How to Get a Job as a Bus Driver
Driving record aside, Carpenter insists that customer service skills set prospective drivers apart from other job candidates. “I believe I could teach a person to drive [a bus]. But I can’t teach you how to deal with people. I’ll never forget when I was going through training, we had a class that was just about different scenarios of dealing with different types of people.”
What is the Job Like?
Your longevity as a bus driver usually determines your possibilities for advancement, and the flexibility of your schedule. For example, new transit drivers usually get part-time hours or end up with weekend and rush-hour shifts. Carpenter says intercity drivers who have been in the profession for a while receive longer work hours, more pay, and quieter routes. “I’ve been on the same route on Sunday for the last three or four years,” he says. “And I see the same people every Sunday. You should see how their faces light up when they see me.”
