Public Transit Drivers and Operators
Job description
These individuals drive public transit vehicles. They carry passengers on buses, streetcars, subway trains, and light rail systems. They are employed by:
- Urban mass transit networks
- School centres
- Public transportation companies
- Private transportation companies
Environment
- Vehicle or passenger compartment
- Noise
- Vibration
Main tasks
Bus and Streetcar Drivers
- Drive coaches to transport passengers, their luggage, courier shipments, and goods.
- Operate wheelchair accessible buses and assist passengers to board.
- Provide information to customers about schedules, fares, and stops.
- Collect payment from passengers and provide connections, as required.
- Check passes.
- Inspect the vehicle before and after the trip.
- Work with passengers, dispatchers, or other drivers.
- Report accidents, delays, or mechanical problems.
- Provide tourist information, as required.
- Load and unload passenger luggage.
School Bus Drivers
- Drive school buses to transport children to school, home, or on field trips.
- Ensure the safety of children as they board and exit from the bus.
- Monitor student activities during the trip to prevent distractions and behaviours that could affect safety.
- Transport adults on charter trips, as required.
Subway and Light Rail Transit Operators
- Drive a subway or rail vehicle.
- Observe signals at crossings and arrival and departure points.
- Open and close the doors of the transport vehicle.
- Report delays, defects, and accidents.
- Ensure the safety and well-being of passengers in case of emergency.
Advancement and mobility
- Experience leads to supervisory, inspection, or training positions.
Hourly wage
The hourly wage is calculated by averaging wages from 2022 to 2024.- Minimum
- $16.78
- Median
- $22.87
- Maximum
- $34.25
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Les 2 champs de sélection ci-dessous vous permettent de comparer 2 régions. Les données des régions seront automatiquement mises à jour à la sélection. Par défaut, la province de Québec est sélectionnée pour la première région.
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects
All of Québec
Very good
All of Québec
Non available
Total jobs for 2023
All of Québec
25,000
All of Québec
na
Gender distribution
All of Québec
Not available.
- 28.1% Female
- 71.9% Male
Not available.
- 28.1% Female
- 71.9% Male
Job types
All of Québec
Not available.
- Full time
- Part time
Not available.
- Full time
- Part time
Yearly wage on 2020
All of Québec
$69,500
All of Québec
Other characteristics
All of Québec
- Non traditional for women
- None
All of Québec
- Non traditional for women
- None
Sectors of activity
All of Québec
Not available.
-
NAICS 48, 4990% of jobs
-
NAICS 615% of jobs
-
NAICS 911% of jobs
-
NAICS 621, 622, 6231% of jobs
-
NAICS 44, 451% of jobs
-
Others2% of jobs
All of Québec
Not available.
-
NAICS 48, 4990% of jobs
-
NAICS 615% of jobs
-
NAICS 911% of jobs
-
NAICS 621, 622, 6231% of jobs
-
NAICS 44, 451% of jobs
-
Others2% of jobs
Training and requirements
Formation
Most training programs are offered in French only.
Secondary
Also required
- At least one year of safe driving experience and a maximum of three demerit points on the SAAQ driving record.
Bus Drivers
- Class 2 driver’s licence.
Sometimes required
- A secondary school diploma is usually required.
- Mention of knowledge of air brake systems, issued by the SAAQ, is sometimes required.
- First aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training may be required.
Subway and Light Rail Transit Operators
- Experience as a Transit Bus Driver usually required.
Main skills and characteristics
Skills
- Data collection
- Operations and control
- Monitoring operations
- Information processing
- Active listening
- Time management
- Service oriented
- Critical thought
- Result evaluation
- Oral expression
- Social perception
Abilities
- Distance vision
- Control accuracy
- Limb coordination
- Depth perception
- Spatial orientation
- Response orientation
- Reaction time
- Speed control
- Awareness of issues
- Near vision
- Selective attention
- Speech clarity
- Oral comprehension
- Verbal skills
- Time sharing
- Speech recognition
- Peripheral vision
- Auditory attention
- Written comprehension
- Hand-arm stability
- Information organization
- Deductive reasoning
- Tolerance to bright light
- Night vision
Knowledge and attributes
- Capacity to establish and maintain interpersonal relations
- Sense of responsibility
- Capacity to adapt
- Tolerance to stress
- Respect standards and regulations
- Friendliness
- Assiduity and punctuality
- Impeccable appearance
- Tolerance to routine work
- Knowledge of geography
Interests
- Work in transportation and maintenance
Personality profiles (RIASEC)
- Realistic
- People with this profile prefer carrying out concrete tasks and being physically involved in what they do.
- Social
- People with this profile prefer to be in contact with others, in particular to entertain, help or teach them.
- Enterprising
- People with this profile prefer having responsibilities, influencing others and responding to challenges.
Official name of the NOC 73301
Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators
Job titles
- School Bus Drivers
- Bus driver
- Long distance bus driver
- Subway train operator
- Transit operator - transportation
- Sightseeing tour driver
- Bus driver - special needs passengers
- Articulated bus operator
- Intercity bus driver
- Trolley bus operator
- Charter bus driver
- Sightseeing bus driver
- Shuttle bus driver
- Shuttle driver - car rental company
- Shuttle driver - auto dealership
- Streetcar conductor
- Bus operator - accessible services
- Public passenger transit driver
- Urban transit operator
- Light rail transit operator
Skill type
Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations
Last update: January 29, 2026
Page evaluation