justdre88

What ever came of this?

I’ve been a Bus Operator for 4 years now and just recently had a hearing test from my private doctor as I feel like I have lost hearing in my right ear. Turns out I did lose hearing and concerned for my 19-A medical. Will I lose my job over a failed hearing test? Will I have to wear a hearing aide while driving?

Not sure where to post this but I just have a question about using FMLA. I have recently received FMLA status due to my son being born and according to the rules I have it for 1 year and can take 60 days for baby bonding through out the year. While I was out after his birth and after the 2 weeks given from transit, I used FMLA for July 4th and was given FMLA/Holiday Pay for that day and it did not use any of my banked time. Today I used FMLA and the dispatcher asked how to be paid and I told him todays a holiday so it should be paid and he said we’ll see... aren’t holidays suppose to be paid when using FMLA? I can’t seem to find anything on the subject 

18 minutes ago, MTAdude said:

Thanks for the help...

I have some questions about the job if you or anyone else does not mind assisting,..

1) whats the pay like every 2 weeks AFTER taxes for both first year and top pay bus operators? Ive tried researching this on google and I get very vague results. Id like to know what it is after taxes for both 1st year and top pay so I can see if the salary  suits me as of right now...

2) do most operators enjoy their jobs? Ive researched this and surprisingly this is considered a very stressful career. I don't understand? I personally see driving in general as enjoyable, just drive, assist passengers as you should and that's it. I understand the customers can be very pesky at times, but cant operators just ignore it and not let it get to them? Customer service is a reality of ALL jobs, we just cant let it get to us.  Personally, I see the job as enjoyable, hitting the road, and clearing your mind while doing your job.

3) How hard is it to learn the lines and how long does each trip typically last? Is it safe to safe that once you get your line, you just run that line over and over again until your shift is over? Is it possible to get a steady line and hold it for a few years?

4) what happens if an operator makes a mistake and misses a turn in his route and lets say he is unfamiliar with the area, what does the operator do in that regard?

5) how many days a week is an operator on and off? I believe it is 5 days on 2 days off a week if im not mistaken, and is it possible to use OT in time rather than pay? any detailed explanation would be great interms of scheduling and OT.

 

5 questions...I know it is a lot lol. But I am trying to making a big career decision here...I appreciate anyone who assists me!!!

I am going to try and help you understand as much as possible

1. This answer is very vague because you get paid your run pay. Yes you get hourly pay and the minimum they can pay you is for 8 hrs of work but most runs atentnonly 8 hrs. Every pick you could have a run that pays 80 hrs every 2 weeks or 86-90 hrs every 2 weeks when first starting as you pick whats left after everyone else picked the good stuff. Now if your on the extra list you could make a bit more money as your covering for those who are off or out sick or vacation and take their run for the day but being on the extra list could be chaiotic and you pick a run everyday for the next day and it goes in seniority order. 

2. I for one love my job. I personally love driving but driving a bus is not the same. Some people tel me “oh all you do is drive a bus all day” but no theres more to it. Im actually not killing anyone all day. It gets stressful at times because driving a bus you could kill that cycilist you dont see on your right side, or that person about to run across the street from between parked cars. You always have to be alert and literally kiss those mirrors to always know whats going on around you. And for one I work in an area thats a bit rough around the edges so i have to deal with a lot of farebeaters, people fighting, and people with attitude. Yes you can choose to ignore it but ill tell you right now, that will not always work and people will get to you.... i for one when im about to lose my cool, i think about my pension and benefits. You could lose it all for an ingrate. 

3. Depending where you go some depots have more lines than others. And im not sure about other depots but at my depot we have 9 lines, one of them youll never see because only seniors take them as that line has weekends off.  You will most likely get runs that have 2 lines in them so you wont be just driving 1 line. Your first half maybe be 1 line and the other half a different one. Again its all what you pick for the quarter and picks go by seniority so in the begining you will get the worst.

4. If you kiss a turn do not DO NOT try and fix it on your own. If you try to fix it on your own and make a bigger mistake you will be blamed for it 100%. If you miss a turn, pull over hit your RTT and tell console you missed a turn and need assistance on getting back on route. You let them know you dont know the area and if they cant explain it to you properly they will send a dispatcher to assist you. You wont get in trouble.

5. You off 2 days a week regardless. Our week start sundays and yes you can bank your ot hrs into OTO up to 72 hrs and use them to request days off. Its smart in the beginning to bank them then take a week or 2 off before your probation ends so you can clear probation without working. Again scheduling is all up to what you pick and what you pick if whats available as everything is in seniority order. Good luck i hope i helped

3 hours ago, JG116 said:

Hey guys, im in training and am suppose to schedule an road test appointment. But on site to schedule it says to put in a certificate number? What is that ?

Transit is suppose to schedule the road test for you. Once you qualify they will start training you for the road test while you wait for your test date. They will let you know

On 6/2/2018 at 2:22 PM, Via Garibaldi 8 said:

You've been lucky. If your pass isn't for that mode of transportation, they don't have to let you on. A few years ago, there was a retired worker that would ride the express bus here in Riverdale. Likely was visiting someone up here. The drivers always let him on, but I don't think his pass was valid for the express bus, just the local bus and subway. My uncle commuted from Staten Island for a while before moving to NJ, and even though he was a B/O, his pass was not valid (at that time) for the express bus. Local bus and subway only, so he would always either drive to 100th street (at that time) or took the bus to the ferry and then the subway.

There are some workers who believe in covering their @ss so they go by the book. If you get one of them or run into one with a vendetta for whatever reason, they may give you a hard time. Some of the token booth clerks are infamous for this. LOL If you don't use your pass, they won't let you through the turnstile. You learn rather quickly that there is politics with everything at the , even in the office environment. You work in your department and generally don't intermingle with the other departments.

I worked in two different departments on two different floors and only mingled with people from those departments. 

Some workers started complaining that it didn't make sense because even if they're from different unions, they all work for the , so the nonsense should stop, which may be why you haven't had any issues as of yet.

Yeah for me you work for transit you ride for free and military. Its bad enough my fingers on F5 for everyone else. Might as well be for someone who deserves it lol. What could MTA do anyway if they see you let an employee on without dipping?

47 minutes ago, Via Garibaldi 8 said:

This reminds me of the two summers I worked for the . They gave us an employee pass but it was only valid Monday through Friday and only for the local bus or subway between 7am - 7pm, so one night there was a mess with the subway and I had to pay part of my fare to get home because I needed to take the bus afterwards and by then it was after 7pm. lol

I dont get it though. I let drivers who just show their pass ride free and i havent had a problem on the subway or buses with my pass. Same with lirr. My pass has a U and when they ask for my ticket i just show them the pass and they walk away

17 minutes ago, LadyJay said:

Today we drove the 3 buses. RTS,Nova, & New Flyer. We were with Oliver, Bush & Siegel. I chose Jamaica as my Depot, but I haven't found out which depot I will be at just as of yet. I'm going back to Jamaica tomorrow for 8:30. How long have you been at Jamaica?

Ive been there since january. So what depot did you choose for your transfer on your first day? New flyer is awesome. Were suppose to be getting more of them and getting rid of the rts.

1 hour ago, TrueJefe said:

How long did they call u after drug test 

I reinstated my list number in october, went in for medical in november and started class in december. My transfer was to jamaica depot and went through 4 days before my dmv driving test so i was lucky and went straight there.

2 hours ago, Humbleguy38 said:

i do 3 round trips on the q3 every saturday night easy route i like it

 

Yeah its not bad i just think its the longest route we have. Ive been there since january

2 minutes ago, Humbleguy38 said:

congrats and welcome to the family if you TA  Jamaica depot is a nice depot easy to get days off there book is open all year round and nice and easy short routes

Except for the Q3 lmao that ones long but not hard

15 minutes ago, LadyJay said:

The training was a breeze. Today was my 7th day & I qualified. So now I go to Jamaica Depot the next 3 days. 

Congrats. So whats the next 3 days for? Are you staying at jamaica? Thats where Im at and love it so far

8 hours ago, SevenEleven said:

Did you sign up for something at the union hall? I know they throw a bunch of stuff at you, so start there. 

Yeah i gotta call bsc because i dont remember signing anything but the life insurance

So i have a question hopefully soneone can answer. Theres a travlers insurance of $10 that comes out of each check. What is this?

Just passed my DMV road test thank god!!!! I can finally sleep

11 hours ago, Invzo1019 said:

Jamaica depot isn’t too bad. I am not in that depot but know someone there. Most of their lines go through the hood though. And parking at the depot isn’t the greatest.  2 good things about that Depot is most of the streets on the routes are wide open streets. Not a lot of tight narrow streets on their routes.  2nd good thing about that depot is the way they have the book set up to get days off. You can book a day a year in advance which is sweet.  You will learn what I mean by that when you get there.  In the TWU depots you can only book 30 days out. My depot is 3 months which is good but a year is better lol. Good luck my friend. 

Thanx bro. Yeah i hear at Jamaica you can book a year in advance. What depot are you in?

Got my transfer today to Jamaica.... crazy how i got what i want yet still havent taken me he dmv test. Hows the Jamaica depot guys? Abyone take the dmv roadtest yet?

8 hours ago, Humbleguy38 said:

anyone that has to take the cdl road teat i heard they made changes checking the engine is now part of the road test

Yes they did. My instructor gave me a helpful handout and assured me that MTA would get me ready after I qualify 

Becareful with the snow out there everyone. Accidents on the van wyk. Just drive slow if your driving. Plenty of oarking here at zerega

ANybody going to day 8 and 9? I made a dumb mistake today. I was too nervous

tomorrow at 7 because of the snow

10 minutes ago, FutureBOtoTO said:

How is training going for 12/26? Hope all are going well. Today was Day 4 I loved going through the El Pillars. I loved the snow it was great. I only messed up one acute turn because I wasnt properly set up(it was an extremely tight turn onto a two way street). I'm excited for Monday the concrete jungle aka Manhattan. Happy Year everybody and good luck to all of the 12/26 class!  

Happy New Year!!! Yeah the el was pretty cool. And not sure if everyone has the same days off but monday were off. We go back tuesday. 

7 hours ago, Keyona said:

How was everyone day one?

Mine wasnt too bad. I just got a heavy foot lol gotta work on slowing down. How was yours?

Yeah i got Sup. Roscher. Seems like a no nonsense kind of guy. 

So can we wear black tims to the class? Just got my uniform from macs yesterday but those work shoes were pricey lol