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Bus Driver

Kaitaraiwa Pahi

Bus drivers operate buses and drive passengers along local, chartered or intercity routes.

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Secondary education

No specific secondary education is required for this job, but English, maths, and construction and mechanical technologies to at least NCEA Level 2 are useful.

Study fields

Study levels

  • Up to NCEA Level 3
  • Certificate

Useful experience

Useful experience for bus drivers includes:

  • other driving work, such as taxi driving
  • customer service work
  • work in the tourism industry.

What you will do

Bus drivers may do some or all of the following:

  • visually inspect buses before driving them to make sure they are safe, clean, refuelled and ready for use
  • load and unload passengers' luggage
  • collect fares from passengers, giving them tickets and change
  • give passengers information on routes, fares and timetables
  • deliver a commentary on the area they are travelling through and answer passengers' questions
  • keep a logbook to record work time and rest breaks.

 

Skills and knowledge

Bus drivers need to have:

  • excellent driving skills
  • knowledge of the Road Code and transport regulations
  • knowledge of the area they work in, the correct bus routes, and the correct fares
  • the ability to operate Global Positioning Systems (GPS) technology, and multi-function ticketing systems
  • understanding of basic bus maintenance
  • knowledge of sites and attractions along their route, and New Zealand culture and history.
Pay

Bus drivers in towns and cities usually earn

$27-$30

per hour

Job opportunities
Good
Chances of getting a job as a bus driver are good due to strong demand and high turnover.
Length of training
<1
year of training required.

Industry

Transport and Logistics

Bus drivers operate buses and drive passengers along local, chartered or intercity routes.

Similar jobs in this industry

Entry requirements

To become a bus driver you need to have held a clean Class 1 driver’s licence (a car licence) for two years.

Depending on the size of bus you want to drive, you also need a Class 2 or Class 4 driver’s licence.

You must also have a valid passenger (P) endorsement on your licence, which shows you can carry passengers. This involves:

  • passing a medical exam, including an eyesight test
  • a background check, to ensure you are a “fit and proper person”

Most bus companies provide driver training for license classes and usually pay drivers in training.

The Vulnerable Children Act 2014 means that if you have certain serious convictions, you can’t be employed in a role where you are responsible for, or work alone with, children. 

Chances of getting a job

High demand for urban bus drivers

There is high demand for bus drivers in urban areas. There are regular job vacancies because workers usually only stay in the role for a short time.

As a result, bus driver appears in Immigration New Zealand's Transport Sector Agreement.

This means the Government is actively encouraging skilled bus drivers from overseas to work in New Zealand.

According to the Census, 8,874 bus drivers worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Approach employers directly 

It's a good idea to contact companies directly about bus driver jobs. Most major bus companies are always recruiting.

Types of employers varied

Bus drivers can work for a range of employers, including:

  • large companies that run urban and intercity buses
  • local companies that run school buses or tour coaches.

Find out more about training

Bus and Coach Association (NZ)
(04) 499 7334 - info@busandcoach.co.nz - www.busandcoach.co.nz

Progression and specialisations

Bus drivers may progress to work as:

  • supervisors or managers at bus companies
  • bus inspectors
  • bus driving instructors. 

Bus drivers may specialise in driving:

  • set routes and timetables, school bus routes, or long-distance intercity routes
  • charter buses taking passengers on one-off trips such as to functions or events
  • tour coaches taking passengers on local or long-distance tours.

Working conditions

Bus drivers:

  • usually work shifts, including nights and weekends. Many urban bus drivers work split shifts, usually during peak morning and afternoon periods with unpaid time off in the middle
  • spend most of their time in buses and at bus depots
  • have to drive in all weather conditions
  • travel between cities and towns if they operate tour coaches or intercity buses, and may have to spend time away from home.

Physical Requirements

Bus drivers need to: 

  • be reasonably fit and healthy to get a medical certificate every five years
  • have good eyesight (with or without corrective lenses)
  • have good hearing.

Useful personal qualities

Bus drivers need to be:

  • understanding of people from different cultures and backgrounds
  • able to remain calm under pressure
  • honest and reliable
  • good at basic maths
  • good at communicating
  • friendly, polite and patient
  • alert
  • tolerant.

Industry

Transport and Logistics

Bus drivers operate buses and drive passengers along local, chartered or intercity routes.

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