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Public Transportation Operators

Experience, Skills, and Personality Traits

You will not be able to obtain hands-on experience as a public transportation driver until you receive on-the-job training, but you can hone your driving skills by getting your driver's license and learning the rules of the road.

Bus and rail car drivers must have good reflexes and quick reaction time, and must drive safely under all circumstances. Because operators are required to deal regularly with passengers, it is also important that they be courteous and levelheaded. An even temperament comes in handy when driving in heavy or fast-moving traffic or during bad weather conditions. Drivers should be able to stay alert and attentive to the task at hand. They must be dependable and responsible, because the lives of their passengers are in their hands.