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Posted

For anyone waiting on a training date: I just spoke with my recruiter and they said they no longer need as many new hires for 2023 as projected so likely we're going to have to wait until 2024.

Posted

Just do yourselves a favour.

Move to Vancouver if you really want to drive a bus.

They're constantly hiring and pumping out new recruits every two weeks.

TTC is sounding like a pretty piss poor run operation if they're hiring and not filling.

Posted
On 7/5/2023 at 5:54 AM, 9924 said:

Just do yourselves a favour.

Move to Vancouver if you really want to drive a bus.

They're constantly hiring and pumping out new recruits every two weeks.

TTC is sounding like a pretty piss poor run operation if they're hiring and not filling.

I would not necessarily say that Vancouver would be ideal, as the bus operations are contracted out, and there is no job security at all. 

 

However, to the current TTC applicants who are anxiously waiting to proceed to the next step in the process , I would personally tell them to apply to other GTA agencies like Miway, Metrolinx, DRT, or Brampton Transit instead. As someone who completed the 10 month TTC probation recently, based on what I have seen and experienced over the past year, I would not recommend becoming a TTC operator. Never mind not having weekends off or being stuck on splits, you will be extremely burned out, both physically and mentally. If I could go back in time, I would have gone to Miway or Metrolinx instead. 

 

(I excluded YRT from the recommended list, as it is a contracted-out shit show over there.)

Posted
9 hours ago, TransitMotorcoach said:

I would not necessarily say that Vancouver would be ideal, as the bus operations are contracted out, and there is no job security at all. 

99.9% of Metro Vancouver's conventional and community buses are operated by Coast Mountain which is a subsidiary owned 100% by the governing authority Translink and has been since 1999.  The exceptions are Blue Bus in West Vancouver, HandyDart and a couple of community shuttle runs.

The jobs are very secure, in fact, during the pandemic - not one operator was laid off.  Lots of retirements coming up and lots of expansion coming up.

 

Plus, with the exception of maybe 5 or 6 days a year, you don't have to put up with that god awful typical Canadian winter BS.

Posted
2 hours ago, 9924 said:

99.9% of Metro Vancouver's conventional and community buses are operated by Coast Mountain which is a subsidiary owned 100% by the governing authority Translink and has been since 1999.  The exceptions are Blue Bus in West Vancouver, HandyDart and a couple of community shuttle runs.

The jobs are very secure, in fact, during the pandemic - not one operator was laid off.  Lots of retirements coming up and lots of expansion coming up.

 

Plus, with the exception of maybe 5 or 6 days a year, you don't have to put up with that god awful typical Canadian winter BS.

I would not want to drive a bus down Vancouver's east side. I thought Toronto was BAD, but the Eastside Vancouver looks like a literal ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE and a WAR ZONE. 

  • Like 1
Posted
9 hours ago, TransitMotorcoach said:

I would not want to drive a bus down Vancouver's east side. I thought Toronto was BAD, but the Eastside Vancouver looks like a literal ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE and a WAR ZONE. 

95% of Vancouver's bus routes don't go anywhere near the Eastside, so you have lots to choose from.

  • Like 1
Posted
On 7/7/2023 at 4:47 AM, 9924 said:

99.9% of Metro Vancouver's conventional and community buses are operated by Coast Mountain which is a subsidiary owned 100% by the governing authority Translink and has been since 1999.  The exceptions are Blue Bus in West Vancouver, HandyDart and a couple of community shuttle runs.

The jobs are very secure, in fact, during the pandemic - not one operator was laid off.  Lots of retirements coming up and lots of expansion coming up.

 

Plus, with the exception of maybe 5 or 6 days a year, you don't have to put up with that god awful typical Canadian winter BS.

Being able to house yourself without a long, long commute to Abbotsford or similar would be a concern.

Having a house with an M postal code, I know it CAN be done, but some sacrifices must be made. For a hot minute I courted the idea of jumping ship here and trying to commute in to north/west Van…the prospect of being cut off every time highway 99 gets closed, and the spiking Squamish home prices snuffed that daydream out right quick.

Victoria seems like a more financially attainable option. 

  • Like 1
Posted
6 hours ago, Bus_Medic said:

Being able to house yourself without a long, long commute to Abbotsford or similar would be a concern.

I live 8km away from the depot I chose to work out of - and it's affordable.  I work 40 hours a week, get paid for 49 and my savings account is growing month after month as I don't have to sit around my computer month after month after month waiting for a training date sometime in the next decade.

 

But to each their own - just throwing out an option for those who'd rather wait 2 months for a training date versus waiting 2 years.

  • Like 1
Posted
2 hours ago, 9924 said:

I live 8km away from the depot I chose to work out of - and it's affordable.  I work 40 hours a week, get paid for 49 and my savings account is growing month after month as I don't have to sit around my computer month after month after month waiting for a training date sometime in the next decade.

 

But to each their own - just throwing out an option for those who'd rather wait 2 months for a training date versus waiting 2 years.

By all means do. The TTC isn’t the land of milk and honey it once was.

  • Like 1
Posted
7 hours ago, Bus_Medic said:

By all means do. The TTC isn’t the land of milk and honey it once was.

Like I said in my original comment, seems like it's a pretty piss poor operation if the application processes are taking as long as it is.  Moving isn't for everyone, and there are a lot of variables depending on peoples personal situations - but if one is flexible, I'd be looking at different options.  Edmonton Transit is another decent option - good pay and super affordable housing - the only down side is you'd have to live in *cringe* Edmonton.

Posted
6 hours ago, 9924 said:

Edmonton Transit is another decent option - good pay and super affordable housing - the only down side is you'd have to live in *cringe* Edmonton.

A lot of drivers actually use ETS as a stepping stone to eventually drive elsewhere. It's good pay and experience while looking elsewhere. Something to put on your resume that may put your application closer to the top of the pile. Living in Edmonton isn't bad. Rent and housing are getting to be a bit more on the expensive side. The best is if you can share a two bedroom apartment or condo with someone, then maybe looking at $700.00 (ish) each. The food scene is getting better, although not as good as Vancouver yet, but a few local mouthwatering gems.

Posted

Just to add… North Bay, Sudbury (GoVa) , and Ontario Northland are all actively recruiting for multiple operators right now, just off the top of my head.

The TTC isn’t the last word in public sector transportation careers in Ontario.

6 minutes ago, captaintrolley said:

A lot of drivers actually use ETS as a stepping stone to eventually drive elsewhere. It's good pay and experience while looking elsewhere. Something to put on your resume that may put your application closer to the top of the pile. Living in Edmonton isn't bad. Rent and housing are getting to be a bit more on the expensive side. The best is if you can share a two bedroom apartment or condo with someone, then maybe looking at $700.00 (ish) each. The food scene is getting better, although not as good as Vancouver yet, but a few local mouthwatering gems.

I was pleasantly surprised with Winnipeg’s food scene while visiting last year.

  • Like 1
Posted
7 hours ago, captaintrolley said:

The food scene is getting better, although not as good as Vancouver yet, but a few local mouthwatering gems.

Well, they do have 2 Olive Garden's 🤪

  • Haha 1
Posted
On 7/9/2023 at 4:40 PM, 9924 said:

I live 8km away from the depot I chose to work out of - and it's affordable.  I work 40 hours a week, get paid for 49 and my savings account is growing month after month as I don't have to sit around my computer month after month after month waiting for a training date sometime in the next decade.

 

But to each their own - just throwing out an option for those who'd rather wait 2 months for a training date versus waiting 2 years.

i say a lot of transit agencies are hiring. The choice is ultimately yours.  To those who are complaining about the waiting time.  Guess what?  Good things come for those who wait.  if you want to steady job, ttc is one that you can consider.  

 

TTC has the highest compensation among all the GTA transit agencies out there.  To be best compensated you have to pay the price.  There is no free lunch out there.  Sure there are stuff people don't like (i.e. no weekends, constantly changing schedules, etc).  You should be grateful that you get to pick your work.  in my previous job, i have no say in the work schedule.  Once you pay your dues, you get better work 

On 7/5/2023 at 5:54 AM, 9924 said:

 

TTC is sounding like a pretty piss poor run operation if they're hiring and not filling.

you don't know what is going on behind the scene.  Maybe they already have enough staff given TTC drivers are paid the most among the agencies within GTA so the retention rate is much better people think.

Posted
46 minutes ago, leylandvictory2 said:

 

TTC has the highest compensation among all the GTA transit agencies out there. 

This in a sentence, is exactly what’s wrong. More money doesn’t make everything automatically better.

46 minutes ago, leylandvictory2 said:

 

you don't know what is going on behind the scene.  Maybe they already have enough staff given TTC drivers are paid the most among the agencies within GTA so the retention rate is much better people think.

Devil’s advocate….maybe we should have a look at what CMBC is doing before dismissing.

 

But what do I know.

  • Like 3
Posted
12 minutes ago, Bus_Medic said:

Devil’s advocate….maybe we should have a look at what CMBC is doing before dismissing.

 

I lived in Van for a few years. Being a retired ETS employee and transit enthusiast of sorts, I naturally gravitated towards making driver friends and having conversations with them. Not one of them harbored any ill will towards the company and how they were treated. Morale was generally high, drivers loved what they were doing, and there was a close sense of camaraderie. Drivers wave to each other there. (Edmonton drivers don't do that any more).  I knew a couple of drivers that had jumped ship from ETS to join the ranks of CMBC. They said the pay was a bit less to start, but the pay cheque deductions were not as horrendous. It didn't take long to move up the pay scale and to start signing better work.

Posted
15 hours ago, T3G said:

Yeah, but then you have to work in Brampton 

What a shame, working for a company that pays identical to TTC and you get weekends off within 2.5 years with a fleet that’s one of the best spec’d in Ontario…oh the tragedy 

Posted
2 hours ago, ZümmyZüm said:

... fleet that’s one of the best spec’d in Ontario…

Geniuses specing Brampton buses still haven't figured out that turn signals on the back of the bus shouldn't be red. And can't forget the idiotic practice of putting hazard lights on at every bus stop. 

  • Like 1
Posted
45 minutes ago, Someguy3071 said:

Geniuses specing Brampton buses still haven't figured out that turn signals on the back of the bus shouldn't be red. And can't forget the idiotic practice of putting hazard lights on at every bus stop. 

That’s unfortunately something someone in safety (not even the transit division) is adamant on being the safest route. I gave up on that battle after a few years working there

Posted
6 hours ago, Someguy3071 said:

Geniuses specing Brampton buses still haven't figured out that turn signals on the back of the bus shouldn't be red. And can't forget the idiotic practice of putting hazard lights on at every bus stop. 

If you want idiotic practices and policies, I highly suggest a certain transit contractor who's name I will not speak of - 4 ways at a bus stop, you've seen nothing yet 🤣

Posted
59 minutes ago, Someguy3071 said:

Mississauga transit does it as well. It's a really stupid and dangerous practice. I personally wouldn't do it even if it was policy. 

It’s programmed into the vehicle multiplex software. The operators don’t have a choice.

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