IronboundNJT

17 hours ago, Imhim said:

It’s not that serious to me to do all of that, not sure how that helps you understand anything in terms of stopping a train during wet rails, leaves, etc. if that’s what you did cool. I feel like once anyone is on the job and the importance of controlling your train is embedded into their brain, purposely over running a station isn’t necessary. But hey that’s just my opinion. 

They've done something TA workers do too much under explained and over simpiflied. I assume they meant that with a light train. Even with my next statement I agree purposeful over runs in service is a bad idea.

While on probation we still fall under schoolcar so honest mistakes made now don't have the same weight and level of punishment as when probation finishes. Not saying do things on purpose tho. 

Schoolcar teaches us how to stop bit we don't see how that compromised based on factors you haven't experienced. Everyone warns about NTT in the rain but too many mention it's just as dangerous underground if cleaners are power washing the station. 

6 hours ago, Elfamoso2020 said:

It depends how long they going back to school car. When I say I doubt it, My initial thinking is going back for more then a month. If it’s for a few days then I guessssss it’s possible. I got less then a month to get off probation. Counting down the days. 

They don't call back entire induction classes to reinstruct them. They call back classes to test them. At this point Gibbs is pissed about the incidents. They give both yard practicals, and the road practical depending on the errors accumulated by the class including ones without incidents. This HAS happened twice as far as I know last year and the one prior. 

Here's the real when it comes to school car. The TSS there are knowledgeable but not all of them have the ability and or the patience to teach. Combine that with the way the syllabus is designed you don't really move trains often. and as such a typical person doesn't know if this job is for them or not until around yx roughly 4-5 months in. Plus classes are too big and in the beginning whether it's intentional or not you end up in this study to pass instead of study to know. It's not impossible but there are too many hiccups in it's design.

But then there's the individual person, because of that whole study to pass ideal, when they do they seem to let all that knowledge fall out their brain to the wayside.

18 hours ago, moses said:

how long after the job is closed to they contact you or give a notification?

That varies like crazy. I've seen some post that claimed they got contacted the next day after it closed. I've also seen some get contacted in months and this is for the same posting.

Yeahs..A lot of the posts on DL are wild. That one about socio-economic I'll assume is joking. NYCT has many problems but one thing that is fact and impressive is that it has some really low requirements to gain jobs that pay anywhere from the low 20 to 30 per hour. 

While it's not really one thing, I assure you it mainly the momentum thing. Once you guys get into school car and you get onto the SMEE there is a delay on the speedo when it is working, and TSS will tell you to "feel" the train. It'll make more sense once your in. 

NYCT does a thorough enough background check and weight things properly...most times. Being safety sensitive, yes they don't want reckless ppl. However this company offers substance abuse programs for all.

On 3/12/2019 at 3:03 PM, staffspm1 said:

Ok here goes - it is not standard across the UK (any parts that are are BOLD)

Week 1 - Monday to Wednesday - Company welcome and induction, forms filled etc

week 1 - Thursday and Friday - Personal track safety (qualification to walk on railway tracks)

Week 2 + 3 - Mon - Fri Intro to Operations. Theory rules-based and visits to control centres, signal boxes (towers I think to you) visit stations. Basics of the rulebook and a gentle intro to the job. Test at the end 80% pass mark.

Week 4 + 5 - shift hours Front end Turns. This means just shadowing a driver and watching what they do - NO DRIVING for the trainee.

Week 6,7 + 8 - Rules Part 1 - back in the classroom Mon to Fri for more rule book training. Mostly recapping Intro to operations but also getting into more details. Signalling is covered extensively here as well.  Test at end 80% pass.

Week 9, 10 + 11 -- Basic traction course. Each depot has a main type of train they drive. This three course is to learn the insides and outsides of the train BUT not how to drive it fully. You will do some yard shunting at very low speed and practice coupling and uncoupling. Test on day 8 and 11 of this course 80% pass rate. Mon - Fri usually

Week 12 + 13 - Return to classroom Mon - Fri for last theory training. You cover the previous rules courses and recap but also learn the last bits which mostly cover out of course working and emergencies. At the end of this course, there is another 80% pass test and also a review by a driver manager to ascertain whether they are competent or not.

If you pass this test and driver manager is happy then you are technically a competent driver. However, you still cannot drive!!

For the next 255 hours (40 in darkness) you are assigned a driving instructor who watches you drive and teaches you how to drive. 

During these weeks you get pulled aside for the odd day courses such as Signal Passed at Danger awareness (teaching you the risks of red signals and how you can avoid passing one) also seasonal awareness and principles of route learning.

At the end of this, if all is well you qualify and become a Post Qualified Driver and can drive on your own. During the first two years, as you are considered higher risk you cannot have anyone else in the cab with you and you are subject to more assessments.

Hopefully that answers the questions, anything else please ask.

Hey bro. So are you RR proper or more like the Metro? Even the US RR aren't as strict as we are and that includes LIRR and MNRR and they're owned by our same parent company. Different guidelines different lvls of discipline I suppose.

On 4/5/2019 at 5:56 AM, msmcmillan said:

Kinda makes you wonder why the driver license requirement, anyway?  I don't think the previous T/O test had a license requirement at all.

I wouldn't be surprised if T/O required a CDL license in the next few years! It doesn't make sense, but it seems they are making it harder and more frustrating. 

The reason they want drivers licenses is due to the belief that if you have a DL you've driven a vehicle so you should be able to somewhat judge momentum for going and stopping. They've had too many slide out of stations because they didn't grab enough brake and process that isn't enough or grab too much too early, release too much too late on trains that don't like that. Add in the fact schoolcar gives a needlessly over the top impression that honest mistakes claims jobs doesn;t help matters.

Now I've seen plenty of ppl w/o licenses go on and become excellent T/O with no problems. To those of you coming on w/o licenses or lil to no driving experience, First Congratulations. Second operating commercial vehicles of any type is NOT physically demanding, it is mentally demanding. Get your rest, watch your diet.   

I never heard from my recruiter again. Already have the B/O experience, now adding T/O experience to my repertoire. 

I was called to start processing for NJT LE. Assuming this doesn't go belly up like MN. I'll make a post. Too much is unknown about hiring process outside of LIRR

10 hours ago, njbk said:

I heard from a few people that they dropped the drivers license requirement. I know of at least one person in my induction who doesn’t have a license and was hired. 

Welcome to Transit. When it comes to Service Delivery assume the most restricted. So until a HR personnel or another NOE comes out stating otherwise, it's safer to assume a license is required and anyone who got in without it is either due to oversight or the desperate need of bodies for TO.

Did they contact you again to start in a class yet? Did you find the obstacle course difficult or would it be harder for the more 'rounder built'?

No they never did. I've reached out to my recruiter via phone and email and I've never received a response. I'm so use to simply never hearing from railroad hr that this was so bizarre.

The obstacle course isn't difficult. If you can follow directions, climb a ladder, and step over anything the height of a standard desktop tower it's all good.

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Question about TO salary:

 

http://www.twulocal100.org/sites/twulocal100.org/files/pay_rates_by_title_2017-2019.pdf

 

According to that chart, the hourly wage for TO in Feb 2018 will be $36.25 if on the road. Would this be the starting hourly pay? Thank you.

No that's top pay for the road. You'll start @ a reduced yard rate. I'm @ 33 and change but I'm a promotional so I don't know what the intro rate is. You won't see the road rate until near end of training when your road posting.

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Any one curious about job. There is a threat named "RTO New Hire Faq"

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Well you guys have to take into account your coming from the street so it's either accept wherever they send you and whatever they have you work or not accept the job at all.

While for us, and yes I wholeheartedly agree most do turn it down for the most mundane reasons without even trying the job were already on the inside. One thing you'll learn fast when you get on is different strokes for different folks.

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Actually I was referring to the test site. Can I bring that gym bag to the site where the multiple choice test is giving?

No you have no need for it there plus your letter should state not to bring any bags, purses etc. Just bring your test invitation letter, pencils, and i.d.

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I don't think so

 

I think this would be more better

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017SODKZ2/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3P56LYOG94570&psc=1

That's exactly what they're talking about

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Will they allow us in with a small gym bag?

Yes. My TSS told us as long as the shoulder strap can be removed they won't say anything to you. It's what I'm using now

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That's disheartening lol but thanks

 

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All I can tell you is that they're calling from the promotional exam for TO right now. So hopefully a list is established this year.

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I

 

Question, not trying to get ahead of myself and while staying in the realm of this thread, what is driving a bus in the night time like? I imagine as a rookie, they give you the worst shift aka the nights, is that bad with drunk drivers and reduced visibility? What are the passengers like drunk and disruptful or just the regular overnight workers trying to get home/work?

 

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It really boils down to your eyesight, boro familiarity, and nerves. IMHO they're aren't really any bad shifts on this job.

With this position it's different strokes for different folks. I know guys and gals with decades of seniority over me and they purposely pick late evenings and hawks (graveyard) either bcuz they like or due to family.

At night they're less supervisors, less traffic, less ppl (varies by lines). Texting and driving is the new distraction and you'll catch them on the road all day.

Passengers vary. Also depending on how u feel when operating decides things as well. I know ppl who lived in specific neighborhood/boros for years grew up on the lines they're driving and their first time alone @ night blew past turns or drew a blank when asked for directions. Then there is the fact you might not even get the boro you want so your taught a line early in the morning into the day possibly in a unfamiliar boro/hood then in a few weeks are now driving it alone in the dark. That left turn from A street to B street looks a whole lot different with less lights lol.

As you see their are many variables. Take your time and you'll be fine.

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Thank god that's only in Staten Island.

For now. And it doesn't cause any noticeable slowdown to the bus.

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I hadn't known busses had bike racks until I saw a rider taking his off at a stop a few days ago, I thought that was pretty cool. How many bikes can they carry at once?

Maximum of 2

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We've started placing bike racks on LFS. As an operator not too happy about that. That 86th street line can get crazy as most you know but them Orion's can handle the crowd like a champ.

On a separate note I've only been able to see the newly wrapped buses in pics. Wasn't too sure about them visually, just saw one on B16 and now I'm sure I like them.

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@mtawife. What do you mean if it says Mta bus. What else would it say?

There are 3 divisions under the MTA bus banner. MTA bus, Mabstoa (OA), and NYCT (TA).

To everyone that sees this I recommend you all file for the Bus operator position that opens next month. That is the only one the places you in the city pension system.

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So I have a question, was it a waste of money applying for the part time? Because I applied for part time and this one. Also, another question, with the random list number, your only giving one list number? Meaning, that the list the number is the same for the boss exam and waiting period after exam? And one more question, since I applied for both, that will be two different list numbers right? And let's say part time calls first and I accept it, and then I happen to get a low list number for the full time, can I transfer over?

Thank you in advance

Might be a waste. You will be part time @ Spring Creek Depot in Brooklyn. I'm unaware of the process to become FT once hired as PT. Yes you will be given a random list number that you can't control. It'll be based on pure luck. The Boss is something else entirely. It's that generic agree disagree questionnaire all jobs give these days.

I must make this absolutely clear. To you and everyone else who reads this if you are willing to get into the MTA by accepting the position of Bus Operator. Be aware that there are 3 different bus divisions under the MTA logo. MTA bus (one that's open this month) NYC Transit bus (next month) and Mabstoa (month after) Depending on which one hires you your choice of which boros and depots you can work at may be limited. If you read thru the 2613 BO forum or simply wiki MTA bus it'll give more detail.

I highly recommend that you and everyone else interested in the position file for and take the Bus Operator that comes out next month. It'll be the standard city written test affair, where you can control your "fate" on the list based on how well you tested. The other 2 is down to complete luck. Now if you talk to OA or MTA BOs they'll say "they get everything the TA gets" which for the most part is true salary, vacation, etc they do but don't fall for that. The most important difference is the pension only TA is in the NYCERS pension system be aware of this fact everyone.

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Is that a section your supposed to finish tho? I was given the test a few years ago and before we began they told us you won't finish in the time just aim for correct answers bcuz they have a weird grading method to it.

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Cool, All that does not sound hard at all. So far I passed the initial exam, passed the background check, and passed the attention exam. I am waiting for an interview and also to do all the medical and physical fitness stuff.

I wish u the best of luck. Hopefully I see u in one of the later classes this year

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