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

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

  1. TypeRNammer

    TypeRNammer Full Member

    Any idea when RTC is going to retire the old flyer buses? Seems like they're trying to run it down to the ground lol.
     
  2. Superchecker

    Superchecker Active Member

    That posting has now ended. I must admit I am a little confused as the latest BUZZER newsletter advertises the fact that Coast Mountain Bus Company is in fact hiring drivers...
     
  3. TypeRNammer

    TypeRNammer Full Member

    Community shuttle training is slated to start at the end of January, that's what I'm hearing from the instructors.
     
  4. TypeRNammer

    TypeRNammer Full Member

    Did my first day of line instruction, doing the 19 route.
    God damn every time I pulled into the metrotown bus loop, there were 2 RTC artics that broke down. The XDE60 and the D60LF.
    Me on the other hand got short turned in downtown cause I was 20 minutes behind lol....
     
  5. MunchMunch

    MunchMunch Junior Member

    20 mins behind only to get short turned, so there were probably 2 other 19 behind you and you dumped the rest of the work to the guy behind. Also, you probably messed his break or layover at Stanley park. Your trainer should have taken over for you after perhaps when you were 1 bus behind instead of letting you make everyone late.
     
  6. Superchecker

    Superchecker Active Member

    Come on, give him a break; It was his FIRST day! We've all been there. I haven't done a #19 in 15 years, but would feel safe to say that at this time of year even the experienced Ops would be running late with holiday shoppers and traffic, etc.

    As for broken down buses it seems to go in cycles: You can go weeks/months without any problems and then in one week you could go thru a dozen buses or more with various problems.

    Back on the last stat holiday: Full standing load coming out of White Rock: Engine shut down twice coming north on Hwy #99; some low oil sensor. Decided NOT to risk breaking down in the tunnel so we put the passengers onto the next 2 buses and waited for a mechanic to tell me the bus was not drivible. Went back to the depot to get another bus: That new bus would NOT start! Got it started and drove off only to discover excessive/smoky exhaust! Had to get yet another bus!
     
    Last edited: Dec 16, 2015
    ConventionalMan likes this.
  7. MunchMunch

    MunchMunch Junior Member

    No I understand it was his first day. So no problem there, but the issue is the trainer he had or operator. He should have taken over as soon as he saw a bus in the back. Then given the new driver the realms again once, it is deemed safe and efficient.

    I was on a bus, one time only to be 30 mins late cause of a new driver and the trainer just letting him drive 30kms with 4 buses packed in the back all lined up. To only get kicked off bus later and jammed into the bus in the back in the rain.
     
  8. ConventionalMan

    ConventionalMan Full Member

    Pump the brakes a bit man, on MY line training, my trainer was DRIVING on a 20 and we were STILL 20 min down lol
     
  9. ConventionalMan

    ConventionalMan Full Member

    There are times on the various routes I've done where drivers, experienced or not, are wayyy behind. The 22 was bad for that, anywhere from 15-30 min down at times. The 10...always seems to be down. Just the other day I was doing a 106, Saturday afternoon... the op in front of me, 17 years driving, was behind me at times and I was -8 ...

    Slow loading passengers, scooters, strollers, wheelchairs... it all adds up and next thing you know you're -15 and buses are breathing down your tailpipe. Just yesterday I was -12 on a 99 because of bad traffic and one wheelchair on an old low floor where we need to actually lock the person in. It happens. The MAJOR downside with trolleys is the fact you can't pass unless the op in front drops his/her poles. And even then that would be in extreme cases. Mostly you just go with the flow.

    Speaking of breakdowns, I just has a bus shut down completely on me the other night... Was doing an N19 and just left the terminus downtown, turned on to Georgia and the check light came on. Within about 5 seconds the shut down light came on and it died right there in the middle of the road. Supervisor came and 45min later after adding 3 jugs of water to the cooling system, I was on my way again. Missed the whole trip and was told just to go back to the yard. Done for the night. But yeah, stuff happens and we just have to make do the best we can.

    Don't sweat it TypeRNammer. It gets smoother daily and even after a few years, it can still go sideways so just carry on operator!
     
    user and TypeRNammer like this.
  10. TypeRNammer

    TypeRNammer Full Member

    As expected huge mess at Marine Station, grand opening of the T&T supermarket. People trying to drive in the underground parking lot like a can of sardines. The 100 bus that I was on was 42 minutes down.
     
  11. Superchecker

    Superchecker Active Member

    Multiple car accidents earlier around Oak & Marine. Now Oak Bridge is closed Northbound too. Major delays along Bridgeport Road and Hwy #99 too. Many buses late and detouring away form the congested areas.
     
  12. TypeRNammer

    TypeRNammer Full Member

    Class 1 is set to start in the 2nd week of January 2016 as well as a shuttle class.

    That's the most info I can squeeze out from one of my line instructors who's actually an acting instructor.
     
    user likes this.
  13. Superchecker

    Superchecker Active Member

    On a side note: City of New Westminster has postings up for Tow Truck drivers! $28.77 hr! Both Regular Status & Auxiliary Status.

    I saw the postings over at www.civicinfo.bc.ca/careers/ OR Google city of New Westminster!
     
  14. Superchecker

    Superchecker Active Member

    Hey Gang! Hope everyone is enjoying the Festive Season!

    Just sort of a year end round up: Currently 21 job postings up with TransLink; 10 MORE at Coast Mountain Bus; 6 MORE at SkyTrain/BCRTC; 2 MORE with Transit Police; 1 MORE with the HandyDART contractor; and 2 MORE with Canada Line. www.translink.ca/drive

    It will be an interesting new year coming up for TransLink. New Transit Centre/depot opening in September in the "Hamilton" neighbourhood of east Richmond. Designed to replace the aging North Vancouver and Oakridge depots. Buses/shifts will shuffle to other depots, meaning some manpower will also move around as well.

    And then sometime in 2017 the Evergreen Line should finally open. They'll need MORE Staff! Keep an eye on the BCRTC job postings! Maybe go and get your 1st Aid ticket!

    And then some news or announcements are expected on the Surrey Light rail project; as well as the Broadway SkyTrain extention too.
     
  15. TypeRNammer

    TypeRNammer Full Member

    Anyone see the big bulletin boards in front of their respective depot in regards on which routes are being transferred to Hamilton?

    Man a lot of senior drivers are going to be pissed off about it at VTC but then again that's where the consolidated sign up comes into play.

    Superchecker you probably know that your garage is gonna shrink quite a bit.
     
  16. user

    user Full Member

    Hi everyone and a happy new year,

    I haven't posted here in a while. Hope everyone is doing well! I've been working as a community shuttle operator for a few weeks now and it's been going well for the most part. One of the challenges of being a casual is that like ConventionalMan had said earlier, you are expected to work basically anywhere the shuttles run. This also means you usually don't know where you will be working until the day before or even on the day of work! But after you drive a route a few times, it gets much easier. :up: Still, I'm hoping for a reduced/full-time soon so that I can at least get a fixed schedule/route.
     
    TypeRNammer likes this.
  17. TypeRNammer

    TypeRNammer Full Member

    Thanks for the update! I could just imagine how tedious it can be being a casual for shuttle. But then again for myself, I would probably have more difficulty with shuttle routes than conventional routes.

    I just graduated a few days ago and I was on spare board for one day on Friday. And now I'll be on my own adventure tomorrow.

    @user are you planning to make the jump into conventional once you past probation?
     
    user likes this.
  18. user

    user Full Member

    @TypeRNammer

    I may transfer over later. I heard that I just needed 500 hours and of course there needs to be a position open. It doesn't seem like I have to be out of probation before I can apply. So I'll see how things go!

    Congrats and best of luck!
     
    Last edited: Jan 3, 2016
    Superchecker and TypeRNammer like this.
  19. Fairbox

    Fairbox Junior Member

    Hey Guys,

    So i got in the January intake.
    really excited but also nervous at the same time.

    I was just curious if anyone one could give me some advice about the training. Also how much practice do you get for the road test.I have never driven a bus or anything that big. And also hows the passing rate for the training. Thanks .
     
    user and Superchecker like this.
  20. Superchecker

    Superchecker Active Member

    Hello! Welcome! There are few regulars here that have done training more recently, but when I did training nearly 25 years ago: The pass rate was very close to 100% I would guesstimate it at closer to 80% nowadays.

    For Conventional Transit Operator training: I think the road rest is like day 6 or 7 now. You do 2 hours class time in the mornings, roughly 4 hours driving, and then 2 more hours of class time. Learning the Pre trip Inspection; and the air brake system is the big things first; then the road test before switching onto the trolley buses. Training is 6 weeks long with the final 2 weeks "Line Training": out driving in service buses.

    Classes range from say 6 to 16 Trainees per class.
     
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