Bus driver
Bus drivers transport passengers, for example in local traffic and charter services. Their tasks include not only driving but also customer service, selling tickets, and handling freight. Bus drivers work for private bus companies or public transport authority. The profession calls for customer service skills, good driving skills, and accuracy.
Bus transport companies and transport authorities.
The work of a bus driver is a customer service profession that requires good driving skills. The driver must be familiar with schedules, routes, stops, and other travel-related matters. The driver is required to be punctual, as they must know when the bus must leave and arrive on schedule. The work also requires flexibility and the ability to handle changing situations.
The driver must be precise, careful, and calm, as they are responsible for the safety of the passengers. The vehicle must be driven calmly but also economically. The job requires good eyesight, attention, and judgement, as well as quick yet calm reactions. Stress tolerance is important. Language skills are increasingly important for bus drivers,
who are also required to have technical skills. They must be familiar with the vehicle equipment and, if necessary, be able to carry out minor maintenance on the bus.
Sedentary work and draft may put a strain on physical health.
- health and safety measures in transportation
- mechanical components of vehicles
- passenger transport regulations
- road traffic laws
- transport topography
Upper secondary vocational institutions offer Vocational Qualification in Logistics, specialising in transport services. The qualification title is bus driver. Driver training is also available as apprenticeship training, for which a bus licence is required. You can also complete a further vocational qualification in transportation. Participants in the Further Qualification in Transportation must have the right to drive and a driving licence in category D.
EU regulations require new bus drivers to undergo basic professional competence training, and those already in the profession to take periodic (continuing) training.
Bus drivers are required to have category D driving licence. For a small bus with fewer than 16 seats, used in service traffic, category D1 driving licence is sufficient.
Median salary
3315 €/mo
The data is based on the median income, meaning the amount of salary which is the middle of the salary amounts arranged in order of magnitude.
Source: Statistics Finland's structural statistics on wages and salaries
- bus driving operator
- bus operator
- coach driver
- driver of bus
- intercity bus driver
- international bus driver
- passenger driver
- private bus operator
- private coach driver
- public bus driver
- public bus operator
- public service vehicle operator
- schoolbus driver
- touristic bus driver
- transit bus driver