❓ Ms MacTiernan questions the Minister for Transport regarding the training and supervision of Transperth bus drivers. The Minister clarifies that training is managed by contracted bus companies and varies based on individual aptitude and experience.
AnsweredQoN 328Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
328. Ms MacTIERNAN to the Minister representing the Minister for Transport.
(1) How many weeks of training do bus drivers complete before qualifying to drive a bus route?
(2) Are the drivers supervised when learning the bus route?
(3) If so, for how long?
(4) What training courses are in place for Transperth drivers?
(5) How many weeks do Transperth drivers train for?
(1) How many weeks of training do bus drivers complete before qualifying to drive a bus route?
(2) Are the drivers supervised when learning the bus route?
(3) If so, for how long?
(4) What training courses are in place for Transperth drivers?
(5) How many weeks do Transperth drivers train for?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 November 2000
Response time
97 days
The Minister Replied:
(1) The time and extent of training that a bus driver receives after being employed varies dependent on the circumstances. Three of Transperth's four bus companies only employ drivers who have already qualified for their F class license. That is, the F class license is generally a pre requisite for employment. One company has recruited people with an A, B or C class license and trained them to qualify for their F class license when the company was experiencing recruiting shortages. The length of time this training takes would depend on the individual's aptitude, previous driving experience and general driving skills level. However, as indicated this is the exception, as Transperth's contractors generally recruit drivers with an existing F class license.
Drivers recruited with F class licenses are still subject to a period of induction and training including bus route familiarisation. The detailed training regime varies marginally between the four Transperth contractors but typically the induction training course is two weeks long and is followed by a period of on road supervision. The training period can be marginally reduced or it can be extended depending on an individual's needs. Each of the training courses includes periods of 'on the road' training under the direct supervision of an experienced trainer driver.
(2) Drivers are supervised when learning bus routes. This occurs during the training induction course as well as the period of supervision during their initial employment. The length of this period of supervision will depend on the individual's aptitude and how quickly they adapt to driving the bus, learning routes and correctly serving customers.
(3) The period of on road supervision varies between three to five days but can be extended dependent upon individual aptitude. Other measures taken by some or all of the bus companies to assist new drivers include:
- Bus route directional signage.
- Recruiting new employees for specific depots, so that the number of routes that they are required to learn is reduced.
- Allocating new drivers to specific shifts to limit the number of routes they will have to learn in their 'take up' period.
- Route description booklets.
- Route information to assist drivers in learning new routes.
(4) Transperth does not employ bus drivers. The four bus companies contracted to Transperth employ engage various regimes of follow on training such as refresher courses during school holiday periods including issues such as ticket machine review training, fatigue management and fitness for duty training. Further all companies conduct periodic and random on road inspections to assess driver training standards and performance.
(5) Transperth does not employ bus drivers. The four bus companies contracted to Transperth conduct driver induction training as identified in (1) and (2) above.
(1) The time and extent of training that a bus driver receives after being employed varies dependent on the circumstances. Three of Transperth's four bus companies only employ drivers who have already qualified for their F class license. That is, the F class license is generally a pre requisite for employment. One company has recruited people with an A, B or C class license and trained them to qualify for their F class license when the company was experiencing recruiting shortages. The length of time this training takes would depend on the individual's aptitude, previous driving experience and general driving skills level. However, as indicated this is the exception, as Transperth's contractors generally recruit drivers with an existing F class license.
Drivers recruited with F class licenses are still subject to a period of induction and training including bus route familiarisation. The detailed training regime varies marginally between the four Transperth contractors but typically the induction training course is two weeks long and is followed by a period of on road supervision. The training period can be marginally reduced or it can be extended depending on an individual's needs. Each of the training courses includes periods of 'on the road' training under the direct supervision of an experienced trainer driver.
(2) Drivers are supervised when learning bus routes. This occurs during the training induction course as well as the period of supervision during their initial employment. The length of this period of supervision will depend on the individual's aptitude and how quickly they adapt to driving the bus, learning routes and correctly serving customers.
(3) The period of on road supervision varies between three to five days but can be extended dependent upon individual aptitude. Other measures taken by some or all of the bus companies to assist new drivers include:
- Bus route directional signage.
- Recruiting new employees for specific depots, so that the number of routes that they are required to learn is reduced.
- Allocating new drivers to specific shifts to limit the number of routes they will have to learn in their 'take up' period.
- Route description booklets.
- Route information to assist drivers in learning new routes.
(4) Transperth does not employ bus drivers. The four bus companies contracted to Transperth employ engage various regimes of follow on training such as refresher courses during school holiday periods including issues such as ticket machine review training, fatigue management and fitness for duty training. Further all companies conduct periodic and random on road inspections to assess driver training standards and performance.
(5) Transperth does not employ bus drivers. The four bus companies contracted to Transperth conduct driver induction training as identified in (1) and (2) above.
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