For Daniel Fallon, the road to job satisfaction has been anything but straight. But after nine years behind the wheel of trucks and nearly a year driving buses for Busways in Sydney, the 35-year-old has finally found where he belongs. His journey offers a roadmap for truck drivers seeking the driving they love with the work-life balance they need.

Daniel's story begins in Warrnambool, a quiet corner of country Victoria. His journey took him through various roles, but it was his three and a half years at KFC that unknowingly laid the foundation for his future. "That's where my customer service really took off," he recalls. "I found that I really liked to be customer focused and just interact with people."

He explored plenty of work after that, including years at Pickles Auctions, where he drove everything from luxury cars to beat-up manuals and dreamt of becoming an auctioneer. But it was advice from his brother, shortly before he passed away, that changed everything. "He asked me a simple question: 'Do you love driving?' I said yes. He goes, 'Go for a truck license. You will never turn back.'

Daniel took that advice to heart, spending nine years in the trucking industry doing long country runs. Long nights, warehouse runs, and rough culture made the work feel distant from who he wanted to be. 

Many truck drivers face the same challenges: long hours away from family, unpredictable schedules, and little time for life outside work. Daniel discovered that bus driving offered something different: the driving skills he had built over nearly a decade, but with local routes, regular hours, and a supportive workplace culture.

When he moved from Melbourne to Sydney last September, looking for a fresh start, he took a chance and stepped into bus driving. He wanted a job that blended driving with people. Bus driving felt like the right fit, and Busways became the place where he could build something long term.

His first trip with passengers remains etched in his memory. Starting from McMahons Point, his mentor sat beside him as a mother, and her two children boarded. "My heart was pumping," Daniel admits. "I was used to having goods on the truck, alcohol, food, whatever. Not living people." "As soon as I picked up that second passenger, my heart just relaxed. Going around that corner smoothly, taking my time. I felt it click." He realised he could do this, and he belongs here.

The technical transition came more naturally than expected, though there was one crucial difference. "In a truck, you are sitting on the tire. In a bus, it's way back here," he explains, gesturing to demonstrate. "You just got to turn a bit later."
Today, Daniel talks about responsibility not as pressure, but as purpose. What he loves most is the perfect blend of skill, independence, and genuine connection. "There is no rush. You can take your time," he says. "And everyone here at Willoughby depot is amazing. They are supportive and easy to get along with."

The job brings unexpected rewards. Recently, a passenger approached him as they departed: "You love your job, don't ya?" Daniel's enthusiasm was evident. "I can tell," the passenger continued. 

One memorable moment came when he delivered a schoolgirl to her stop, where her father was waiting. Watching them embrace, Daniel felt profound purpose. "Something so tiny, but it made me feel so good. Knowing that you got them safe."

For Daniel, who has three children back in Melbourne, every passenger matters. "I think about my kids, what I want to give them in the future," he says. "When I am having a tough day, my kids just come to my mind. I want to give them a better future than I got."

After years of searching, Daniel has found more than a job, he found a career he plans to keep for two decades. "I come to work with a smile. I leave with a smile," he says simply. "This is the best job I have ever had."

If you are a truck driver considering a change, bus driving might what you have been looking for. As Daniel says, "Bus driving is perfect if you love driving and customer service. It offers flexibility, long-term stability, and Busways’ supportive team makes its even better”. 

Ready to make the switch? Busways is currently offering sign-on bonuses of up to $6000* for eligible applicants. Click here and start your own journey from trucks to buses.

Visit www.busdriver.au/go to find out more and apply.

*Sign-on bonus terms and conditions apply.