Express Bus Operator

According to my union chairman at my depot, it looks like the sb46 will be fully articulated buses runs. But of course if there isn't enough articulated buses to pull out for service since they are splitting buses with the sb44, Sometimes you may see some of the 40ft wrap buses in service for both lines. Most of the 40ft wrap buses will be unwrapped and thrown into local service. Words are rapidly spreading around at the depot with managements last week regarding changing Flatbush fleet into Articulated fleet only since majority of the routes are straight forward except for the B2 and B31 that are short. This week we used only articulated buses for the J , Q, and A shuttle. I know myself the other day I pulled out the new Nova articulated bus to do the J shuttle from Broadway "Williamsburg" to Manhattan Essex Street. We had 12 Articulated buses together riding down Utica avenue/Malcom X Blvd deadheading to the starting point Hewes Street and Broadway in Brooklyn. "Yes we were able to make that left turn from Malcolm X Blvd into Broadway."

We’re getting more Artic buses by the end of week especially due to the sbs46

XDE 4950 was spotted at JFK with the sbs theme. Hope FB gets it since quill doesn't really need it.

During the PM rush hour especially on the weekends, Sometimes its hard to make that left turn into the Kings Plaza terminal. When the traffic light changes for the buses to make that left turn, vehicles from the other side traffic makes it impossible for the bus to complete the turn unless we force our way through and start blowing the horn to make vehicles at least leave some space so the bus can complete the left turn into the terminal.

Alright Folks I have a little insight information directly from management and union at Flatbush depot regarding the SBS46 articulated buses plan. According to the depot union chairman at Flatbush, the other day he attended the Operation Planning and designing meeting to discuss a few issues regarding certain situations that has come up with some of flatbush depot routes. The MTA currently has plan for January 2020 to enroll the Articulated buses on some of the SBS46 runs but with a few issues that were addressed to the operation and planning team that the current 40ft buses sometimes barely have space at both layovers "Dekalb and Kingsplaza". So If the 40ft buses has problem sometimes laying over at these two location, what will happen when the artic buses are in effect?......... So clearly it seems like the dept of operations planning and design are a step behind and this may cause a slight delay from the sbs46 enrolling the artic buses which is planned for January 2020.

Bus #7649 out of FB unwrapped and was on the B44 and B41 Today..........

There aren’t any. With the CDL you can apply and take a multiple test question for Bus Operator position. Some of the trucking positions you see are usually promotional position or seniority base. For example to haul away big things on the MTA flatbed truck, the driver positions is pick based on seniority. To transport money its usually a promotional test from a bus operator position or if they decide to hire from outside, you have to experience working for another company like Brinks and etc transporting money and able to obtain a gun license.

Yes I was able to get on the bus since I recognize one of the supervisors. It was dispatchers, Superintendent (Road operations) and union officers on the bus doing a test run on the route by using the articulated bus without passengers. They even parked the bus parallel to the B38 bus stop on Tilary street and Cadman plaza.

I just saw 4710 XD60 doing a test run through downtown bklyn. Im not sure if its a test articulated bus run for the B38 or something. Bunch of transit and and dot vests were inside the bus as they cruise down Cadman plaza and going down Tilary street

The best advise I can give you is if you have the money to pay for CDL school, get your license and you won't have to worried about retaking the written exam. The DMV road has completely changed compared to when I got mines in 2015. So going to CDL school is a must in order to pass the new DMV road test.

You need to be between 28-30 days of compliance. They will also look at the overall percentage of usages. 93 - 99 % of usages of compliance. Your sleep study doctor needs to also write a note and provide a copy of your studies and the compliances report which you will submit to the MAC doctors.

Any Idea why its over there?

No... That bus disappeared since that day. When I pull in later I will check the yard dispatcher buses fleet information to see if that bus still around at the Bush. I wouldn't be surprised if that bus left the depot since Flatbush depot always getting their good buses snatch away. P.S. Articulated buses soon to come on the sbs46. A lot of modifications has been done on some of the Utica bus stop just to utilize the articulated buses. Its has been months now operators are still in training for the new XD60 at the bush just so no operators give an excuse that they weren't trained on the XD60. My predictions states that, I'll give it no later then late fall we should see some articulated out there we shall see.....

So it looks like the general public that takes public transit transportation still doesn't have a clue how Select Bus Service works. Almost every day I can count how many times passengers comes on board on the SB44 and try to dip their Metro card into the bus fare box when clearly the box is wrap up with a message saying "No on board fare collection". Sometimes it gets tiring repeating myself over and over "No sorry you can't pay here, You have to pay outside by using the big fare box on the curb side and collect a receipt to ride on this bus". And their facial expression looks totally clueless or they just nod their heads and walk away. I had this lady on time tried to pay her fare inside the bus and I stopped her and explained to her the process, She totally ignored me and went all the way to the back of the bus to find a seat. Once I reach Nostrand Avenue and Clarkson stop, the MTA Eagle Team were waiting. They manage to pull her off the bus to give her a fine, and she kept on pointing towards my direction the entire time. One of the supervisor approach me and ask me "Did she try to pay her fare here?" and I responded yes and how I was trying to explain to her the process and she just walked away. The entire time as I was speaking with the supervisor, I can hear her saying to the others "He didn't let me pay, he told me to go sit". Long story short, they didn't issue her a fine, but instead made her pay and obtain a receipt. Its 2019 and some people still have no clue how the SBS work and it seems like some don't care and just want to get on the bus and go on.

I have been operating the 2018/19 NF XD60's and I notice these buses are super slow when it comes to acceleration time, its even worst when you're going uphill with a standing load. I believe MTA probably reprogrammed the computer to slow the transmission speed on those buses. I notice its only happening on the 2018/19 models for example bus # 6133 acceleration time is slow and the other higher numbers buses does the same reaction, but bus # 6113-6119 acceleration is much faster compared to the 6130's updated models.

Not sure, but the operator was pulling the bus into the depot and reported an issue to the bus. So it was parked afterwards into the Maintenance lane hold.

Bus #7650 was out on local service today

Just a little brief information in regards to the different agency division within department of buses. You can find more information all over the Transit Forum that has been explained the difference between TA, OA, and MTA Bus Co. If you look at under the umbrella of MTA is broken up into different agency division departments for example: Rail: Subways, Long Island Rail Road, Metro North, Staten Island Rails Surface Transportation: MTA New York City Transit Authority (TA), MaBSTOA- Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority (OA) , MTA Bus Co and Access A Ride which is contracted to private paratransit companies Security and Treasury: MTA Police, MTA Security , Bridge and Tunnels *The list goes on and on but that can be shared within another thread...... Department of Buses: TA: Solely operates bus routes within the Borough of Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. TA is civil service which falls under the plan of NYCER Pension plan. OA: Solely operates bus routes within the borough of Manhattan and The Bronx. OA pension is monitored by NYCER and is solely TA other half of the operation. In other words if this was a family base tree, OA would be TA Sister or brother within the family. MTA Bus Co: Private bus companies that use to operate within the facility portion of Brooklyn, Queens, East and West Chester County. Companies that were taken over by MTA were as the following; "Triboro Coach, Green Line, Jamaica Buses, Commando, Liberty Line, Queens Surface. MTA Long Island Bus: Use to operate by MTA until they sold the routes to another company that are now operating the regional of Long Island called "NICE" When we compared apples to apples, both TA and OA are the same except for TA is protected by the civil service law where OA is not. Both these agency has the same pay same contract everything. Remember they are like brother and sisters. When it comes to operators picking consolidating, Both TA and OA can pick within each other depot as the following. TA operators can pick within an OA depots operation "Manhattan and Bronx" , Any depot in Brooklyn. In order to work in a Queens (Queens Villiage, Casey Stengel, Jamaica Depot) or Staten Island depot as an TA operator, you have to request a transfer within the depot management and union officer. The transfer will be based on seniority listing only and if a vacant within the depot you want to transfer within the two borough is available you will be offered but with a condition that if you accept the transfer you will be stuck over there for the rest of your remaining career unless you get promoted into a higher position such as "Surface Dispatcher or Superintendent" *Promotion to become Surface Dispatcher as an TA you will be supervising within the division of Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island TA division. *Promotion to become a Train Operator only available for TA operators. *Promotion to other department or position within the TA division ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OA Operators are only allowed to pick within the depot of Manhattan, Bronx and Brooklyn (TA) depots. *Promotion to become Surface Dispatcher you will be supervising within Manhattan and The Bronx OA Division. *Promotion to other department or position within the OA division. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ MTA Bus Co operators will only allowed to work out of the depots within the MTA Bus division such as JFK , Basley Park, College Point, LaGuardia, Far Rockaway, East Chester, Yonkers Depot **Spring Creek Depot hires only Part-timers operators and later on offer full time position as positions becomes vacant. *Promotion to become Surface Dispatcher you will be supervising MTA Bus Co divisions * Promotion to other department or position within the MTA BUs Co division ***MTA Bus operators are now starting have the same rules, contract, privilege and pays as TA and OA operators. But overall IMHO its better to apply for TA or OA position. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ****** Promoted as a Superintendent position within any of the 3 division title you will become UNIVERSAL and be classified as management level to Transit dept of buses. Just to better classified the rank compared to NYPD, Surface Dispatcher are like Sergeants level, and Superintendents are like Lieutenants and the ranks goes up higher and higher. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ***Ranks Promotions order within dept of buses - Surface Dispatchers/Gen Surface Dispatcher - ((Road Controls , Post, Command Center, Depot Supervisors, 19A safety and Trainer)) - Superintendent- ((Different departments and area such as Safety and Training, Road Operations, Depot operations, Command Center)) - Assist Gen Superintendent - ((Same as above)) - Gen Superintendent - ((Same as Above)) - Deputy Supt "Don't exists anymore within dept of buses" ((Captain levels)) - Assist General Manager - (( Same as above previous department)) - General Manager - ((Same as above)) - Regional Division Manager - Various department controlling by boroughs Anything higher is possible and for an example the President MTA Bus and NYCT Darryl C. Irick started as a Bus operator out of Kingsbridge depot (OA). **All training for bus operators are conducted by the same management team and locations. Zerega is a training Facility, and Spring Creek Depot is a training facility for Yearly 19A Re-certification.

The last bus i saw said 406x i couldn’t catch the last number

Just saw 3 NG buses on the belt heading west with Kingsbridge decal on them.

So today I pulled out one of the sbs46 7600’s buses to operate on the sb44+, and I noticed the announcements and display screen works perfectly on the 7600’s buses versus the 6100’s that has the screen display. Whoever programed the 7600’s buses display screen and announcements needs to work on the 6000’s buses that are equipped with the feature. The announcements were on point and not laggy or saying the wrong stops compared to the 6000’s.

Why everybody keep separating limited with SBS?..... SBS is limited and the word limited will be replace. Today on sb44+ I pulled out one of the 7600’s sbs46+ buses to operate on the sbs44 and the announcement display screen had the exact words printed, “Welcome Aboard B44 SBS to Limited Sheepshead Bay” <—— clearly. Bus 7650 was unwrap from sbs scheme to local scheme because it will be place on local service. A few 7600’s is due for unwrapping soon and YES sbs46 will have artics running on the line soon and I wouldn’t be surprise if it starts this summer pick but we shall see. At the moment some of the bus stops on Utica ave has been modify or are currently under construction for longer and lower platform for artic buses. I just want everyone to understand, that teal blue on sbs is the brand theme that MTA will keep to identify a sbs bus and thats not changing anytime soon. Lets stop thinking out of the box and focus whats there now especially changing a theme or scheme color is the last thing on transit agenda.

SBS will always be in effect. The SBS is a replacement of the “Old Limited” service name. That teal theme will never go away until transit decides to put a new scheme theme and the reasons is, thats how passengers and others can identify thats an limited service bus or special shuttle service buses. The future of all door on-boarding will be the next phase but SBS will still be around and will be consider as an limited service bus. Sbs will be the new limited name instead of being called limited B41 for example. By the way all Limited service buses will become select.

7650 was parked near the body shop in the depot unwrap. More of the sbs46 buses are due for unwrapping slowly.

flatbush bus 7650 unwrap and being prepared for local services