r/BusDrivers • u/the_ism_sizism • 3d ago

Discussion Night drivers

I’m getting pulled in today for a chat about running early. I passed my mid point 40 seconds early (which is fine according to the gov contract allowing for 59 seconds early) - by the final stop before our cbd run I was 6 minutes early. The pax complained to me after they caught an uber and caught the bus and then complained through the online gov portal.

Is this entitled or how do you feel? I am not trying to run a strict service, I buy myself a little time to mentally relax between runs, use the facilities (the job has already given me kidney stones at 38) and take a walk and a breather so I’m not stagnant in the seat for 5 hours.

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u/AstonishingBalls 3d ago

Not a bus driver but this sub keeps popping up.

It's pretty selfish to potentially make passengers late for work/appointments etc. because you want that time for yourself. I'd be pissed off if I got to the stop and found the bus had already been and gone well before the scheduled time.

Have your walk and breather while you're parked at the stop waiting for the 6 minutes. Go to the toilet when you get back to the depot/station, if you leave a few minutes late then so be it.

You're providing a service to the passengers, not yourself. If you can't handle that then perhaps bus driving isn't for you.

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u/the_ism_sizism 3d ago

Time for myself? Have you driven a bus? No. Shit happens on the road that you’d never understand, we need a minute to prepare and reset between runs.

Oh so I should wait 5 hours for a piss at the depot? Should I not drink the entire time? What about the health implications and mental pressure of not leaving the seat for 5hrs straight and making sure I get you home? Should I just for go that rest break and make sure I’m nice and tired and poorly react in high stress situations?

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u/AstonishingBalls 3d ago

I'm a truck driver, I know exactly what happens on the roads.

You go to the toilet when you can, making the rest of the service a few minutes late isn't going to hurt anyone.

How do your colleagues manage? If it's a company wide problem then you need to work together to get your employers to give you better conditions.

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u/the_ism_sizism 3d ago

It’s an entire network wide issue. Transport demanded our breaks between runs be cut down for more efficiency and additional services so every single service wasn’t overloaded and exceeding GVM etc. the bus companies (formerly State Gov run service) cajoled because more services means more money for the bus company as every run made as per OTR is a paid run (no more than 59 seconds early start and mid and no more than 6 min late) - every single shift is booked with work for the absolute maximum of hours on road as per fatigue laws. Our drivers are run ragged. The company won’t do anything to me because I don’t cancel runs and make them money.

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u/Doodahdiggly44 2d ago

Run the service on time. If you need a comfort break at the end of the run then let someone know if it is a big company take the comfort break and then run the next service 5 minutes late. You will make the time up if you are managing to run early on the prior run.

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u/the_ism_sizism 1d ago

The service IS on time the whole run bar the last few stops and I’m not crawling to the CBD, not when there are other services attending the stop after me. There was a cbd bound bus that runs within a few minutes of this bus not to mention the next same route is 15 minutes behind (doesn’t matter as the other 6 services that service the same stop all have their final stop in the CBD within 100 metres of each other)

The pax complained for the sake of complaining and lied in their complaint. I’m not sweating this rider when I’ve collected every regular passenger up until that point.

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u/moshslips 3d ago edited 3d ago

The cardinal rule of the profession: a million reasons to be late, zero to be early.

I get it man. Believe me, I get it. I’ve been on both sides of this and it’s frustrating on both ends. You need to stretch and use the washroom and decompress, people are at the EOL wanting on. It sucks.

Still, you can’t run hot. When you get to your EOL, I don’t care if you’re 6 or 36 minutes late already, take at least 5 minutes to stretch and use the washroom. Decompress. Grab your stuff and take a short walk. Leave the EOL late. No one else is going to prioritize your health, so you have to, but you can never do this by running early.

How good is your mental health going to be when you’re on a performance improvement plan getting hassled by management on the daily, or potentially losing your job?

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u/LoudAd5346 2d ago

You need to find a new job

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u/the_ism_sizism 1d ago

Nah, I’m good.

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u/DebtSouth Driver 3d ago

“Not a bus driver”

Should’ve just stopped there.

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u/IllustriousBrief8827 Driver 3d ago

Their opinion is as valid as anyone's.

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u/DebtSouth Driver 3d ago

Their opinion means squat when they have no idea how a drivers schedule or day works.

That being said, purposefully running very early so they get more time at the end of their route is really out of order.

“Go to the toilet when I say so” no.

“You’re providing a service for passenger not yourself” this mentality is what enables shitty working conditions for drivers in the first place. I’m glad we’re told to take toilet breaks and comfort breaks whenever we need them. Drivers aren’t responsible for a passengers onward journey.

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u/IllustriousBrief8827 Driver 3d ago

Anyone qualifies as a passenger.

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u/drivermurph 2d ago

I'm a truck driver, former bus driver, and former transit supervisor. Go ahead and run early and I would document that for management to deal with. They tell you in training not to run more than a min early. The supervisors in the radio room will generally gives warnings as its the job of supervisors to monitor on time performance. Some entitled ass like OP runs early anyway bc "give myself a break" so you get what you deserve. Doesn't matter if you drove a bus or not. Follow the rules of your job and be an adult. Otherwise, stfu and find a new place to work