Bus driver uniforms

[GWVillager]

I'm considering applying to drive buses, and there are a few depots roughly equidistant from me, but with little else between them. I'd like a smarter uniform if possible - shirt and tie - but it looks to me as if they've stopped being issued at most companies, so I'd rather go with the one with the best uniforms! The two "big" operators I have to choose from are Stagecoach and First (there are also several independents, but they don't seem to have much uniform policy at all), though I'd be interested in knowing what the situation is with other companies.

So, in a question: are there any large bus companies that still issue shirt-based uniforms, or are they all polos now?

 

[Qwerty133]

If there are they are stuck in 1980. Polo based uniforms are both more comfortable for the employee (as long as the absolute cheapest options are avoided but the same can be said for more traditional shirts) and more cost effective for the employer.
On a day like today short sleeved polos and reasonably smart shorts are the perfect uniform for the vast majority of public facing employees whatever the sector (although of course long sleeved and long trouser options should remain available for those who are uncomfortable with their arms and or legs on show).

 

[YorkRailFan]

So, in a question: are there any large bus companies that still issue shirt-based uniforms, or are they all polos now?

Go Ahead's East Yorkshire offers a choice between polo-shirt and shirt for drivers.

 

[GWVillager]

If there are they are stuck in 1980. Polo based uniforms are both more comfortable for the employee (as long as the absolute cheapest options are avoided but the same can be said for more traditional shirts) and more cost effective for the employer.
On a day like today short sleeved polos and reasonably smart shorts are the perfect uniform for the vast majority of public facing employees whatever the sector (although of course long sleeved and long trouser options should remain available for those who are uncomfortable with their arms and or legs on show).

I'm not necessarily disputing that. It's just that I, personally, like them and was curious as to whether they are still around.

Go Ahead's East Yorkshire offers a choice between polo-shirt and shirt for drivers.

Interesting, I've seen a few Go Ahead polo shirts and wondered if they had ditched normal shirts entirely.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Interesting, I've seen a few Go Ahead polo shirts and wondered if they had ditched normal shirts entirely.

Also seen their Cornwall operations have drivers wearing shirt based uniforms, but I know that Go Cornwall Bus also offers a red polo shirt to their drivers.

I believe First York also offers a shirt based uniform for their drivers.

 

[dodecahedron67]

I believe First York also offers a shirt based uniform for their drivers.

Not since the latest corporate uniform update came out AIUI

 

[YorkRailFan]

Not since the latest corporate uniform update came out AIUI

Oh really, I've seen that Leeds drivers have got the new uniform (polo-shirt with new First logo) but hadn't seen any York drivers yet. Must've only seen drivers that kept onto their shirts and the previous polo-shirts.

 

[dodecahedron67]

Oh really, I've seen that Leeds drivers have got the new uniform (polo-shirt with new First logo) but hadn't seen any York drivers yet. Must've only seen drivers that kept onto their shirts and the previous polo-shirts.

A lot of the old guard (so to speak) still wear the old uniform - there's even one or two still rocking the tailored blazers of the late 00s/early 10s

 

[Omnidekkalover]

Nottingham City Transport and trentbarton seems to still be formal trousers and shirt based. NCT seems to still issue ties as I have seen a few drivers wearing them as of late

 

[Simon75]

Arriva have polo tops, also most independent companies in the Midlands do

 

[danielnez1]

AFIK the big groups have a choice of shirts/ties and polos etc. these days. At Arriva Northumbria, one of the (young-ish) Blyth Drivers wears a waistcoat with his shirt and tie, though I doubt that is standard issue uniform!

 

[darloscott]

AFIK the big groups have a choice of shirts/ties and polos etc. these days. At Arriva Northumbria, one of the (young-ish) Blyth Drivers wears a waistcoat with his shirt and tie, though I doubt that is standard issue uniform!

Quite possibly the waistcoat that we got as an option with Sapphire, all those years ago!

 

[danielnez1]

Quite possibly the waistcoat that we got as an option with Sapphire, all those years ago!

Blyth never had Sapphire routes, and he still wears it frequently, sometimes with a black suit jacket haha.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Transdev is another operator that offers shirt based uniform, with drivers for certain branded routes (the 36, Coastliner, etc) wearing waist coats. I don't recall seeing any of their drivers in a polo-shirt, does Transdev offer polo-shirt uniforms?

A lot of the old guard (so to speak) still wear the old uniform - there's even one or two still rocking the tailored blazers of the late 00s/early 10s

I'm not surprised! The shirt does look snazzy with the red seat belt on the Wright buses. Although I do quite like the look of the new uniform.

 

[omnicity4659]

I'm considering applying to drive buses, and there are a few depots roughly equidistant from me, but with little else between them. I'd like a smarter uniform if possible - shirt and tie - but it looks to me as if they've stopped being issued at most companies, so I'd rather go with the one with the best uniforms! The two "big" operators I have to choose from are Stagecoach and First (there are also several independents, but they don't seem to have much uniform policy at all), though I'd be interested in knowing what the situation is with other companies.

So, in a question: are there any large bus companies that still issue shirt-based uniforms, or are they all polos now?

From your options - Stagecoach does issue shirt and ties and you’ll have a choice between a clip on and traditional tie, and short/long sleeve shirts.

You’ll get enough uniform allowance to get a couple of polo shirts (again short or long sleeve) to keep handy if you need them - I had to get a few more secondhand as they’re a lot nicer to wear during a heatwave.

There’s been a couple of extra items added to the list since I left Stagecoach but these were the options available in 2024:
- Bomber jacket
- Polo shirt
- Normal shirt
- Jumper
- Anorak (a very nice one at that!)
- Chino trousers
- Chino shorts
- Tie (clip on/standard)
- Buckle cap
- Beanie hat
- Winter scarf
- Backpack
- Reversible body warmer (blue/high vis)

 

[GWVillager]

From your options - Stagecoach does issue shirt and ties and you’ll have a choice between a clip on and traditional tie, and short/long sleeve shirts.

You’ll get enough uniform allowance to get a couple of polo shirts (again short or long sleeve) to keep handy if you need them - I had to get a few more secondhand as they’re a lot nicer to wear during a heatwave.

There’s been a couple of extra items added to the list since I left Stagecoach but these were the options available in 2024:
- Bomber jacket
- Polo shirt
- Normal shirt
- Jumper
- Anorak (a very nice one at that!)
- Chino trousers
- Chino shorts
- Tie (clip on/standard)
- Buckle cap
- Beanie hat
- Winter scarf
- Backpack
- Reversible body warmer (blue/high vis)

Thank you, this is exactly the sort of thing I was looking for.

Transdev is another operator that offers shirt based uniform, with drivers for certain branded routes (the 36, Coastliner, etc) wearing waist coats. I don't recall seeing any of their drivers in a polo-shirt, does Transdev offer polo-shirt uniforms?

I don’t think they do for drivers - I have never seen one in a polo shirt either.

 

[YX73OUB]

At trentbarton it's the following
- blazer
- waistcoat
- trousers
- skirt
- shirts / blouses
- clip on tie or cravat
- beanie hat or flat cap
- regatta outer coat (the best)
- padded soft shell jacket
- gilet
- non padded soft shell jacket
- rucksack or satchel type bag
- name badge
- v neck jumper

When starting you pretty much get one of everything

Then a yearly issue of replacements too where you can have either a choice of the outer stuff (ie one coat or a blazer etc) 4 shirt, one trouser one shorts (or two of either) etc.

Replacements freely available throughout the year

 

[LucyP]

Delaine has the most traditional uniform and traditional looking bus livery, or work for a small, local company that has no uniform policy, and then if you want to dress up like Stan Butler, from "On the Buses", they won't care.

 

[WibbleWobble]

Blimey, the uniform bill most be an absolute fortune! Some of those are what you'd expect of a smaller coach company, not a massive bus company!

 

[Spsf3232]

I'm considering applying to drive buses, and there are a few depots roughly equidistant from me, but with little else between them. I'd like a smarter uniform if possible - shirt and tie - but it looks to me as if they've stopped being issued at most companies, so I'd rather go with the one with the best uniforms! The two "big" operators I have to choose from are Stagecoach and First (there are also several independents, but they don't seem to have much uniform policy at all), though I'd be interested in knowing what the situation is with other companies.

So, in a question: are there any large bus companies that still issue shirt-based uniforms, or are they all polos now?

Just remember that the uniform doesn't pay your bills. Choose a company that's suits your needs for salary and traveling distance and above all else how they treat drivers as that affects your mental health. I couldn't care less what the uniform is, as long as it suits my choices

 

[Auld reekie]

Not sure what Lothian Buses issue their drivers with but they always look smart.

 

[Stan Drews]

I couldn't care less what the uniform is, as long as it suits my choices

Isn’t that a contradiction?

 

[Mwanesh]

You are more worried about looks.Polo shirts are easy to maintain .Tie is only good when working on coaches due to having air con.On service buses you will suffocate in a shirt and tie

 

[YX73OUB]

At trentbarton it's the following
- blazer
- waistcoat
- trousers
- skirt
- shirts / blouses
- clip on tie or cravat
- beanie hat or flat cap
- regatta outer coat (the best)
- padded soft shell jacket
- gilet
- non padded soft shell jacket
- rucksack or satchel type bag
- name badge
- v neck jumper

When starting you pretty much get one of everything

Then a yearly issue of replacements too where you can have either a choice of the outer stuff (ie one coat or a blazer etc) 4 shirt, one trouser one shorts (or two of either) etc.

Replacements freely available throughout the year

Forgot to add the shorts too that we now have!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Saturday at 19:23 ==

Just remember that the uniform doesn't pay your bills. Choose a company that's suits your needs for salary and traveling distance and above all else how they treat drivers as that affects your mental health. I couldn't care less what the uniform is, as long as it suits my choices

Some good points in here, being able to pay the bills and being happier at work to me would mean far more than a uniform.

 

[SilentWatcher]

Not sure what Lothian Buses issue their drivers with but they always look smart.

Shirt and tie, except for the summer months when ties are optional and polo shirts can be worn instead of a shirt.
If wearing a jumper or jacket during the summer months then the tie has to go back on too

 

[Auld reekie]

Shirt and tie, except for the summer months when ties are optional and polo shirts can be worn instead of a shirt.
If wearing a jumper or jacket during the summer months then the tie has to go back on too

Thanks for that information.

 

[Observer]

The thing is at the end of the day more companies are opting for polo shirts and that is in turn has somewhat convinced others to relax their uniform policies.

When you have companies such as First and Stagecoach having moving away from shirt and tie as a compulsory option, why continue to hold back on it elsewhere?

Any uniform is of course better than nothing and people wearing what they want, which is often a feature of the smaller operators out there.

 

[YX73OUB]

Shirt and tie, except for the summer months when ties are optional and polo shirts can be worn instead of a shirt.
If wearing a jumper or jacket during the summer months then the tie has to go back on too

Last sentence applies to trentbarton too

The ties off you'll see only apply when outer garments aren't worn

 

[Eyersey468]

I'm not necessarily disputing that. It's just that I, personally, like them and was curious as to whether they are still around.


Interesting, I've seen a few Go Ahead polo shirts and wondered if they had ditched normal shirts entirely.

They haven't ditched normal shirts entirely the polo shirts are a summer uniform

 

[Poiuytre]

Delaine has the most traditional uniform and traditional looking bus livery,

Good for them. I may be old fashioned but I do like to see proper shirts and ties (bonus points for eppeletts . I personally believe that professional drivers should dress in a professional manner.