Bus firm’s drivers the most ‘thanked’ in the UK

New research has found that bus drivers at trentbarton are among the most thanked workers in the UK.

According to the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), the firm’s drivers receive five times more thankyous each shift than the average employee.

The research coincides with a campaign by the CPT to highlight the positives of working as a bus driver – including being thanked dozens of times each working day.

The CPT say that nationally four fifths of bus passengers thank their driver.
But in the Midlands, it’s even more, with almost nine out of 10 saying ‘thanks’.

The campaign, called Thank You Driver, involved a survey of drivers across the country.

Other highlights of the job they cited included meeting lots of different people, serving the community and getting people to where they need to go.

Trentbarton’s red arrow driver Karen Miles is the reigning UK Top National Bus Driver and was chosen to be a face of a nationwide campaign to attract more women to the bus industry.

She featured on TV as a Covid fightback hero, was nominated for a BBC Make a Difference Award and recently won Female Employee of the Year at the East Midlands Chamber Enterprising Women Awards.

Karen, 54, also received a Covid BEM (British Empire Medal) for her work supporting fellow drivers with their mental health during lockdown.

Speaking after receiving her latest award from East Midlands Chamber, Karen said: “All of my fellow bus drivers on our table were women, all of us working hard driving people from A to B and there is so much more to the job than that.

“It’s nice to be recognised for what we all do. I love my driving job. I get to meet so many different people every day and have a laugh with them.”

Trentbarton managing director Jeff Counsell, managing director of trentbarton, said: “A smile and a friendly welcome go a long way and our drivers love it when our customers say ‘thank you’ and show that they are grateful for the valued service our drivers perform seven days a week.

“Being thanked is one of the many perks of being a bus driver and, like all the best things in life, it doesn’t cost a penny but is worth its weight in gold.”