As someone who is employed by a public transit bus manufacturer, it is really interesting seeing the other side of the industry and what the driver experience is like. Thanks for the content and keep up the good work!
My garage is about 600km from where our busses are made. A couple months ago I picked up a 22 Nova from another driver. When I got my bus it had 740km on the odometer. The driver I relived is a buddy of mine, and we both were pretty stoked about the new bus. I got the same bus Thursday, it now has 33000km and a rear door malfunction that was annoying all night.
You are a man after my own heart , that’s a UK saying ! I have been driving buses 39 years , another 9 years and I can retire ! Keep the vids coming you make me smile .
Been a public bus driver now for 7 years, and it’s the best job I’ve ever had. People love us, people hate us, but it’s still a good job that so few appreciate.
@@pedrohizzle2835 because no matter what happens on any given day, you don’t take anything home. And as long as you don’t stress out about the things you can’t control (like traffic, wheelchairs falling off your ramp, being on time, rude passengers, etc.) then it’s a piece of cake. Most of us make well into the 6-figure range, our benefits are great, and we get *tons* of paid time off. Don’t get me wrong: there are downsides too. But for me and what I want in a career, it’s perfect.
I've been driving for 14 months now. I've had to instruct 3 riders to leave my bus. I haven't had to ask twice or call supervision for assistance. 75% of my riders say thank you when getting off the bus.
lol! Yup. Or the opposite, ring the bell really early, after just passing a stop, I stop at a red light and then I forget. That'll get you cursed out too. :)
I live in Ottawa, Canada and I am in the middle of a 9 step process to be hired as a bus driver for the city. I have to tell you I find your videos very informative, helpful and funny at the same time. Thank you so much, you are an invaluable source of information.
Subscribed my guy! Low key been obsessed with busses my ENTIRE life. My auntie was a transit bus driver when I was a kid in San Jose! I used to go hangout with her at work all the time! So glad to have found this channel!!!
Not very many similarities to the UK as the US does it better, better buses with not just 1 wheelchair space....but two, and a lot of folding seats which the UK doesn't have cause the UK and it's regulations suck and so does the British people. So far....no similarities and the US wins in all departments up until now. My only fun behind the wheel of a bus was when I was driving the VDL Futura tri axle double deckers and bi-articulated Van Hool AGG300s in the Netherlands. The UK has the same old boring ADL Enviro buses.
@@markcaldwell2831 We still have folding seats. So much negative sentiment to the British people, it is uncalled for. We were the first country to pioneer the bus amongst many other things .
@@markcaldwell2831 buses in the UK have leather seats with headrests, wifi and USB’s in my area so I wonder how the us with ancient buses could compare
@@markcaldwell2831 Dude, You must be unlucky where you are, I have been a Bus driver for 15 years and have most the time had never had those issues you speak of - sure the odd breakdown(s) or ramp/kneeling device issues in London but i love the job tenfold - i particular loove the Volvo urban eclipse Gemini 2 the b9s are aweeeesome , they're like the capri of buses so smooth and go within seconds, you wont find them in the US
I have driven Greyhound for a solid 14 years and know my job very well. I spoke to you about switching from the Hound to the city and finally am ready to make that leap. Time for a change. I will be binge watching you for the next few weeks. As far as being used to the size, been there done that. However, I am approaching the city bus with a fresh perspective. I only am used to the size, my mirrors and people getting on and off. Everything else is new.
I drive city. I had a regular rider, really nice kid, I'd get him at least once a week. I'd pick him up at an unlighted stop in the country. He always wore dark clothes and had dark black skin. It took me nearly 2 months to train him to wave his phone at me. I'd roll past his stop 2/3 of the time until he finally started waving his phone. Then a senior driver took that route. As soon as I got my rider trained, I stopped getting that rider. Be prepared to honk at a lot of ubereats drivers and similar. Also the sheer number of people who'll just walk in front of your bus is astounding. Mind your mirrors on poles, intercity stops generally aren't right beside a poorly placed electrical pole. lol My first day solo I tore off my mirror on a bus shelter. Then while filling out paperwork with my supervisor a uhaul truck smashed my laneside mirror.
Brother, we got these same issues in Toronto Canada! Nice to see videos to show non drivers what it's like. Certainly feel these stories! 10 years in. 20 to go lol
I'm 14 months at HSR. Glad I don't have to drive an arctic in Toronto. I'm willing to be assertive in my bus, I feel like I'd have to be homicidal to drive in Toronto traffic.
Hey there, not a bus driver, but I've been riding buses and public transit since high school, in Seattle and now in the Bay Area. That's almost a decade! Very cool to see and ins and outs of what it is to be a bus driver. Much respect to you and your colleagues, you all have to deal with a lot. Stay safe out there!
My Grandfather was a streetcar motorman and later drove bus in New Orleans from 1923 - 1966. In those days the experienced bus drivers worked a split shift to cover the morning and evening rush hours with the newbies doing the daytime grind and nights. There were a lot of passengers who would skip a bus just to get on his a few minutes later - he never met a stranger, he knew their names and their kids too. When he died no one in the family expected the folks that showed up from al over the city to be in the Second Line. The best days of my life were when we would visit them and he would take me out to ride the streetcars and buses all over the city. They lived just a block from the car/bus barn on Canal and I would spend hours playing in the idle cars looking for one with enough air in the tank to open and close the doors. All the drivers and maintenance guys knew that I was Earl's grandson. They gave me one of the door control handles that the operators kept. Like I said, best days of my life. Thank you for taking me home.
Love this! I drive a city bus in Coventry, England! So many similarities with our processes! I've just finished two weeks of early shifts, (all those checks!). I'm now on lates from today, one extreme to the other. Keep up the good work, Sir!
@@BusDriverLife thanks! The honor (honour!) 😇 is watching them. I watched a few of your others, certainly agreed with your points on how we are unappreciated, especially when things go wrong outside of our control and blamed by the very people we are trying to help! Still, I enjoy the job very much! Just literally walked through my front door after my late shift! It is twenty past midnight here! Stay safe, have a great day of work my friend!
I am so glad I found your channel. I have been driving transit bus in Salt Lake City for almost 2 years, but have been dealing with the public as a funeral director for over 20 years in Walnut Creek, CA. I love watching your videos, I find them entertaining and the information on them is what I wish my passengers knew. I received the call from management a couple days ago and it looks like my days on the extra board are numbered and start receiving my regular work. Thank you for all you do for your fellow bus operators. I couldn't have said it any better.
Oh weird, like half of my buddies sign vacation or extra deliberately. F that, I like consistent work. My company wants spares. At any time there are 300ish busses on the road (until very late) any one us could have an indecent, get sick, or whatever. Some days a driver who is spare or on report does literally nothing their whole shift, never touches a bus. Other days they bring poop busses back for the clean team. Or enter service in the middle of a random route they haven't done in 6 months.
Great video. Lived in Sacramento most of my life and drove bus, but in 1975 got a job offer in Vancouver, BC to drive transit in the city. Never looked back. You bring back a lot of memories to me. Thanks for taking me along for the "ride"
dude I can't believe this is the first time I've come across your channel, your vibes are excellent. I love riding the bus and transit in general, thank you for everything you do to keep our communities moving.
New to the channel, just subscribed! I appreciate my bus drivers! They work so hard, work through bad weather, and my bus drivers know me since I have been on them for years! Bless you!
Love the video. Also just an idea (not sure if you’re allowed to do this with your agency) I would love to see if you would get a GoPro with a suction cup mount and record yourself deadheading.
The algorithm brought me here, and I'm glad it did, awesome insight. Bus drivers are awesome, you all put up with some bullshit and are totally underappreciated. I hope your channel blows up man. All hail the algorithm. Edit: Low key always wanted to drive a bus ha!
You get breaks?! Today I'm working 733-322, my route is 12 minutes up, 12 minutes down, no breaks, no lay overs, no time adjustments. If I goto the washroom I have to lose a whole trip. But at least it's a short day.
I recently moved from Orange County CA to Knoxville TN and have been really interested for many years about city bus driving. NO more office work for me. I just applied to become a bus driver and have an interview on Tuesday. So, I'm appreciating your videos! Crossing my fingers I'll be joining your bus driving family!
As a former train engineer (I've gotten promoted to management), I appreciate the work you do and the pride that you take in your job. Keep striving and be safe. Just liked and subbed.
I'm in Hamilton Ontario going through the process of becoming a Transit Operator, very exciting, definitely a little stressful. just want to say thanks for your videos helping feeling i can get through this training period
Thank you for this video. I wanted to know what was going on in the world today with bus drivers (to see from your perspective). I learned a lot. You are really good at your job. Keep up the good work.
I love these videos. In Pittsburgh we deal with a lot of hills and tiny streets... It's cool to know you deal with the same things as far as passengers.
Great vid! I didn’t think the bell cord was still a thing. Wow! I drive city buses in Reykjavik, Iceland. There’s a button and we see a red light on the gps to let us know to stop at the next. Also a sound too
You are so cool! I love getting a glimpse into other people's everyday life, and these videos are a really cool way of breathing creativity into an otherwise potentially mundane job, really cool stuff
Just joined your channel to support you and I really liked that video! I learned truck driving at the German army back in time and for the road test I had to drive into the pittoresque historic downtown of a small village with narrow roads and to correctly turn left or right without taking down the traffic light poles, traffic signs or anything else with me - so wide turns. Used to be 40 ton trucks with trailer. Your job is very important as is public transit in general - but not highly enough regarded in the US. For a challenge - drive a MTA city transit bus in Manhattan NY through the West village ;-) I sent something Batman related to you to say thank you :-)
Thanks for becoming a member! It almost becomes a fun challenge to successfully make turns on narrow streets while driving a large vehicle..definitely some anxiety involved though!! Lol
You guys have to do so many things when you getting your bus. I am a busdriver in The Netherlands. When i arrive at work they give me a Busnumber and the location of the bus at the Depot. Like bus 1056 location lane 15 spot 5. I arrive at my bus i started the engine walk around to see if there are any damage on the bus if not i going to sit in me seat make my self comfortabel and check my mirros and they give me 10 min for that. Most of the time after 5 min i am done and drive to my startpostion and that depends what busline i have.
I was puzzled by the yellow cables strung everywhere but then it became evident they're linked to a switch to request the bus to stop. We haven't had a similar system in the UK for at least 40 years. Each upright post/grab handle has a red button to press to do the same thing. It's also marked in braille for those who can't see. On some operators (such as in London) the next stop is announced by a recorded voice.
I can't tell you how excited I was that the toilet was open for you! I was praying! 🤣 I love the foldable seats. Unfortunately the buses where I am only have the 10 seats near the front (5 on each side) that fold. They just fold up (no button).
Great video, you take your job seriously and are proud of it. Stay safe out there brother! I'm a part-time bus driver, usually doing a Saturday run, but I gotta say American city buses are weird... The interior looks very dated, compared to that of European buses. I should say that I am spoiled... I only started driving buses 2 years ago and the company I work for has a lot of new buses. The oldest ones are like from 2010. The 2020 Mercedes Citaro I drive has a sleek dashboard, colored multifunction display, radar cruise control, automatic emergency braking, blindspot monitoring, electric sunshades and window, driving modes (Power and Eco) and a lot of the buttons look like they came out of a car. No metal toggle switches, no twist handles, no weird pedals to adjust the steering, or turn on the high beams, or turn signals... It even has heated and ventilated suspension seats with more than enough adjustability. I noticed your seat didn't move... do American buses not have suspension seats? Now, one would say my bus is brand new, but even the older Citaros from 2010 still have modern controls and no weird switches and different sized dials and the whole thing looks neat and almost luxurious. Driver comfort really isn't at the top of the list for American bus manufacturers is it? Also no storage space for your personal belongings... The Citaro has 2 overhead compartments and a big pocket in the door for your bus driver travel case. On the downside, European buses don't usually have an electrically operated ramp - manual ramps are common and reversing cameras are not mandatory - they are optional extras. The fancy Citaro I drive also has no temperature, oil and air pressure gauges. If something is wrong, you'll get a message on that fancy color multifunction display... To be honest, I'd rather have the extra dials and be able to keep an eye on 'em. Next downside is driving through the narrow streets through the historic parts of the city, swarmed by cyclists and pedestrians and then up and down the twisty rural roads.
Thanks! Also I get this all the time..people always crap on the American transit buses. Lol. It’s all good though! There are definitely some differences for sure. I’ve seen some cool looking European buses and some look weird to me as well. The Mercedes citaro is a really nice looking bus!!
I have been catching the bus all my life, never thoughts one day I became a bus driver. After I left my corporate job and did odd jobs. Then I got an interviews and passed all process and training. Got my shifts and next things its been 5 years. I loved been outside and greeting passengers and some becomes friends. There's no days the same, one day you get stuck in traffic or accidents or some day your carrying passengers over the limits. How fast time passed and now pandemic hits my shifts got cut due to locked down.
You are probably exactly who I need to ask then to clarify. I'm not sure if you're in San Diego or some other part of Southern california, but here we have mts. But we also have Transdev that operates with/for MTS. And I was really curious about people who do not drive their own cars. I was given an employment offer, but told shifts can start as early as 3:00 am-ish. That means that I would have to get up and go before the actual public transportation is running to make it to work on time to get my bus. So what happens for those employees? I don't have anybody I could call for a ride at 1:00 a.m. 2:00 a.m... and I don't have a car. And I can't ride the bus to work so how do those people get to work and likewise how do the people who end their shift when the buses aren't running get home? This is the only thing that has me worried about doing this job because if there is no staff Transportation provided, then that would mean I would have to take the bus to wherever I'm going before midnight and then hang around for 3 hours waiting for my shift in the middle of the night....
That is what I do before I drive my bus, I close the door and spray the driver area down with Lysol and I wipe everything down with my Lysol wipes including the phone and directional system. And I wipe down the seat adjust everything including the mirrors. I drove a city transit bus in Ohio and now I drive for Northern Kentucky. I've been driving in Kentucky now for 3 months and so far I like it
How weird. At Metro (MTA) the air governor cut out test is the first thing you do in the air brakes test. We just go from a safe start to air governor cut out.
Another great TH-cam Algorithm choice. I never drove transit buses, but do ride them each time I visit Orange County (CA) or go to VA. I didn't catch your name, but I like your conversational style.
Reminds me of the time I drove a bus from Sacramento to Los Angeles, it was my regular run. As we were leaving one morning a guy got on and said he need to go to Hollywood. I told him you're on the right bus we're going to Los Angeles, and took off, he started screaming NO I'm going to Hollywood, before I could explain to him, that Hollywood was just an area in Los Angeles. He jumped off the bus when I was doing 10 miles an hour, rolled around on the concrete. I stopped to see if he was all right and he just gave me the finger. I didn't think any more about it, until the next day. I was on my regular run from Sacramento to LA again, when I see this guy with a bandage head hitchhiking, holding up a sign that says Hollywood or bust. I'll say this he must have busted his head when he fell. And I always wondered if he got a ride with anybody did they tell him they are going to Los Angeles. If so he might have jumped out. This happened in April 1976 but I remember it like yesterday
Cool video man I found your channel by random it just popped up on TH-cam I didn't know what to expect when I was going to watch it but pretty cool I wonder if other bus drivers do TH-cam videos as well
Bus driver life!! Also a other bad part about of driving tough to a detour is if you roads are narrow I would think it would be bad because your bus is long
I wanted to be a busdriver since I was 7 years old. I could have been a doctor, lawyer, business executive, etc. I was driving a wholesale food delivery truck and 5 years In, I found out a bus company was hiring and training. I trained after my full-time job then started driving city transit busses plus school bus charters. Two years in I went to full-time driving busses when an opening came up for full-time. School bus in the morning and transit in the afternoon. I would pick up hours dispatching on weekends. The manager and I got along and 6 months into full-time he had me start driving motor coach tour busses on weekends. Eventually the school bus contract was gone and a few years later the coach company was bought out and moved. I remained in transit busses for 34 years. I always had side jobs of different sorts. Transit was good to me. I made decent money, have a pension, a house, and I am no longer driving. I did it for 34 years and the last 4 years of it I ended up not liking the job. That clientele wasn't what it one was. I am glad to no longer be doing it.
Been there, done it for 31 years. I am finally retired.❤ Loving your videos. You do a great job. 18 minute break , Wow? You are lucky. I have met wonderful people, Some...great people. . Enjoyed working with my co workers. So many great memories. . Lol, yeah the spray, I can relate. Yes, pull the cord please..Split shifts 12-13 hour days.
Those foot buttons for the indicators threw me off for sure, the Adelaide Metro buses i drive have a normal stalk like a car except its on the left side like in Europe. I drive Scania and MAN buses mainly
I love how you take care of your bus. These are good videos to show kids. They need to know that you can still make an honest living AND be a TH-camr. (Not that being a TH-camr isn’t honest, but you know what I mean.) 😉
I Just love vehicles & it's so satisfying that we got this huge piece of mobile engineering that has wheels & a dash & buttons & it lights up! & you can drive that thing around!.......oh & be paid to do that! Just never bores me. Interesting how EVs took over too even though I prefer gas power because it's reliable. Nice video.
I haven't rode SacRt in a few years. Such fun memories in high school riding the 67 from Florin Mall to Arden Mall or the 51 from Florin Mall to Downtown Plaza (Pre Golden 1 Center Days) with friends .It was nice to see part of the video at Florin Towne Centre aka Florin Mall. 😁 Glad you got to use the bathroom! Thanks for your service and great video!
Seeing a bunch of clips on the Johnny Depp trial and topics on war, this is exactly what I need. For once the youtube algorithm works exactly like they should. Love your clips Keywan, greetings from Sweden!
Not sure how I came across your video, but I hope that things are more or less normal and you stayed healthy. That being said, a very interesting video about the job of a bus driver. You've piqued my curiosity
you have a brake pedal to the right and an additional foot switch for the brake signal? is that correct? Surprised to see a stop request cord on a relatively modern bus ... I mean this is a thing which was popular like half a century ago? How many bus lines does your service provide? I literally have no idea, we typically get the image of a poor public transit network in American cities here. In my home town I know one bus stop (no hub, but a regular stop with through-going traffic) which is served by more than 20 different bus lines
Thanks for the Video. I´m a german Truck Driver, and here in Germany, we got modern Trucks and Busses as you in America and Canada too. Why you have Signal buttons on the ground? There must be a Lever at the Steering wheel, i think. In the middle of Corona It was only allowed to ride the bus as a passenger with mask, and also you have to use the doors behind the driver. The front door was locked, and so it was not allowed to stay or seat behind the driver on the passenger seats. Since a couple of months it's allowed to enter the bus via the front door, but there is a plastic shield right to the cash box, to safe the driver. Mean there is a shield above the driver entry. Pls. Excuse my English skill, Sir. Go ahead with this great Videos : ).
I’ve been on the bus during a change over before it ain’t that bad. And it is kinda at the end of a route in the one direction just before they start to go in the opposite direction. Not sure if that makes it better than being in the middle of the route or not though.
One of the most unappreciated professions
you guys make the word go ‘round💯💯
I appreciate that!
Absolutely. I'd like to add truck drivers and (freight and passenger) train drivers.
I too appreciate that lots!
That's because of whose doing the driving.
Sup fellow bus driver! I'm finally in the club. Been driving for two weeks now!
That’s cool! Congratulations!
@@BusDriverLife Thanks! I drive an f550 cutaway on the olympic peninsula! Got my endorsement in a 40 footer though. Clas A... M restriction 😔😉
Welcome bro!!!
I’ll be uploading another video soon man! Been crazy busy at work!
Good luck bro be careful take you time
As someone who is employed by a public transit bus manufacturer, it is really interesting seeing the other side of the industry and what the driver experience is like. Thanks for the content and keep up the good work!
Thanks! I appreciate that!!
Great to see the driver points of view in their shoe
My garage is about 600km from where our busses are made. A couple months ago I picked up a 22 Nova from another driver. When I got my bus it had 740km on the odometer. The driver I relived is a buddy of mine, and we both were pretty stoked about the new bus. I got the same bus Thursday, it now has 33000km and a rear door malfunction that was annoying all night.
You are a man after my own heart , that’s a UK saying !
I have been driving buses 39 years , another 9 years and I can retire !
Keep the vids coming you make me smile .
Been a public bus driver now for 7 years, and it’s the best job I’ve ever had. People love us, people hate us, but it’s still a good job that so few appreciate.
Absolutely right! I miss it sometimes
I know that's right... It's like bliss
why is it the best job?
@@pedrohizzle2835 because no matter what happens on any given day, you don’t take anything home. And as long as you don’t stress out about the things you can’t control (like traffic, wheelchairs falling off your ramp, being on time, rude passengers, etc.) then it’s a piece of cake. Most of us make well into the 6-figure range, our benefits are great, and we get *tons* of paid time off. Don’t get me wrong: there are downsides too. But for me and what I want in a career, it’s perfect.
I've been driving for 14 months now. I've had to instruct 3 riders to leave my bus. I haven't had to ask twice or call supervision for assistance.
75% of my riders say thank you when getting off the bus.
Gotta love the folks who ring the bell right at the stop and you fly right past it and get cursed out
lol! Yup. Or the opposite, ring the bell really early, after just passing a stop, I stop at a red light and then I forget. That'll get you cursed out too. :)
Bro, I'm at the depot at 4:00am. :) I'm 4 years in, and still loving it. I can't imagine doing anything else. I love the brotherhood between drivers.
Glad you enjoy what you do! 🫡😄
I'm applying for a job as a Bus Driver at the moment, I hope they will accept my appliance.
Wish me luck, guys. 😅
@@Black-Re4per good luck 😀
@@jomibo21 thank you 🙂
@@Black-Re4per Good luck! I can't imagine doing anything else. I love it!
I live in Ottawa, Canada and I am in the middle of a 9 step process to be hired as a bus driver for the city.
I have to tell you I find your videos very informative, helpful and funny at the same time.
Thank you so much, you are an invaluable source of information.
That’s awesome! I hope everything goes smoothly! Thanks so much for watching!!
What are the steps?
How are you liking the job so far? I've been driving 17 years in Toronto.
Te deseo suerte manejar autobuses es un excelente trabajo se disfruta mucho, yo soy chofer de la STM en Montreal y me encanta mi trabajo.
@@AGentlemansJourney77 ahh what garage?
Subscribed my guy! Low key been obsessed with busses my ENTIRE life. My auntie was a transit bus driver when I was a kid in San Jose! I used to go hangout with her at work all the time! So glad to have found this channel!!!
Glad to have you here!!
Nice too see similarities to bus driving in the UK. Much respect and I feel the bond we share as bus drivers.
Yes we definitely share a world wide bond!! Thanks for watching!
Not very many similarities to the UK as the US does it better, better buses with not just 1 wheelchair space....but two, and a lot of folding seats which the UK doesn't have cause the UK and it's regulations suck and so does the British people. So far....no similarities and the US wins in all departments up until now. My only fun behind the wheel of a bus was when I was driving the VDL Futura tri axle double deckers and bi-articulated Van Hool AGG300s in the Netherlands. The UK has the same old boring ADL Enviro buses.
@@markcaldwell2831 We still have folding seats. So much negative sentiment to the British people, it is uncalled for. We were the first country to pioneer the bus amongst many other things .
@@markcaldwell2831 buses in the UK have leather seats with headrests, wifi and USB’s in my area so I wonder how the us with ancient buses could compare
@@markcaldwell2831 Dude, You must be unlucky where you are, I have been a Bus driver for 15 years and have most the time had never had those issues you speak of - sure the odd breakdown(s) or ramp/kneeling device issues in London but i love the job tenfold - i particular loove the Volvo urban eclipse Gemini 2 the b9s are aweeeesome , they're like the capri of buses so smooth and go within seconds, you wont find them in the US
I have driven Greyhound for a solid 14 years and know my job very well. I spoke to you about switching from the Hound to the city and finally am ready to make that leap. Time for a change. I will be binge watching you for the next few weeks.
As far as being used to the size, been there done that. However, I am approaching the city bus with a fresh perspective. I only am used to the size, my mirrors and people getting on and off. Everything else is new.
I drive city. I had a regular rider, really nice kid, I'd get him at least once a week. I'd pick him up at an unlighted stop in the country. He always wore dark clothes and had dark black skin. It took me nearly 2 months to train him to wave his phone at me. I'd roll past his stop 2/3 of the time until he finally started waving his phone. Then a senior driver took that route. As soon as I got my rider trained, I stopped getting that rider.
Be prepared to honk at a lot of ubereats drivers and similar. Also the sheer number of people who'll just walk in front of your bus is astounding.
Mind your mirrors on poles, intercity stops generally aren't right beside a poorly placed electrical pole. lol
My first day solo I tore off my mirror on a bus shelter. Then while filling out paperwork with my supervisor a uhaul truck smashed my laneside mirror.
Brother, we got these same issues in Toronto Canada! Nice to see videos to show non drivers what it's like. Certainly feel these stories! 10 years in. 20 to go lol
I'm 14 months at HSR. Glad I don't have to drive an arctic in Toronto.
I'm willing to be assertive in my bus, I feel like I'd have to be homicidal to drive in Toronto traffic.
Fellow bus driver here!! For 5 years now Love your videos glad to find someone else to laugh at our pain with. Keep up the good work!!!
Thanks for watching!!
I just got hired as a city bus driver a few weeks ago...my cdl test is Monday
Update to my comment...went to our light rail system to operate the train after 1 year at bus and now im a light rail supervisor...life is great
As a rider, I appreciate the work that you do 😊
Thank you!!
Hey there, not a bus driver, but I've been riding buses and public transit since high school, in Seattle and now in the Bay Area. That's almost a decade! Very cool to see and ins and outs of what it is to be a bus driver. Much respect to you and your colleagues, you all have to deal with a lot. Stay safe out there!
I appreciate you watching!! Thanks!!
Hey I wonder if you ever rode my bus?! I'm a hundred or so miles from you but its kinda a touristy area?
My Grandfather was a streetcar motorman and later drove bus in New Orleans from 1923 - 1966. In those days the experienced bus drivers worked a split shift to cover the morning and evening rush hours with the newbies doing the daytime grind and nights. There were a lot of passengers who would skip a bus just to get on his a few minutes later - he never met a stranger, he knew their names and their kids too. When he died no one in the family expected the folks that showed up from al over the city to be in the Second Line. The best days of my life were when we would visit them and he would take me out to ride the streetcars and buses all over the city. They lived just a block from the car/bus barn on Canal and I would spend hours playing in the idle cars looking for one with enough air in the tank to open and close the doors. All the drivers and maintenance guys knew that I was Earl's grandson. They gave me one of the door control handles that the operators kept. Like I said, best days of my life.
Thank you for taking me home.
Wow.. thanks for sharing!! Sounds like good times!! I love hearing stories like this!
Weirdo
@@gazadan6623 Thank you for your thoughtful, insightful comment. It will be given all the credence it deserves.
@@denali9449 Have you ever considered becoming an operator yourself? I love my job.
@@DAndyLord Looking back that might have been an interesting career path - at my current age, commercial licenses are not so easily obtained!
Love this! I drive a city bus in Coventry, England! So many similarities with our processes! I've just finished two weeks of early shifts, (all those checks!). I'm now on lates from today, one extreme to the other. Keep up the good work, Sir!
Nice!! Thanks for watching all the way from England!! I’m honored!
@@BusDriverLife thanks! The honor (honour!) 😇 is watching them. I watched a few of your others, certainly agreed with your points on how we are unappreciated, especially when things go wrong outside of our control and blamed by the very people we are trying to help! Still, I enjoy the job very much! Just literally walked through my front door after my late shift! It is twenty past midnight here! Stay safe, have a great day of work my friend!
Brother so glad I've been a fan for a few months. You tell our daily lives so accurately. From a TTC driver in Toronto.
Thank you!!!
I am so glad I found your channel. I have been driving transit bus in Salt Lake City for almost 2 years, but have been dealing with the public as a funeral director for over 20 years in Walnut Creek, CA. I love watching your videos, I find them entertaining and the information on them is what I wish my passengers knew. I received the call from management a couple days ago and it looks like my days on the extra board are numbered and start receiving my regular work. Thank you for all you do for your fellow bus operators. I couldn't have said it any better.
Thanks so much!! Glad you’re enjoying the channel!
Oh weird, like half of my buddies sign vacation or extra deliberately. F that, I like consistent work.
My company wants spares.
At any time there are 300ish busses on the road (until very late) any one us could have an indecent, get sick, or whatever.
Some days a driver who is spare or on report does literally nothing their whole shift, never touches a bus. Other days they bring poop busses back for the clean team. Or enter service in the middle of a random route they haven't done in 6 months.
Great video. Lived in Sacramento most of my life and drove bus, but in 1975 got a job offer in Vancouver, BC to drive transit in the city. Never looked back. You bring back a lot of memories to me. Thanks for taking me along for the "ride"
So glad you enjoyed!!
I really enjoyed U, being tired and still maintaining an up beat additude, and serving the public U rock stay safe bruh.
A true worker that carries our society, you are a hero!
Thank you!!!
Man I’d probably get fired if I did something like this in my system. Awesome stuff. Subbed.
I hope to become a bus driver after I graduate highschool next year, and work for the MTA NYCT. :>
I have great respect for bus drivers they have a lot of chaos to deal with and the public isn’t always pleasant
dude I can't believe this is the first time I've come across your channel, your vibes are excellent. I love riding the bus and transit in general, thank you for everything you do to keep our communities moving.
Thank you!! I’m glad you found the channel!
New to the channel, just subscribed! I appreciate my bus drivers! They work so hard, work through bad weather, and my bus drivers know me since I have been on them for years! Bless you!
Awesome and welcome!!!
I find it quite smart to step on your turn signals, especially when your leaned back, bc you don't have to reach for the turn mechanism stick thing.
I'm still in training and ya'll are being funny.
Buh da buh buh buh
I'm lovin' it!
How did it turn out
Love the video. Also just an idea (not sure if you’re allowed to do this with your agency) I would love to see if you would get a GoPro with a suction cup mount and record yourself deadheading.
The algorithm brought me here, and I'm glad it did, awesome insight.
Bus drivers are awesome, you all put up with some bullshit and are totally underappreciated. I hope your channel blows up man.
All hail the algorithm.
Edit: Low key always wanted to drive a bus ha!
I definitely appreciate you!! I’m glad the algorithm brought you here!!!
You get breaks?! Today I'm working 733-322, my route is 12 minutes up, 12 minutes down, no breaks, no lay overs, no time adjustments. If I goto the washroom I have to lose a whole trip.
But at least it's a short day.
That sounds really intense!
Can’t wait bro I’m hot qualified last week. I’m getting ready for my road test in eastchester
Thanks for sharing! Very complex buttons and monitors there --- I'd panic if I were to learn how to use them.
Hey man, fellow bus and coach driver from the UK here! Wait, what, indicators on the foot?!! Oh, and all the same problems over here as well...
Yup foot indicators..I find myself trying to use them in my car even though they don’t put them in cars. Lol. Thanks for watching!
I recently moved from Orange County CA to Knoxville TN and have been really interested for many years about city bus driving. NO more office work for me. I just applied to become a bus driver and have an interview on Tuesday. So, I'm appreciating your videos! Crossing my fingers I'll be joining your bus driving family!
Nice!! I hope everything goes well!! I’m glad the videos have been helpful!!
@@BusDriverLife And if you enjoy board games when you aren't driving, hopefully you'll like my channel too! Ha!
As a former train engineer (I've gotten promoted to management), I appreciate the work you do and the pride that you take in your job. Keep striving and be safe. Just liked and subbed.
I appreciate that!!
Bus operator here in Los Angeles (Metro) 14 years running, these videos are pretty funny bro keep it up 💯
It looks fun being a bus driver been a fan of buses all my life :)
That’s awesome and it definitely has a lot of fun moments!
Being a bus driver is fun and it's good money
I'm in Hamilton Ontario going through the process of becoming a Transit Operator, very exciting, definitely a little stressful. just want to say thanks for your videos helping feeling i can get through this training period
I am excites to start driving buses soon.. Im gunna drive mci coaches for my local transit agency
Thank you for this video. I wanted to know what was going on in the world today with bus drivers (to see from your perspective). I learned a lot. You are really good at your job. Keep up the good work.
Thank you!
Very good content. Greetings from Poland
I love your energy about this job 💪🏻
You seem like a good man
i love seeing people work on camera its so relaxing and entertaining
I love these videos. In Pittsburgh we deal with a lot of hills and tiny streets... It's cool to know you deal with the same things as far as passengers.
I appreciate you watching!!
Great vid! I didn’t think the bell cord was still a thing. Wow! I drive city buses in Reykjavik, Iceland. There’s a button and we see a red light on the gps to let us know to stop at the next. Also a sound too
Yea we have a red light that pops up on the dash and a blue light for wheelchair passengers. Thanks for watching!!
hello from Roseville neighbor, I am getting " phased out" of my current job after 21yrs. Looking into bus driving until I retire.
Ive always wondered how they activate the signals when their hands dont even leave the steering wheel
I always knew it was feet lol.
There are 2 buttons on the left side on the floor...
You are so cool! I love getting a glimpse into other people's everyday life, and these videos are a really cool way of breathing creativity into an otherwise potentially mundane job, really cool stuff
Wow thanks!! I’m glad you enjoyed!! Thanks for watching!!
Thank you for your funny, yet educational video! I drive a school bus..sooo thinking about changing employers!
Just joined your channel to support you and I really liked that video!
I learned truck driving at the German army back in time and for the road test I had to drive into the pittoresque historic downtown of a small village with narrow roads and to correctly turn left or right without taking down the traffic light poles, traffic signs or anything else with me - so wide turns.
Used to be 40 ton trucks with trailer.
Your job is very important as is public transit in general - but not highly enough regarded in the US.
For a challenge - drive a MTA city transit bus in Manhattan NY through the West village ;-)
I sent something Batman related to you to say thank you :-)
Thanks for becoming a member! It almost becomes a fun challenge to successfully make turns on narrow streets while driving a large vehicle..definitely some anxiety involved though!! Lol
You guys have to do so many things when you getting your bus. I am a busdriver in The Netherlands. When i arrive at work they give me a Busnumber and the location of the bus at the Depot. Like bus 1056 location lane 15 spot 5. I arrive at my bus i started the engine walk around to see if there are any damage on the bus if not i going to sit in me seat make my self comfortabel and check my mirros and they give me 10 min for that. Most of the time after 5 min i am done and drive to my startpostion and that depends what busline i have.
I was puzzled by the yellow cables strung everywhere but then it became evident they're linked to a switch to request the bus to stop. We haven't had a similar system in the UK for at least 40 years. Each upright post/grab handle has a red button to press to do the same thing. It's also marked in braille for those who can't see. On some operators (such as in London) the next stop is announced by a recorded voice.
I can't tell you how excited I was that the toilet was open for you! I was praying! 🤣 I love the foldable seats. Unfortunately the buses where I am only have the 10 seats near the front (5 on each side) that fold. They just fold up (no button).
I was so happy the second place was open!! I hadn’t done that route at all since COVID hit so I didn’t know what options I had!!
Great video, you take your job seriously and are proud of it. Stay safe out there brother! I'm a part-time bus driver, usually doing a Saturday run, but I gotta say American city buses are weird...
The interior looks very dated, compared to that of European buses. I should say that I am spoiled... I only started driving buses 2 years ago and the company I work for has a lot of new buses. The oldest ones are like from 2010. The 2020 Mercedes Citaro I drive has a sleek dashboard, colored multifunction display, radar cruise control, automatic emergency braking, blindspot monitoring, electric sunshades and window, driving modes (Power and Eco) and a lot of the buttons look like they came out of a car. No metal toggle switches, no twist handles, no weird pedals to adjust the steering, or turn on the high beams, or turn signals... It even has heated and ventilated suspension seats with more than enough adjustability. I noticed your seat didn't move... do American buses not have suspension seats? Now, one would say my bus is brand new, but even the older Citaros from 2010 still have modern controls and no weird switches and different sized dials and the whole thing looks neat and almost luxurious.
Driver comfort really isn't at the top of the list for American bus manufacturers is it? Also no storage space for your personal belongings... The Citaro has 2 overhead compartments and a big pocket in the door for your bus driver travel case.
On the downside, European buses don't usually have an electrically operated ramp - manual ramps are common and reversing cameras are not mandatory - they are optional extras.
The fancy Citaro I drive also has no temperature, oil and air pressure gauges. If something is wrong, you'll get a message on that fancy color multifunction display... To be honest, I'd rather have the extra dials and be able to keep an eye on 'em.
Next downside is driving through the narrow streets through the historic parts of the city, swarmed by cyclists and pedestrians and then up and down the twisty rural roads.
Thanks! Also I get this all the time..people always crap on the American transit buses. Lol. It’s all good though! There are definitely some differences for sure. I’ve seen some cool looking European buses and some look weird to me as well. The Mercedes citaro is a really nice looking bus!!
Turning on the signals with your foot, never seen that! Pretty fascinating
I have been catching the bus all my life, never thoughts one day I became a bus driver. After I left my corporate job and did odd jobs. Then I got an interviews and passed all process and training. Got my shifts and next things its been 5 years. I loved been outside and greeting passengers and some becomes friends. There's no days the same, one day you get stuck in traffic or accidents or some day your carrying passengers over the limits. How fast time passed and now pandemic hits my shifts got cut due to locked down.
Here in SoCal they have relief bus driver who have company cars and will give the car to the driver so they can get to the yard.
We do that as well for certain routes
You are probably exactly who I need to ask then to clarify. I'm not sure if you're in San Diego or some other part of Southern california, but here we have mts. But we also have Transdev that operates with/for MTS. And I was really curious about people who do not drive their own cars. I was given an employment offer, but told shifts can start as early as 3:00 am-ish. That means that I would have to get up and go before the actual public transportation is running to make it to work on time to get my bus. So what happens for those employees? I don't have anybody I could call for a ride at 1:00 a.m. 2:00 a.m... and I don't have a car. And I can't ride the bus to work so how do those people get to work and likewise how do the people who end their shift when the buses aren't running get home? This is the only thing that has me worried about doing this job because if there is no staff Transportation provided, then that would mean I would have to take the bus to wherever I'm going before midnight and then hang around for 3 hours waiting for my shift in the middle of the night....
That is what I do before I drive my bus, I close the door and spray the driver area down with Lysol and I wipe everything down with my Lysol wipes including the phone and directional system. And I wipe down the seat adjust everything including the mirrors. I drove a city transit bus in Ohio and now I drive for Northern Kentucky. I've been driving in Kentucky now for 3 months and so far I like it
A natural comedian. Thanks for your service.
I used to drive a bus in downtown L.A. DASH....good times great video
Thank you!!
Greetings from DART FIRST STATE!!!!! enjoyed this video!!!!!!
Thanks for watching!!
"extinguidor de fuego aquí" I can read this. Jajaja. Saludos 😎
Awesome video as always Keywan. Hope you keeping safe & well 😀😀
Thanks so much!! I’m keeping as safe as possible! I hope you’re doing well too!!
@@BusDriverLife no worries Keywan. I ok & keeping safe but I miss my friends I cant wait to see them again when lockdown ends 😀👍🏻
So cool this guys deserve more subs
I appreciate that! Maybe one day!!
How weird. At Metro (MTA) the air governor cut out test is the first thing you do in the air brakes test. We just go from a safe start to air governor cut out.
Another great TH-cam Algorithm choice. I never drove transit buses, but do ride them each time I visit Orange County (CA) or go to VA. I didn't catch your name, but I like your conversational style.
I appreciate that! Glad you enjoyed it!
awesome video! my daughter says she wants to drive a bus when she grows up.
Blue color is used because psychologically it's a calming color.. in other words it's designed to keep the passengers calm (subconsciously)
Reminds me of the time I drove a bus from Sacramento to Los Angeles, it was my regular run. As we were leaving one morning a guy got on and said he need to go to Hollywood. I told him you're on the right bus we're going to Los Angeles, and took off, he started screaming NO I'm going to Hollywood, before I could explain to him, that Hollywood was just an area in Los Angeles. He jumped off the bus when I was doing 10 miles an hour, rolled around on the concrete. I stopped to see if he was all right and he just gave me the finger. I didn't think any more about it, until the next day. I was on my regular run from Sacramento to LA again, when I see this guy with a bandage head hitchhiking, holding up a sign that says Hollywood or bust. I'll say this he must have busted his head when he fell. And I always wondered if he got a ride with anybody did they tell him they are going to Los Angeles. If so he might have jumped out. This happened in April 1976 but I remember it like yesterday
I do early morning shift for UTA here in Utah. I love bus driving I have done it for 6 years now. Thank you for these videos
That’s awesome! Thanks for watching!!!
Cool video man I found your channel by random it just popped up on TH-cam I didn't know what to expect when I was going to watch it but pretty cool I wonder if other bus drivers do TH-cam videos as well
We need a pov bus drive
Bus driver life!! Also a other bad part about of driving tough to a detour is if you roads are narrow I would think it would be bad because your bus is long
True!! That does happen!!
I wanted to be a busdriver since I was 7 years old. I could have been a doctor, lawyer, business executive, etc.
I was driving a wholesale food delivery truck and 5 years In, I found out a bus company was hiring and training.
I trained after my full-time job then started driving city transit busses plus school bus charters. Two years in I went to full-time driving busses when an opening came up for full-time. School bus in the morning and transit in the afternoon.
I would pick up hours dispatching on weekends.
The manager and I got along and 6 months into full-time he had me start driving motor coach tour busses on weekends.
Eventually the school bus contract was gone and a few years later the coach company was bought out and moved.
I remained in transit busses for 34 years.
I always had side jobs of different sorts.
Transit was good to me. I made decent money, have a pension, a house, and I am no longer driving.
I did it for 34 years and the last 4 years of it I ended up not liking the job.
That clientele wasn't what it one was.
I am glad to no longer be doing it.
Been there, done it for 31 years. I am finally retired.❤ Loving your videos. You do a great job. 18 minute break , Wow? You are lucky. I have met wonderful people, Some...great people. . Enjoyed working with my co workers. So many great memories. . Lol, yeah the spray, I can relate. Yes, pull the cord please..Split shifts 12-13 hour days.
I really enjoyed watching this, you seem like a very kind guy! thanks or sharing a small piece of your life!
I appreciate that and thanks so much for watching!
Those foot buttons for the indicators threw me off for sure, the Adelaide Metro buses i drive have a normal stalk like a car except its on the left side like in Europe. I drive Scania and MAN buses mainly
I'm new and this is the first video I clicked on, it was in my mentions. Great video by the way.
Thanks!! I’m glad you checked it out!
@@BusDriverLife No problem. Be safe out there.
We call change overs relief points here at Muni and you should be paid for travel time from where you get off until you get to your car
Sacramento has an amazing transit system. The LRT system was built quite affordably although it was quite slow through downtown.
That is a lie Sacramento does not have amazing transit system I have break it to you
I love how you take care of your bus. These are good videos to show kids. They need to know that you can still make an honest living AND be a TH-camr. (Not that being a TH-camr isn’t honest, but you know what I mean.) 😉
I Just love vehicles & it's so satisfying that we got this huge piece of mobile engineering that has wheels & a dash & buttons & it lights up! & you can drive that thing around!.......oh & be paid to do that! Just never bores me. Interesting how EVs took over too even though I prefer gas power because it's reliable. Nice video.
Damn looks way different then in Europe but I guess it's still fun to ride :) Great vid !
Hey thanks for watching!!
I haven't rode SacRt in a few years. Such fun memories in high school riding the 67 from Florin Mall to Arden Mall or the 51 from Florin Mall to Downtown Plaza (Pre Golden 1 Center Days) with friends .It was nice to see part of the video at Florin Towne Centre aka Florin Mall. 😁 Glad you got to use the bathroom! Thanks for your service and great video!
You need to check out (Sunshine list for Ontario municipalities) bus drivers you will be amazed driver in big city are making over $100.000.
Thanks for sharing!! Love your office with the nice view!
Thanks for watching!!
Seeing a bunch of clips on the Johnny Depp trial and topics on war, this is exactly what I need. For once the youtube algorithm works exactly like they should. Love your clips Keywan, greetings from Sweden!
Hey!! I appreciate you watching! I’m sorry I didn’t see your comment before!
Not sure how I came across your video, but I hope that things are more or less normal and you stayed healthy. That being said, a very interesting video about the job of a bus driver. You've piqued my curiosity
That’s awesome! I’m glad you found the video interesting! I’m doing well and things are getting back to normal somewhat!
I am a bus driver in Poland and its rly interesting for me :)
Thanks for watching all the way in Poland!
Then you drive a lot of Solaris Urbino
Thank you for all that you are doing for those in your community
I appreciate that!!
you have a brake pedal to the right and an additional foot switch for the brake signal? is that correct?
Surprised to see a stop request cord on a relatively modern bus ... I mean this is a thing which was popular like half a century ago?
How many bus lines does your service provide? I literally have no idea, we typically get the image of a poor public transit network in American cities here.
In my home town I know one bus stop (no hub, but a regular stop with through-going traffic) which is served by more than 20 different bus lines
Am shifts are the best in my opinion. But my patience has gotten thinner since being an operator and am thinking of moving to trucking lol
Been a bus driver for 12 years, love ur video
Thank you!
Bus driver life. Checking in from Las Vegas
Thanks for the excursion. Do bus drivers in California have condition checks before a work day? Like quick dragger check, temperature, etc.
Thanks for the Video.
I´m a german Truck Driver, and here in Germany, we got modern Trucks and Busses as you in America and Canada too.
Why you have Signal buttons on the ground? There must be a Lever at the Steering wheel, i think. In the middle of Corona
It was only allowed to ride the bus as a passenger with mask, and also you have to use the doors behind the driver. The front door
was locked, and so it was not allowed to stay or seat behind the driver on the passenger seats. Since a couple of months it's allowed
to enter the bus via the front door, but there is a plastic shield right to the cash box, to safe the driver. Mean there is a shield above the driver entry.
Pls. Excuse my English skill, Sir. Go ahead with this
great Videos : ).
I’ve been on the bus during a change over before it ain’t that bad. And it is kinda at the end of a route in the one direction just before they start to go in the opposite direction. Not sure if that makes it better than being in the middle of the route or not though.