PCV training vehicles.

[83G/84D]

I was wondering why do some bus companies train drivers on buses and others use coaches or a mixture of both.

First Kernow for example used to use buses such as Dart 42252 but now mainly use coaches.

 

[Lrd]

Whatever they've got available.

Buses are good as the drivers will be driving them after passing their test but to potentially go from driving a little dart to driving a 15m double decker coach can be a bit unnerving for the driver.

Coaches are good as they often have tachos (either paper or digital) so are good for drivers to learn about driving hours etc. They are also better for practising on the motorway.

 

[jammy36]

In part down to what is available, but vehicles presented for test have to fulfill certain requirements. They must have nearside and offside mirrors for the examiner. The examiner's seat must be belt fitted. They must also have a tachograph fitted and be equipped with functioning ABS system, be capable of traveling at 50mph and meet certain dimensions (10m minimum length and at least 2.4m wide).

Those requirements only relate to vehicles presented for test, trainers might be used for other purposes, including route learning, customer service training, etc so not all trainers in a fleet need meet the above requirements. The regs do explain why coaches were often employed though, until recently older coaches were more likely to meet the requirements than older service buses which would have required modification.

I seem to recall Western National once added extended bumpers to their Mercedes StarRiders to meet minimum length requirements.

 

[mic]

stagecoach manchester use to use coaches as trainers afew years back but now single deck buses

 

[Bletchleyite]

I think the ABS requirement, which is quite recent, saw a fair few operators shift to coaches from buses, though they are starting to shift back now old low-floor ABS-fitted buses are more available than they were.

There's also that there are no manual-transmission modern buses around, though most bus companies won't be training manual licences, that's more for coach companies anyway.

 

[83G/84D]

Interesting stuff, thanks everyone.

 

[randyrippley]

FWIW I would have thought there's a more basic reason: due to the difference in journey profiles an old bus is likely to be more worn out than a coach of similar age. Stop/start driving vs long runs

 

[Strathclyder]

First Glasgow's driver training/route familiarisation fleet is currently a mixture of Scania L94UBs/Wright Axcess Flolines, three Alexander PS/Volvo B10M-50s (all ex-Yorkshire), topped off by a single Scania L113CRL/Wright Axcess Ultralow.

Not entirely sure what the story is for Stagecoach Western's training fleet, but I do know that McGill's of Greenock had a DAF (VDL) SB120/Cadet trainer based at their Johnstone depot until fairly recently. Withdrawn now, from what I hear. They also have (or did have) a Pointer I-bodied Dart as a trainer. P805 RWU (J4805), I think it was.

 

[philthetube]

I think the ABS requirement, which is quite recent, saw a fair few operators shift to coaches from buses, though they are starting to shift back now old low-floor ABS-fitted buses are more available than they were.

There's also that there are no manual-transmission modern buses around, though most bus companies won't be training manual licences, that's more for coach companies anyway.

Very few modern manual coaches either.

 

[Temple Meads]

You can pass your PCV test in an automatic vehicle but if you have a manual car licence, you get upgraded to manual PCV status.

 

[AnonymousUser1]

Very few modern manual coaches either.

also inrrelevant given the removal of the ger change exercise and manual group 1 licence giving manual group 2 even if the test is taken in an auto - previously if you had an auto group 2 licence you either had to retake in a manual of the same group or the 'other' group 2 test in a manual vehicle and it upgraded your auto only to manual ...