February 14 2022
There are some myths about bus and coach driving but here you can read about the reality of this important job. You can also find out more about the range of benefits on offer, the training that’s provided and the opportunities for progression available.
Myth 1: ‘Only men work in transport’
It’s true that only 20% of people working in our industry are women (compared to 45% in other industries) but women are very welcome and employers are keen to encourage more women into the sector as they want to address the imbalance. Modern buses and coaches present no physical difficulty in driving and many companies can offer shifts to suit the individual.
Myth 2: ‘Drivers are often attacked and abused by passengers’
Incidents are rare and most drivers do not encounter problems. Safety features are in place where required and many employers offer training to help staff to defuse situations.
Myth 3: ‘There are no prospects for promotion in the transport industry’
Many supervisors and managers have worked their way up from entry level positions and further opportunities exist in areas like training. Most employers offer industry related qualifications.
Myth 4: ‘The hours are long and unsociable’
Many people can choose hours which suit them best – part-time, full-time, early or late starts, day or night shifts; some operators may be able to offer weekday only work.
Myth 5: ‘The work is boring’
The bus and coach sector offers a great range of driving and other opportunities. Some bus drivers prefer to drive the same route all the time and can get to know some of their passengers. Others like the variety of driving different routes day to day.
Coach driving often involves a lot of variety. The work can include school transport, bringing groups on days out, long distance express service work, corporate hires and touring around the UK or Europe.