7512 – Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators

Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators drive buses and operate streetcars, subway trains and light rail transit vehicles to transport passengers on established routes. Bus drivers are employed by urban transit systems, school boards or transportation authorities and private transportation companies. Streetcar, subway and light rail transit operators are employed by urban transit systems.

Profile

Index of titles

Example titles

Articulated bus operator

Bus driver

Bus driver – special needs passengers

Bus operator

Bus operator – accessible services

Charter bus driver

Intercity bus driver

Light rail transit operator

Long distance bus driver

Motor coach driver

Public passenger transit driver

School bus driver

School bus driver – special needs passengers

Shuttle bus driver

Shuttle driver – auto dealership

Shuttle driver – car rental company

Shuttle operator

Sightseeing bus driver

Sightseeing tour driver

Streetcar conductor

Streetcar operator

Subway train operator

Tour bus operator

Transit operator – transportation

Trolley bus operator

Trolley coach driver

Urban transit operator

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

Bus drivers and streetcar operators

Drive buses or streetcars to transport passengers along established routes to local destinations

Drive buses to transport passengers and goods to intercity or long distance destinations

Drive sightseeing tour buses to transport passengers locally or over long distances

Drive buses equipped for wheelchair accessibility, and aid passengers in boarding

Provide passengers with information on fares, schedules and stops

Collect fares, issue and validate transfers, check bus passes and record transactions

Conduct pre-trip and post-trip inspections of vehicle

Communicate with passengers, dispatchers or other drivers using two-way radio systems

Report delays, mechanical problems and accidents

May provide information on points of interest during sightseeing tours

May load and unload passengers’ luggage and express freight.

School bus drivers

Drive school buses to transport children between school and home or on excursions

Ensure children’s safety when boarding and leaving buses and crossing street while bus is stopped

Maintain control of student activities during travel to prevent distractions or behaviours that could compromise safety

May transport adults outside of school hours on chartered trips.

Subway train and light rail transit operators

Operate subway or rail transit vehicles as part of two-person crew

Observe signals at crossings and arrival and departure points

Operate controls to open and close transit vehicle doors

Report delays, malfunctions and accidents to control unit

Ensure passenger safety and welfare in emergencies, and direct passengers during evacuation procedures.

Employment requirements

Completion of secondary school is usually required.

Up to three months of on-the-job training, including classroom instruction, is usually provided for all occupations in this unit group.

A minimum of one year of safe driving experience is required.

Bus drivers require a Class B, C, E or F driver’s licence in Ontario, and a Class 2 driver’s licence is required in all other provinces and the territories.

An air brakes endorsement and first aid certificate may be required.

Experience as a public transit bus driver is usually required for subway and light rail transit operators.

Additional information

Progression to transit supervisory positions, inspector or training instructor positions is possible with experience.

Exclusions

Supervisors and inspectors of bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators (in 7305 Supervisors, motor transport and other ground transit operators)