More white heads at the wheel
At age 71 veteran coach driver David McGregor plans to remain behind the wheel for a while yet and says there is no shortage of work for ‘‘geriatric’’ drivers who want it.
‘‘If they’ve retired or decided to go casual, the phone never stops ringing.’’
McGregor knows of at least a dozen coach drivers in his age bracket and statistics show they are part of a growing trend.
According to the New Zealand Transport Agency, drivers aged 60-plus now make up 40 per cent of the 10,676 licensed to drive vehicles carrying 12 or more passengers.
There are 1313 ‘‘large P’’ licence holders aged 70 and over. That’s more than triple the number in 2005, and 459 are aged 75-plus.
NZTA makes the point that not all those with large P endorsements are actually employed.
But the Bus and Coach Association (BCA) has noted a significant rise in drivers working well past retirement age as the sector struggles to recruit staff.
Chief executive Barry Kidd is looking at launching a campaign to attract a younger generation of drivers.
He says the number of large P licence holders has steadily dropped over the past decade, while tourism boomed, with more than 1000 new buses and coaches registered since the beginning of 2016.
The dearth of experienced drivers in the tourism sector is a problem because not everyone has the skills to keep a 20 tonne bus load of passengers happy and on schedule for up to three weeks.
Urban bus services are recruiting hundreds of drivers to fulfil contracts, and the cruise market is also sucking up drivers for transfers and day excursions, Kidd says.
‘‘When cruise ships are in town and you want to hire a bus for anything at the same time, most parts of New Zealand you’d struggle to get one. ‘‘
Strathmore Coaches owner Susan Sheppard is so desperate for drivers, she has turned away work from schools who have been loyal customers.
‘‘Drivers are getting older, and because of that we’re losing them, and there are no young ones coming on simply because the pay is not worth it.
‘‘I pay $20 an hour, plus holiday pay, but I think they can get up to $35 truck driving.’’
Christchurch Coach Charters owner Ken Watson (75) is still driving and agrees pay rates and the often casual nature of the work are a deterrent.
‘‘Really, the only people you can get are those that have an affinity with buses and do it for the pocket money.’’
Driver Guide Hire specialises in providing contract drivers for the tourism industry.
Company director Bodhi Vette says it has been tougher than ever finding staff and the social side of the job appeals to older drivers.
‘‘It means they get to meet more people and have interaction, which they crave at that age and maybe don’t get elsewhere, so these jobs offer that and they get paid while they do it.’’
Former bus driver Owen Firman, 82, finally retired a year ago, but admits he might have to relinquish his passenger licence to ensure he isn’t tempted to go back.
‘‘I love people and I love driving. I gave it up when I was 80 for about a year, then went back part time 18 hours a fortnight, but ended up doing 56 hours.’’
Firman says the pay does not reflect the level of responsibility or the skills in involved.
‘‘It’s a job you have to be dedicated to …You’re classed as an ambassador for your country. ‘‘
All drivers applying for a passenger licence require a medical certificate, which is renewed every five years until age 75, when a medical check is required every two years.
Retirement for McGregor is still some way off. ‘‘Late seventies, maybe.’’