Part of testing a new operator in being qualified by a state inspector is coach securement. As this book is written by a trolley operator, the added requirement of coach securement is in cradling the poles by the hooks near the harp at the back of the coach. Many a day goes by where a …
Tag Archives: Zen in Transit
Surrender
The most challenging aspect of any operator of large equipment on the road is keeping aware of the “what if ” possibilities. “What if ” that bus in front of me, stopped in the zone, goes out of service? Did I leave enough space between my coach and the stopped coach to get around, if …
All alone: Let the Show Begin
On Mission Street. Old timers don’t mind being all alone on Mission. As a new operator I just could not fathom this. No coach visible in front looking up from Second Street to Tenth St., or looking up from 14th to 22nd. If I didn’t see my leader in front of me as I left …
Morning Rush
We all know we try to cut it as close as we can and get away without wasting any time. This image of efficiency is to take the bus without any waiting time. But just like a Mad magazine comic strip, if we are all making the same determinations at the same time, we invariably …
Gate Hoppers
So in talking to a young man on my bus who lives in a far away suburb, about why he doesn’t show a pass to ride, is because he isn’t concerned about the financial health of our railway budget, but only of his income. He transferred from a restaurant in Antioch, a suburb a good …
Why Be A Driver?
If you want to hire a business major, you can get one for $50,000 a year easy because there are thousands of them. If you want a skilled truck driver or city bus driver, you better start asking at $150,000 per annum. Why? Because no one wants to do it! Many ask this question, and …
Night Park
When we bring our coach to rest in the yard, we are to log off on our radio and secure our coach. It’s interesting how sloppy we can get in doing this after a long day. I pulled-in last night with rain in the forecast and did not see the tale tell parking lights on …
The Complaint Department
Is closed. Or so I was told every time I entered the tower at Potrero by the lead shop man whenever I had to pull-in. Perhaps this message stemmed from the incident with the dirty filter I had on my bus when I pulled in one night. The clasp holding the grille that protects the …
Prayer and Meditation
Perhaps the best path to job security lays off the beaten path. I need to hit the pause button and listen to something other than my head. The sound of a stream in the morning fog may slow me down in a manner more helpful than stopped traffic!
The Dao of Doug: A Bus Driver's Perspective 