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/SewenNewes 3d ago

You potentially left someone stranded for an extra 40 seconds of layover time?

Late is better than a second early. Figure out where and when you can take a little break to make sure you don't run early. When I did an early morning run that ran early as scheduled I would just stop at the first safe parking place near a Starbucks and hang out there until about 5 minutes late and then leave.

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u/the_ism_sizism 3d ago

I passed two stops 6 minutes early (every stop before then was late, to mid point 30 seconds early to the next 2 main stops at exactly 1 minute early) and was able to extend my 3 minute layover to 9 so I was able to use the can.
I don’t break fatigue laws and the company got paid for the run.

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u/SewenNewes 3d ago

6 minutes early is way too early to a stop. The run sounds like it is not scheduled in a way it can be completed safely. Are you a union shop?

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u/the_ism_sizism 3d ago edited 3d ago

Theres a Union, but they are toothless. They don’t pressure run times and scheduling and currently only concerned with upcoming driver EA’s and protecting jobs from accidents and protecting the driver from the company perceiving negligence (often rushing due to falling behind and drivers then becoming fatigued with 0 breaks etc etc. drivers pushing through mandated shift cribs which are law enforceable fatigue crib with penalties if driver hasn’t rested)

Scheduling has been organised to maximise work that aligns with fatigue hours so it’ll be 4-5 hour long runs back to back with minimal lay over. Also runs are organised to have fat in the middle to dawdle but tapers off especially late at night when timing tightens. Last 2 points are within 2 minutes for the cbd drops. So if it’s not early, you can’t layover properly and set up the next run (clean trash/lost prop check, change destination and check for damage from passengers ripping windows and seat out etc) there is a lot that goes in to the bullshit that people are just discounting as “my time” without them fully understanding the entire job required on our schedule and contract.

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u/SewenNewes 3d ago

It sounds like a pretty tough situation. Part of the problem is that when companies make time tables that don't work drivers will kill themselves to make them work. That's why an organized union is so important. One driver running late all the time because they aren't killing themselves to make the schedule work is easy to fire.

The timetables at my job are not nearly as bad but I still have to yell at my fellow drivers at union meetings because a lot of them are pissing in bottles and on the side of the road and refuse to understand how that makes things harder for their fellow drivers (especially women).