Arriva Leicester Bus Drivers

[BuhSnarf]

Firstly, my commute is 2 buses each way to work each day. So I see at least 4 bus drivers per day 5 days a week plus any on days off when I take the family out.

I use one of Arriva's best kept secrets. The mobile app giving 4 weeks travel over the full midlands area for £40. Amazing value.

However one thing I've noticed is that with the app they give no notification (the drivers this is) that they've seen and your ticket is fine they merely stare at you and if you move off and they don't call you back this is taken as a pass.

My question is after I pointedly make an effort to smile at them and say morning, evening etc they cannot acknowledge us back?

Why are bus drivers in leicester so grumpy? Used to live in Nottingham and there its always a cheery smile!

I do have to say there is one girl who works out the Wigston garage who is amazing. But to all the others cheer up!

Or is this just me?

 

[455driver]

Try the job and then you will understand!

 

[BuhSnarf]

I've spent the last 10 years working in customer facing roles where I've had verbal and physical abuse towards me, where 3/4 people who.I deal with our grumpy and ignorant and I managed to day in day out have a smile on my face.

So that is no excuse. Plus as I've said Trent Barton in Nottingham manage to do it... maybe Arriva need to look at their training and who they are hiring.

 

[tom1649]

Trent Barton drivers have always generally been very friendly. Maybe the company treats its staff better than some of the big groups.

 

[ChrisCooper]

I still think you should try bus driving before you criticise too much. It's not just any customer service work, there is also a lot of responsibility, and it takes a lot of concentration just to get a large vehicle around safely and on time, especially with all the idiots out on the roads. You're on your own too. I've done bus driving and other customer service work. I saw more awkward and even abusive customers in the other jobs than on the buses, but then you've got you collegues and management at hand to back you up, or even just for a moan afterwards. Bus drivers don't have that luxury, they can go hours at a time without seeing a friendly face (customers can be damned ignorant too, the number of times you smile at them, say hello or thankyou and get nothing in return). All of that for quite pathetic wages and over long and unsociable hours hours (many drivers work 6 days a week, including regular lates and sundays)

 

[danfitz123]

Firstly, my commute is 2 buses each way to work each day. So I see at least 4 bus drivers per day 5 days a week plus any on days off when I take the family out.

I use one of Arriva's best kept secrets. The mobile app giving 4 weeks travel over the full midlands area for £40. Amazing value.

However one thing I've noticed is that with the app they give no notification (the drivers this is) that they've seen and your ticket is fine they merely stare at you and if you move off and they don't call you back this is taken as a pass.

My question is after I pointedly make an effort to smile at them and say morning, evening etc they cannot acknowledge us back?

Why are bus drivers in leicester so grumpy? Used to live in Nottingham and there its always a cheery smile!

I do have to say there is one girl who works out the Wigston garage who is amazing. But to all the others cheer up!

Or is this just me?

You want to go to st helens mate. Ive seen one of thier drivers shout at an OAP for standing near the edge of the curb. :-x

 

[BuhSnarf]

I still think you should try bus driving before you criticise too much. It's not just any customer service work, there is also a lot of responsibility, and it takes a lot of concentration just to get a large vehicle around safely and on time, especially with all the idiots out on the roads. You're on your own too. I've done bus driving and other customer service work. I saw more awkward and even abusive customers in the other jobs than on the buses, but then you've got you collegues and management at hand to back you up, or even just for a moan afterwards. Bus drivers don't have that luxury, they can go hours at a time without seeing a friendly face (customers can be damned ignorant too, the number of times you smile at them, say hello or thankyou and get nothing in return). All of that for quite pathetic wages and over long and unsociable hours hours (many drivers work 6 days a week, including regular lates and sundays)

I understand it's a.challenge but can be done. Just for some reason not in Leicester. This morning was.a great example as my driver sat for 10 minutes beeping his horn waking some guy up to tell him that his car was too close to where the bus was. Even though it was quite blatent we could have got by and when one of the passengers who was being made late for work asked why we didn't just go the driver said "he needs to be taught a lesson"

It's almost like they enjoy not being polite. I understand some customers are impolite but I make the effort to always be polite at least acknowledge me!

 

[MCR247]

Trent Barton drivers have always generally been very friendly. Maybe the company treats its staff better than some of the big groups.

Ob the whole I'd say the are friendlier than NCTs, although not all

We employ nearly 1000 people in various parts of Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire, running a fleet of around 270 modern buses on a network of local routes. Most of our 760 or so drivers work in small teams on regular routes, many are on first name terms with our regular customers.

 

[bb21]

I understand it's a.challenge but can be done. Just for some reason not in Leicester. This morning was.a great example as my driver sat for 10 minutes beeping his horn waking some guy up to tell him that his car was too close to where the bus was. Even though it was quite blatent we could have got by and when one of the passengers who was being made late for work asked why we didn't just go the driver said "he needs to be taught a lesson"

It's almost like they enjoy not being polite. I understand some customers are impolite but I make the effort to always be polite at least acknowledge me!

Depends on what route it is. Certain depots have a worse reputation than others. Before the reorganisation, Southgates was infamous for bad drivers in many different aspects, even amongst their colleagues. Coalville always stood out as having friendly drivers. When the bus has only 1 or 2 passengers left, the drivers were always up for a chat if the passenger mentions anything. Of course neither of the two is in operation any more.

 

[trentside]

Depends on what route it is. Certain depots have a worse reputation than others.

I know this is the case with other companies too. Stagecoach East Midlands seems to vary greatly, for example - though I have noticed that drivers from the smaller depots always seem to be a little friendlier. Maybe it's something to do with the smaller rotas, and seeing their regular passengers more?