Mr NewFlyer

7 hours ago, Princess03 said:

Oh okay thank you. How long would you say the road test is? i watched a vid on youtube looks like they make us drive through co op city then back to zerega? what do they test us on

Road test I'm not sure. Because when I did the training with them I already had a CDL. Maybe someone else that got the cdl through them could answer that one. 

Have a look at post 372

That's my class mate. He went in with only a permit and got the license through them.

From my experience going through the training. I would say listen and do everything as they say. They will give you everything you need to pass. Don't over think it. It's very difficult. But with focus and determination you can pass it

1 hour ago, Princess03 said:

On 9/24/2020 at 11:50 AM, Moody said:

So i see on the training paper they give us where it tells us what we’ll be learning during the 10 days.. says on day 10 we will be evaluated by 2 instructors? So if we decide to take the toad test early its only one instructor?

If you make it before day 10, you won't have to worry about day 10. Day 10 is only for those that didn't do to good on the previous days. That's why it says 2 instructors. And you don't decide to take the test earlier. What decides if you will have to go to day 10 or not is how well you perform on the previous days  Take it a day at a time. Good luck

20 hours ago, Bsalick1992 said:

I have been trying to get in touch with mr ronald St. John can you share his email because I couldn’t understand it from his voicemail ... his voice was kind of distorted 

When I was going through the process like 2 years ago I received an email to come in from (Ronald.SaintJean@nyct.com)

Again this was 2 years ago.. not sure if it's still the same, But worth a try. Good luck

Haven't been on here in awhile lol.

@GoneForTheWinter I'm 8 months in and got 4 more to go before I finish with probation. And one thing I want to point out to you since your thinking about moving to NY to work for the MTA, Remember you also have to go through ONE year on probation. Which means you only really got the job AFTER you complete the one year of probation.

During your time on probation Union doesn't really have your back 100% as they do for the people that already past probation. But they're happily taking your union dues . So if something happens during probation they can extend your probation or terminate you.

I personally know 2 people that were on probation that kind of got screwed over. Just last week one of my friends got forced to either resign or get fired. He choose to resign, so now he has to wait 5 years to come back. And the reason, someone fell on his bus and "claimed" an injury, that person told him "yea screw you, I'm going to get some money now". So he's now out of a job. 2nd person same thing happened but different situation. Was driving the bus and a small kid ran out into the street in front of his bus (late at night). So to not run over the kid, he hit the brakes. Didn't hit the kid and no one was hurt. But someone on his bus called and reported that he hit the brakes to hard. And even though no one was injured, they forced him to resign.

It's very difficult to keep this job, even if your by the book. A lot of things can happen/go wrong that can screw you over.

I'm only in it because I really love to drive and I love buses. Ever since a kid I wanted to be an operator. So I'm just following my dreams.
I'm single with no kids so I can put away / invest even with what they pay to start. So in my 6th year I'll be set. Plus also it's good to know that once I retire, I'll have a pension check coming in. And if I ever have a family and something happens to me, they will be covered.

This job isn't for everyone, if you really only just want a check. Just get a different job. But if you love to drive. This job is one of the sweetest most easiest jobs I ever had. Like it was mentioned there is a lot of BS you gotta deal with. Not even going to sugarcoat it. But like with anything in life. Everything good has its bads too.

Also want to point this out: when you start, you will start at the bottom and be on the "extra list" which for me was great. Made a lot of money while on it. But If you have a family, it can be difficult. Reporting every day different times and clearing different times can be difficult for some. Also depending what depot you pick into, you might be on the list awhile if it's a high seniority depot. So just remember when you start the schedule might be crazy and you gotta be flexible to work the schedules no one else wants.

This operators job is to get your foot in the door of the MTA. Once your in you have to move around. Take the dispatchers test and move up. I'm thinking of taking the test for the train conductors when it goes up. Don't just stay a bus operator. You can make more money you just gotta be patient and smart.

 

5 hours ago, +Young+ said:

I have a question that I think other folks, whether guests or members are willing to ask:

When I was in college, primarily undergrad, I would use ratemyprofessor.com to try to "pick" a good Professor, especially for those "Gen Ed" classes when I had a little bit of leeway to take either this class or that class, etc. From what I remember 4 1/2 years ago, long story short, the instructor had a very nasty attitude. I don't know if it was because I had no experience driving a bus or whatever the reasoning is.

Therefore, @DrewMania, if a student has an instructor he/she doesn't like, what would you suggest? Try to absorb as much information as possible, especially on Day 5 and try to pass on Day 9?

@DrewMania wouldn't know about having a difficult instructor. Because his instructor was actually one of the best instructors ever lol.

Me on the other hand had an instructor that was just like that at first. I used to think she was sent from hell lol. Me and my classmates were all scared. She would literally yell at anything and everything wrong you did.

now that im in line training and in the real world. I understand why she was the way she was. Its because what she was teaching us was serious. And we had to get it right with her so when we go out in the real world, we wouldn't make the same mistake that would cause an accident or get someone killed. At the end of the day your driving around a 40 ton bus that if you don't operate correctly can be used as a weapon. Also keep in mind that if the instructor passes you and you go and  get into an accident and hurt someone. They will go looking for that instructor.

I really didn't like my instructor at the beginning, But at the end I started to like her and even started joking around with her.

From personally going through what you just described, what I would suggest is first, Listen, Not hear noises coming out the instructors mouth, But listen to everything they have to say. Listening and hearing are two different things.

Do everything exactly the way they tell you to do it. You have to go there with the mindset that you are learning driving from scratch. And that you will have to drive the way they are teaching you to drive.

I would say day 1-4, Absorb everything taught. Go home and read over all your notes every night. Days 5-6 try to get everything right, day 7 execute everything you learned. Try your best to qualify on day 7. What ever you do try to get it all before day 10. Because day 10 you will have 2 instructors with you on the bus and it will be 10x harder. Those yellow papers the instructor gives you at the end of each day, Read over them, The mistakes written on them, Correct them on the next day. Don't be discouraged when your instructor writes you a paragraph of wrong things you did that day. Use it to improve. I had almost a page of mistakes on mines, But everyday I improved, cleaned everything up and qualified on day 7.

The 10 day training felt more difficult then the actual road test to get the CDL. And I had previous experience driving a similar bus that the mta has.

So while its not easy, its also not impossible. listen, apply what you learn and you will have no problem making it through.

What ever happens with the instructor or what ever they say or yell. You can't take it personal and don't get intimidated. The moment you start taking it personal and let it get to you the harder it becomes. The 10 days fly by, So take it day by day, BREATH, Everything will be ok. Believe in yourself.

That would be my best advice from dealing with a tough instructor. But I hope everyone can get a good instructor

1 hour ago, Oscarthegrouch said:

I know al my questions have been answered a million time before thank your for answering a million and one while on line training are you just riding a route with another operator or are you actually driving the route?

Yea sure no problem. This forum and the members here have helped me a lot. So just trying to give back.

For the line training the instructor shows you the whole trip, going to one end and coming back to the other end. When you get back. You take over and do the route until lunch. Depending on your instructor you might go back after lunch to the same route and you will continue to drive that same route until the shift ends.

Now you might have an instructor that does one route in the morning and a different route in the afternoon. If he does have 2 different routes on his run. Then when you go to that second route. He will show you the round trip and you will do the rest of the trips until you shift is over again

That's how my experience been so far for line training

27 minutes ago, Oscarthegrouch said:

Is line training day or night 

I'm currently going through the line training at the Depot I'm in. And it can be either day or night or both. It all depends on the driver they will pair you up with. For me I been only in the AM. One of my friends at the same Depot that is also going through the line training went through some lines at night and some during the day. So it varies

6 hours ago, DueceDrives said:

Sweet. Congrats 👍🏽. Who was your Supt?

Hey thanks I appreciate it. I had Mrs.Bush from JFK Depot

3 hours ago, MarkGuy said:

So I'm headed to days 8 and 9 this week. I've improved a lot, since day 1. Done much better with spotting hazards and setting up my turns better.But its like when I improve in one area, another area with issues comes up (i.e., sometimes forgetting to cover the right).

But honestly, it's incredibly unrealistic for transit to expect guys and gals who've never driven such a large vehicle to have expert proficiency driving it in basically only five days. Still, I've been giving 110 percent, even though my former supt wasn't the most supportive (I know they tend to be that way), and learned to block out his harsh words while driving. Going to fight like Hell to pass on Friday!

I qualified yesterday day 6 and today day 7 thank God. Tomorrow we will be at Jamaica learning the other buses.

My supt was hard as hell on us. These last two weeks felt like we were at a boot camp. Try making a hook turn into a tight right street in Manhattan with cars flying by your left side and the supt just yelling in your ear. Think I might be going alittle deaf in my right ear from getting yelled at so much. Me and my classmates lol

But at the end of the day I'm greatful for her being the way she was. Sometimes getting yelled at helps us not forget the mistakes we made. Also they are putting their names on the line when they pass us. God forbid one of us gets into a crazy accident. They going to be looking for the person that passed us.

On another note, it's not over yet don't get discouraged. Everything she put on that paper, look at it and the next day correct it, clean it up and don't make those mistakes again. You have to build on it. They give us all the pieces of the puzzle, we just have to put it together.

Day 5 in Manhattan I hit a curb because I failed to hook it and let it get me down. Almost ran a red light because I  was to focused on getting  passed a car, Felt like it was over. But then day 6 rolled around and I knocked it out along with 7. And trust me, my observations skills were really bad starting off. Your not the only one that struggled with that. But you learn to get better at it.

My best advice is:
-Listen to everything your instructor tells you.
-Forward plan
-Cover that right, if your coming up on a red light and you see a bus stop on the right side thats empty, pull into the bus stop. The Bus stop is your home. If you see an open space just move the bus over so no one gets on your right.
-4 feet clearance always
-Mirrors are your best friends
-For the turns, before you execute a turn, look at the turn and make the turn in your head before you make the turn(sounds crazy i know, but this is what helped me)
-Setup your reference points correctly
-Don't run no yellow lights.
To get the lights right everytime, what I do is. I watch the light plus scan the little white guy or orange hand. As soon as you see the orange hand blinking start slowing down and just let go off the gas, don't chance it.
-There would be times I would stop before the cross walk while the light was still green with like 7-9 seconds still on the clock just to be safe. Orange hand is a life saver

When your driving that bus get the big picture, never focus only on one thing, keep your eyes rolling, move in that seat and watch everything like a hawk.

Believe in yourself. And do the best you can. Stay focused and you will do just fine.

5 minutes ago, Shinabee65 said:

hi guys, my blood pressure is back to normal, by using a blend of beets, banana and protein powder, tomorrow I will be heading to Livingston for my pre-employment process. thanks. beets is really good.

Telling you guys that beet is awesome. I had told some of my friends from my previous job about it. Now they all on it lol

For the people with issues with the high blood pressure. The best thing you guys can do is start drinking a glass of beet juice everyday. Then day before the medical have a cup and before you head to medical take another cup.

GNC got the beet juice powder you can take and mix with a smoothie or milkshake also.

Also remember to avoid foods high in:

Salt, Sugar, Alcohol.

Wish you all the best

Morning everyone. Anyone at Zarega yet? Just now got here

28 minutes ago, DrewMania said:

🤔🤔🤔 looking like top 20 on this line. Need a quick easy day! Trying to be out of here by 12 o'clock. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

Where you at? Lol

6 minutes ago, DrewMania said:

🤔🤔🤔 looking like top 20 on this line. Need a quick easy day! Trying to be out of here by 12 o'clock. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

At least the line is not going around the corner like Monday lol

9 minutes ago, DrewMania said:

I was told by the gentleman who called me not to put any on the money order until you are told to tomorrow. Just come with it blank!

 

Sidenote: MTA is something else. How this money order is more then the actually exam. lmao! I think that is the funniest thing ever. But I guess they saying the way we plan on paying you hell what's another 87 dollars out your pocket. SMH!!!!

alright cool thanks for that info.

yea when I saw that $87 money order part in the email I was like really, So the $200+ I spent on taking all the other exams wasn't enough huh lol.

But yea $87 isn't to bad, will make it back in training. Just a small price to pay to make more money later down the line

18 hours ago, DrewMania said:

I got the same email telling me the same thing. I’ll be there thrusday 6:45 see you out there my ninja. 

Also to your previous question i did have pending tickets but i paid them and showed him the email aka receipt. And he sent me for the drug test. 

S/N list # 25*

yea for sure, see you tomorrow morning

That's good that you were able to take care of that right there and then, One less thing to worry about. Now we just got this medical to get out of the way to be in for the training on Monday.

Question to anyone that went through this process before, The money order part, Do we fill it out before we go or do we fill it out with someone at livingston? If we do have to fill it out on our own, whats the information that we put on it??

58 minutes ago, DueceDrives said:

Awesome! Whats your list number range?

6xx

Just got a voicemail telling me to report 7:30am Thursday to go forward with the medical. He also mentioned that if I clear medical on Thursday that I will be in the Monday Oct 1st class that's coming up. Anyone else get something?

8 minutes ago, DrewMania said:

Yeah the dude was in the room saying who can give in they 2 weeks notice now and start on monday. I look at him like he was drunk. Like nah i’m not quiting nothing until i graduate and put into a depot.

He was mad serious too lol. I'm not going to quit my job but I can definitely start training as soon as possible. But yeah definitely not quiting until I'm in

6 minutes ago, DrewMania said:

Then yeah I think we was in the same group. I had on a gray hoodie with a blue hat. I was talking to him about pending tickets. 

Ohh yeah I remember. Did you find out if you have any open tickets? 

4 minutes ago, DueceDrives said:

All depends on hiring needs. Sometimes up to 60-80 students per class. Sadly, they already know a good handful will not make it.

It looks like they over take applicants, nice little way to make some extra cash lol

6 minutes ago, DrewMania said:

Only thing i was told was if everything goes well should receive a email or phone call come thursday to come in for friday do the medical and everything for the class on monday. From the look and the way dude carried himself he seem serious about what he was speaking. Dark skin brother bald headed had on a black suit. He wasn’t even at the counter like everyone else was he came from the back offices. 

But even with that being said i’ve learn when it comes to MTA and the hiring process take it one step at a time. That’s the reason I’m not quiting no job until i know for a FACT i have a job with the MTA. And trust me you’ll know when that time comes. 

Yeaaaa that was the guy that took us out back and got the process started. Was actually in the 1st group that got called up

6 minutes ago, DueceDrives said:

🤦🏽‍♂️ Oh No!

Please everyone don’t quit your daily job Until you officially pass the 7-10 day training. 

I was so excited I almost made the same mistake. Good thing for this forum... I guess it's a waiting game now to move forward 

2 minutes ago, DueceDrives said:

After Drug test (3 - 90 days) wait, you will be called in for Medical Process. If everything goes well with Medical, you will be sworn in by the HR management at Livingston and given an official date when you have to go to Training School (Zerega).

Please Dont listen to the staff that stated you will start training this Monday if you haven’t went through the 19a MTA medical process and sworn in by the HR hiring management. Based on the past posts on the forum regarding hiring process and 180 Livingston staff, it seems things been a little weird how they’ve been operating.

Ohhh ok I see I see. Thanks for clearing that up. I needed to know so I could take my 2 weeks vacation. Good thing I didn't take it yet. It was very confusing, there was actually someone there that while waiting to be called for drug test called up there current employer to take vacation this upcoming Monday.

Thank you for the information I appreciate it

1 hour ago, DrewMania said:

I was also there yesterday list # 25*. It was my second time at Livingston different exam and i will say that whoever idea it was to call 10 at a time bring them to a room run thru they paper work with them then send them for the drug test is a genuis. My first time they legit had everyone wait until they name was called to go to the counter. Smh makes no sense! 

But I kind figure it would be faster for me since i had my paper work in the system already from before plus i already have my CDL premit. Hell they said people gonna be there to 5 pm i left at 11:45 am and still made it to my job. I laugh at the part when the gentleman in the room said you gotta put in your 2 weeks notice now cause a class is on monday all i said was HA! Not until i officially work for MTA. Meaning pass training and graduate. 

Anything can happen in training and you end up washing out now look you got no job cause they told you to quit the other one.

By any chance, did they tell you details about Monday after you did the drug test? Like location, time to be there ect ... ?? They asked us if we could make it this Monday we gave our answer and got sent to drug test but no information about actually coming in on Monday. Been trying to call the hr employment number but for some reason can't get through to someone.

What did they tell you after you got the receipt for the drug test?

Hey guys, how was everyone's day today down at Livingston? Hope everyone had a great day

Got there at 7 and the line was going around the corner lol.

Right After orientation me and 11 people got pulled to the side room. They said since we already had our CDL they were going to send us to drug test so we didnt  have to spend time waiting with everyone else. The person in the room looked over our paper work and sent us for drug testing.

Now here is the part that I'm confused. The person in the room said training will start this upcoming Monday and they asked us if we can all make it before he sent us to go for the drugtest.. after the drugtest I took the paper to the front counter and the lady just said to wait 3-90 days to get a call. 

Is that call about the drugtest results or to schedule the training dates? Because no one told me place and time to go for training. Am I missing something??

If he said training is next upcoming Monday, why would the lady say to wait 3-90 days?

Confused

On my way there. Good luck today to everyone that will be there

1 hour ago, onlyambition said:

Thanks for the advice. I recently misplaced my social security card (ive requested another) but I have everything else. Will this delay my processing? I understood the email to say that you will need the documents eventually and should begin gathering them now.

I actually had an issue that put my process on hold for another bus exam with them. My issue also had to do with my social and ID, I didn't have my whole name on them. So they told me to get it updated then once I got it updated to call them up to continue.
So that held me up and I had everything. So my best guess is that they will want you to have the actual card to proceed. But it's hard to say, what I got from them when I went in is that they are very picky

33 minutes ago, onlyambition said:

I also received an email for pre employment Monday the 24th at 7:30, list number 3××. 

I'm 64x for this one. Congrats and good luck on Monday. My advice from going down there before would be... Make sure to have everything that's on that paper. Also make sure to know all of your employment information dating back 10 years. Last time I went there I saw alot of people stuck on that part of the paper work process