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Bus Driver - Working conditions

Kaitaraiwa Pahi

Working Conditions

Bus drivers spend most of their time in buses and at bus depots. They may travel out of town if they drive chartered buses.

The work can be stressful at times, as they may have to drive during rush-hour traffic, and deal with difficult passengers.

A bus navigates around roadworks to get to a bus stop

A bus navigates roadworks on a city street

Patz Pouwhare setting up her till at the bus depot

Patz Pouwhare at the depot, preparing to set out on her route

Equipment

Bus drivers may have to drive different models of buses.

They may also use:

maps
cash boxes
computerised tills
log books
Global Positioning System (GPS) technology.

Hours

Some bus companies operate 24 hours a day, so bus drivers may work shifts, including weekends.

Bus drivers must comply with legal requirements concerning working hours. They must not work for more than 13 hours in a 24-hour period, or more than five and a half hours without a break of at least 30 minutes.

New Zealand Transport Agency website - information on driver work time and fatigue

Patz Pouwhare uses a two-way radio to contact the bus depot

Patz Pouwhare talks to the depot via a two-way radio

Liz Maikuku and Quentin Smith checking a wall roster.

Liz Maikuku and Quentin Smith checking their roster

"With school bus driving there's not much chance to work extra hours unless there's a school trip, and with split shifts you've got an interrupted day. An advantage is that you get school holidays off."

Julie Davis - School Bus Driver