Fabulous video. As David shows, transit bus drivers do so much more than driving when getting their riders to where they need to go. His words of encouragement to his disembarking customers are priceless.
I am still with TriMet. April 21, 2024 will be 10 years. Best job I’ve ever had. A great opportunity. Yes, things have changed however, I still get to help people.
This was over 6 years ago. Both the job and the public have changed considerably since then. Been there over 8 years now, and it’s the best-paying job I’ve ever had. The public, however, are more volatile and entitled than ever, so you have to know how to let things roll off you.
I live in Toronto and my dad is a TTC operator and he’s told me that u can’t have a lot of control driving like that if something goes wrong ur screwed
Ryan Leskovar I believe you but Houston Texas have some drivers that drive like that and it depends on how fast they driving and the size of the bus because only our dlf 40ft buses allow them to set it like that and our dlf60 and coach buses you cant do it like that
Bryan Blanton most US spec buses can be set up flat it’s normally to enter and exit the drivers area easier. The point I’m trying to make is yes you might be able to drive it like that but you shouldn’t because if a car cuts you off and you have to shuffle your hands along the wheeel rather than just turn the wheel with your hands on it if u get what I’m saying
Been a bus operator is from what you expected. You have to have good attitude and customer service and providing safety for everyone inside your bus. The rewards when your passengers remember your name and catch your services.
True but that’s not always the case. Some passengers take advantage of your kindness, especially the homeless. I had a homeless guy who rides the bus all the time lie to me and I’ve let him for free before but I give them 3 chances, not only the homeless but everyone who doesn’t want to pay or have enough. The same homeless person threw me 50 cents because he didn’t want to pay after the 3rd time and gave me a hard time and still does to this day. Other passengers see me as the bad guy by not helping him out and they help him out and others. I see 100s of passengers a day and I’ve had good ones and bad experiences ones who have threatened me over 10 cents and even for the little stuff. Passengers are one of the worst people I’ve ever seen. People treat us bad even though we take them home everyday.
Great video. I ride MAX and bus frequently but on no particular schedule. The drivers on the bus are very helpful. When I took the bus to a local hospital to be there for the delivery of my new grand daughter 3 months ago, the driver was great about letting me know where I should get off (I'd never been on that bus before). In fact, we chatted while waiting for the bus to leave the transit station and when I got off at the hospital stop, she wished luck to me and the mom-to-be and there was a big shout and clapping from the rest of the passengers. I always have great service but that day will live in memory forever and it's documented ind the Grandbaby book! I've had other fantastic trips too - one on the #8 going from near the Lloyd Center to a play downtown. The driver was great - pointed out sights along the route which was fun for me (I've lived in Portland 3 years) and my friends visiting from out of state. You could tell he loved his job and wanted to make everyone feel good.
Just don't do it in Portland Oregon the company has a customer is always right attitude and if you don't bow down to them and they complain YOU a re treated as a bad person. There are also no rules that you can enforce anymore it's just please don't do that sir, reply F you just drive the bus. If you enjoy being abused by the public it is a great job. He is a real nice guy it looks like so he doesn't have many problems and working a split gives him the best riders. In the morning they are going to work and in the evening they are going home. The people in between are the worst comparatively the druggies dirty nasty people who are not always the cleanest but again you can't do anything about them (refuse service) blah blah blah :(
I am actually thinking of driving for the TTC or Hamilton Street Railway. I think this is a great inspirational video to give it my all and study to get those jobs. Thanks
Hey Marc here from NYC transit (Manhattan, nyc) I drove for the mta for 25 years retiring in July. Can't wait to get out. New York is out of control. Public wants one thing, management wants something else the drivers are put in the middle and there's no help. It used to be a great job, but not anymore. I've watched this company destroy families kill its own people. The old saying was hang around for the next contract, now its get your pension get out
Driver here in Vegas, I love my job!! It’s not for everybody... but if you remember two things:1) it’s not your bus.2) it’s not your money... it’s that simple... just drive safely.
I drive buses and coaches in Australia and have never ever seen a steering wheel locked into a completely horizontal position anywhere until now. That’s bizarre.
My amazing husband is a bus operator from TriMet in probation period he will finish his probation time next Saturday And he is more than happy doing his job. ❤
Man, some of y'all been hiding under a rock? Some act like they never seen a bus steering wheel tilt or a bus driver drive with the steering tilted like that.
Good public relations keep up the good work!!!I've been a bus driver in Phoenix for 22 years I love my job, I like to be moving around through the city meeting and greeting people, be safe out there.
Tri Met is a shithole now. I'm sure you have seen the riots in Portland. The company gives the customers all the power and operators have all the responsibility. You are wrong if you get a complaint. Even if the complaint is stupid they pull the video and if they see something they don't like they go after you for that. That's the short story. I spent almost 30 years there so I must have done something right. People may think this is sour grapes but I LOVED my job it was the MANAGEMENT that became the problem. I am retired from there yippie aye OOOOO
Hi , i am a bus driver for 14yrs in ny , let me tell you,, you can make the day or break it yourself,,, by smiling ,, be nice to your passengers , you are making your day the best or being angry and not nice to people, is called breaking your day,,, show up early to work and be safe driving,, follow rules and regulations and hooray,,, here comes a career
Whats up with the steering wheel position is that the norm on buses in the US. Are all US bus drivers bubbly and outgoing like in the UK they just keep their head down
Driving with the steering that high up and in that angle has got to be hurting you!!! I'm a bus driver, and seeing it in that position hurts me looking at it, idk, the gilligs don't seem to handle so well in that position, maybe a nova or new flyer can but I hope this driver adjusted that steering!
Good God, the buses you drive n the states are so old looking!! We had buses looking almost like this in the 70's... I have been driving busses in Norway since 1997. Love and hate it at the same time. But, I'm sure I'll drive for at least 20 more years!!
hello my name is Ms Joy I am your subscribed I just subscribed to your channel I didn't know that ya'll have bus drivers in the UK that is so very I would love to come to the UK just ride the Buses where y'all live with so much love 💞 Ms Joy
I have alot of respect for transit drivers. I see them have to deal with alot of BS from passengers that are not very cooperative. Ones that won't pay bus fare or people who just like to stir shit up. Dealing with the public is not always fun.
I am a bus driver and wonder why the driver environment of the buses looks like a tractor from the 1960s-70s? Our buses are almost the same as a normal car.
What's with that steering wheel? IDrive large commercial vehicles including a bus here and there I could never drive with a wheel bolt upright like that
Let me answer some comments as a 14 yrs bus driver,,, the steering wheel can be adjusted, if the driver wants to,,,, not everytime the driver is this nice i would say,, he is making a video , lets be real,,the bag through the window is unnecessary, driving the bus is easy once you got a hand on it ,, talking to passengers so much not necessary , hi, hello , have nice day is all it takes
Yes they have GPS but choose a different city than Portland it is a sewer now and the company is more about the customers than the operators. If you have a bad customer they won't help you that much but if somebody complains they will pull the video and go after you if they see something they don't like. If you want to work in this area I would try Vancouver WA bus company. It's cheaper to live there than Portland because Oregon keeps raising taxes on EVERYTHING
The column tilts but I could never figure out how to drive with it flat. It didn't feel like I had any control. The other worst thing was drivers who put the seat all the way down and could drive with their legs bent at the knee. I worked for that company for almost 30 years and the evolved from being a good place to work to a customer can say whatever they want about you and you are guilty to a company that uses cameras to verify behavior on the bus and punish operators if they see something the driver did but refusing to prosecute customers for assaulting operators. NOT A GOOD PLACE TO WORK ANYMORE. I am done there.
It's a Block Number. Depending on the city and/or bus company, it can tell you what division/garage that bus is out of, what line that bus is on and what "sequence" of bus it is on that particular line...
An interesting video! As of Wednesday, July 1'st, 2020-I will resume riding the DART-Des Moines Area Regional Transit Buses. But NOT until Doctor Fauci gives the "all clear" on the Covid 19/Coronna virus!
@talldude123 I thought the Public transportation authority in Vancouver, BC was called Translink? Or is this name a recent change because you did post this comment 3 years ago.
