Manchester bus franchising

[Mrboo]

RE: Manchester bus franchising

(23/04/2023 14:35)Mayneway Wrote:  Drivers employed to work Monday to Friday term time only are not going to want to drive all weekend on tram replacement work. There is still a massive driver shortage which will probably get worse as franchising kicks in.
Prime example being the agency supplying drivers from all over the country to Go Ahead to cover the work Diamond gave up can’t even supply enough drivers to cover the work.

Does not have to be that way. GAL commercial has over 100 drivers who are on 0hrs and some on PT who do work schools and rail replacement and private hire. lots of the drivers who are on 0hrs are older drivers who only want to do few days a week. Often GAL don't have the spare buses not the drivers for commercial jobs. I had to get 3 deckers at weekend from another depot as needed 25 buses and often the depots get upset when commercial asks for TFL buses.

Now I know Stagecoach don't allow 0hrs so lost lots of drivers due to it. but if you have drivers wanting to be 0hrs let them. Now Stagecoach could keep their full-timers for schools and rail replacement. As I feel they will have issues finding Monday to Friday term time drivers now they could lend from other areas for short term but what happens if Stagecoach loses more depots?