Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity

Drive bus or motor coach, including regular route operations, charters, and private carriage. May assist passengers with baggage. May collect fares or tickets.

The occupation "Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity" has an automation risk of 58.4%, reflecting a significant potential for job transformation through technological advancements. The base risk for this occupation is 58.9%, suggesting that more than half of its core tasks could be automated with existing or foreseeable technologies. This risk is largely due to the repetitive and predictable nature of key responsibilities associated with bus driving. For example, tasks such as driving vehicles along specified routes and adhering to time schedules are increasingly addressed by automated driving technologies and route management algorithms. Similarly, parking vehicles for passenger boarding and conducting routine vehicle inspections (such as checking gas, oil, and water levels) are functions that emerging vehicle automation systems are capable of performing with high accuracy and reliability. Despite substantial automation risk in core driving operations, certain tasks within this occupation remain notably resistant to automation. For instance, loading and unloading baggage requires physical dexterity and decision-making that current robots struggle to match, especially in public and unpredictable environments. Reading maps to plan efficient or alternate routes, especially when disruptions occur, demands situational awareness and adaptability that AI systems often lack in real-world scenarios. Additionally, maintaining the cleanliness of buses or motor coaches involves a combination of manual labor and attention to detail, which presents ongoing challenges for automation both in terms of cost and technical feasibility. A critical bottleneck in fully automating the role of transit and intercity bus drivers lies in the limited ability of AI to exhibit originality—a skill measured at just 2.0% and 1.8% for this occupation. Originality involves devising novel solutions, adapting to unique on-the-spot challenges, and thinking creatively, for example, in unexpected traffic situations or emergencies. Current automation systems, while competent at following pre-defined protocols and routines, remain far less capable of handling the nuanced and inventive problem-solving frequently required during bus operations. As such, the tasks demanding originality and interpersonal judgment serve as critical barriers, slowing the pace of full automation and preserving a role for human workers within this occupation for the foreseeable future.