80% of bus driver positions filled up, says Tower Transit

SINGAPORE — Tower Transit, the incoming third public-transport operator, has filled 80 per cent of its 750 bus-driver positions, the United Kingdom-based company said today (Dec 15).

Its hires include about 300 new drivers who are mostly not working in the industry currently, and over 320 drivers who are presently plying the 26 routes that Tower Transit will take over by mid-2016.

“Every single one of our new bus-captain hires is a Singaporean or permanent resident, and over 85 per cent are not currently working in the industry. That goes against what we’ve been seeing in Singapore’s bus industry where, traditionally, a key challenge has been attracting new, local talent,” said Mr Andrew Bujtor, managing director of Tower Transit Singapore, in a press release today.

Tower Transit said more than 40 of its new bus-driver recruits are below the age of 35, with the youngest aged 24.

The more-than-320 drivers it recruited from the incumbent operators represent over 65 per cent of the latter’s headcount for the affected package of routes. Tower Transit hopes to get at least 75 per cent of the incumbents’ existing drivers before the end of the year. Existing bus captains have until Dec 31 to sign up with Tower Transit. 

“These are highly experienced bus captains who’ve been driving for many years, yet have expressed optimism about the industry and their future prospects with Tower Transit,” said Mr Bujtor.

Tower Transit said its first training session for bus drivers will start on Jan 4 next year. 

First-time bus drivers will undergo a fully sponsored, six-week training programme that includes a Class 4A driving course, route familiarisation, and a Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) certificate programme covering topics such as customer service, bus equipment mastery, safety, and service delivery.

Current bus drivers who are already familiar with the routes will undergo a two-day course covering essential topics under the WSQ certificate. 

Mr Bujtor also said Tower Transit is focused on building a “strong Singaporean core” in the workforce, while recognising the importance of Malaysian talent in the public-transport industry.

“To date, over 70 per cent of our total workforce is Singaporean, and I think that’s indicative of a changing attitude among locals towards a profession that’s starting to be recognised for its importance — our bus captains keep Singapore moving,” he added.