PCV Licence..

[West]

Hi All,

A query about PCV licences, done a little digging on DVLA..

I recently saw an advert in my local paper from Arriva recruiting drivers from Age 18+ as long as they have had their licence for atleast 1 year..

Thoughts?

 

[West]

Driving a bus can be a bit tedious, plus having to deal with some of the people. If you like driving, do your PSV, drive around buses for a couple of years, do your Class 2 and Class 1 then drive Class 1. Very good money in it on certain jobs!

Thats what im planning, i've always been lured by a driving job, a lot of my work is customer focused at the moment... but the whole licence this to me is a bit mixed, the advert said as long as you were 18 and had your licence for a year, your fine to apply... but D class which I think is PCV is 21... although I can drive any vehicle upto 7.5t now im 18... Confusing!

 

[West]

Well, last night I was at my sisters BF's 18th birthday party, and his stepmum, she works for Arriva Midlands, they have a depot in Cannock Town Centre, about 5 mins from where I live.

So I thought i'd ask her a question about this, as it was her area that was advertising for drivers... I asked her if that advert was correct, and it was she said that they take drivers on full time learning for an every day on a bus for 5 weeks to get the licence and testing, and an additional 4 weeks for route learning. All of which is Fully Paid, and the pay also was a lot better than first thought..

6am till 8pm - £7.50 an hour (I'm currently on just over £7)
8pm Onwards - £9 an hour
Bank Holidays - a cool £17.75 an hour

So in november, im gonna go ahead with this, better money and I honestly think I will enjoy it a lot more than the job i'm in

 

[West]

That really is an appalling wage for a full time job like that. You must be mad.

Not really... your shift varies so earlies ok the wage isnt brilliant, but if you end up doing a later shift the wage isnt too bad... and put it into perspective Fox, you dont just work for the money, when you get a bit older and you're not learning still, you've gotta have some degree of happiness..

 

[West]

Yes, the happiness is more important than the money but come on dude, this is a job as a bus driver. It's hardly a dream career break worth accepting rubbish money for a heck of responsbility for, is it?

Its more money than im on atm, and it gives me a step up to eventually doing my class 1, this automatically gives you class 2 entitlement, plus it's a lot better than having to work nights, which I hate with a passion here.

What is it that attracts you about it - ferrying yobs around town? Doing the school run and getting spat at? Driving around in a vehicle with a 50mph speed limiter fitted to it? Sitting in the greasy spoon drivers canteen?

It has some degree of that, but I spoke to my sisters bfs step mum, she has never had a problem with anyone.. the attraction is better hours, better pay, and doing something I honestly think I would enjoy more than sitting around in a control room with a shift that are constantly bitching and being petty.

If you want to become a professional driver you can do so much better than driving buses. Well, I say buses, what I really mean is Plaxton Beaver 2's - you may want google it becuase it's a bit like driving a van. Only much slower. With yobs in it. Becuase you won't be driving any proper buses for at least 2 years.

a lot of the fleet round here are all newer, they arent that bad at all, ok so they're not fast, but I enjoy a challenge...

 

[West]

It's still in production.

I really dont care what kind of Bus I drive to be honest lol, but driving for me isnt just a neccecaty, its a hobby and I enjoy it a lot... if I dont enjoy doing the bus driving, at least with the licence I can move into another job if I want..

 

[West]

This sounds like a good route for your LGV licence.

Hopefully you should be able to sail through the class 2 test since you'll be used to driving a vehicle that size and then it's onto the class 1.

According to my sisters bfs Stepmum, you get automatic entitlement as it is classed as a HGV licence, so you get the automatic entitlement to any vehicle upto 7.5t..

 

[West]

Bit of an update.

After all the postal strikes, I had a reply from Travel West Midlands, another company who operate in my local area. They have invited me for a formal interview and driving assesment, meaning i've gotta drive like a saint for an hour with a bloke sat in with me lol.

Roll on the 16th

 

[West]

Have you thought about becoming a delivery driver, perhaps?
Shunting around in an empty Merc (5 cyl) sprinter can be fun...

I love driving but I couldn't imagine anything more boring than driving a bus and as Fox points out, the responsibility/salary scale is a little one sided.

The salery with the company i've applied for is a little more convincing.

Starter for the first year you begin on £7.50 an hour, and obviously Double time for un-socialble etc.

After a year, it then increments and after 5 years going upto £10 an hour plus an extra days holiday a year.. and according to the description, they said that theres a review in progress, so hopefully that will be an increase as well.

 

[West]

i believe that your stuck with a 3.5 tonne max on your licence unless you passed before januay 2001 m8 tbh

I am able to do a PCV, the only conditions are that I cannot travel a route that exceeds 50km, and I wont be able to drive the double deckers...

driving jobs have always tempted me, im a loner, and anything that pays more tha 5.50ph is a winner in my books rofl

heh, same. Im on just over £7 at my current job answering the phone, atleast if I get this i'll be able to Drive, which is atleast something I enjoy

 

[West]

Driving a Minibus full of old people is not really the same experience as chucking your Mini around..

True, but its still driving.. might as well do it for a couple of years, if I dont like it atleast i'll have the experience as a 'professional' driver (notice the inverted commas ) to fall back on should I decide to go into haulage or something similar.

 

[West]

If I have to drive for a living (which is what I do) I'd much rather be in a truck than a bus or taxi, thanks, - In a truck, your load won't complain at your driving

I havnt dismissed the idea of Trucking yet, im simply not old enough, as I said previous, if I dont enjoy bus driving, once im 21 and providing I can get the licences done I will go into Truckin' and then get that Mini Cooper S i've always dreamed of LOL.

 

[West]

Mini Cooper S? You set your aspirations low

I know

But I wouldnt mind a 3 or a 5 series, been looking into them tonight as well... and I will admit im swaying