Six new bus drivers take off: JES Verkehrsgesellschaft convinces!

Six new bus drivers take off: JES Verkehrsgesellschaft convinces!

There is a breath of fresh air behind the wheel in the exciting world of public transport in Cologne: six new bus drivers started their duties at JES Verkehrsgesellschaft on August 7, 2025. Managing director Andreas Möller and dispatcher Frank Schauer warmly welcomed the new employees to the depot in Eisenberg. Möller was thrilled to have gained committed and experienced drivers who already have extensive driving experience in freight transport or passenger transport. In this way, JES is actively tackling the ever-growing shortage of skilled workers in the industry.

Recruiting new drivers is more than just a business concern. According to that VDV There is currently a shortage of around 20,000 bus drivers in local public transport in Germany. The trend is rising: Without countermeasures, this number could grow to up to 65,000 by 2030. An alarming signal for the mobility industry, which makes a crucial contribution to achieving climate goals in the transport sector.

Entry into the profession and challenges

How did this deficiency come about? A look at the past shows that many of the currently active bus drivers are over 55 years old and will be retiring in the next few years. Every year, 4,000 to 6,000 drivers leave the service. This gap must be urgently closed in order to maintain the quality of public transport. Every year around 6,000 new drivers are needed for bus and tram services in Germany. Likewise, the training costs for a bus driver's license are not exactly low - between 10,000 and 12,000 euros have to be taken into account, which is a high hurdle, especially for career changers.

As for the new JES employees, they became aware of the company through the eye-catching LED ticker “Drivers wanted” on the JES buses. Möller continued to encourage applications and was looking for people who enjoy working with people and enjoy driving. After all, such talents are very sought after and in high demand in the industry.

The future of public transport

According to the, the mobility industry will Daily Mirror will grow by a third by 2030, which means that the number of buses and trains will also have to be massively increased. Overall, the aim is to increase freight transport by rail by a quarter. This development requires a significant increase in staff of more than 110,000 new employees by 2030, whereby 21% more employees could be needed in local public transport companies.

With the new hire of six drivers, JES Verkehrsgesellschaft shows that it can rely on the positive development of the industry. But it remains to be hoped that the political framework conditions will also be improved in order to overcome the challenges of the lack of young talent. Because without committed and qualified drivers it will be difficult to achieve the transport transition and the desired climate goals.