Trainee Bus Driver

Pay Rate: £13.05 - £15.84 per hour

Start your bus driving career with Arriva at our Darlington depot, where you will be at the heart of your community! Whether it is getting commuters to work, helping customers with popping to the shops or getting children to school - we provide an important service in connecting our customers to what matters to them.

As a Bus Driver, you will get to know the familiar faces on your routes, build relationships and even be the highlight of someone's day. Did you know that Bus Drivers are one of the most thanked jobs in the UK?

We are proud of our customer service and how we support our community - and we would love to have like-minded individuals as part of our team.

Pay Rate: £13.05 - £15.84 per hour

• Weekdays - £13.05 first 6 months, £13.47 between 6-18 months service and then £15.54 per hour
• Weekends - £13.35 first 6 months, £13.77 between 6-18 months service and then £15.84 per hour
• Bank Holiday - £40 bonus paid per shift.

Pay Rate Increase from 28th of June 2026: £13.70 - £16.00 per hour

• £13.70 first 6 months
• £14.00 between 6-18 months service and then
• £16.00 per hour after
• Bank Holiday - £40 bonus paid per shift.

What's in it for you?

• Full paid training where you'll receive your PCV licence - you'll go through our Arriva Training School and learn everything you need to know about being a Bus Driver. The training generally last approx. 4 weeks and will take place at our Training School, before you then work with a mentor for a further few weeks.
• Ongoing CPC training.
• 28 days annual leave rising to 33 days.
• Development and great career opportunities - whether that's into management, support training, or as an expert driver.
• Working for an inclusive and diverse company that put's our customers at the heart of what we do, and what a responsibility for you to be transporting our precious cargo ensuring they get to their destinations.
• Access to the Mydrive app where you can win a £50 voucher monthly for the top 2 Bus Drivers in the area

Hours of work and role:

• A rotating shift pattern of 5 days in 7, published up to 6-8 weeks in advance so you can plan around shifts.
• Mornings starting from around 05:00, Afternoons start from 12:00 and Evenings from 18:00 on a rotational basis.
• We cannot offer fixed early, afternoon or evenings separately.
• Overtime available at request/availability.

Requirements:

• Must be over 18 years of age.
• Have been driving for a minimum of 6 months.
• No more than 6 points on your licence.
• Will need undergo a drug and alcohol test before your assessment.
• Will need to pass an English comprehension test.
• Great people skills.
• Flexibility as your shifts will start as early as 4AM in the morning but will always work no later than 1AM depending on the time that you start. xohmjla

Benefits:

• Fantastic career progression and training opportunities
• Free to use staff bus operates a route around the Darlington area in the mornings and evenings to get drivers to and from work at those early start times and late finishes
• Access to the 'Arriva Village', where you can take advantage of store discounts and offers
• Free bus travel for you and your family (within the same household) if you do not need to use it then you can nominate someone else
• Arriva Workplace Pension
• Enhanced rates of pay
• Long service awards
• Access to the Mydrive app and road safety scheme where you can get rewarded a £50 voucher monthly for being the top Arriva driver

At Arriva we strive for inclusion and diversity, we are a community that brings everyone together, not just our passengers.