A week in the Life of a London Bus Driver (Late Shifts).

[@ThrushCZX]

I’ve been a bus driver (north London) and I’ve done all the earlies, mids and lates - the 5am starts and 2am finishes, and everything in between. I now drive the Underground, the first two years of which was Night Tube, which, as you’d expect, is all night - starts 9pm-midnight, finishes as late as 8:30am the following morning. The last year I did day/late turns during the week and night turns at the weekend. Now I generally just go lates, with a few mids here and there. The trick with the lates is you have to get your rest. Don’t fall into the trap so many other do of thinking you get the entire day, from 7/8am right up til you start work, to do whatever, because it doesn’t work that way. You said it - bus driving is mentally tiring, couple that with being physically tired and you’re in for a bad time. And it will end up biting you - which you don’t want with a hulking great bus with people on it. There’s nothing worse (bar an actual contact accident) than getting a micro sleep or lapse of concentration brought on by fatigue and having a brake-stab moment. It happens, I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. I found it worse on the dead earlies more than the lates, myself.

[@M1keWrites]

Many thanks for your comments. Wise words. I’d love to drive a tube train. Giz a job. Lol.

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

I'm your 195th subscriber. Great videos Mike. Keep 'em coming. 😀👍

[@M1keWrites]

I’m honoured Sir. You are the main reason I started my channel.

[@busmong9261]

I subscribe to you also Anton. I think Driver London is gonna giv you a run for your money. Great content from you both.

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

Your welcome Mike. Its great to see more drivers doing videos. There's more content and choice for everyone to enjoy. Taking some time away from KZbin has helped me after a few years. I like the flexibility of uploading when I want to do it. l will be back uploading in the next month or so.

[@M1keWrites]

@@DoubleDeckerAnton it will be great to see you back on the Tube. Thanks for the kind words.

[@BristolRE]

I love late shifts, rarely do anything else.

[@M1keWrites]

It has to be better than getting up in the middle of the night.

[@BristolRE]

@@M1keWrites Definitely, and up here in North London very quiet after 9pm anyhow

[@M1keWrites]

@@BristolRE I picked up 3 people on my last rounder, Night before last.

[@BristolRE]

@@M1keWrites Sweet

[@BusDriverLife]

Late shifts are kinda fun...but it’s so tiring and you miss all of the fun events!

[@M1keWrites]

My depot does a late shift, but not nights. So it isn’t that bad.

[@busmong9261]

Great video. Love a long video. I only do morning shifts.

[@M1keWrites]

I don’t think I could do Permanent earlies

[@Captainpubwatch]

Agree with you, late shifts are indeed the one. I’ve done them under my own steam for 13 years now and when I got married/had my daughter it worked well there too. When she started nursery I managed to book her in for afternoon sessions only which means I have her in the morning and send her in the afternoon = half the money. We get to spend great time together in the mornings while she’s with her mum in the evenings. When you have to work strange hours getting home at 2am and getting up at 9-10am is a world away from getting up at 2-3am for an early, lates are much more palatable

[@M1keWrites]

Absolutely, much more palatable. We have driver who only do middles and lates, but they won’t allow anymore, as they struggle to get early drivers.

[@_4.2_]

I hated doing the same route. The last time I did it was between 2012-2016 on route 266 since then I have been spare

[@M1keWrites]

266 Brent Cross to Acton. My plan is to be on the spare list, too. The thought of doing just one route forever, fills me with dread. Thanks for watching

[@_4.2_]

@@M1keWrites back then it used to go from Hammersmith to Brent cross

[@_4.2_]

One thing I dislike about being spare is The sign on time . For example tuesday I was going 701(route 28) which starts at 3:59 and finishes 11:58.yesterday I did 102( route23) which starts at5:04 Abd finishes 13:49. I prefer to start between starting between 4:00 and 4:40

[@TheTransportHub17]

Great video. Enjoy your well deserved rest.

[@M1keWrites]

Thanks mate.

[@hi-tech55]

I like long videos. It makes you feel part of it. Keep them coming

[@M1keWrites]

I’m glad you liked it.

[@hi-tech55]

@@M1keWrites I hated middles myself. You looked better ate the end of your week then the beginning. It’s a great feeling when you have time off but it’s not before your back to it again. Sorry didn’t mean to ruin your holiday.

[@M1keWrites]

@@hi-tech55 I’m home schooling my little one, rather be at work. Lol

[@chrimorhen4585]

Love your videos. Stay safe

[@jbc825]

Interesting video, enjoy your time off. I would think the 246 would be a nice route to do?

[@M1keWrites]

I’m looking at the 246 in the week.

[@dbvegan2840]

Really enjoyed it mate, thanks for doing these videos

[@M1keWrites]

Thanks mate. Anymore thoughts on driving a bus.

[@dbvegan2840]

@@M1keWrites yeah, I’ve passed the online interview and got a driving assessment and Highway Code, numeracy/literacy test next week. What is the driving assessment like? I drive a 3.5 tonne van now so hoping it’s easy etc.

[@M1keWrites]

@@dbvegan2840 no idea I didn’t do one. It should be driving a van. Where are you based.

[@M1keWrites]

@@dbvegan2840 which company did you apply to?

[@dbvegan2840]

@@M1keWrites I am relocating to the midlands it’s in Birmingham

[@joshfairling6027]

No chance I’d ever be a bus driver in London worst part of UK for traffic. Stagecoach Sunderland generally have early buses starting around 5am with final buses around 23.30-23.45

[@M1keWrites]

I was born in Durham, and lived in Chester-le-street until I joined up. When I go home(I still call it home) I laugh at the time people have to drive around. Waiting for gaps, instead of pushing your way through and creating a gap. Our first buses are about 04:15 last bus 02:00. Too early and way to late.

[@stevendavid1330]

Enjoy your well deserved time off

[@M1keWrites]

Thank you sir, but there’s no rest for the wicked. Home learning my little one.

[@markusk3489]

Whenever I get to choose I opt for lates or night shifts. After nearly 10 years I`m still not used to getting up at 3 or 4 in the morning so lates and nights are the ideal shifts for me. My wife however does go mental if I´m away for 3-4 nights in a row so to please the lady I do earlies in between as well (but I absolutely hate them). I hear a lot of others say "you have the rest of the day to yourself when you do an early shift" Well, unfortunately for me that´s not the case, because I´m so knackered that when I get home after an early shift at let´s say 2/2.30pm I normally fall into bed until 4pm. Not really anything much of the afternoon left after I get up. When I come home after a late shift at say 3am I tend to watch the telly for at least half an hour before actually going to bed and get up at 10-ish and normally feel right as rain. I guess people are different and I know some that absolutely hate lates and will do almost anything to work only earlies. I´m the opposite, I´d do almost anything to work lates :) Absolutely like your vids, Mike! Good to see what´s going on in the work life of fellow busdrivers! Btw. I hope that mirror incident worked out ok for you. I personally just once scraped my mirror on a bus stop pole and it did not get damaged but then again a lamp post was not so forgiving to the rear lights after I had to reverse my bus after getting boxed in and on another occasion a traffic sign suddenly jumped into the side of my bus... things like that happen to all of us and those who say it doesn´t are either lying or are not in the middle of the traffic mayhem day in and day out! Take care!

[@M1keWrites]

Thank you Markus, have you subscribed? Where abouts do you drive buses. I was supposed to be on lates when I go back, but I was asked to swap them for not too early a shift. 1st 08:47 start then 07:45 and then three shifts at 06:45. So not too bad.

[@markusk3489]

@@M1keWrites yep, subscribed at last :) I agree, the 3 shifts don´t sound too bad. I sent you a direct message via email

[@J.siciliano_]

Watching your vid now buddy. Was wondering if you could help me. I bought the theory book for large vehicles that metroline advised me to buy to revise, am I supposed to be revising even the lorry parts of the book? Or just bus? Does the theory test cover the lorry side of things too? Thanks buddy

[@M1keWrites]

Just the bus part.

[@M1keWrites]

There are online app based theory tests. These would include the hazard perception part of the test.

[@J.siciliano_]

@@M1keWrites thanks mate! Have a good time off

[@beniboi86]

Hi mate. I really enjoyed this video. I’m thinking of starting my own channel for work. Very relatable. I’m a full time london bus driver as well

[@M1keWrites]

Whereabouts do you work?

[@beniboi86]

@@M1keWrites Croydon

[@M1keWrites]

@@beniboi86 f**k that Croydon’s a nightmare

[@M1keWrites]

Thanks for watching, it means a lot coming from another bus driver

[@Djbooney525]

Hi buddy new to the channel working my way through the videos, if your now a bus driver how come you still drive and own a taxi ? Thanks

[@M1keWrites]

Welcome aboard. Its the only vehicle in the household. I have have to be to work somehow.

[@Djbooney525]

@@M1keWrites fair enough buddy was just curious, I didn't realise you can drive a taxi for personal use learn something new everyday

[@croydontramcabrides9767]

I notice you had your foot on the seat whilst explaining your duty card, a good advert for a responsible driver.

[@joebazeley869]

Do you enjoy bus driving? Would you recommend it as a career?

[@M1keWrites]

I do enjoy driving buses. I can’t say anything but good things. I would definitely recommend it as a career. If you’re looking for excited it’s not the job for you. It’s a good steady job. A bit same same. But dependable.

[@croydontramcabrides9767]

Are you allowed to leave your engine running on the stand at Lewisham?

[@stevelamport7862]

middle shifts in the day with city of oxford

[@tobiasjenkins2427]

I SEE 👀 YOU GOT A HACKNEY CAB 🚖 🚕 DO YOU STILL DO CAB WORK OR ARE GOING TO SELL

[@M1keWrites]

Not my taxi, I use it just to drive to the garage and back, every now and then.

[@tobiasjenkins2427]

OH OK

[@stephenhyland4256]

When you were training to be a London taxi driver how difficult was doing the knowledge?

[@M1keWrites]

It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done. It sort of takes over your life. The more you do, the more you want to get through it.

[@stephenhyland4256]

So I'm guessing becoming a bus driver was a walk in the park compared to it

[@M1keWrites]

@@stephenhyland4256 it’s the same mental exhaustion, but less time on the road. 8 or10hr shifts. Piece of cake.

[@croydontramcabrides9767]

You sound totally bored and kept mentioning that you were tired. Boredom and long repetitive shifts lead to tiredness and fatigue. Fatigue is a big issue with drivers at the moment. Drive safely.

[@joshfairling6027]

How come you only ever seem to just do the same 1 route everyday. Stagecoach Sunderland generally have drivers who tend to do 2 or even 3 routes a day sometimes, seems rather boring in London doing same 1 route daily.

[@M1keWrites]

A rounder down here can take hours. Most drivers are on one route rota, some are on the spare rota, who drive different routes, but only one route per day.

[@joshfairling6027]

@@M1keWrites Does TFL in London have impact on bus drivers? Such as timetables, hours worked etc?

[@djspider4410]

Will you go back to driving a cab after the pandemic?

[@M1keWrites]

That’s a massive question and debate in my house. The cab trade is struggling and probably will for some time. I’d like to say maybe, but who knows what the future will bring.

[@djspider4410]

@@M1keWrites yeah I drive a cab and with what they've done to the roads the job is now a nightmare. Gridlock. I'm going to give it a few months and see how the stress levels are, hours, money. All the best mate 👍

[@M1keWrites]

@@djspider4410 go drive a bus. The money isn’t great but it’s every Friday. And there’s no overheads.

[@djspider4410]

@@M1keWrites have been thinking about it 👍👍

[@M1keWrites]

@@djspider4410 give it a go, there are depots everywhere. Check out the nearest company and apply. Paid training, paid weekly. It’s not so bad.

[@stephenport4768]

A double road to work ouch

[@chirakpun7125]

how much does bus driver earn weekly?

[@M1keWrites]

Starting out about £450 a week

[@CB-by9nf]

Are you a fast driver or a slower driver? Obvs all depends on the running time.

[@M1keWrites]

The new duties we have, because of the kids being off school, allow you to crack on, but the Headway dictates what we do.

[@carola-lifeinparis]

There really doesn't seem to be a good shift in your job, either starting way too early or ending way too late

[@M1keWrites]

We’re out on the road when people need us most.

[@291ToQueenElizabethHospital]

you own a taxi

[@delayco]

Lololololol