sixth-form student becomes bus driver

[anthony263]

Not very often you here about things like this:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-15993184

He is not much younger than me when I did my PSV test back in 2008.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I wonder what his company insurance premium will be at the age of 18, as his father runs the service that he drives on to and from the school. Do very young people of 18 holding a PSV licence have to pay much higher insurance premiums, as they would have to do when driving a private vehicle.

 

[northwichcat]

First Group in West Yorkshire have taken on university students as part time bus drivers in the past. I don't know if they still do.

 

[WatcherZero]

Nothing wrong with it, but wouldnt like to see the insurance premiums. Most companies require three years of license to get the costs down.

 

[anthony263]

I wonder what his company insurance premium will be at the age of 18, as his father runs the service that he drives on to and from the school. Do very young people of 18 holding a PSV licence have to pay much higher insurance premiums, as they would have to do when driving a private vehicle.

It can be a lot higher for drivers aged 18-25 a lot of companies particulary independents wont take drivers aged under 21.

In south wales the only operators I know of who will take drivers aged under 21 are: Stagecoach, Veolia Transport (Who I trained with & worked for) Cardiff & Newport bus, Taf Valley Coaches , First Cymru used to then stopped taking under 21's I can't remember if they have changed this again.

 

[Eagle]

It can be a lot higher for drivers aged 18-25 a lot of companies particulary independents wont take drivers aged under 21.

Lothian Buses are interviewing a 20-year-old at the moment...

 

[Ivo]

Lothian Buses are interviewing a 20-year-old at the moment...

I wonder who Eagle could be referring to :roll:

Does this mean at this precise moment? Best of luck to him if so

 

[Eagle]

I wonder who Eagle could be referring to :roll:

Does this mean at this precise moment? Best of luck to him if so

A week today, I think he said.

 

[BestWestern]

It can be a lot higher for drivers aged 18-25 a lot of companies particulary independents wont take drivers aged under 21.

In south wales the only operators I know of who will take drivers aged under 21 are: Stagecoach, Veolia Transport (Who I trained with & worked for) Cardiff & Newport bus, Taf Valley Coaches , First Cymru used to then stopped taking under 21's I can't remember if they have changed this again.

The big outfits like Stagecoach, First etc are self insured, which means that they do not use external insurance companies and cover their costs themselves. You can do this once you have a certain number of "000's" in the bank I believe. Hence they are more willing to employ younger applicants. I'd imagine with independents their policies may stipulate a particular age requirement, but I don't think you need to add each and every driver like you would on a car, the policy would usually cover any suitably qualified person given permission by the company to drive its vehicles.

 

[trentside]

I've seen some smaller companies specify only people over 25. Around here, Stagecoach won't employ anyone under 21 due to the long distance services worked (as I believe anyone under 21 can't work services over 50km) - this may have changed, as the routes have been split to avoid EU driver regulations.

 

[anthony263]

I've seen some smaller companies specify only people over 25. Around here, Stagecoach won't employ anyone under 21 due to the long distance services worked (as I believe anyone under 21 can't work services over 50km) - this may have changed, as the routes have been split to avoid EU driver regulations.

As far as I am aware that rule has not changed bus drivers under 21 can't drive services over 50km or about 30 miles

 

[richw]

My friend was working for first devon and cornwall at 18, wasn't allowed to do their nat ex contracts until 21 tho

Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using Tapatalk

 

[Deerfold]

His father even pays him £20 a day for getting behind the wheel.

I'd hope so! I'm guessing that's lower than he'd have to pay other drivers (given they'd probably have an extra run to and from the depot too).

 

[142094]

First Group in West Yorkshire have taken on university students as part time bus drivers in the past. I don't know if they still do.

With the Arriva grad scheme for the bus division you have to take your PSV test - gives you a better idea of operations.

 

[trentside]

With the Arriva grad scheme for the bus division you have to take your PSV test - gives you a better idea of operations.

Stagecoach is the same I believe.

 

[BestWestern]

With the Arriva grad scheme for the bus division you have to take your PSV test - gives you a better idea of operations.

Though sadly nothing approaching what could be called 'experience' of the industry or the jobs of the people you are likely to end up managing :roll:

 

[mbonwick]

I know on the Stagecoach scheme you do 6months in all areas of the business to get a feel for who you'll be managing and the work involved.

I imagine the Arriva scheme is similar.

 

[142094]

Though sadly nothing approaching what could be called 'experience' of the industry or the jobs of the people you are likely to end up managing :roll:

I don't work for Arriva so can't comment. But there has been the same arguement before used for other graduate jobs and the general consensus is that there are some good and some bad.

 

[Nym]

Well, babcock rail put their graduates through plant training if they want it...