academy bus

[Igor Gaysinsky]

i got a question on this one academy bus i`m looking into work for them for now until the mta calls me what`s the starting pay for academy i`m looking to do commuter runs from jersey to nyc part time or full time

[553 Bridgeton]

You can call up the Toms River Location. They handle alot of the Route 9/I95 Express Service and the Atlantic City Service.

 

However, I hear they cheat on pay.

[ML111]

Igor, it depends where you are willing to work out of in terms of location. As 553 mentioned, most of their commuter work is in Central and South Jersey. The two main terminals that handle commuter work are Leonardo (Middletown, NJ) and Toms River, NJ. These two terminals handle everything from Parkway to Route 9 to Route 36. Perth Amboy also handles a good chunk of commuter work in Sayreville and Route 9, but their terminal is highly structured in seniority and more than likely you will not get an opportunity to drive a commuter run.

 

The pay scale is generally $11-14 - they have been adding work left and right lately out of Leonardo and Toms River, so those two facilities are your best bet. Expect the run around though in terms of the company...even though TR and Leo aren't as bad as Perth, West or Hoboken.

 

If you are in the immediate NYC area, check out their Golden Touch faction in Queens - they recently picked up the JFK/LGA Airport contract from the Port Authority. Pay starts around the same as the commuter runs, but less stability.

 

Mainline Academy (the commuter division is Academy Lines), is a good stepping stone to the TA.

[Igor Gaysinsky]

Igor, it depends where you are willing to work out of in terms of location. As 553 mentioned, most of their commuter work is in Central and South Jersey. The two main terminals that handle commuter work are Leonardo (Middletown, NJ) and Toms River, NJ. These two terminals handle everything from Parkway to Route 9 to Route 36. Perth Amboy also handles a good chunk of commuter work in Sayreville and Route 9, but their terminal is highly structured in seniority and more than likely you will not get an opportunity to drive a commuter run.

 

The pay scale is generally $11-14 - they have been adding work left and right lately out of Leonardo and Toms River, so those two facilities are your best bet. Expect the run around though in terms of the company...even though TR and Leo aren't as bad as Perth, West or Hoboken.

 

If you are in the immediate NYC area, check out their Golden Touch faction in Queens - they recently picked up the JFK/LGA Airport contract from the Port Authority. Pay starts around the same as the commuter runs, but less stability.

 

Mainline Academy (the commuter division is Academy Lines), is a good stepping stone to the TA.

 

ok so what do u suggest here i live in staten island and the closest depot for acadamy would be perth amboy

[ML111]

ok so what do u suggest here i live in staten island and the closest depot for acadamy would be perth amboy

 

Yes, the closest facility to you is Perth Amboy. More information can be found by going to this webpage:

 

http://www.academybus.com/AboutUs/CareerOpportunities.aspx

 

Another place that may be of interest to you is Coach USA, working for either Mega or Olympia in Elizabeth or Suburban in New Brunswick.

[553 Bridgeton]

You could try Community Coach, they hire drivers with a CDL/Permit on the spot. I went there before I went to transit, but I didnt like what I seen. But as your saying your waiting for the MTA to call you, so it wouldnt hurt trying. That Location is in Paramus. About 45mins out of NYC on the 168 Bus.

[Igor Gaysinsky]

You could try Community Coach, they hire drivers with a CDL/Permit on the spot. I went there before I went to transit, but I didnt like what I seen. But as your saying your waiting for the MTA to call you, so it wouldnt hurt trying. That Location is in Paramus. About 45mins out of NYC on the 168 Bus.

 

yea the people a work with at access a ride one told me go to acadamy and i asked him is it worth it the toll`s gas wear and tear on my car i need to know what they will start me out on the pay per hour and the taxes i`ll be paying jersey and new york tax to

[553 Bridgeton]

yea the people a work with at access a ride one told me go to acadamy and i asked him is it worth it the toll`s gas wear and tear on my car i need to know what they will start me out on the pay per hour and the taxes i`ll be paying jersey and new york tax to

 

The pay is anywhere between 11-14/hr. Its up to you if its worth it. Give them a call to find out some info.

[BT704]

I interviewed in leonardo, this is how it was explained to me. you will come in at 4:30 am get your bus and start a commuter run. after the run you will bring your bus to hoboken and be shuttled back to leonardo by 9 am. at 3 pm you return to be shuttled to hoboken pick up your bus and go into the city to do a pm commuter run. you'll get home around 8:30 pm. you will be paid $55 for the am and $55 for the pm.

[Igor Gaysinsky]

I interviewed in leonardo, this is how it was explained to me. you will come in at 4:30 am get your bus and start a commuter run. after the run you will bring your bus to hoboken and be shuttled back to leonardo by 9 am. at 3 pm you return to be shuttled to hoboken pick up your bus and go into the city to do a pm commuter run. you'll get home around 8:30 pm. you will be paid $55 for the am and $55 for the pm.

 

so i did the math 550 a week 5 days minus the tax i didn`t do i`m bad at math

[Locomotion69]

I interviewed in leonardo, this is how it was explained to me. you will come in at 4:30 am get your bus and start a commuter run. after the run you will bring your bus to hoboken and be shuttled back to leonardo by 9 am. at 3 pm you return to be shuttled to hoboken pick up your bus and go into the city to do a pm commuter run. you'll get home around 8:30 pm. you will be paid $55 for the am and $55 for the pm.

 

Interesting, for that kind of a swing a MTA B/O at top pay would make 3 times that amount. For what it's worth Academy has nice looking buses.

[ML111]

There are major differences that make up that wide range between Academy and the TA. The first and most important is that the TA is union and Academy is not (except for Pomona and 22 Hillside in Hoboken). That fact helps to explain why Academy drivers do not get spread pay - they get straight pay on hours worked on duty not driving and on duty driving. The 6 hour layover is off duty. The only time you get paid off duty per logbook is overnight stay away from a home terminal. Otherwise, you would have to be placed on the clock and it would stretch your hours.

 

Also, at Academy it's basically the pay your receive is the amount of work you put in - most Academy drivers make their living not off of commuter runs, but the work in between + any charter/shuttle/convention work. People go to Academy not for the pay, but for the work (and there's plenty of it to go around) and the people they get to interact with. Some complain about the fact that they do not get a good line or charter job and they just go to the airport. Although Academy is not union, they do have a seniority system, particularly with the commuter drivers. They will get first dibs on all the "good" work, "good" hours and "good" charters. With a company of 600 drivers, what can you really expect starting out? An over-the-road job to Chicago or the Yankees team charter detail? You have to be realistic.

 

The private side of the industry is what you make it to be. Nobody can match Transit, which is why they rely heavily on subsidies and operate at a substantial loss.

 

In terms of equipment, you have to remember this fact....both of the owners were mechanics trained by their father. Image and reputation are central to their business.

[Locomotion69]

Good informative post ML111, I thought Coach USA

had the contracts with New York Sports teams. Those

type of runs must be super seniority based of course.

[ML111]

Academy has the contracts to operate and/or broker transportation services for EVERY major sports team in the New York City and Philadelphia Metropolitan Areas, in addition to about 80% of all of the visiting teams that come to New York and Philadelphia. They also do the same type of work for their clients in Boston, Connecticut and Maryland.

 

In the NYC Metro Area, they also operate and/or broker services for about 80% of the trade show/convention work. They also have a hand in almost every job that would involve the transportation of more than 500 people in NYC.

 

A growing part of their portfolio as of late is university contracts. They currently operate (and will lose this summer) the Rutgers campus transportation service, in addition to the NYU shuttles. They do work for colleges in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.

 

They are also heavily connected within the group/receptive operator/destination management circles.

 

All of this is on top of their extensive commuter, charter and casino work.

 

This is the reason they are the largest privately owned motorcoach company in North America.

 

In terms of seniority, obtaining those high profile jobs is partially based on that. It also involves the development of relationships over years. I know for a fact that the drivers who are assigned to the Yankees have been on that job for no less than 10 years. The high profile clients (and some frequent charter clients) will request the same drivers.

[553 Bridgeton]

Academy has the contracts to operate and/or broker transportation services for EVERY major sports team in the New York City and Philadelphia Metropolitan Areas, in addition to about 80% of all of the visiting teams that come to New York and Philadelphia. They also do the same type of work for their clients in Boston, Connecticut and Maryland.

 

In the NYC Metro Area, they also operate and/or broker services for about 80% of the trade show/convention work. They also have a hand in almost every job that would involve the transportation of more than 500 people in NYC.

 

A growing part of their portfolio as of late is university contracts. They currently operate (and will lose this summer) the Rutgers campus transportation service, in addition to the NYU shuttles. They do work for colleges in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.

 

They are also heavily connected within the group/receptive operator/destination management circles.

 

All of this is on top of their extensive commuter, charter and casino work.

 

This is the reason they are the largest privately owned motorcoach company in North America.

 

In terms of seniority, obtaining those high profile jobs is partially based on that. It also involves the development of relationships over years. I know for a fact that the drivers who are assigned to the Yankees have been on that job for no less than 10 years. The high profile clients (and some frequent charter clients) will request the same drivers.

 

Some great info here! I did not know Academy was that big in there own right.

[sealteam1962]

you would make more money as a security guard then go to work for academy.and you will do shuttle work.to the airports and pick up at hotels. i would say dont even waste your time.but if you need some money to get by try them but you would be better off doing something else.they have training classes every monday because everyone quits :tdown:

[BT704]

while i was in for the interview with academey a driver came into the office ranting and cursing. lol not a job selling point. the shuttle runs go to senority, so it would be awhile before you get them. or maybe not with the turn over rate.lol.

[sealteam1962]

i worked there for 2 weeks.a while back there pay was 9.00 hr.and they told me i could do atlantic city i did 2 runs thats it then the rest all hotel pickups then to the airports.they tell you :mad: will get charters its a lie that goes to senority.they just bought premiere bus and dattco bus in ct.no one with senority wants to do airport shuttles.they are the lowest paying coach bus in the usa.oh did i say 9.00 hr maybe its 10.00 now a few more dollars above minumun wage what a joke.to drive a coach bus.also want you to report to hoboken nj since it was the closest to me 2 hrs before you leave those 2 hrs you get no pay.plus they only hire people now as company driver you have to sign a paper you can be let go anytime for any reason.they have a union but it stinks and you cant join into either.you are a dime a dozen to them .i hope one day all the drivers that work there walk out . but i noticed many drivers are all imigrant green card holders that have a hard time to find a job so they stay or its a lot of money to them no offense to anyone on here just saying what i seen and know later the name academy gets me upset the way they pay and treat their drivers

[Igor Gaysinsky]

i`m looking to do commuter runs

[Igor Gaysinsky]

trips in to manhattan commuter lines

[princejv26]

i`m looking to do commuter runs

 

if you are looking to do commuter runs you are better off with Community Coach/Coach USA in Paramus, they pay alot better than academy, actually anything is better than Academy.

[ML111]

if you are looking to do commuter runs you are better off with Community Coach/Coach USA in Paramus, they pay alot better than academy, actually anything is better than Academy.

 

Unfortunately the working environment isn't that much better at Coach USA. From my experiences and knowledge, the Hoboken shop is definitely not the desirable for work within Academy. The best terminals/divisions are Toms River, Leonardo and Pomona - the commuter divisions. More opportunities for steady work. That said, the good thing about Academy is the fact you have steady work - not many other companies are able to provide that to their drivers - even though the pay may be better and/or work environment more inviting. With the private side of the business, you will always have some form of inequality whether it involves pay, work, or the politics of the shop.

 

In my opinion, the best Coach USA operation is Hudson Transit Lines (Shortline) and the best commuter operation to work for on the private side is either Trans-Bridge, or Decamp. On the charter side, Vanderhoof or Saddle River in the NYC area are among the better outfits.

[HammelsY]

 

Unfortunately the working environment isn't that much better at Coach USA. From my experiences and knowledge, the Hoboken shop is definitely not the desirable for work within Academy. The best terminals/divisions are Toms River, Leonardo and Pomona - the commuter divisions. More opportunities for steady work. That said, the good thing about Academy is the fact you have steady work - not many other companies are able to provide that to their drivers - even though the pay may be better and/or work environment more inviting. With the private side of the business, you will always have some form of inequality whether it involves pay, work, or the politics of the shop.

 

In my opinion, the best Coach USA operation is Hudson Transit Lines (Shortline) and the best commuter operation to work for on the private side is either Trans-Bridge, or Decamp. On the charter side, Vanderhoof or Saddle River in the NYC area are among the better outfits.

I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss what the pay is at academy. If you're making 60 dollars into the city and 60 dollars out of it you could be paid to commute and hold down a job in NYC.That sounds like an awesome deal.

[Transitfan007]

I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss what the pay is at academy. If you're making 60 dollars into the city and 60 dollars out of it you could be paid to commute and hold down a job in NYC.That sounds like an awesome deal.

Quite a few drivers have done and are still doing this.  These drivers park their buses on W30th between Dyre and 9th Ave!  I'm and contemplating doing this myself!