Gary Mitchell also started bus driving after a time spent driving trucks. "Being a bus driver is much better than a truckie, where you're a hermit," says Gary.
He started with the company after working for a competitor who weren't giving him enough hours. But there are other advantages too.
"TransdevTSL - Shorelink Buses is a far better company. Knowing both sides, both companies, this organisation is run 300 percent better. The whole set up here is better.
"Management's good, they're excellent. They're good at looking after the drivers."
Gary would know too. He is the on-site union rep so it is his role to make sure the company is treating its staff fairly. He says here at TransdevTSL - Shorelink Buses being the union rep doesn't involve much work at all.
"No, very little fortunately, we don't have many problems here."
He just makes sure everyone is informed about meetings and general information.
He gets along well with his colleagues and likes the casual atmosphere. "We enjoy ourselves here. We just have a good time."
Gary then points to the staff-room next door and says, "it's a wonder you can't hear us out there. We have a ball."
He likes his passengers but occasionally the schoolkids give him a laugh. Like the time last year when he took a charter of schoolkids to a school formal.
"I picked the kids up from Wahroonga to take them into town. We got as far as the Shell service station and they all wanted to go to the toilet.
"There was one male and one female toilet there, with sixty kids. Most stood in line but a percentage of them decided they'd do it on the side of the Pacific Highway. This was peak hour but they didn't care less!"
Like many drivers, Dureid started in a different field and moved into bus driving. He joined TransdevTSL - Shorelink Buses three years ago after a time spent driving a cab.
"I did taxi driving in the city. Taxi-driving there is too much pressure. To make money you must not waste a second from the 12-hour shift.
"Here at TransdevTSL - Shorelink Buses, it is easier. Every four hours you have a rest, tea-time or meal break. It's nice and easy, not much pressure.
Dureid takes pride in being a driver and doesn't think just anyone could do it. "You have to be a certain type. Not everyone can do bus driving"
He thinks that people-skills are important to his passengers. "You have to like people," says Dureid.
"The passengers we have are really nice. Some of them chat and you get to know them."
As well as people skills, Dureid doesn't underestimate the need to be good on the road. "You must be a good driver".
His advice is to "observe and pay attention to what you are doing." You can tell he takes his driving seriously and is always looking for ways to improve his skills. But he says that learning to drive a bus at the start was fine.
"If you are a good driver, it is quite easy. After a few weeks you get to know the area if you are not living here and it is quite easy after that. The management change you to a new route for a change of scenery after that."
He prefers the leafy suburban routes that TransdevTSL - Shorelink Buses operate as well. "It's a lovely place here," he says. "We drive around Wahroonga and Turramurra and Gordon."
"It's a much nicer place to drive around than the city. Too much traffic and crossing the bridge. When I come here in the morning or afternoon it is against the traffic."
For new drivers Dureid says it only takes a few days to settle in with the team. "The other drivers are a really nice bunch. You meet them in the Driver Room a few times a day for a cup of coffee.
"Other times you see them on the road and always have a wave. One time a passenger saw this and said, ‘you like to wave!'"
Dureid has been in Australia a long time but like many Australians he wasn't born in the country. "I'm from the Middle East. I've been here since 1970 and have spent most of my life here now."
He believes TransdevTSL - Shorelink Buses are fair and kind to employees. "The company is really good. If you do the right thing they treat you well."