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

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

  1. MunchMunch

    MunchMunch Junior Member

    Class 2 learners (air endorsed on it) is all you need. Have you not take a class 5 before? Same thing, get learners and go and drive!

    If your applying for a bus driver position, why would they give you a regualr car as a test drive? of course you will be driving a vehicle related to the job you are applying for! Dam sure the bus or vehicle will be empty while test you lol, unless they have some dumb people who have nothing else better to do during the day to sit on your test ride.

    As for downtown for a beginner. I highly doubt ANYONE is that stupid to take someone to downtown for a TEST Drive when they are located at Marine and Hudson!

    You are thinking WAY too far ahead of yourself. Get passed the 1st step and 2nd step.

    you are asking about 4 and 5th step which is not even necessary.

    600 people 10 make it.
    I was one of the losers too lol.
     
    Last edited: Apr 7, 2015
  2. largechicken

    largechicken New Member

    If you read the requirements for applying and doing all the interview steps (including the driving test) it lists only Class 5 as necessary. Or is there a hidden step between the panel interview and the driving test where you have to go and acquire your class 2 learners?
     
  3. MunchMunch

    MunchMunch Junior Member

    Not so much a hidden step, but rather you kinda need a learners (its the law) to actually drive the bus around town. So, yes they will most likely inform you by that point to acquire. They probably don't tell people that you need a learners right away seeing as SOoooo many people apply and so few actually even get to that stage.
     
  4. Superchecker

    Superchecker Active Member


    Hello! I don't know the exact correct wording BUT you do need a "Learners Air Brake Endorsement" prior to Training... CMBC will train you for the class #2 with Air...
    I've known guys who didn't get it in time and missed out on certain training classes...

    I went thru training back in 1992... Tons of quizzes and homework in the first 3 weeks or so... NO SOCIAL LIFE! Seriously! Say good bye to family and friends while in Training!
    I'd highly recommend studying the Commercial drivers Air Brakes manual...

    It is true that the company seeks out 1,000 applicants to hopefully get like 50 Trainees...

    "Conventional" (Big Bus) is all Full time, minimum 7.5 hours a day, BUT can be split shifts and or LATE shifts...
    "Community Shuttle" is part time and can even be Casual....

    New Hires can usually expect long split shifts during the week, Such as 7am to 7pm with a 4 hour break in the middle, and late shifts on the weekend... Most get forced off stat holidays for the first year or 2, simply because we only need like 1/2 or 1/3 of the normal staff on Stat holidays... We pick our shifts 4 times a year, otherwise you'll be on the spareboard in between sign ups...

    We are a 24/7 operation. We have shifts that start at 3:30am, and others that end at 6am the next morning... A good portion of shifts are split shifts because the majority of service is out during Rush Hours...

    I've heard rumours of needing 200 more drivers this year, and that could triple if the funding referendum passes...

    PS: It used to be highly recommended that applicants go out and ride evening city trolley routes such as a #3 MAIN, #8 FRASER or #20 VICTORIA on a Friday or Saturday night... These are the types of shifts you will get in the beginning...
     
    Last edited: Apr 8, 2015
  5. ConventionalMan

    ConventionalMan Full Member

    Hey largechicken!

    First off, when I went for my interview I wore dress pants/shoes and button down shirt (no tie). I made it and am driving buses now so suit and tie NOT required! :laugh:

    Secondly, if I recall correctly, references were checked somewhere in the middle, pretty much where MunchMunch posted above from the Translink site.

    Third, as I posted previously and again as MunchMunch pointed out, everyone has different needs, wants and requirements for hours so senior and junior guys are mixed all over. Example: This past Saturday and Sunday I drove the #14 until 3am both nights and yesterday I drove an AM tripper on a 41 and #3 in the afternoon and was done at 630pm. That is on the Spareboard. As of Monday, the new sheet starts (new schedule and work change 4 times a year) and my signed work is not bad. Mon-Tue off, Wed-Thu I work 6-930am on a 20, 2-615pm on a 10, Fri 630-10am on a 9 and 230-630pm on a 5/6. Saturday and Sunday I'll drive a OWL on a 16 and finish around 130-2am. It may not be ideal for some but it works for me home-wise and my seniority is not very high. The major downside is the long splits can make a long day but the overall hours are good.

    Four - the driving test is done in a minivan, at worst a full-size van. Mine was in a minivan, for both conventional and shuttle. They stopped using a 40-foot bus a long time ago for this. It is actually called a trainability test and they are looking for general driving aptitude, skills and habits that you may have (that they can train out of you!) :D
    The routes are simple, through Vancouver from the Depot into downtown and back, looking for various things like hill parks, playground/speed zones, signals, shoulder checks and such. They tell you where to turn stop and park etc. Pretty straight forward. Just relax and drive according to rules of the road.

    Don't overthink it, you'll be better off!

    Hope this helps! Good luck :up:
     
  6. ConventionalMan

    ConventionalMan Full Member

    Yep I've recently rolled in a few times at 4am at the end of my shift while others are just heading out for the day...weird feeling lol.

    And they're still recommending ride-alongs. I did, and I've also had a couple of prospective employees on my buses in the last couple of weeks. I like to see them aboard as I enjoy answering questions. I've had one show up on a #10 as well. Definitely the 3, 8 and 20 (especially the 20!) will give a good idea what you're in for. I actually enjoy the 3.
     
  7. Superchecker

    Superchecker Active Member

    Hi Gang! Not too much to report today....

    Just wanted to point out that while there isn't any active "Driving" postings at this time: There ARE:

    -Approx 18 job postings up at TransLink... www.translink.ca/drive
    -Another 10 at Coast Mountain Bus Company...
    -Another dozen or so at BCRTC-SkyTrain...
    -1 MORE at WCE...
    -2 MORE at Transit Police...
    -None locally, but a whole bunch back in Barrie Ontario for HandyDART...


    -3 MORE at Canada Line: www.protransbc.com/

    -Ever changing list of opportunities over at www.civicinfo.bc.ca/16.asp

    Lengthy lists of active jobs over at Great Canadian Casinos, as well as Gateway Casinos too!

    BC Transit- Victoria had 6 active postings late last night...
     
  8. MunchMunch

    MunchMunch Junior Member

    Interesting, they did not even use a real sized bus to test you for the train ability part? What the heck how does that even make sense. What happens if you can not drive a 40 foot bus at all period lol, after going through the whole hiring process. That would really SUCK.
     
  9. WonderBoy

    WonderBoy Guest

    Spending 13 hours a day to make only 7.5 hours' pay. Why do some people want to sell themselves and their family at sacrifice ???
     
  10. MunchMunch

    MunchMunch Junior Member

    Depends on the kinda job you have before hand. Hell, I do 10 hours a day now regardless with no OT and still make less then Transit operators.
     
    ConventionalMan likes this.
  11. Superchecker

    Superchecker Active Member

    Not all shifts are split shifts... No one job is for everyone... As our seniority improves, so does the choices in shifts...

    For some the split shifts are more attractive, for a variety of reasons... Can do chores or fitness on your break...

    Over 3,000 of us, and thousands more who apply every year too...

    Decent wages and benefits... Choices in shifts and work locations... Career development....

    Can be a rewarding career...
     
    ConventionalMan likes this.
  12. ConventionalMan

    ConventionalMan Full Member

    Believe me, they train you from scratch. And the training is extremely well done. Basic driving skills are the same regardless of vehicle size. The skills they teach enhance basic skills and are specialized for driving large vehicles.
     
  13. ConventionalMan

    ConventionalMan Full Member

    Bingo.

    Good benefits, perks, pension. Far better than it sounds. As Superchecker mentioned too, splits can be a good thing, but there is something that fits everyone, especially as seniority increases :)

    I was in a commissioned sales job before. One day off a week usually, always on call, worked stats without any perks like time and a half (if I didn't sell, I didn't get paid at all), ok benefits but no pension or job security...
     
  14. Sonic6

    Sonic6 New Member

    I heard translink provides bus passes to its employees? Is it only for regular employees or do temporary employees get them as well since temporary employees don't get the benefits?
     
  15. ConventionalMan

    ConventionalMan Full Member

    I'm not sure how you define temporary, but I got mine (Employee Compass Card) when I was hired and for a long while I was classified as Part-Time Casual. Employees get a pass good for Bus, SeaBus, SkyTrain/Canada Line and West Coast Express services any time. One additional pass is available for an immediate family member but is not technically "free". Hope this answers your question!
     
  16. Superchecker

    Superchecker Active Member

    Regular status employees and those who need to use transit as part of their jobs have employee passes... Temporary staff that don't need to ride transit everyday do not have employee passes...
     
  17. Superchecker

    Superchecker Active Member

    TransLink has a new posting up looking for CUSTOMER SERVICE REPS... No wage given but I'd assume at least the same as Customer Information Clerks at $22 an hour...
     
  18. Joe48

    Joe48 Guest

    CMBC has an excellent pension plan. Something that fewer and fewer companies are offering. Sometimes you have to look beyond the paycheque.
     
  19. CharlieUK

    CharlieUK Junior Member

    Can anyone tell me exactly what is involved in the medical exam for Skytrain Attendant, i.e. blood pressure (how high/low), is it a thorough exam, or do they just give you the once over?
     
  20. Superchecker

    Superchecker Active Member

    I don't know all of the current specifics but way back when I got hired by then BC Transit: It was a full medical exam... Had to give a urine sample, drop my shorts- turn and cough... Hearing test, vision test...

    Maybe soemone who's gone thru the process in the past year or so could shed some light on that...
     
    CharlieUK likes this.

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