7512- Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators

Canada NOC: 
7512
Job Title: 

Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators

Job Description: 

This unit group includes workers who 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.

Main Duties: 

Bus drivers and streetcar operators perform some or all of the following duties:


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 perform some or all of the following duties:


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 perform some or all of the following duties:


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.
A three-year program leading to the Certified Professional Bus Operator (CPBO) designation is available for bus drivers.

Additional Inormation: 

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

Classified Elsewhere: 

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

Similar O*NET Careers (USA) : 
International Careers(ISCO): 
Source Of Info: 

National Occupation Classification, (2011)

Statistics Canada and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada,

February 2012,

Catalogue no. 12-583-X