The demand for drivers is noticeable in virtually every industry and at individual professional levels. A bus or truck driver will easily find a job. Further in details, we will get acquainted with working as a bus driver. Working as a bus driver – qualifications and earnings.
Job for a bus driver – where to look for it?
As already emphasized at the beginning, the demand for drivers is practically in every industry.
If we are talking about a bus driver, we are primarily talking about employment in:
- a City Transport Company
- a Car Transport Company
- a tourist company (e.g. tourist trips)
Moreover, nothing stands in the way of setting up a one-man business, which would deal with the transportation of people.
Where is the greatest demand for bus drivers?
Mainly in state institutions. Recently, there are more and more job offers displayed on city buses. Is it worth it? Employment in a City Transport Company or a Car Transport Company guarantees:
- employment contract
- free training package
- co-financing of the driving course
- social package
In the case of private companies, the issue of the so-called benefits depends on the ability of the employer.
Working as a bus driver – necessary qualifications
First of all, a candidate who intends to apply for the position of a bus driver must be over 24 years old and possess a driving license category D. At the same time, quite often the employer offers co-financing of the qualification course for category D.
To be able to take such a course, the interested person must possess a driving license category B.
A similar qualification course can be taken at the age of 21, but such a person will be entitled to transport people on a route that is a maximum of 50 km. Only after the age of 24 can he become fully licensed.
The qualification course for a professional bus driver consists of, among others, with:
- 260 hours of theoretical classes
- 16 hours of driving
- 4 hours of driving on a special skid plate
However, it is worth remembering that the rules and scope of the course may vary depending on the country of stay.
How much will we pay for the bus driver course?
In the table below, we have included examples of the costs of courses for drivers in some individual European countries. It is worth noting that the prices are averaged. It all depends on both the location and the company which deals with the training of future drivers:
Type of the course | Poland | Germany | The Netherlands | Norway | France |
B | approx. PLN 2600 – 2800 (€ 555 – 598) | approx. € 1200 – 1500 | approx. € 1200 – 1500 | approx. NOK 8000 – 10000 (€ 800 – 1000) | approx. € 1600 – 1800 |
C | approx. PLN 3000 – 3500 (€ 640 – 747) | approx. € 2000 – 2500 | approx. € 2000 – 2500 | approx. NOK 8000 – 10000 (€ 800 – 1000) | approx. € 1800 – 2000 |
D | approx. PLN 4000 – 4500 (€ 854 – 961) | approx. € 2000 – 2500 | approx. € 2000 – 2500 | approx. NOK 10000 – 15000 (€ 1000 – 1500) | approx. € 2000 – 2500 |
What does the job of a bus driver look like?
Rights and obligations of the employee
The basic duty of a bus driver is to transport people from point A to point B. If we are talking about a city bus, these points are duplicated depending on the number of stops. The average shift is between 6 and 9 (maximum) hours a day. We must also bear in mind the fact that the driver works at night / morning hours, and on weekends or holidays.
Important! Due to the fact that the city bus route should take place according to the schedule, i.e. without delays, another important duty of the driver is the punctual appearance at the designated place (usually at the bus stop) to start the shift.
Another important aspect is the driver’s timetable, which should be detailed by the employer:
- The daily limit of the driver’s working time is 9 hours (max. 2 times a week this time can be extended to 10 hours);
- After 4.5 hours of work, the driver is entitled to a 45-minute break (or several shorter breaks, e.g. 3 x 15 minutes);
- The rest between shifts is 11 hours;
- Night shifts should not exceed 10 hours a day.
Remember! Detailed rules of working time are agreed individually with the employer. We recommend raising this issue before the contract is signed.
DO YOU WANT TO BECOME A BUS DRIVER? REMEMBER THAT:
- you are responsible for the transportation of people;
- safe driving and compliance with traffic regulations are essential;
- you must be prepared to work in night / morning shifts and on longer journeys;
- for international transports, it is worth getting acquainted with local traffic regulations.
How much does a welder earn in Europe?
Working as a bus driver – earnings in some European countries
The earnings of a bus driver depend on the type of work. For example, a city bus driver earns significantly less compared to a driver, who deals with international transport. It happens so, because one of the basic factors affecting the driver’s salary is the length of the route. Apart from that, the following are also taken into account:
- experience
- qualifications held
- knowledge of foreign languages for international routes
But! We also recommend checking job offers for drivers without knowledge of the language.
How much does a bus driver earn in Germany? On average, we can talk of about EUR 2600 – 3200 gross per month. In Norway, on the other hand, a driver earns around NOK 36000 – 37000 (EUR 3600 – 3700) per month.
Details in the table below:
| Country | Average bus driver earnings |
| Poland | PLN 4000 – 8000 (€ 859 – 1717) |
| Germany | € 2600 – 3222 |
| Norway | NOK 36000 – 37000 (€ 3600 – 3700) |
| Iceland | ISK 540,000 – 596,000 (€ 3900 – 4300) |
| France | € 2500 – 3000 |
| The Netherlands | € 2800 – 3000 |
| Belgium | € 2500 – 3000 |
| Italy | € 2500 – 2700 |
