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Jump Start -- by Mark Sproxton
"All aboard. If you can't get a board get a plank."
OK, you're not likely to hear that line used on a train or the LRT, but that doesn't mean communication skills aren't required for those looking to become "people movers." In fact, representatives from local people transport companies said people skills are key to hiring.
"There are a lot of experienced drivers out there but not many with the personality to drive groups of passengers rather than freight," explained Martin Bean, vice president of marketing and operations with Accent (bus) Lines. "That presents a challenge when hiring."
Russell Friend, general manager of Ambassador Limousine Service agrees. "Education is the biggest challenge. Aside from that it would be
personality," he says. "We are not necessarily looking for the 'perfect' driver, but a well-rounded individual with people skills is the main hiring trait."
The following is a combination of people-moving job tips (busses, limousines, trains), ideas and information on training/education, links to associations, organizations, businesses and job boards
Job Tips
Busses
- Those under 25-years-old considering a career as a bus driver should look to large bussing companies or public transit to begin their careers as insurance premiums are higher for younger drivers and small companies likely won't pay the higher rates.
- Many bussing companies, regardless of size, will hire new drivers on a part-time or casual basis and most companies experience regular staff turnover.
- The Alberta Transportation site on school bus drivers has some great information on licensing requirements, typical duties as well as a downloadable pamphlets on a bus driving.
- Some companies will require applicants to have specialized qualifications, such as a Class 1 licence and air brake endorsement prior to hiring. Other companies, however, will pay for your training.
Limousines
Russell Friend from Ambassador Limousine Service had these tips on limousine driving jobs:
- there are many applicants but few positions since we have a great amount of retention;
- there are no age restrictions and we have had success with certain
market segments by using chauffeurs which suit the demographics. For
example, graduations and weddings are target markets where a young chauffeur may be preferred;
- we do not compensate chauffeurs for their permits, but we do provide
paid training.
Trains
Roger Cameron, public affairs director with the Railway Association of Canada, explained the licensing procedures for railways in Canada as follows:
"In general, conductors and locomotive engineers are selected from the ranks of yardpersons and brakepersons. They have been traditionally been hired 'off the street' and trained to perform the related job's related duties.
"All must be rules-qualified (Canadian Railway Operating Rules) and medically fit to perform their respective duties. Once the employee is rules-qualified (three weeks), they follow a four to six week training course.
Once an employee has worked these positions for a few years, they can apply to become conductors or yard foremen. This involves an additional training period to become qualified in all the aspects of those jobs.
"Once qualified as a conductor, an individual may apply for locomotive engineer training. Candidates are selected, based on interviews, mechanical aptitude testing, and medical fitness. Once a candidate is selected, the individual must complete an extensive training program that entails four to six weeks of technical training, followed by six months of understudying locomotive engineers. During this period, the trainee gradually gets more and more operating opportunities and experience. By the end of this understudy period, the trainees are tested and qualified by "master mechanics."
"These assessors are railway management operating officers. Once fully qualified as locomotive engineers, employees then have to qualify on the territory, or territories, over which they will be operating. Depending on the location of the engineer's home terminal and type of operations (signaled, non-signaled, speed, freight, passenger, etc.), it could take a further six months to fully qualify.
"Different railways have different standards. Some short-line operators, operating at slow speeds on their own track would require significantly less time to be fully qualified than an engineer operating a Via Rail passenger train at the relatively high speeds possible over Canadian National, Canadian Pacific Railway, Via Rail Canada and other, higher volume short-line tracks."
- The majority of the locomotive engineers driving the trains for Via Rail -- Canada's largest passenger railway -- come from a freight railway background.
Training/education
The College of the Rockies in Cranbrook, B.C. offers a coach/bus driver training program to those 19 and older.
The Southern Alberta Institute of Techonology (SAIT) offers programs for several rail-related careers, people transport and freight transport included, through its Centre for Rail Training and Technology.
Numerous private businesses listed in the Yellow Pages offer auto and truck driver training.
First aid, air brake and professional driver training courses are also available through numerous companies listed in the Calgary Yellow Pages under Driving Instruction & Evaluation.
Associations/organizations/businesses
Job listings
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