what's in store so can someone please shed some light? Thank you.
     
  16. Superchecker

    Superchecker Active Member

    BREAKING NEWS! New posting up TODAY looking for MORE CONVENTIONAL TRANSIT OPERATOR Trainees!

    www.translink.ca/careers and THEN "Coast Mountain Bus Company"
     
  17. ConventionalMan

    ConventionalMan Full Member

    Yep. A written test (well, on the computer) at ICBC, multiple choice, just like when you got your Class 5 learner's permit. Nothing to do with air brakes specifically as that is a different test but you need to tell them you want to do your Class 2 learner's and make sure they put the air endorsement on it. All that does is allow you to drive a vehicle with air brakes while you learn about it in training. My suggestion is to scan through and get familiar with the concepts in the Commercial Drivers Handbook that you can get from ICBC. Again, very similar to when you went for your Class 5. Hope that helps!
     
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  18. TypeRNammer

    TypeRNammer Full Member

    I like how they put in brackets (bus driver) for the position lol....
     
  19. Superchecker

    Superchecker Active Member

    Soo so much overtime in Richmond these days! We're loosing 140 Ops to other depots in Sept, and they are each entitled to 3 days route training (this month) to wherever they are transfering to.

    I turned down 6 hours extra yesterday but agreed to 4:15 OT.
     
  20. NiceGuy604

    NiceGuy604 Junior Member


    Thank you for the reply ConventionalMan. I was told by one of the friendly users here as well that you need to get 28/35 (80%) on the test. Therefore, what I need to do is go there and tell them I want to take the Class 2 written test and tell them to put the air brake endorsement on it as I will be training on it at a later date?

    The first thing is to pick up the Commercial Drivers Handbook from the local licensing office and start studying up. Also, just so that I know going in, can we do a re-test in the event we don't make it the first time for the ICBC class 2 knowledge test?

    In the meantime, I need to pass this first and after that point they will start contacting my references? Thank you for your help!
     
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