PBS question
 

I'm wanting to bid the lowest time line I can, but also have a specific day off. Is this the way to do it?

AVOID WORK (bid period date range) to minimize credit time.

AVOID WORK (day off that I want)

Is there a better way to get min credit and a specific day off?

Thanks

I think you use a SET command for line value (low or high)

Have you tried asking on prefbid? They are always very helpful.

set credit range low, avoid work on that day.

Like has been said already, Use the 'SET Line Credit Range to LOW' to start the bid group. Then, use the AVOID Work for either specific days or even weeks. But, no matter what you do, you'll have to get at least the minimum hours for your seat/fleet.

If you are a line holder and then want to drop down even further, you can drop trips once the line is awarded and trading opens.

But if you demand that PBS 'AVOIDs' too much stuff, it can't build a line or reserve days at all and then it goes into Completion Mode so you end up with *something* when it's done. And you don't want that.

As also stated, Prefbid.com is excellent. But read the PDF PBS User Guide (under PBS/System Documents) too. Helps explain the commands and how they'll be interpreted.

SET commands restricts the program's ability to complete a solution for your line. Unless you are less than 50% in base don't bother with a set command.

Build your trip pool with low credit per day trips and avoid work on the days off you want. This may build you a line with min days off but it should build a low credit line for any seniority.

Go to prefbid.com and ask an online trainer. They're the experts.

Hm, I'd imagine the point of wanting a low time line is maximize your days off...

Two questions: 1. If I set credit high and it cant give me a high value line, will the bid group fail? 2. What does set credit WIDE mean? Thanks.

He might be self adjusting his schedule after the award and wants to minimize the impact of a drop or sick call.

Yes, then you'll go into denial mode and the software will start relaxing your set, and avoids to complete a solution.

Credit wide is the range you see on the PBS screen, normally 74-90.

Have you talked to a PBS trainer at prefbid.com? I'm just an amateur PBS guesser.

Doesn't always work that way. Two people can have way different credit ranges with the same days off depending on the productivity of their trips.

Here is a generic bid that I used as a junior Lineholder. I needed a particular day off. I also wanted to avoid red eyes and early start times for trips. It will awRd as few trips as possible to build you a line within the credit parameters.

The previous bid would usually give me 4 work groups...usually 4 four day trips and occasionally 3 four days and 1 three day.

Thanks for that! I was using the SET command for number of work blocks, then AVOID to reduce credit. So much to learn.

If you take out the avoid work command on that bid group, it will never fail. It puts every trip into the pool...it just prioritized them using the L-- vs the L-.

Are you a commuter? I didn't care what days I worked and I wasn't concerned with finish times because I drove to work. This bid would typically be a Thursday afternoon starting four day that paid 20-22 hours and Finished Sunday night at 2100. The schedules were very consistent.

So you are that guy I hear about that brags about how he always gets his first bid group. Thats funny. :)