Summary for:

Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity

Description:

Drive bus or motor coach, including regular route operations, charters, and private carriage. May assist passengers with baggage. May collect fares or tickets.

Sample of reported job titles:

Sample of reported job titles: Bus Operator, Bus Driver, Motor Coach Operator, Transit Coach Operator, Charter Coach Driver, Motor Coach Driver, Tram Driver, Transit Bus Operator, Motorcoach Driver, Motorcoach Operator

Tasks | Knowledge | Skills | Abilities | Activites | Experience | Example | Education | Work Style | Work Values | Related Jobs | Wage | Employment | Expected Growth | Expected Need

Tasks:

  • Inspect vehicles, and check gas, oil, and water levels prior to departure.
  • Drive vehicles over specified routes or to specified destinations according to time schedules in order to transport passengers, complying with traffic regulations.
  • Park vehicles at loading areas so that passengers can board.
  • Assist passengers with baggage and collect tickets or cash fares.
  • Report delays or accidents.
  • Advise passengers to be seated and orderly while on vehicles.
  • Regulate heating, lighting, and ventilating systems for passenger comfort.
  • Load and unload baggage in baggage compartments.
  • Record cash receipts and ticket fares.
  • Make minor repairs to vehicle and change tires.

Knowledge:

Transportation ó Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Customer and Personal Service ó Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Public Safety and Security ó Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Skills:

Active Listening ó Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Operation Monitoring ó Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Social Perceptiveness ó Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Equipment Maintenance ó Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Operation and Control ó Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Reading Comprehension ó Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Coordination ó Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Time Management ó Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Speaking ó Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking ó Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Abilities:

Near Vision ó The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Depth Perception ó The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
Far Vision ó The ability to see details at a distance.
Reaction Time ó The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
Control Precision ó The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Problem Sensitivity ó The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Response Orientation ó The ability to choose quickly between two or more movements in response to two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures). It includes the speed with which the correct response is started with the hand, foot, or other body part.
Selective Attention ó The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Spatial Orientation ó The ability to know your location in relation to the environment or to know where other objects are in relation to you.
Night Vision ó The ability to see under low light conditions.

Work Activities:

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment ó Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
Getting Information ó Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
identifying Objects, Actions, and Events ó identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material ó Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public ó Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems ó Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates ó Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization ó Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Assisting and Caring for Others ó Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge ó Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Work Experience:

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed. For example, a teller might benefit from experience working directly with the public, but an inexperienced person could still learn to be a teller with little difficulty.

Work Examples:

These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include sheet metal workers, forest fire fighters, customer service representatives, pharmacy technicians, salespersons (retail), and tellers.

Education Requirements:

These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work. In some cases, an associate's or bachelor's degree could be needed.

Work Style:

Self Control ó Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Cooperation ó Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability ó Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Concern for Others ó Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Attention to Detail ó Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Integrity ó Job requires being honest and ethical.
Stress Tolerance ó Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Initiative ó Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Independence ó Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Social Orientation ó Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.

Work Values:

Relationships ó Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Support ó Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Independence ó Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employs to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Related Jobs:

43-5011.00 Cargo and Freight Agents In-Demand
43-5021.00 Couriers and Messengers
53-3033.00 Truck Drivers, Light or Delivery Services In-Demand
53-3041.00 Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs In-Demand
53-4013.00 Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers
53-4041.00 Subway and Streetcar Operators
53-5022.00 Motorboat Operators
53-6051.07 Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation In-Demand
53-7051.00 Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators

Median Wage 2008:

$16.32 hourly, $33,940 annual

Estimated Employment Total 2008:

198,000 employees

Projected Growth 2008:

Average (7% to 13%)

Projected Need 2008:

51,000 additional employees