With increasing congestion on our roads, buses are being viewed as part of a solution to keep people moving
... the future of driving is the bus ?

You're a professional driver, providing an essential service to the public.

As a professional passenger carrying vehicle (PCV) driver your first responsibility is always towards the comfort and safety of your passengers. They will see you as an acknowledged expert.

Driving Skills
Your 'forward planning' driving skills as a PCV driver have to be the best. As a chauffeur you must know every aspect of your vehicle and provide a smooth ride, particularly round corners and bends. Having to acting hastily is not on. It risks endangering your passengers. No risk is ever justified.

You need to make what travelling progress you can in busy traffic conditions. While it's not your fault that your bus is late according to the timetable and that you're in a convey of service buses on the same route, your passengers might not understand this !

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Customer care
Where the bus is a one person service bus operator, the driver collects the fares. You need to look directly at passengers and be patient and polite with them. This can be demanding, especially when other passengers are being kept waiting. Stay professional at all times, you are a representative of your Bus Company.

Rules and Regulations
Your Bus Company will have rules governing behaviour of drivers, conductors and inspectors. These will also cover what to do where passengers causes danger or offence by their behaviour. A wide range of activities are covered by the Health and Safety regulations as well as other general statutory laws that all PCV drivers must know and stick to.

How to start your career as a Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV) driver
If you're considering entering the profession to get your PCV provisional licence entitlement begin with having to comply with the strict health and medical standards that apply to all bus and coach drivers.

You will need to take a Theory Test before the practical. New drivers entering the industry may be trained by their employers, otherwise learning needs to take place through a commercial Driving School. Consultation with the bus and coach industry has been recently announced in connection with the establishment of voluntary register of PCV administered by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA). Details of the entry examination are on DSA website.

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