A bus driver’s work is enjoyable and varied

Laura Niskanen drives Pohjolan Liikenne buses on various routes based in Helsinki and Kirkkonummi. One shift may include driving an express coach to Turku, conveying people on their way to work in Lohja, and making airport runs to and from Espoo and Sipoo. Although the schedules are tight and the routes strictly defined, Laura enjoys the independence of her work and the variety.

"I enjoy driving the long distance routes, for example the express coach to Turku. Driving is not hindered then by the traffic jams and traffic lights that you get in town, and time passes more quickly than usually.

At Pohjolan Liikenne we get to drive a good variety of routes in different areas. We certainly don’t need to keep driving the same route one year after another. The company pays attention to the wishes of the drivers, and also tries to put them into practice. I’ve been surprised myself at the wide scope of the work and how it varies from day to day.

I can’t deny that my friends and relatives were at first a little surprised at my choice of career, since it is still quite uncommon to see a young woman at the wheel of a bus. What initially excited me was the opportunity to qualify quickly in a new profession that offers as much work as you have strength for. The prospect of guaranteed work was attractive.

Although bus drivers work on their own, it is certainly not lonely work. During one shift you meet dozens if not hundreds of different people. If you can just manage to smile and be polite, even when you’re really busy, as a rule passengers are also very pleasant."