BO Åhrström from Sweden has been crowned the Bus Driver of the Year 2023, winning the prestigious title in a tough competition. The event, known as the Bus Driver Championship, was held in Arlandastad, north of Stockholm. The competition aimed to draw attention to the skills of bus drivers and to attract more people to the profession.
The championship consisted of several stages, including reversing, manoeuvring tests, meetings, economical driving, and disaster management. After a rigorous competition, BO Åhrström emerged as the winner, beating out Konstantin Goryainov from Östersund and Nedal Moutlak from Gothenburg.
Expressing his joy and pride, BO Åhrström compared the victory to winning the TV prize Kristallen, but for heavy passenger transport. He mentioned that winning the championship served as the ultimate proof that his career choice and education were correct.
According to a report by Transportföretagen, the bus industry in Sweden is in need of 8,600 new recruits, with 8,100 of those being bus drivers. The Bus Driver Championship plays a crucial role in highlighting the profession and attracting individuals to join the industry.
This year marked the 20th edition of the Bus Driver Championship. Over 500 participants initially registered for the first theory test, with 20 women and 20 men proceeding to the second theory test. From there, the top 20 finalists competed for the prestigious title of Bus Driver of the Year 2023.
As the winner, BO Åhrström was presented with a gift check and a glass trophy designed by Martin Ehrensvärd. The Bus Driver Championship is organized by Sweden’s Bus Company in collaboration with the newspapers Resforum and Trafikforum.
The success of BO Åhrström serves as a significant achievement for the bus driver community, highlighting their expertise and dedication in providing safe and efficient transportation across Sweden.