Bus Line Ticket Agent

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:

• 2006 NOC: Ticket Agents and Related Clerks (Except Airline) (6434.1) 
• 2006 NOC-S: Ticket Agents, Cargo Service Representatives and Related Clerks (Except Airline) (G714) 
• 2011 NOC: Ground and water transport ticket agents, cargo service representatives and related clerks (6524) 

Bus line ticket agents' duties and job titles vary from one employer to another but, in general, they:

• answer telephone and in person inquiries about routes, time schedules and rates
• help customers plan travel times and routes
• make and confirm seat reservations
• calculate expenses and issue tickets
• accept payment
• direct passengers to their points of departure.

In large bus companies, the duties of reservation agents in centralized ticket offices are different from the duties of counter service agents in depots. Reservation agents answer telephone inquiries and confirm reservations. Counter service agents sell tickets at ticket counters. At small bus stops, a hotel or restaurant proprietor may perform the duties of a counter service agent.

Most bus line ticket agents work shifts that include evenings, weekends and holidays. During vacation seasons and holidays, they may be required to work overtime. The work environment can be hectic and customers can be difficult especially when poor weather conditions cause delays.

Bus line ticket agents need the following characteristics:

• a neat and friendly appearance
• good communication skills and speaking voice
• the ability to deal tactfully with the public.

They should enjoy copying and recording information, dealing with people and operating computer ticketing systems.

Bus line ticket agents are usually employed in or near urban centres. Large employers generally select ticket agents from among their current employees.

Bus line ticket agents may advance to supervisory positions such as customer service representative, cargo agent or reservation agent. However, competition for these positions usually is keen and there are few other advancement opportunities.

Bus line ticket agents are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 6524: Ground and Water Transport Ticket Agents, Cargo Service Representatives and Related Clerks. In Alberta, 79% of people employed in this classification work in the Transportation and Warehousing (PDF) industry.

The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the Transportation and Warehousing industry)
• location in Alberta
• employment turnover (work opportunities generated by people leaving existing positions)
• occupational growth (work opportunities resulting from the creation of new positions that never existed before)
• size of the occupation.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.