Bus Drivers, Except School
Description OES Code: 97108
Drive bus, transporting passengers over specified routes to local or distant points according to a time schedule. Assist passengers with baggage. Collect tickets or cash fares.

Wages, California
Entry-Level Hourly Wage $9.11
25th Percentile $10.17
50th Percentile $13.20
75th Percentile $16.77

Wages by California County
• OES Survey
• CCOIS Survey

Hours & Benefits
Inter-city and Charter Bus Drivers are often on call, work weekends, or can be away from home for several days on extended trips. Work may not be year round for Charter Bus Drivers due to the fact that demand for this type of transportation is often seasonal.

Benefits usually include medical and dental insurance, holiday and vacation pay, and retirement programs.

Employment Trends, California
Employment 1998 32,100
Projected Employment 2008 37,600
Percent Change 1998-2008 17.1%
Separations 1998-2008 6,200

Employment Trends, San Joaquin County
Employment 1999 90
Projected Employment 2006 100
Percent Change 1999-2006 11.1%
Separations 1999-2006 10

Employment Trends by California County

Working Conditions
Current laws limit driving time to a maximum of ten consecutive hours. Drivers who work a ten-hour shift may experience fatigue, particularly when driving in poor driving conditions. All Bus Drivers can be subject to occasional stress caused by disagreeable or disorderly passengers. Also, they may experience stress from long hours of driving combined with factors such as bad weather, heavy traffic conditions, time schedule commitments, and delays. Local Transit Drivers may be subject to injuries received from physical attacks, disorderly conduct among passengers, and robberies.

Advancement
Bus Drivers can promote from part-time status to full time after a period of months or years on the job with an employer. Companies that operate on different shifts often start newly employed drivers in less desirable time periods such as early morning or evening shifts. Seniority can lead to the choice of shifts that they may choose. Sometimes, a bus driver can promote into management.

Getting the Job & Other Information
Job seekers should apply directly to private and public bus transportation establishments, health care agencies, and private shuttle bus companies. They can be found in the Yellow Pages under Bus Lines, Bus Tours, and Buses – Charter and Rental. They may also want to register with local unions, check newspaper help wanted ads, and network with drivers who are currently working.

For a list of current job listing, browse CalJOBS or America's Job Bank.

Education and Training
Many employers prefer high school graduates and require a written test of ability to follow bus schedules. Most inter-city bus companies and local transit systems give driver trainees two to eight weeks of classroom and "behind the wheel" instruction. While many bus companies do not require prior bus-driving experience, some employers require successful completion of a company-sponsored driver training school. Prospective Transit, Inter-city, Tour Bus Drivers, and Shuttle Bus Drivers carrying ten or more passengers must get a California Class B with passenger endorsement driver's license. Requirements for this license are listed in the Class B Licensing Handbook obtainable at any California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office.

To qualify for the required Class B permit and license to carry passengers, applicants must be able to pass a pre-employment physical examination and must have good eyesight with or without corrective lenses. The legal minimum age is 18 to drive a bus within the state. Drivers must be at least 21 to drive a bus across state lines. Drivers over 70 must pass an annual exam. Tour bus companies require Bus Drivers to get a Tour Bus Certificate from DMV. For shuttle vans carrying fewer than ten passengers, a California Class C standard driver’s license is usually sufficient.

Skills & Other Requirements
Applicants must be able to read schedules, baggage tags, express labels, traffic and road condition signs, and keep accident and mileage record reports. Bus Drivers must also be courteous because they deal with passengers. Employers require a good driving record. Some employers require drug testing prior to hiring, and may test employees at random. In addition, Bus Drivers must have the following skills and abilities: Reaction time -- The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to one signal (sound, light, picture, etc.) when it appears; Far and near vision – The ability to see things close at hand (such as signs) or at a distance; Social Perceptiveness -- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react the way they do; Operation and Control -- Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

References
California Occupational Guide #2

Related Occupations: Bus Drivers, School, Truck Drivers, Heavy, Forklift Operators

Training: California Training and Education Providers (CTEP)