Sorry admins if this is in wrong place, please move or delete if it is.
I have a neighbour who is talking about getting PSV work, probably with First in Edinburgh. He was asking me for advice but I haven't driven a bus since 2004 and hold some very negative views on it. So some questions
How hard is it to get taken on? He will have to train as he has no PSV licence.
What are the shift lengths like? And conditions overall?
Is about a tenner an hour the going rate? He is delivering parcels for about 8 quid an hour at the moment. I have told him that in my opinion it's not worth the extra hassle for a couple of quid more.
would you recommend it?
To try and answer your questions, generally it is fairly straightforward to get a job with First, but it might take a few months from applying to get out on the road, as the DVLA aren't always efficient!
With First and it's probably similar with other operators, you fill out an application online and answer some pre-screen questions, which generally have common sense answers.
If you're successful at that, you will then be invited to have a telephone interview, which explores why you want the job, what you would do in certain situations etc.
After, you would be invited to an interview at a local depot and usually do a test drive in a company car/van with an instructor. Then you complete a basic maths/english and highway code test. If you are successful at all of these, you would then either be offered the position there and then or sent an email with the outcome.
You then need to apply for a provisional Cat D licence and you will be booked in to have a medical, which isn't too intrusive. If you have any medical conditions, it may slow down the process as the DVLA may want to check some information with your GP.
Once you receive your provisional licence, you can then start at the training school. From starting at the training school to passing your test usually takes around 3 weeks, but may take a bit longer depending on your ability, availability of vehicles/instructors etc.
Once you have passed your test, you will be allocated a buddy driver for around 2-3 weeks to guide you through the routes and ticket machines.
Once you have been signed off by your buddy, you will then be driving alone and taken off the training wage, if it applies where you apply for.
I've found that the job is as easy or as difficult as you make it. A 4 day shift will be spread over around 11 hours and a 5 day shift over around 8 hours. You will probably be on a pattern of earlies/lates or earlies/mids/lates to start with but over time, you can usually find a shift pattern that suits you best, by swapping with drivers (early shifts tend to be more popular).
It's difficult to say whether you will like or hate the job. If you like it, you will probably be there until you retire!
