Everyday, Albertans in cities throughout the province rely on public transit to get them where they need to go. While larger cities have light rail systems, transit bus operators form the backbone of the urban transit system.

Drivers in this sector navigate a wide range of city streets on specific schedules to get commuters to and from work, school, and other activities. Transit increases urban transportation density, meaning transit bus drivers positively contribute to reducing traffic congestion and improving a city’s carbon footprint. It’s a profession that’s related to school bus and motor coach driving, and these different sectors have overlapping skills.

  • Method of Pay

    Generally, transit bus drivers are paid by the hour. This is often laid out in a collective agreement. In certain instances, drivers may see pay-by-the-route as their method of compensation, but this is rare.

Equipment and Tasks

Transit bus drivers will operate a variety of passenger-carrying buses and vans; the largest types of vehicles are seen in bigger cities. A transit operator must also assist passengers with mobility issues.

  • Equipment

    Drivers may drive small shuttle vans, large straight transit buses (operating on a variety of fuel sources), and even larger articulated buses.

  • Tasks

    Drivers will do extensive city driving, navigating congested and tight areas in large vehicles. They’ll also have to perform vehicle inspections, paperwork, and customer service-related tasks. This includes assisting passengers with reduced mobility and helping individuals understand the transit system.

Lifestyle in the Industry

Transit bus drivers enjoy a better work/life balance than other forms of professional driving. Shift work is generally required, which brings the challenges associated with working outside of regular daytime hours.

  • Work Shifts

    Shifts vary based on the urban centre in question, but larger cities have transit shifts during the day and night. These are commonly around 8 to 9 hours in length; however, they may be longer, and overtime may be offered.

  • Physical Demands

    A transit operator can expect work that’s not very physically demanding; however, it does require some physical tasks. This includes helping passengers with mobility concerns or having to manually move equipment like ramps.

  • Work/Life Balance

    Drivers are home at night (or between shifts if they drive a night shift). Work/life balance is good, especially when compared to other types of commercial driving. The irregularity of shifts for inexperienced drivers can pose challenges for individuals with families and other responsibilities.

  • Predictability

    Drivers with seniority have predictable schedules; those who are newer often lack this predictability, and more flexibility is needed.

  • On-Call

    Being on-call, or on standby, is common. Transit bus drivers are generally onsite when they’re on-call.

Getting Started

The application process for most urban transit companies, especially those that are unionized, is formal and standard. This means applicants will need to follow specific procedures, which generally start with an online application. There will be regular pre-hire safety checks, which then lead to a hiring offer. After that, training begins. Training is often extensive in the transit industry with some companies even training drivers to get a Class 2 licence.

People may also become transit operators if they are otherwise employed by a municipality. Generally, municipal workers can apply for other positions within their organizations and may, if they have a good work history, be able to transition into transit bus drivers from other roles.

  • Mandatory
    Requirements

    Drivers must have the correct class of licence, which is generally a Class 2 licence with airbrakes endorsement. However, some employers provide licence training, so a Class 2 driver’s licence may not be mandatory. Drug and alcohol testing and criminal record checks, including the vulnerable sector, are also common mandatory requirements.

Red Flags

While transit bus driving doesn’t expose drivers to the hazards found in many other types of driving positions, drivers are in a public-facing role and deal with a high volume of people. Red flags of questionable employers include:

  • Equipment and vehicles that are in poor condition.
  • Being pressured to become an owner-operator early into one’s career or any other signs of employee misclassification.
  • Reported defects not being repaired in a timely manner.
  • A lack of positive safety culture, lack of transportation safety training, and being rushed to drive before feeling ready.
  • A lack of transportation safety programs in place to help drivers with the psychosocial hazards related to working in a public-facing role.
Quick Facts:
  • Transit bus drivers work through the day and night to provide essential transportation services for cities of various sizes.
  • Driving transit buses allows drivers to stay close to home, and they often enjoy the benefits of a unionized workplace.
  • With seniority, transit driving can be steady and stable.
  • Working closely with the public brings certain safety risks not seen in other sectors.

More Help

Are you interested in learning more about working safely in transportation? Check out our Resources page for insights from industry experts and organizations. We’ve taken great care to present information relevant to those interested in truck and bus driving careers, those already employed in trucking or busing, and employers navigating labour challenges.

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If you have questions or want to learn more about the content of this website, please contact the Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA). AMTA employs experts in trucking and busing across Alberta. We would be happy to help you further.

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