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Information for Professional Bus Drivers

Thank you for your interest in becoming part of Dublin Bus as a Professional Bus Driver.
This document outlines the recruitment process and other helpful information you will find useful when applying for this vacancy.

Employee Benefits

All permanent Dublin Bus employees can avail of the following benefits:

  • Pension scheme
  • Paid Maternity Leave
  • Medical (GP) Scheme
  • Travel facilities
  • Public Service Credit Union
  • Income Continuance
  • Employee Assistance Programme
  • Mentoring programme
  • Education Support Scheme
  • Sports and Social Clubs – gyms in each depot
  • Canteen facilities
  • Safe Driving Bonus and Attendance Bonus

Minimun Criteria

Before making an application, an applicants must hold one of the following minimum criteria. These documents must be submitted along with your application form.

Car Licence Applicants

  • A valid driving licence Category B (for a minimum of 2 years) with no endorsements

OR

Bus Licence Applicants

  • Full category Irish D licence
  • Up to date valid driver qualification card, category D (CPC card)
  • An up-to-date copy from the online CPC Driver Portal as proof that your CPC is up-to-date, go to www.rsa.ie, click on Professional Drivers, Driver CPC and My CPC

All applicants should have excellent interpersonal skills and fluency in English, both written and spoken.

Documentation required for the process

NDLS Drivers Statement

All applicants are required to submit an NDLS driver’s statement (letter of entitlement) which shows any endorsements or penalty points on your licence.

Endorsements and/or penalty points will not automatically disqualify you from the recruitment process. For further information phone 0818 700 800 or email [email protected].

This document will be requested at the invite to driving assessment and interview stage of the recruitment process. Will we contact you when this document is required as you move through the recruitment process.

My CPC Driver Portal

If you currently hold a full D licence and CPC card, you will be required to show that you have completed the relevant CPC Modules each year.

To do this, you will need to login to your My CPC Driver Portal and take a screenshot of your training records. An example of which is below.F

Follow the link for My CPC Portal.

Screenshot of CPC Driver Portal

Converting a foreign licence to an Irish Licence

All applicants who currently hold a foreign licence must exchange their licence to a full Irish licence before an offer of employment is made.

This is a lengthy process and can take up to 12 weeks to complete and may delay the recruitment process.

Please visit the National Driver Licence service for further Information.

Website: www.ndls.ie

Driving Assessment & Interview

If invited to this stage, you will be required to sanitise your hands upon entry to the training school and wear a face covering while in the training school and in the instructor’s vehicle.

If you do have any symptoms of Covid-19 or you have been advised to self-isolate, you must not attend your appointment under any circumstances. Please contact us as soon as possible and we will reschedule your appointment at a suitable time in the future.

Contact Information

All queries relating to Bus Driver Recruitment should be directed to the email address below. Please put ‘Bus driver’ and your full name in the email subject line and will be get back to you as soon as possible.

Email: [email protected]

Recruitment Process Summary

Stage 1:  Application Stage

All applications are submitted via our E-Recruitment system.

The application form must be completed in full along with all the required documents, attach scans or pictures of these documents below (depending on which licence you hold).

The online application form must be completed in full with the accompanying documents required. Incomplete applications will not be processed.

B Licence Applicants

  • A valid driving licence Category B (for a minimum of 2 years) with no endorsements.

D Licence Applicants

  • Full category Irish D licence
  • Up to date valid driver qualification card, category D (CPC card)
  • An up-to-date copy from the online CPC Driver Portal as proof that your CPC is up-to-date, go to www.rsa.ie, click on Professional Drivers, Driver CPC and My CPC.

Stage 2: Online Accessment

If shortlisted, you will be invited via email to complete an online assessment. It can be completed on a computer, iPad, or on a smartphone.

You are given 2 hours to complete this test. It must be completed in one sitting.

The assessment is made up of 2 parts

  • Fare calculation and written report.
  • Situational Judgement Test

If you are successful in this stage, you will be invited to attend Stage 3.

Stage 3: Driving Skills Assessment and Competency Based Interview

In stage 3 you will undertake a driving skills assessment and competency-based Interview on the same day.

Please allow yourself 2.5 hours for this stage.

Your driving skills assessment you will be assessed in a different vehicle depending on your licence category:

  • B Licence – Automatic Car
  • Full D Licence – Automatic Double Decker Bus

If you are successful in the driving assessment, you will then attend a Competency based interview.

A role profile will be sent with your invitation to attend, please review, and prepare for your interview using this document.

Stage 4: Pre-employment Medical

All pre-employment medicals are held in the CIE Occupational Health Unit, Connolly Station, Harbourmaster Place, Dublin 1, D01 V6V6.

You must bring the following with you on the day of your appointment.

  • Photo ID (Driving licence or Passport)
  • Glasses (if you wear glasses for reading or driving)

Please allow up to 2 hours for this appointment

The Human Resources Department will contact you in the coming weeks after your appointment.

Stage 5: Theory Tests

Dublin Bus will assist you in booking your theory test requirements through Prometric (on behalf of the Road Safety Authority)

Applicants will be required to prepare for both theory tests.

Applicants will then be required to pass two theory tests;

  • D licence theory test
  • CPC Bus Case Study

Providing the applicant has successfully passed their D licence theory test they are then required to apply for and obtain their D licence learner permit.

Stage 6: Reference Check

We will check the references you supplied.

Stage 7: Application Review

We will review your application to ensure you have met the required standard for the position and that you are a suitable candidate for employment as a Professional Bus Driver with Dublin Bus.

Stage 8: Offer of Employment

When you have obtained the necessary criteria an offer of employment is made and a start date will then be agreed to commence training in our Training Centre.

New drivers cannot take any annual leave for the first 4 months of their employment. This is to ensure that the training programme is completed in full.

A comprehensive training programme will be provided to new starters. B licence new starters will undertake an initial 6 week training programme. B licence new starters will be required to pass the Department of Environment D licence driving test during the training programme. D licence candidates will undertake an initial 4 week training programme.

During training you will work different training patterns. Rotating between 7:00am to 3:00pm and 3:00pm to 11:00pm. The weekly pattern you will be on will be outlined to you on the day you start in the Training Centre.

Obtaining the Criteria

D (Bus) Licence Learner Permit and CPC Bus Case Study.

Step 1: You will need to complete the Category D Bus Driver Theory Test. This can be done through theorytest.ie.

Step 2: CPC Case Study test. This test consists of 3 case studies relating to the vehicle category in which you wish to obtain a driver CPC. This can be done through theorytest.ie (Please note, the CPC bus case study is only valid for a period of 2 years from its date of issue).

Step 3: Attend your local NDLS centre and apply for your physical D licence learner permit by submitting your pass sheet following completion of the D licence theory test. An appointment will have to be booked in advance using this link; Apply for my Car D learner.

As soon as you have obtained the necessary criteria contact the Human Resources Department forward a copy of the above documentation to [email protected]. A Human Resources representative will be in touch with you in relation to your application.