Wanting to drive for South Link

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Adelaide Hills DD
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Wanting to drive for South Link

Post by Adelaide Hills DD »

G'Day guys,

As the subject suggests, I am looking to become a bus driver.

I am currently only 16 and in Year 11 at school. This may seem weird but all I want to do is drive buses. I have spoken to a few drivers and they have all said slightly said different things but that was because they all started working at different times.

Here is what I think I need to apply so far:
- Minimum HR Licence
- Large Passenger Accreditation
- Application sheet

I may also do a Cert III in Driving Operations to give myself a better chance.

Is there a minimum age they accept drivers?

If I have missed anything could you please let me know so that I can look further into it
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Re: Wanting to drive for South Link

Post by CCCC »

My advice is to do as much education as you can first, finish year 12 and try and go on to uni for a degree first if you have the capacity,
You can always fall back on driving at any time.
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Re: Wanting to drive for South Link

Post by Adelaide Hills DD »

CCCC wrote:My advice is to do as much education as you can first, finish year 12 and try and go on to uni for a degree first if you have the capacity,
You can always fall back on driving at any time.
I will definitely finish school, but I'm not sure what I want to do after that. I was hoping to drive for a couple of years as a casual and do something else in between
What even is a bus?
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Re: Wanting to drive for South Link

Post by The Phonj »

Have you considered contacting your preferred employer directly? They will have a much better idea of their requirements for employment than I will, however....

Providing you have a FULL licence (no 'P' plates etc) that is HR category, and your LP accreditation then there is no reason that you will not be accepted for employment as a bus driver. Unfortunately the minimum age for getting a full licence in SA is 20 so you have a few years to go yet.

A certificate III will usually be part of the training process undertaken once you commence employment so I wouldn't worry too much.

A couple of personal suggestions on my part would be:
* Obtain your learners permit as soon as you are able to; the process of obtaining a full licence can take some time - the longer you delay the longer you will have to wait to start work. For further licence information; see http://mylicence.sa.gov.au/home
* Applicants with experience in a customer service role would be favourably looked upon - it may be worth your while getting a job as a shop assistant, pizza delivery driver (once you have 'P' plates and a car) or similar.
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Adelaide Hills DD
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Re: Wanting to drive for South Link

Post by Adelaide Hills DD »

The Phonj wrote:Have you considered contacting your preferred employer directly? They will have a much better idea of their requirements for employment than I will, however....

Providing you have a FULL licence (no 'P' plates etc) that is HR category, and your LP accreditation then there is no reason that you will not be accepted for employment as a bus driver. Unfortunately the minimum age for getting a full licence in SA is 20 so you have a few years to go yet.

A certificate III will usually be part of the training process undertaken once you commence employment so I wouldn't worry too much.

A couple of personal suggestions on my part would be:
* Obtain your learners permit as soon as you are able to; the process of obtaining a full licence can take some time - the longer you delay the longer you will have to wait to start work. For further licence information; see http://mylicence.sa.gov.au/home
* Applicants with experience in a customer service role would be favourably looked upon - it may be worth your while getting a job as a shop assistant, pizza delivery driver (once you have 'P' plates and a car) or similar.
Thanks for the info PhonJ

I will be applying for my HR licence next year because I have my own family run buisness that I could get an exemption for, so that is not a big issue getting that.
* Applicants with experience in a customer service role would be favourably looked upon - it may be worth your while getting a job as a shop assistant, pizza delivery driver (once you have 'P' plates and a car) or similar.
Do you think that year 12 English (which involves a lot of communication skill based learning) would come close to that? or would that not be suitable enough?

I will go into Aldgate depot one day during the holidays just to get more info and to see what they have to say.

Thanks

Angus
What even is a bus?
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Re: Wanting to drive for South Link

Post by boronia »

Adelaide Hills DD wrote:
* Applicants with experience in a customer service role would be favourably looked upon - it may be worth your while getting a job as a shop assistant, pizza delivery driver (once you have 'P' plates and a car) or similar.
Do you think that year 12 English (which involves a lot of communication skill based learning) would come close to that? or would that not be suitable enough?

I will go into Aldgate depot one day during the holidays just to get more info and to see what they have to say.

Thanks

Angus
Your abilities would be assessed as part of the recruitment process. Attitude is probably more relevant than actual experience.
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Re: Wanting to drive for South Link

Post by Adelaide Hills DD »

boronia wrote:Your abilities would be assessed as part of the recruitment process. Attitude is probably more relevant than actual experience.
Thats probably a good thing because i have a very positive attitude
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Re: Wanting to drive for South Link

Post by V981 »

Adelaide Hills DD wrote:

* Applicants with experience in a customer service role would be favourably looked upon - it may be worth your while getting a job as a shop assistant, pizza delivery driver (once you have 'P' plates and a car) or similar.
Do you think that year 12 English (which involves a lot of communication skill based learning) would come close to that? or would that not be suitable enough?



Angus
I wouldnt worry too much about English speaking skills or communication skills. The bus industry nationwide is rife with drivers with poor communication skills and a poor ability to speak english. They got in, so you should be a shoo in. :twisted:
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Re: Wanting to drive for South Link

Post by dex »

I wouldnt worry too much about English speaking skills or communication skills. The bus industry nationwide is rife with drivers with poor communication skills and a poor ability to speak english. They got in, so you should be a shoo in.
Are you referring to the influx on Irish drivers? :lol:
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Re: Wanting to drive for South Link

Post by V981 »

dex wrote:
I wouldnt worry too much about English speaking skills or communication skills. The bus industry nationwide is rife with drivers with poor communication skills and a poor ability to speak english. They got in, so you should be a shoo in.
Are you referring to the influx on Irish drivers? :lol:
Hahaha, I don't know. From what I've heard, many of the influx of Irish drivers have since outfluxed there ways back to Dublin. I might have been more referring to drivers perhaps born in other cricket playing nations. :lol:
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Re: Wanting to drive for South Link

Post by dex »

The Netherlands?
I can play dumb for quite some time....
Shame they have headed home though, on another note, I was told that the public's view on bus drivers was due to racism. Funny that, that excuse came from someone from one of those cricketing nations but it seems it's not racist to generalise about a certain race of people.
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Re: Wanting to drive for South Link

Post by Lt. Commander Data »

I thought I'd put this here instead of starting a new thread for a similar thing.

So I'm in year 10 this year. This year, as part of PLP, we have to do some work experience in week 7 of term 2. I'm thinking of going to Southink Aldgate depot. I will obviously talk to my parents/teacher and eventually the depot staff, but I was wondering whether anyone on here had any other advice?

All help appreciated,

Data (Ryan).
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Re: Wanting to drive for South Link

Post by simonl »

Why do you need a HR licence? MR is good enough in NSW. HR is only needed for bendies or tag axle buses.
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Re: Wanting to drive for South Link

Post by Alstom 888M »

Because you need to be able to drive any vehicle in the fleet. If the depot you work at has a bendy or tag they will most likely belong to a particular line you will be required to work sooner or later.
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Re: Wanting to drive for South Link

Post by Adelaide Hills DD »

Lt. Commander Data wrote:I thought I'd put this here instead of starting a new thread for a similar thing.

So I'm in year 10 this year. This year, as part of PLP, we have to do some work experience in week 7 of term 2. I'm thinking of going to Southink Aldgate depot. I will obviously talk to my parents/teacher and eventually the depot staff, but I was wondering whether anyone on here had any other advice?

All help appreciated,

Data (Ryan).
I doubt that Aldgate will have much for you to do. The most I could think of would be rosters and Comms but that involves Inductions. You cannot just be with the drivers all day either (trust me, I tried).

I did a week down at Lonsdale and it was a great experience and a good learning curve of how it all runs behind the scenes. So if that's what you are into, go for it.
simonl wrote:Why do you need a HR licence? MR is good enough in NSW. HR is only needed for bendies or tag axle buses.
For us in the hills, we have almost the same amount of tags/artics as we do rigids, so you would be pretty useless if you didn't have a HR.
What even is a bus?
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Re: Wanting to drive for South Link

Post by The Phonj »

simonl wrote:Why do you need a HR licence? MR is good enough in NSW. HR is only needed for bendies or tag axle buses.
All three Adelaide Metro service providers have artics in their fleets; and I think you would be hard pressed to find a depot that doesn't have an artic. As already mentioned; Mt. Barker and Aldgate depots have tag axle buses in addition to artics.

As a result, it is a requirement for employment with all three Adelaide Metro contractors that you hold a HR licence.
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Re: Wanting to drive for South Link

Post by Lt. Commander Data »

Adelaide Hills DD wrote:
Lt. Commander Data wrote:I thought I'd put this here instead of starting a new thread for a similar thing.

So I'm in year 10 this year. This year, as part of PLP, we have to do some work experience in week 7 of term 2. I'm thinking of going to Southink Aldgate depot. I will obviously talk to my parents/teacher and eventually the depot staff, but I was wondering whether anyone on here had any other advice?

All help appreciated,

Data (Ryan).
I doubt that Aldgate will have much for you to do. The most I could think of would be rosters and Comms but that involves Inductions. You cannot just be with the drivers all day either (trust me, I tried).

I did a week down at Lonsdale and it was a great experience and a good learning curve of how it all runs behind the scenes. So if that's what you are into, go for it.
simonl wrote:Why do you need a HR licence? MR is good enough in NSW. HR is only needed for bendies or tag axle buses.
For us in the hills, we have almost the same amount of tags/artics as we do rigids, so you would be pretty useless if you didn't have a HR.[/quote]

Thanks for that AdeliadeHillsDD. Just out of interest, when you went to Lonsdale, what time did you have to get there each morning? I'm just thinking that I can't drive yet, and I live in Stirling, which is quite a long way from Lonsdale. I'm sure if and when I organise it they will tell me, but just an idea would be nice.

On another note, which buses are the tag axles? Is it the 14.5s, becuase I though the SG280s were the only tag axle artics. Unless my definition of 'tag' is wrong...
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Re: Wanting to drive for South Link

Post by Off The Rails »

14.5's are tag axles. Those SG280's would've been rear steer.

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Re: Wanting to drive for South Link

Post by Adelaide Hills DD »

It takes around 45mins from here to Lonsdale but I was there from 9am to 5pm, so your parents may have to come pick you up/drop off
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Re: Wanting to drive for South Link

Post by Bedford-29 »

Looking at South Australia learner rules 75 hours of supervised driving and 15 hours of night time driving then P1 then P2 before you look at anything else.What happen to good old days learning to drive.
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