Y2Julio

MTA Train Operator FAQ Thanks to Jah for helping with this FAQ. Frequently Asked Questions: Q: Ok, I’ve taken the exam, now what? When will I get called? A: After you take the test, you will receive a letter stating you list number. This could be anytime after taking the test, one month and could be up to one year. This is the same for everyone no matter what you scored. Q: What's this A division and B division I keep hearing about? A: The A division is the numbered lines: . The B division is the lettered lines: (. Q: Can I pick what division I want to work in? A: When you first start in school car you may have a chance to pick which division you want to work in or you may be told which division you will work in. Once in a division you are stuck there until you have enough seniority to pick a job in the other. Usually at least 2 years but this time varies from 1-5 years. Q: I don't know anything about trains, can I still be a train operator? A: Everything you need to know in order to pass school car and become a T/O will be taught to you. The "hardest" part of the training to most is the signal test because you must get a perfect score or you fail out of school. This causes alot of stress for some students but you will have plenty of chances to learn the signals and you will take a practice test which is basically the same test. Q: How long is school car? What would I be doing? School car for a T/O is 8 hours a day, 5 days a week for about 6 months in the B division and about 3 months in the A. During this time you will be qualified on all of the equipment in the division that you are working in, all of the lines in the division, and all of the yards in the division. You will travel around the entire system so that you can learn where all of the dispatchers offices, crew rooms, and crew reporting centers are. Q: Can you fail school car? A: Yes some people fail school car, being a T/O isn't for everyone. Q: Ok, I've passed school car, now what? Do I get to pick what hours I work or what lines I work? A: Once you finish school car and become a fully qualified T/O you will be what is called road extra or extra extra. You now belong to the crew office who will assign you a tour of duty to work either Midnight (2200-359), A.M. (400-1159), or P.M. (1200-2159), and they will also assign you days off. Both of these can change by the week if the needs of the service call for it but usually you will stay the same for most of the time. You will get your job assignments 2 days in advance through an automated phone number. You will be working jobs that are open for the day for various reasons like the regular T/O is sick or on a medical. The tour of duty that you work means that your jobs will start anytime within that tour. For example you can work an a.m. job that starts at 4:30 or one that starts at 11:50.

MTA Bus Operator FAQ Thanks to Chris Frusci and ditja, who contributed to this FAQ. Frequently Asked Questions: Q: Ok, I’ve taken the exam, now what? When will I get called? A: After you take the test, you will receive a letter stating you list number. This could be anytime after taking the test, one month and could be up to one year. This is the same for everyone no matter what you scored Q: After I receive my score and list number in the mail, how soon after should I expect to be hired? A: Well there is still a few steps you need to go through before you get hired. First You need to take the psychological (BOSS) exam. Then you also need to take your drug test and your medical examination. So to answer the question, it could be anywhere from a year after you receive your list number, or it could be as long as three years depending on how well you scored. Q: When is the drug test, and how thorough is the drug test? A: The drug test is the second to last step before you get hired. The drug test consists of the applicant (you) urinating in a cup. They do not take any pieces of hair. Q: Will I have notice before I get called for my drug test? A: The notice comes very quickly. You can receive the notice any day of the week, and they only give you a couple of days notice to come in. For example, you will receive the notice on a Monday, and they will be asking you to come in three days later on that Thursday. Q: I just took my boss exam a month ago and I didn't hear anything from the MTA yet. Should I be worried that I didn't pass? A: No. The MTA does a terrible job in terms of notifying anyone if they passed or failed the exam. Do not expect to receive anything except the next notice to come in for the drug test. Q: I have medical problems and I'm worried I might not pass the MTA's medical exam. What should I do? A: The first thing you should do is be honest with yourself and your doctor as to what is wrong with you. Go to your doctor and have him "clear" you to go to the MTA. In other words, if you have had problems with high blood pressure, make sure you lower it and have your own doctor test you before you go to the MTA. Once he tests you and he feels you are ok, make him write you a note and bring that note to the MTA the day the mta is testing you. Also another tip: Don't be quick to release information to the mta about your health. Only unless its necessary. The MTA can use what you tell them against you. Q: How hard is the psychological (BOSS) exam? A: Its not really hard at all. Its only about two hundred questions but you have to pay attention. They only really ask you fifty questions, they just re-word each question four times. They are trying to catch you in a lie. Just make sure you answer the questions straight. There is no right or wrong answer. Q: What does the training for Bus Operator consist of? A: You will need to go to Zarega for more than 1 day. If you pass on the 7th day, that means Zerega for Monday, Day 8, 9, 10 and the following Monday. This Monday is for you to pick your Depot and measure your uniform. If you pass on Day 9 or Day 10, then you don’t need to go there for Day 8 and Day 9. On Monday, they will assign an instructor, time and Depot for you. It can be a Depot in Brooklyn or all the way in the Bronx. They will give you either 6 or 10AM, depends on the instructor. Again, you have no choice, it’s random. You actually have only 6 days of training, Day 7 is the road test. If you fail your road test on Day 7, you’ll get 1 more day of training. They will assign you with another instructor to correct your problem. If you don’t have a CDL yet, you should have it before the training starts, as they assume you already know how to drive the bus. They are just teaching you the drive it their way. Day 1: They will take you out to the road for basic turning, mirror setting. Forward planning and other things. Day 2: Tight turns, it’s the hardest day. You will make tight turns that are 2 inches from hitting a car or a wall on both sides. Super tight, yikes! Day 3: Learn to make bus stops, near side, far side. Backing up and parking. Day 4: Elevated pillars. Day 5: They will take you to Upper Manhattan, making all kinds of turns and stops. Day 6: They will take you to Lower Manhattan to experience traffic, people, bikes. During these days you will get highway training in between too. Day 7: You will take your road test.