MTAonDeck

Yea I think it was because I didn't have my license and had my road test scheduled for the same week. I don't know but I was told to report to the same depot 126th everyday until my road test date. You should be fine. My only gripe with Manhattan is the traffic and the pedestrians. Everyone has the right away except the drivers and everyone is on your way for no reason. Yea that's what I was told. I'll be extra. Guy that trained with me claims once we graduate, he's taking over someone's route which is straight 4-12am sun-thurs which is a good shift in my opinion. We'll see where they'll throw me.

I wonder how lnvzo is doing? How's training going? I wonder how lnvzo is doing? How's training going?

They find stuff for you to do at the depot trust me. Although not on routes just yet because I don't start line training until Monday. I think they have to make sure you pass road test before you line train. The crap that nobody wants to do in the yard was my job. I was able to get more comfortable with the buses because I got to line them up properly under supervision of course. Make sure the air brakes and inspections were good stuff like that. I did get down time talking to other operators and supervisors there giving me little tips and stuff so that was a plus too

Yes minor screw up on day 9 with turning but quickly corrected my mistakes. How's everything going with you? You'll feel rusty on Monday lol but it's to be expected

Oh ok...at least you have the same route. Hopefully I will too. Can't wait to be done with line training to feel what it's like to be out on my own. Are you comfortable yet?

Thanks RDwarrior, I will. I kindof like AMs but know I will more than likely be stuck with PMs. Nighttime diff is cool though so it won't be too bad. What route are you on? Do you have a regular schedule yet?

El Pillars....fun stuff lol!!! What was most difficult was the break over the weekend and somewhat re-learning lol. That's why I took lessons over the weekend. Day 5 and 6 determines if you would qualify on day 7. As long as you're perfect, chances are you will qualify on day 7. You will virtually go over everything you've already learned. Pulling into stops, pulling out, space between curbs (you have to be very close), remember to call out everything so that they know you are paying attention and you're very alert. Burying your face in those mirrors say 5-7 crucial!!! They want you looking around at all times. I'm sure you're doing great so far so just keep up the good driving and remember your inspections and brakes inside out and I think you'll be fine. I passed my road test on Thursday ????????. Depot yesterday I did virtually nothing. Pulling buses in, straightening them, did things around the depot. Monday I start line training. I hope I'm not extra because that would really suck lol. Not knowing your schedule and everyday it's a different time or may be covering someone who called out etc smh.

Anytime!

To be honest, you do not have to disclose anything. You will take a medical questionnaire first and when you see the medical doctor, they will ask you questions. Your answer to everything is no! You do not want to get out on medical hold for any reason. It's a headache getting the hold removed.

I was uptown in Harlem. Congrats on making it through the process though. Good luck on your training. Keep us posted and let us know how it goes. I have my road test on Thursday so my fingers are crossed.

4th guy didn't pass training. JerseyTransit spoke to him and he said that he's okay with the decision. He's on the list for conductor and should be getting called soon for that and he took train operator too.

Jersey transit guy did qualify on day 9. The 4th guy in our group did not qualify today which sucks because he was a pretty good. I guess nerves got the best of him.

Thanks. Just take everything in...don't question anything. Instructors are not the nicest so just ignore, listen and focus on your driving skills. Drive slowly lol. You tend to make less mistakes when you are at a slower pace. The one guy that didn't qualify with us kept driving too quickly. Watch YouTube lol. Pre-trips and air brakes test etc would become part of your daily routine so know it like the back of your hand. Best of luck to you. I'm sure you'll do just fine.

Now I have the road test to worry about smh. I can't celebrate too much. Took another 2 lessons yesterday so I feel more comfortable with driving DMV way to pass the test. They got me a road test date of Thursday. I already told the instructors. Pass or fail, I still have the shot to take road test through MTA with the DMV lol. Thanks. Yea I told him to take additional lessons to get more comfortable with driving the bus. Hopefully he took them this weekend. Because not driving on the weekend and starting again Monday, you feel kindof rusty. I don't want the rusty feeling to hinder his chance at passing.

3 of us (including me) qualified on today. One guy didn't. So now it's do or die on Monday. I hope he passes. Thanks everyone for the support. So happy to be done wth that training lol.

The school booked me a road test date for next week. I wonder if when I qualify, if I'd be able to take the DMV road test outside of MTA and come back with the results stating that I've passed rather then waiting and taking it through them. I guess I'll ask tomorrow lol. The more chances the better Yeah which really sucks. That's why I wanted to take lessons at a driving school because they teach you how to pass DMV road test.

I went to Ferrari driving school and it was on a school bus. Sadly I didn't qualify on Day 7 smh but none of us qualified which is a bummer. I noticed my mistake early on but by then it's kindof too late to correct it. They want to make sure you don't ever make any mistakes so even if you correct it second go around, it's kindof too late. My biggest issue is leaving too much room on my right. I always think that I'm going going hit a parked car or something so when I turn, I lean moreso to the left which they don't like because they don't want any cars to attempt to pass you on the right. Also when the countdown walk sign hits 5 seconds, I was told its best to just slow down and stop because by the time you hit the intersection, it's already yellow and they NEVER want you crossing when it's yellow lol. I did. Welp lesson learned. I get one more day of practice today and on to qualifying on day 9 smh.

Lol trust me, sadly I've been one of those patrons so I understand.

Deal with it? I guess that's how you live life. Just dealing with things huh? Getting unjustly pulled over, eh deal with it because it happens! Getting shot and mistreated...wait don't complain, just deal with it! Passed up on numerous jobs because of your skin color...wait is that a complaint I hear, unmm it better not be because you're supposed to just deal with it right? Let's move this to a different direction, man beating the crap out of his wife, u better not complain...you're supposed to just deal with it! That's your motto huh? Lol smh sad! Kudos to Jersey Transit guy for speaking up and reporting the mistreatment. It didn't go unnoticed and look, you caught the attention of the higher ups I bet you'll qualify soon. Good job bro!

Lmao you still don't get it! I wasn't the one crying "I shall not resort to name calling because I almost did". Was simply relaying my experience from training as one of my cohorts was not being treated fairly, spoke up and was vindicated for lack of better terms. You have to get it together. You have the wrong attitude if you think you'll have a successful career with MTA. Especially dealing with the general public tsk tsk. I'll be happy to report when we all qualify on day 7!! Lmao

I specified we were dealing with it and taking in everything with stride...maybe you missed that! Nothing is an excuse as to why we will not achieve because I just stated I think we'll all qualify on day 7. No one is making any mistakes really at this point. But in the end, it's up to the instructor to pass or fail you. As youngNYC said before in his experience, some instructors are just against you which was what I believed happened with Jersey Transit guy. Happy he spoke up and reported the instructor. Dealing with disrespect from patrons is to be expected that's never a concern. We're in NYC lol. As the superintendent said, his behavior was not appropriate and of course we accepted the apology and plan on moving forward.

Since when did treating people disrespectfully become a so what? The cops harass blacks and since it's the norm, would you treat it as a so what? I get you are eager for the job which is great because we all are somewhat excited but please don't be the person that turns the blind eye and surmise it as a "well at least it's not me so I'm okay" viewpoint when in all actuality, it's wrong period.

I think you're missing the point. There is a difference between being harsh and brash for the sole purpose of training and being outright disrespectful calling you out your name. Jersey Trainsit guy reported the instructor and there was an impromptu meeting with superintendents offering an apology. Jersey Transit recorded the driver thankfully and we'll see what happens tomorrow. Don't think he'll be our instructor anymore lol. Anyways today was a lot better than before as we are all driving and better prepared than ever before. 2 of us had lessons over the weekend which I think helped. We should all pass on day 7....fingers crossed. Another thing, don't take anything we or anyone says or does as an excuse. Your experience is just that but others may be different. I've taken several numbers of other trainees from orientation and they are experiencing similar issues so I guess MTA thinks it's the corporate culture to behave as such. Again you take it in stride as much as possible and just nod your head for the time being until you pass training but the process in getting there by way of these disrespectful instructors is ridiculous. I'll be glad when I qualify soon!!!

Mtc9891 the first week was rough I must say. This weekend, I took some additional driving lessons just to better prepare myself for this upcoming week. I feel like I can most certainly qualify on day 7 with the additional lessons especially. The instructor just makes us nervous because he's not subtle with his rudeness for lack of better terms. He called Jersey Transit guy stupid "what are you stupid" we're the exact words used. Jersey Transit guy wasnt being a know it all this time, I just think the instructor is picking on him now because of how he was when we started. To be honest, the ability to drive is somewhat of the easy part. Remembering the pre-trip, hazards, parallel, securing his etc are the challenging parts but the most difficult is dealings with the instructors. Because they know they literally hold the stake of your jobs in their hands, they treat you like crap and expect you to bow down to them. I've been extremely nice and taking in everything like a sponge. Even when I get yelled at, I just take it with stride and listen and try and correct myself. But we're all adults and should be treated as such. Some people should never be in power because they abuse their authority. Me and my other trainees spoke to Jersey Transit last week and advised him to take a few steps back and do everything the MTA way. No being combative, no suggestions, no interfering with what they want, etc and he corrected himself almost immediately. I want us all to pass because we're all good drivers even him but I feel since the instructors have the final say, not all of us will pass unfortunately. It's like they almost want a certain percentage to fail because they over hire if that makes sense. They've already appointed over 100 people I believe but when you think about, are there over 100 positions needing to be filled? That's just something that I've been thinking about all weekend and having conversations with the driving school instructor and a buddy who is already employed with MTA. I'll keep everyone posted!!!

Yea I don't think he gets it. Same thing today. He's a show off. He even combated with the instructor about mirro positioning today. I honestly feel like the instructor is being a little nicer to the others now because this guy is a know it all. He's getting all the flack now. So I had a good day. Few mistakes here and there but overall he said I corrected my mistakes. Left the right lane open, turned into the wrong lane and another car was able to pass me on the right side etc. I'll get the hang of it quickly. I have to get the pre trip down to a science. I'm all over the place with that and the air brakes Well technically it's considered day 2 of training since orientation doesn't count but day 2 was good. Getting better day by day. Just have to remember my hazards, pre trip etc. Driving is the easiest part of it especially if you know how to drive, it's the other things that get complicated.