Greyhound Drivers........

I hope that I didn't convey that I am "down" on Greyhound, or other bus drivers! I once dated Greyhound driver, who gave me very valuable tips, should I ever need to travel via public conveyance.

And, these days, the "down-n-outers" seem to be going back to the old system of "riding the rails", and hopping trains.

While the bus drivers, are, INDEED, a driver...IMHO, they are NOT a "trucker".

Judi Kay

 

You have to drive a truck to be a trucker but they are still professional drivers. I treat buses the way I treat trucks what with the light flashing and all that. I often get it back too. They're all right by me.

 

I've always wondered, what is your schedule like? I am assuming you sleep in hotels? Do you guys get paid by the mile?

 

Yes, I would like to add to this question...

Are you also expected to do the first aid thing?
Do you have a line into the office via satt or do you have to pay for your own cell phone?
Do they have a drivers lounge or are you in a regular motel with a reimbursement later?

*******************************************************

I got to drive an old greyhound one time with a 5 speed and a V6 detroit.
I was SHOCKED. That thing had so much nut-sack it was dragging them on the ground!

I never knew how fast they were. This was late 70's unit and the only way I can describe it is, it felt like a fast Harley.
The engine had a strange "pulse" to it, like a Harley... but gobs of torque, UNlike a Harley. The way they had the injection pump set up it gave you a MUCH much wider range than any tractor engine I have ever driven. It would fuel heavy right up to the limiter. Later, I learned the thing was not even rated at 300 HP. Were I to have ventured a guess, I would have said there was 500+ there.

 

Thanks for the replies. It's just that I've been lurking for a few days reading post from other members on this site and I can relate to all most every issue you truckers have.

Owner's OperatorWe get paid by the hour and in most cities we sleep in hotels. A few large cities have dorms Most of the truck stops or fast food joints comp drivers a meal.

simplyred1962 Yeah we don't suppose idle more than 10 minutes if we are at a terminal LOL but I have never seen anyone shut a coach down maybe out of fear it will not restart!

thanatos They have installed a GPS telcom system on about 10 percent of the coaches. If you have a bus with the system you have to use your own cell phone or a company provided cellphone. But no stations every have company phones to give to you. As for giving aid to someone. I don't.

#6 Just like truckers sometimes we in up in a city waiting for a load. We don't want to be held hostage for days in a hotel / truck not making any money.

#7 Forget about holidays. You will certainly be out on the road.

Maybe aren't normal truckers but of the ####### stepchild of the family. Yeah, I flash my lights too and blink the 4-ways

 

I've never considered Greyhound drivers part of the trucking family. I've always considered them "extended family."
They always seem to give and return courtesy lights.
Greyhound drivers are OK in my book.

 

i always flash and get it back from you guys. saw one of you guys smoking pretty bad goin north up the cahone grade last friday. oil over the back bumper. was that you??

 

Hey Foodstamp, how hard is it to get into Greyhound as a job? What kind of experience do they consider when looking at you?
I wondered what you guys made to start, but every time I thought about it, thinking about being stuck in a bus with a junkie pooping his pants or a drunk throwing up all over the place stopped me from it.
I am not an elitist, but if there are dregs of society, they ride buses.
As a much younger guy, I did a fair amount of bus time and found it to be pretty cool, but back then the drivers would stick a boot up the ##### of a disruptive passenger.