The shortage of public transport drivers remains one of the most pressing issues facing Sofia and many other European cities. In an effort to ease the growing staffing crisis, "Stolichen Autotransport" has hired 25 foreign drivers, while another 15 candidates have enrolled in a program offering free Category D training in exchange for a commitment to work for the municipal company for three years.
Among those who know the challenges of the profession firsthand is Ivaylo Georgiev, who has spent the past 12 years behind the wheel of buses in Sofia's public transport system. While he says he enjoys the job, he notes that heavy traffic and inadequate road infrastructure are among the biggest daily difficulties drivers face.
Georgiev also points to the condition of part of the vehicle fleet. Although some drivers operate newer buses, many continue to work with vehicles that are more than two decades old and have traveled over 1.5 million kilometers. Frequent technical failures, particularly involving brake systems, compressed air equipment, and air conditioning units, often require urgent repairs, causing schedule disruptions and placing additional pressure on already limited staff. According to him, insufficient investment in fleet modernization remains a significant factor behind employee turnover.
