Bus driving career in Spain?
Posted: 17 July 2009 12:00 AM  
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Hi board. I am just taking my first steps in researching a possible move to Spain. I was wondering if anyone here knows if there are companies over there that employ English bus drivers - perhaps for English dominated regions, airport transfers, etc.? I don’t speak Spanish, though of course I’d be more than willing to learn - one, because I would need to I imagine, and two, just to fit in and adapt to their way of life. It’s a respectful thing to do at the very least!

Though, for the time being, and perhaps to even speed up the process, I was hoping there maybe some English companies based there, or Spanish companies that employ English drivers for roles involving the transportation of English people. Hours, pay, locations, chances etc. etc would be very much appreciated!

Thanx in advance.

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Posted: 17 July 2009 02:26 AM   [ # 1 ]  
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Hi;

Regrettably vocational licences issued in the UK are not valid in Spain for driving anything other than UK registered vehicles…

You may have a UK/EU photocard licence but nevertheless you would have to undertake a conversion course privately and at your own expense and then take the Spanish equivalent of a PCV test. It’s all to do with the fact that in the UK the steering wheel is on the wrong side…

The fact that you don’t speak Spanish would also be one hell of a hindrance given that the vocational licence test is in Spanish…both the Theory and Practical…

The major operator here in the South of Spain and across the CDS is Alsina Graells who are actually owned by National Express in the UK. You could do worse than to talk to them if you are serious.

Another point to think about is this; in the UK the great majority of buses and coaches are 10-12 metres long, over here they are tag axled 12-15 metres long and the extra 10 feet in length makes on hell of a difference. Also most City transport utilise Bendi-buses which can be up to 18 metres long…

Sorry to be a dampener on your plans but best to get the realities sorted out first…

Just for a laugh however check out this link to see what you could be up against…

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/958929/the_best_bus_driver_in_the_world/


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Posted: 17 July 2009 02:48 AM   [ # 2 ]  
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Fair Play sir FoxBat you are indeedy a very knowledgeable person!

Hats off to you…

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Posted: 17 July 2009 03:03 AM   [ # 3 ]  
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lol!...

In this case its because it was one of the options I considered, having a squeaky clean brand new UK issued PCV licence.
I had what I thought enough Spanish language available and then two things happened…

1) I saw the size of the buses and coaches involved and I broke me out into a cold sweat when I actually rode on one as a passenger through some of the mountain roads around here and realised that generally speaking the Spanish bus drivers are far more skillful than the average Brit bus/coach driver…

2) I got to thinking about the average Brit passenger response to the presence of Polish bus drivers in Britain which was very negative.

My wife was only too pleased when I abandoned the idea…My PCV entitlement expires next month and I wont be renewing it…

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Posted: 17 July 2009 03:06 AM   [ # 4 ]  
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Well I actually ment in all posts Always a description!

Well Here in Salou all Bus Coach drivers are all near enough Argentine…

😊 GO FIGURE! LOL

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Posted: 17 July 2009 03:25 AM   [ # 5 ]  
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Well Here in Salou all Bus Coach drivers are all near enough Argentine?

And therefore immediately at an advantage; the same Language (well near enough anyway…) the same Latin Temperament…and the steering wheel is on the same side of the bus/coach as thoose in Argentina…plus these drivers are used to buses/coaches somewhat larger than those in Britain!

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Posted: 17 July 2009 04:12 AM   [ # 6 ]  
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Indeed was pointing it out as a joke….

Nevermind…

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Posted: 17 July 2009 04:19 AM   [ # 7 ]  
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Mac Hi,
Point Taken!
No Offence!

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Posted: 16 March 2010 09:44 AM   [ # 8 ]  
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Doesn?t u think these poor Indians are suffering from inferiority complex. Frustrated minds really afraid of Islam…Look at the face of this soldier LOLz, a pet dog of So-called Indian liberalism…

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Posted: 17 March 2010 12:05 AM   [ # 9 ]  
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Jalen - 16 March 2010 09:44 AM

Doesn?t u think these poor Indians are suffering from inferiority complex. Frustrated minds really afraid of Islam…Look at the face of this soldier LOLz, a pet dog of So-called Indian liberalism…

Good people with inferiority complexes:
- Canadians
- Kiwis
- Catalans
- short folks
... - Indians?

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