Bus driver
Bus drivers may work for a city, public (state and national/federal) governments, school boards, and private enterprises, such as charter companies which run tour buses.
When there is no conductor present, the driver is the sole operator of the service and handles ticketing and interaction with customers, in addition to driving.
In the United States, intercity bus driving is one of the fastest growing jobs, with attractive wages and good benefits.
Intercity bus drivers are provided with a lot of independence, though they are expected to follow a particular route and schedule as determined by their employer.
An issue with intercity bus drivers, especially those on longer routes, is taking short breaks for eating and restroom use.
Bus drivers work long hours with minimal breaks, and their daily tasks are often repetitive and done independently.
[5] In one study, lower back pain was attributed to exposures to full-body vibrations during driving and difficulty maintaining optimal posture.
[7] Airborne illnesses such as COVID-19 and the flu are occupational hazards bus drivers face due to limited social distancing on public buses and the essential nature of the job.
[8] Bus drivers spend their working hours inside buses with limited ventilation and significant crowding, creating an environment in which airborne illnesses spread.
In addition to factors such as elevated BMI and older age, the working environment of bus drivers puts them at a higher risk of COVID-19, presenting an occupational hazard.
Public-facing occupations heighten the odds of contracting influenza due to limited social distancing, resulting in contact with people who are infected.
These include improving ventilation on buses and making personal protective equipment (PPE) readily available on the job.
[9] Mental health and well-being play a huge role in drivers' abilities to properly operate buses, therefore putting themselves and passengers at risk when under emotional stress.
According to a systematic review in Mental Health and Prevention published in 2024, many drivers report a lack of recognition in money, esteem, or status for their work efforts.
[11] This can directly increase the likelihood of stress and could partly be attributed to the fact that bus drivers are compensated based on distance driven rather than the number of passengers.
[11] Complex driving environments can additionally contribute to stress due to traffic congestion and time constraints have been shown to directly increase adrenaline and cortisol levels in the urine of bus drivers.
[13] Additionally, emotional exhaustion has been shown to increase pro-inflammatory mediators which can interact with the development of depression or anxiety.
For drivers who work at night and experience sleep during the day, it negatively affects their circadian rhythm, impairing their ability to stay alert, increasing the severity of potential accidents.
Diesel particulate matter (DPM) has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a possible carcinogen to humans[19] and poses serious health risks due to its small particle size.
[19] The small size of the DPM particles range from <1 mm in diameter making it easy to inhale which is an issue when it gets trapped and accumulates within the bronchial and alveolar area of the lung.
[20] Exposure levels also vary from ventilation, bus type, and route as more urban areas likely experience greater traffic and more diesel exhaust.
Bus drivers spending long hours in vehicles may experience various forms of work-related heat stress, especially in warmer months and regions.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends drinking cool water, wearing loose-fitting and breathable clothing, and taking breaks in cooler areas.
The main employing industries are Transport, Postal and Warehousing 87.4%, and the remainder include Health Care and Social Assistance 4%, Education and Training 3.1%, and Accommodation and Food Services 2.7%.
Most bus captains in Singapore work for the major public operators in the country such as SBS Transit and SMRT.
[31] Most bus captains tend to work long hours and raises concerns for the public transport industry in the country.
[33] In the United Kingdom drivers must have passed the Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV)[34] practical driving and theory test.
[37] Because of the additional workload many buses are fitted with closed-circuit television in an attempt to protect drivers from an increasing number of attacks which has resulted in a recruitment crisis in some British cities.
