How to become A Transit and Intercity Bus Drivers

• Bus Operator
• Transit Operator
• Local Transit Bus Driver
• Coach Driver

What do Transit and Intercity Bus Drivers do?

A Transit and Intercity Bus Driver would typically need to:

• Carry passengers intercity or interstate; carry out a trip single-handed or with a series of drivers, depending on the length of the trip
• Receive assignments at the terminal; perform essential maintenance by inspecting their vehicles carefully, including tires, brakes, lights, and safety equipment, and checking fuel, oil, and water levels
• Follow a predetermined route according to a timetable; pick up and drop off passengers at designated locations
• Ensure that all passengers have valid bus tickets; sell tickets to passengers if there are available seats
• Operate and regulate air conditioning, heating, lighting and ventilation systems on board the bus to optimise passenger comfort
• Keep track of when passengers board or get off the bus; ensure that all passengers are accounted for back on the bus at any scheduled stop; help them load and unload baggage; assist disabled passengers in getting on and off the bus
• Obey traffic laws and transit regulations; adhere to procedures to ensure passenger safety
• Inform passengers of possible delays
• Keep the bus clean and presentable to passengers

Transit and Intercity Bus Drivers spend much of their working period seated in the driver’s seat in the enclosed space of the vehicle they drive. Bus drivers may have resting and storage facilities at the terminus. On long distance drives between cities, there are scheduled stops at rest areas, allowing passengers and drivers to get off the bus, refresh themselves, and buy food or other items as needed. Most buses are heated for winter and air conditioned for summer.

Travel is a part of the work of Transit and Intercity Bus Drivers. When undertaking long-distance routes, they may need to spend some nights away from home.

The individual schedules of Transit and Intercity Bus Drivers may vary, depending on their employers and the season; however, the law sets their maximum hours of work. Typically, they are allowed to drive a maximum of ten hours daily and follow it up with at least eight hours of rest. They are not permitted to put in more than sixty hours of work in seven days.

Large companies often require their drivers to work fewer than 39 hours per week. Working in split shifts is common, and you may be required to drive over weekends and on holidays.

If the trip is short, drivers may return home at the end of a shift or even make multiple trips within the working hours.

Finding a new job may seem challenging. Transit and Intercity Bus Drivers can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media and inquiring at staffing agencies. Reach out to bus and coach companies about openings.

Transit and Intercity Bus Drivers are generally employed by:

• Government Agencies
• Urban Transit Systems
• Charter Bus Industry
• Interurban & Rural Bus Transportation

Professional associations and organisations are a crucial resource for Transit and Intercity Bus Drivers interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications. The Union Internationale des Chauffeurs Routiers (UICR) and its member associations collectively advocate the interests of professional drivers worldwide.

• Stress arising from the responsibility for passenger safety, the need to adhere to schedules and keep attention focused while driving, especially on long trips
• Driving through heavy traffic or bad weather
• Dealing with unruly passengers
• One of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations, with most injuries to bus drivers due to vehicle accidents

With a valid commercial driving license and other necessary documents, applicants should typically land the job of a Transit and Intercity Bus Driver. However, within a pool of similarly licensed applicants, professional experience can provide an edge over others.

That said, new drivers acquire experience by undergoing company training which may last 1-3 months for those without a commercial driving license but could be shorter for those who have it. The training includes observing experienced drivers and a driving course in which they practise bus manoeuvres, then get used to driving in light traffic, and finally perform practice runs without passengers on their prescribed route.

New drivers gather up experience carrying passengers on their regular trips under the close supervision of an experienced driver on board who guides them, clears doubts, offers tips, and evaluates their performance.

Training may also include classroom time, where you learn company rules and regulations, traffic laws, and safe driving practices, understanding record-keeping and minor bus repairs, and familiarising themselves with schedules, bus routes, fares, and passenger interaction.

Most employers prefer applicants for Transit and Intercity Bus positions to have at least a high school diploma or its equivalent. A college degree is not usually mandatory.

All bus or coach drivers must have a regular driving license and be at least 18 years old. Some employers may take on trainees with a year or two of experience after acquiring their license from 21 years of age onwards. Also needed are the relevant commercial driving license or a passenger-carrying vehicle license and a driver certificate of professional competence, as may be mandated by the law in their location.

You may train privately through a neighbourhood driving school. Once you have your license, you can apply for a further license on a provisional basis. Some new bus drivers may earn it during on-the-job training. While specific qualifications that qualify you to achieve your license may vary, typically, the process will require you to pass both knowledge and driving tests accompanied by visual and hearing tests. Depending on the country, if one state has suspended your license, another state may have the right to refuse to issue a new one.

Any further requirements, such as a passenger endorsement, will generally need additional testing procedures. Background checks are likely to be mandatory.

Voluntary certification is often seen as evidence of an individual’s drive and motivation, giving them a leg up for raises and promotions. Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics. The reassurance that members who practice outside the Code will be investigated and held accountable earns the community’s trust and respect, which are the most critical elements in securing a professional’s future. Certification from an objective and reputed organisation can help you gain professional credibility, build your expertise in a specific area, and stay up-to-date on technology. Typically, you would be required to demonstrate competence in a skill or set of skills through work experience, training, the passage of an examination, or a combination of the three.

Performance, experience, and acquisition of professional qualifications drive career progression. Employees with consistently high levels of performance may be eligible for promotion every two to three years.

With seniority comes the opportunity for better routes and higher pay, as well as the chance to diversify into supervisory or management positions.

As you acquire experience, you could become a Service Controller or Inspector, Depot Manager, or even a Driver Training Instructor. You could branch out to launch your own business for which you would require necessary paperwork and perhaps certification.

Prospects for Transit and Intercity Bus Drivers are expected to be good as the transport industry typically finds it difficult to attract and retain qualified candidates. Given the nature of the job, those ready to work part-time or irregular shifts should have the best prospects. Group charter travel and large and growing metropolitan areas should offer opportunities. The increasing population and the rising price of oil and gas are likely to boost intercity bus travel, as are low fares and onboard conveniences such as WiFi.

Continuing professional development (CPD) is the holistic commitment of Transit and Intercity Drivers to enhancing personal skills and proficiency throughout their active careers through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning. There are many CPD courses, seminars, and workshops to help professionals in the field.

CPD allows individuals to upskill continually, regardless of their age, job, or level of knowledge. It renews practical and academic qualifications. It enables Transit and Intercity Bus Drivers to identify any knowledge gaps.

Whether in the classroom or behind the wheel, the course content of continuing education must be relevant to the knowledge and technical skills that the driver needs in terms of transit and intercity bus driving and passenger transportation. Bus driving administration, management, education, research or other functional areas of bus driving would be helpful. The learning achieved aims to enrich a certified bus driver’s knowledge to a higher level than needed for licensure or certification.

Dressed for the Miles

Transportation companies typically provide the uniform to their bus drivers. You would do well to wear comfortable, anti-skid shoes for the safety of operation on the accelerator and brake pedals. A form of identification must be worn on the job - in the form of a name tag, lanyard, or badge.

The Transoceánica route between Lima, Peru and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2,600 km (1615 miles) long and taking over 100 hours to complete, is currently the world’s longest operating bus route.

Transporting passengers to and fro may seem like a routine task. However, delve deeper, and you will see that working as a Transit and Intercity Bus Driver, you ferry people towards fulfilling their dreams, professional and personal. Let the immense responsibility intertwined with your job encourage you to do all it takes to keep alert, efficient, law-abiding, and responsive to passenger needs.

It’s a 2-way street - you drive defensively, and you avoid aggressive drivers at all times. When you encounter them, pull into the inside lane and let them pass before proceeding safely at your suitable speed. Caution while driving and courtesy to fellow road users are always imperative.