Before they start drivers check every aspect of their buses. Photo: Yang Hui/GT

 

Passengers board and the morning rush hour begins. Photo: Yang Hui/GT

Traditionally Shanghai people call bus drivers "Uncle" or "Old Uncle" - a reference to the fact that most city bus drivers are middle-aged. But many of the bus drivers on the No. 13 route are far from middle-aged.

The youngest driver on the route is 28-year-old Li Weiwei. He begins his shift at 6 am after checking his bus thoroughly, making sure the windscreen wipers are working properly if it looks like rain.

It takes him about an hour and a half to complete the round trip and he is a cautious driver. "City traffic is very stressful. I have to ensure my passengers are safe and that I don't drive too fast or too slowly. If there is even a small problem I can lose money." He works 12 hour shifts, one day on and one day off and takes home about 5,000 yuan ($765) a month.

Li Weiwei starts his daily shift at 6 am. Photo: Yang Hui/GT

 

Driving buses in Shanghai is stressful work. Photo: Yang Hui/GT

The big earner on the No. 13 bus route team is 35-year-old Mei Zhenhua who takes home about 10,000 yuan a month. But to earn that he works overtime and seldom has more than one day off a week. He has to catch two buses to get to work each day. His schedule sees him leaving home every morning at 4 or 5 am and returning after midnight. He doesn't get to spend a lot of time with his family.

The hours, the stress and the comparatively low pay do not make bus driving in Shanghai a sought-after job. The No. 13 route runs from Tilanqiao in Hongkou district to Caojiadu in Changning district and the route manager, Mr Zhou, said one young man had been eager to work but lasted less than a month. Younger men in good health are in demand. Of the 50 or so drivers on the route more than half are aged between 50 and 55. 

Drivers bring their preferred drinks along with them. Photo: Yang Hui/GT

 

Drivers bring their lunch and dinner from home every day. Photo: Yang Hui/GT

 

During their breaks some drivers play on their mobile phones. Photo: Yang Hui/GT

 

A chat with a colleague before they set out for the day Photo: Yang Hui/GT

While younger drivers have not been attracted because of the salary rates, things are changing and the average pay for bus divers has been increasing annually by 10 percent.

During their breaks in the dispatch room, the younger drivers play cards or games on their mobile phones. They have a WeChat group to exchange messages with each other.

The bus company has more than 10 probationary drivers undergoing practical training at present and, Mr Zhou said, more driver are being recruited.

Global Times
Newspaper headline: Stopping for age