Busmark, the coach and bus benchmarking club of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), has published its findings from a recent survey addressing the current driver shortage in the industry.
Over 50 drivers from Busmark operators, including National Express, Reading Buses, Abellio and McGill’s, took part in the survey.
The responses to the coach and bus driver survey highlighted four possible solutions to the challenge of attracting and retaining professional drivers, including enhanced rewards, improving the industry image, increased corporate social responsibility and improved relations between employers and employees.
Busmark said it will use this data to help share best practice, solutions and innovative thinking in dealing with the associated issues.
Key findings of the survey include:
- 79% of drivers believe it is the responsibility of coach and bus companies to find solutions to the issues;
- 44 participants cited unsociable hours as a factor for the driver shortage;
- There is thought to be a poor general public attitude towards drivers;
- 39 participants believe the Government should help improve the industry image;
- 52% of drivers do not feel as satisfied with their role as they once used to; and
- 29 participants feel staff development initiatives would help deal with the driver shortage.
Austin Birks, Chairman of the Bus & Coach Forum, CILT, said: “We greatly appreciate the effort made by all our Busmark members who participated in the driver survey.
“The results made interesting reading and we will now consider how best we can encourage people to join the industry.”
INFO
To view the survey results in full, visit https://bit.ly/1tgzqFv
