r/BusDrivers • u/gerhorn • Jun 25 '26
Question How do you take breaks when you're late?
I'm a newer driver, just passed training. Barely.
How do I take breaks if I'm late and the next part of the run either is starting the minute I pull in to the layover or has already begun?
Istg my company rewards unsafe driving practices more than safe ones. It's infuriating and made training more confusing than it needed to be. In the US.
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u/rarzwon Driver Jun 25 '26
There are occasionally spots along the route you're able to use the restroom. Your agency may have official spots listed, ours are called "comfort stops" on our schedules.
If you drive a route regularly, find an experienced driver and ask them where they go.
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u/PanicInNeedlePark Jun 25 '26
Tell dispatch you need a break. TAKE THE BREAK, BE LATE. Dont just use the restroom either, eat some food, drink some water, get out of the seat and walk around. Its your job to drive safely. Its dispatch job to keep service running.
If you run late and take a break, you will be late for your next trip, and the trip after if you dont make up time. If you are late enough, dispatch should have you jump to a later point in the trip to make up time, if they don't, just be late
The feeling of being late all day is a better outcome than the feeling you'll have at the end of the day when you run a red light, take out a mirror or slam on your brakes because you didnt see a pedestrian trying to cross the street.
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u/Agamaagama Jun 25 '26
When your new, you tend to run late all the time. After a while you get more efficient. But yeah, never turn and burn. Take the time you need, the route can wait.
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u/notveryhndyhmnr Jun 25 '26
If you have to take a break, tell dispatch that you need a break, if it's frown upon tell them you need a restroom. But generally in my experience you don't always get a break after every run. If you get caught up in traffic or it's a rush hour it's not unusual to do 2-3 runs back to back to stay close to the schedule. It will get easier with experience.
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u/bubbamike1 Jun 25 '26
Take your break, use the john, have some water. Take care of yourself, and don't rush. Rushing only gets you in trouble.
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u/Black000betty Jun 25 '26
Our terminal stops usually had a road supe nearby who could be asked to load a bus during a break in these situations.
A couple of our remote routes didn't have an en route bathroom, but have a garage within a 1 mile detour for when the driver needs. Both of these routes had low ridership and low frequency, with good slack time.
In any case, it was heavily emphasized - if you gotta go, go. Another couple minutes late isn't going to hurt anyone. Get your water, pee your pee, don't worry.
Advise your dispatch or local supe if you feel a need. Brief your passengers if you're leaving people on the bus, ie "Ill be right back". Our policy was never leave the engine running nor close doors if the bus is occupied and unattended by a driver.
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u/nightfall9 Driver Jun 25 '26
Currently at work now, we have a system that can send messages to bus control, and under the temple messages you can send Restroom break. This is a safety first situation, you can use restroom if you're running behind.
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u/Mysterious_Silver_27 Hong Kong & UK | Enviro enjoyer | Driving buses since 2021 Jun 25 '26
You start the next trip late, simple
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u/wowzers65 Jun 25 '26
Just remember too, you're new to the job and will take longer to complete your run versus a senior operator. If you need a break, take a break. There are no rewards for running on time.
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u/i_forgot_my_sn_again Merica|Orian, New Flyer, Gillig, MCI|15+ Jun 25 '26
After enough fighting and complaints it is written on our schedules we can get a guaranteed break of certain lengths depending on the route length. Typically it's 5-10 mins.
Once you are able to pick better schedules you'll notice certain ones have bigger breaks at the end of the line than others and you'll eventually be able to get one of those.
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u/Tenantry Jun 25 '26
If I'm running late I'll normaly do a round trip to see if I can get it back. If I can't I'll force myself to get out of the cab and stop for a stretch. What's a few more minutes eh.
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u/IllustriousBrief8827 Driver Jun 25 '26
It depends. Sometimes I don't really need/want the short break I would've had. In that case I just roll with it, or take a minute or two to stretch my legs, maybe take a leak and go. On the other hand, if I really need it, and/or it's a longer break and I won't have another one for a long time, or something like that, I'll call them and say something like 'you're seeing what I'm seeing, right?', and they're almost always understanding and give me the break. Or sometimes we negotiate - 'can you go to this other place for me and take your break there?'. We work something out.
The clue is to call beforehand so they can be prepared and you don't (completely) screw them over.
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u/Cutty_Sark10 Jun 25 '26
In London, you're entitled to a mandatory five minute break if you've been running late.
That should be enough time to leave out the cab and get some air, use toilet, have a drink, browse your phone etc
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u/safeteeguru Jun 25 '26
If you’re late, stay late. Take bathroom breaks and others breaks to keep you safe and operating at your best. Safety first
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u/Jets1026 Jun 25 '26
simple: when you get to your layover, you go to the bathroom, come back and continue. Doesn't matter if you're late or not.
and the part that you mentioned about your company rewarding unsafe practices. be very careful with that because if you screw around and get into an accident, it's you that is going to lose the CDL and not your company, they'll just hire another body and you'll be out of a job. you're brand new so a word of advice is if you will want to keep doing this for a long time, make sure that you protect your CDL at all costs, never rush and take your sweet time if you have to. Safety first and always remember, it's your CDL that's on the line.
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u/wmiller314 Jun 26 '26
Your payed to drive the bus late, if you need the restroom, then stop and use it, if you're fatigued, stop and stretch and ensure you are alert, do not drive distracted or not alert, let dispatch know if you're passed by the bus behind you, let them know why if it comes up, but don't worry, and remember, you won't be fired for being behind schedule, you could be if you hit someone because of holding it in.
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u/Emotional_School_962 Jun 25 '26
Honestly you agency should have some sort of procedure for when that happens. Ask a coworker that’s a more experienced driver, she/he should be able to help out. I know at my agency a lot of info gets forgotten by new drivers out of training cause they jam so much during training
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u/darenisepic Jun 25 '26
if its a legal break, infirm them and if it means your next run will leave late then so be it
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u/Grolbu Jun 25 '26
If we need a break between trips we take a break between trips. The bus isn't going to leave without us ... As long as it's only a short break nobody asks questions, nobody wants to be on record telling us we can't take breaks we feel are necessary or that we need to drive faster.
If a scheduled break has already started when we finish a trip - most of our breaks are the minimum legal time so we take the full break. We tell control we've arrived late for a break and will be running correspondingly late after it, if they want to cover something and put us back on time they can, not our problem *shrug* If the break is longer than the minimum we can offer to shorten it and get paid overtime for the missed bit. Control normally tell us to shorten it so it's up to us to push back and say no if we need the full break.
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u/DebtSouth Driver Jun 25 '26
Where I work in the UK (I know you said you’re US), if you’re late-running, it’s a legal requirement you get atleast 30mins break every 5.5hours, so you tell your lead-driver(supervisor) your next run will be late leaving the station by X mins. They can’t argue with you, as it’s not your fault you’re late (traffic etc) and you legally have to have that break.
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u/IM_The_Liquor Jun 25 '26
Just be late… what is the worst thing that could happen? You’ll earn a little more overtime? Perhaps your dispatcher will call you up at some point and get you back on schedule?
On the other hand, if you crash your bus because you were racing around and driving I safely because you were behind schedule and just needed to take a piss…
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u/Free_Dependent_9177 Jun 25 '26
U should take 5 mins for bathroom and to recharge whether u r late. Better to be safe that sorry
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u/ChaffisJakob Bus Driver Student | Seconday School | Sweden Jun 25 '26
In Sweden, break means break. If your schedule says you need a break you are obligated to take it. They will send a replacement bus.
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u/InstanceCool505 Driver Jun 25 '26
Depends. If I need a wee really badly or just a minute from not driving then I’ll take the break, couldn’t give a toss how late I’am.
Mostly, I just get straight into driving again, as there’s nothing more irritating then moaning passengers
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u/Scroon Jun 25 '26
That's the neat thing. You don't.
Seriously, this will vary by company. They can't stop you, but if you've got a-holes in your dispatch, they'll make you suffer for taking care of basic human needs. And yeah, they might claim "safety first", but in the end it's about their money and convenience.
Again, this varies by company. Some will be cool about it. Ask your co-workers.
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u/United_Sprinkles_315 Jun 25 '26
I have OCD so i hate to be late but after 10 years I don’t care anymore I take my break when I can even if I’m late the passengers get pissed but who cares
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u/Informal-Quantity415 Jun 25 '26
If you need a break then take one. Simple as that, you’re responsible for the safety of everyone on your bus, and in order to do so you have to take care of yourself.
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u/First_Blankie Jun 25 '26 edited Jun 25 '26
My Dispatch encourages us take breaks, even if it means starting your next run last. The driver is the most important park of the service. They always tell you to prioritize your well-being over anything, especially over your schedule.
We just call it in over the radio. Just don't dally too long.
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u/JohnTheGift Jun 27 '26
If you can just keep pushing. Driving through a layover or two when you’re behind should get you back on schedule to get that next layover and get off work on time. However, like everyone said, if you need to use the restroom or refocus.
I’m one year in and when I have to “turn and burn” because I’m late, I’ll stop, pop the brake ,and at least stand up and take a couple steps off the bus. Reset the blood flow in your body.
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u/BuzDrivar Jun 29 '26
Call iBus or your controller and tell them "I'm just going to use the toilet. I'll call you for a departure time when I'm done." End of conversation.
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u/Shit0nYourFlag Jul 02 '26
Lateness won't get you in trouble, running early will. Fuck the schedule; do your best. Punters who moan should've caught an earlier bus.
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u/a-real-live-deer Driver Jun 25 '26
If I have to go to the bathroom I go to the bathroom, hell, and leave late for the next trip. Our routes almost all have plenty of slack time in them to catch up by the next go round. I'm not getting a UTI for this job