Lack of bus drivers as some think it has no future, says transport group

 

Transport minister Loke Siew Fook said earlier that the express bus service had been facing a shortage of drivers since the pandemic. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) said there are not enough bus drivers in Malaysia as there is a perception among locals that the job has no potential for career growth.

Muhiyuddin Abdullah, president of CILT’s Malaysian chapter, also said the cost of obtaining a public service vehicle (PSV) licence for buses was too costly, discouraging people from considering a career in this field.

n a statement, he said this was among the challenges CILT Malaysia had identified after engaging stakeholders in the transport industry recently.

Muhiyuddin said these drivers deserved better working conditions, particularly when it came to their salary, in order to attract more people to the profession.

“This also includes ensuring drivers are provided with proper rest breaks and remuneration for their services,” he said.

To draw Malaysians to pursue a career in this area, he said the institute had developed a programme to chart a clear career path for bus drivers, allowing them to be adequately trained while being able to plan their future better.

Muhiyuddin also called on the government to find ways to reduce the price of PSV licences for bus drivers, and to provide financial assistance to those wishing to pursue a career as a bus driver.

He added that CILT Malaysia and the Malaysian Institute of Transport were ready to work with the transport ministry to address the shortage of bus drivers in the country.

“Through our joint efforts, we can explore various initiatives to attract and retain drivers in the industry, such as offering training and development programmes, improving working conditions as well as providing financial incentive,” he said.

Earlier this month, transport minister Loke Siew Fook said the express bus service had been facing a shortage of drivers since the Covid-19 pandemic as many had either found better opportunities in Singapore or moved to the e-hailing industry.

Loke said the shortage of express bus drivers had resulted in more private cars on the road during peak seasons like Hari Raya and Chinese New Year. - FMT