tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595057345294486478.post7101062605172399489..comments2023-12-02T02:39:47.828-08:00Comments on RANTINGS OF A FORMER TRIMET BUS DRIVER: GREAT STORY FROM A REGULAR READERAl Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06670275801784105978noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595057345294486478.post-73423839392084998452013-12-15T15:21:33.487-08:002013-12-15T15:21:33.487-08:00sandi, please contact me at wa2nvroamer@gmail.comsandi, please contact me at wa2nvroamer@gmail.comalways roaminghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04616661692680890381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595057345294486478.post-73823021257752153752013-04-25T21:53:33.772-07:002013-04-25T21:53:33.772-07:00I would like to meet the writer.I would like to meet the writer.sandihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15550400785927801203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595057345294486478.post-79432210275075708462013-04-16T10:16:52.756-07:002013-04-16T10:16:52.756-07:00The 'career' of transit driving used to be...The 'career' of transit driving used to be a fairly decent job.<br />Used to be a time that drivers were respected by the pubic and the company they worked for.<br /><br />All of that has changed now in the global war on union workers.<br /><br />I found Trimet management extremely abusive, no need for that type of behavior.<br /><br />I would never go back to this job.<br /><br />NO thanksAl Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06670275801784105978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595057345294486478.post-28109506536905234552013-04-15T21:25:36.781-07:002013-04-15T21:25:36.781-07:00I think you've hit the nail on the head, Ned. ...I think you've hit the nail on the head, Ned. :p<br /><br />Although I felt my attitude toward the job start to change at three years into the job, I do agree that my disdain for it really peaked at about 15 years. That was the point where I really started seriously considering working somewhere else. That stage went on for about another five years where at that point in the "inevitable arc" as you so eloquently described it, started to curve in the other direction for with only ten more years to go, I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. <br /><br />So your assessment is so right in more one way. Yes, there was an arc but more important, as you put it so well, it's just so difficult to quit a good paying job with such great benefits and the prospect of getting a decent pension no matter how much one hates what they're doing. And again, it was my dream job so there was such a strong "push/pull" factor going on ...I loved so many things about the job but hated so many things about it too. <br /><br />And, I was always telling my friends and coworkers had I not been on a phased-out PERS retirement plan that had so much better benefits than the one where most of my coworkers were on, I'm almost sure I would have quit the job. The plan I was on allowed me to reap full retirement benefits at 30-years of service no matter how old I'd be. And how the actual retirement benefit was calculated was much more generous too than in the subsequent plan that most other operators hired after me were on. It really made it difficult to quit. <br />peGa 2715<br />Fundamentally, I do love the job of being a transit operator. Operating a bus in traffic, though stressful at times, was challenging and I enjoyed it. I enjoyed getting people to where they had to go as I felt I truly was performing a needed function. However, when people didn't behave in the manner I thought they should, it was indeed frustrating. I can't count the number of times I had been in that same situation that Tom Bregg was in where I refused to let somebody ride because they didn't have the proper fare. It was just luck that I didn't get pulled off the bus and had my head stomped on 14-times until my blood was running down the street. I was just lucky. Sure, it was the transit agency's policy for drivers not to hassle a passenger over the fare but we begin to take it personally when somebody acts as if they're entitled to ride without paying. It's one thing to sit here now and say "ah, let the guy ride and don't hassle him" but at the time when you're sitting behind that wheel, you seem to be in an entire different mindset. <br /><br />But yes, you're right, I ended up staying on (and on) and I'm blessed that I made it out in one piece. I only worked five days past the point where I could collect full retirement. Do I miss the job? Sure I do, but not enough to consider going back to it.always roaminghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04616661692680890381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595057345294486478.post-65938374118465081172013-04-15T20:15:02.599-07:002013-04-15T20:15:02.599-07:00I was one of those classic, "last job before ...I was one of those classic, "last job before retirement" mini runners. Always worked out of Center and left after 5 1/2 years at the beginning of 2010 - to retire.Nedwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16391063006899739857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595057345294486478.post-9328380693471277092013-04-15T19:03:56.673-07:002013-04-15T19:03:56.673-07:00'Former' part time driver?
Are you still a...'Former' part time driver?<br />Are you still at Trimet Ned?Al Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06670275801784105978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595057345294486478.post-28111450922974385412013-04-15T18:36:17.135-07:002013-04-15T18:36:17.135-07:00Wow! I appreciate the wrter being so candid. Maybe...Wow! I appreciate the wrter being so candid. Maybe he wasn't cut out to be a driver, maybe he was a typical driver in a slightly speeded up version.<br /><br />My impression (as a former mini run driver) is that the stages he described come about for many (most?) operators. There are some saints and driving all-stars who never develop cynical attitudes and never make driving mistakes. But there seems to be an inevitable arc to many careers where if there was a way they could do something else after about 15 years, both they and the agency would be better for it. But, the perqs and the paychecks and the reality of finding a new career in middle age create a powerful argument for staying on (and on).Nedwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16391063006899739857noreply@blogger.com