Bus driver

Bus Driver for Ventura Bus Lines – Melbourne, Australia

A bus driver, bus operator or omnibus driver is a person who drives buses professionally. Bus drivers typically drive their vehicles between bus stations or stops. They often drop off and pick up passengers on a predetermined route schedule. In British English a different term, coach driver (or coach captain), is used for drivers on long-distance routes, tours and school trips.

There are various types of bus drivers, including those who work for both public (state and federal governments) and private enterprise, such as charter companies. Coach captains in Australia are frequently free-lance sub-contractors, who work for various bus and coach companies.

Bus drivers in the United States

As of 2010, there are approximately 650,000 U.S. employed bus drivers.^[1] One of the most common jobs in the United States for a bus driver is to work for a public school, transporting students aboard a school bus to and from the school building. As of 2004, 71% of bus drivers in the U.S. were employed by schools.^{[citation needed]} In other countries, school transport is often provided by the same companies that run other bus services in the area, so school bus driver is not a separate position.

In the United States, finding a position as a bus driver usually requires that the individual possess a commercial driver's license (CDL) and specialized training for the vehicle. Various other educational and vocational training may be required, but this varies from place to place. Bus drivers also need to possess social skills for interacting with their passengers, which is a daily occurrence.

Bus drivers in the United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom drivers must have passed the Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV) practical driving and theory test. People with certain medical conditions are excluded from becoming bus drivers.^{[citation needed]} Some of these conditions include Migraine (if it affects vision), Alcoholism and Epilepsy.^{[citation needed]}

Traditionally, before the introduction of one-man buses on many city routes, the bus driver had no contact with the passengers, the tickets being sold by a bus conductor. Now many buses are fitted with closed-circuit television in an attempt to protect drivers from an increasing number of attacks which has resulted in a recruitment crisis in some British cities.

Bus drivers often come to the role from previous careers. Of course some bus drivers go on to do other things, Matt Monro for instance, whilst actor Robert Carlyle learned to drive a bus and successfully passed the test for his role as a bus driver in the film "Carla's Song". Cliff Richard learned to drive a bus for the film Summer Holiday.

Bus drivers in Australia

In Australia, bus and coach drivers need a Drivers Licence (issued in an Australian state or territory) in the class of vehicle they can drive.

Additionally, they are required to possess a Drivers Authorisation (also issued by the state or territory). The Drivers Authorisation entails a regular review of driving history, criminal history, and medical assessment (for fitness to drive).

In 2012, Australia had a fleet of 90,599 buses^[2] and collectively travelled about 2.0 billion km. The average age of the national fleet is 11.0 years.^[3]

In 2011, there were 40,900 bus and coach drivers employed in the industry. They work an average of 41.7 hours/week and the average age is 54 years. The main employing industries are Transport, Postal and Warehousing 87.4%, and the remainder include Health Care and Social Assistance 4%, Education and Training 3.1%, and Accommodation and Food Services 2.7% ^[4]

Bus drivers in history

One famous incident involving a bus driver during the period of racial segregation in the United States was in 1955 when Montgomery, Alabama bus driver James F. Blake insisted that Rosa Parks give up her seat for a white male, and she refused; this began a bus boycott that ultimately ended segregation on public transportation in the United States of America.

See also

• Intercity bus driver
• Bus conductor
• Ticket inspector
• John Boyarski – Bus driver who received awards for bravery

References

External links

• Bus drivers at the United States Department of Labor's website.