Saskatchewan JobFutures

Nature of Work

This field of work is made up of workers who drive buses and operate streetcars, subway trains and light rail transit vehicles to transport passengers on established routes. Drivers in these occupations are employed by municipal governments and private transportation companies.

Nature of Work

This field of work is made up of workers who drive buses and operate streetcars, subway trains and light rail transit vehicles to transport passengers on established routes. Drivers in these occupations are employed by municipal governments and private transportation companies.

Duties

Bus drivers drive buses or streetcars to transport passengers along established routes to local destinations or to transport passengers and goods to intercity or long distance destinations. They also drive sightseeing tour buses to transport passengers locally or over long distances. On sightseeing tours, drivers may act as guides, providing information on points of interest during the trip. Drivers may also be responsible for providing passengers with information on fares, schedules, and stops; for collecting fares and recording transactions; and for reporting delays, mechanical problems and accidents.

School bus drivers drive school buses to transport children between school and home or on excursions. Their primary duty is to ensure children's safety when boarding and leaving buses or crossing a street while the bus is stopped.

Subway train and light rail transit operators operate subway or rail transit vehicles as part of a two-person crew. Their work duties include observing signals at crossings and arrival and departure points; operating controls to open and close transit vehicle doors; and reporting delays, malfunctions and accidents to their control unit. Operators also direct passengers during emergency evacuation procedures.

Example Titles

• light rail transit operator
• sightseeing tour driver
• bus driver
• streetcar operator
• subway train operator
• school bus driver
• ground transportation driver
• transit operator

Training Paths

SIAST sometimes offers a Driver Training Class 1A certificate program. This program prepares students for employment in the trucking industry. Training is also delivered at most regional colleges and private driving schools. This certificate also qualifies drivers for the operation of school buses and 3A and 1A vehicles. Specialty areas in this program include heavy equipment and log-hauling.

Trends and Outlooks

The employment prospects for this occupation are: fair

The number of bus drivers and other transit operators in Saskatchewan increased significantly during the late nineties; by 16% between 2000 and 2005, according to Statistics Canada. Even if this upward trend does not continue, job seekers can expect some employment opportunities in the next few years. This is a very old work force. In 2006, close to 70% of all transit drivers in Saskatchewan were at least 45 years of age. As many of these older drivers retire, particularly in Regina and Saskatoon, employment demand will increase for qualified younger workers, particularly in the transportation and warehousing and educational services industries.

Bus drivers and subway and other transit operators are not well paid in Saskatchewan. In 2005, the average full-time income for these occupations was $40,000 per year. This marks a significant increase from the 2000 average but remains lower than the provincial full-time average income for all occupations the same year ($42,300 per year). Many drivers earn considerably more (or less) than the average income. Full-time drivers and operators in Saskatchewan earned as much as $63,100 and as little as $15,000 in 2000. Some self-employed drivers earned even more. Annual incomes for these occupations are fairly consistent throughout the province.

Employment for bus drivers and subway and other transit operators in the province is divided almost evenly between men and women; in 2001, 45% of all drivers and operators in Saskatchewan were female. That same year, just 39% of all Saskatchewan bus drivers and subway and other transit operators were employed in Regina or Saskatoon.

The majority of all drivers and operators in these fields works part time, although the incidence of full-time employment is increasing. In 2005, only 40% of all province employment in these occupations was full time. Less than 10% of all bus drivers and subway and other transit operators in Saskatchewan were self-employed in 2005. Employment in these fields is neither seasonal nor very sensitive to overall economic conditions.

Professional Associations

Related Occupations

• Supervisors and inspectors of bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators (in 7222 Supervisors, Motor Transport and Other Ground Transit Operators)