Hay River (Nov 06/06) - The wheels on the bus wouldn't be going round much in Hay River if it weren't for Joe Gagnier.

Gagnier owns Frontier Coachlines N.W.T. and has driven buses for a decade.

He has been in the truck driving business for years, he said, and the move into passenger buses was obvious. He had the license and knew the roads. Most importantly he likes driving buses because people are involved.

"The people are the best part," said Gagnier.

Unlike some, Gagnier doesn't mind the roads the NWT has to offer.

It seems that gargantuan vehicles and sometimes narrow and gravelly roads might make for a difficult drive. However, Gagnier said he has no complaints.

"The roads right now compared to what they were ten years ago are real good," he said.

He has seen every sort of wildlife along those roads, he said. Luckily he has never had a collision with a creature that wandered into his path. The same can't be said for other drivers. Two employees have had their buses rammed by bison.

"They were just driving along," he said, "and one just came right out of the ditch and ran right into the bus."

Gagnier's wife Colleen, who works with him at Frontier Coachlines, said she asked the driver if the passengers had been scared.

"It was just me," replied the driver, "but I was screaming my head off."

The bison's horns went right into the bus, on either side of the door, according to Colleen.

Beyond the capable equipment, Gagnier's favourite part of the job is the people he meets, he said.

He drives for most of the chartered bus trips, when a large group hires a bus to go wherever they desire.

Colleen. "The charter trips are his favourite."

He especially enjoys taking kids on school trips down to visit cities in Alberta, he said.

"The kids from smaller communities, when they get to see the Calgary Zoo or Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, it's a real eye-opener for them. They get excited," he said.

The kids may be excited during the day, but when it's 2 a.m. and they're all asleep, the driver must keep on going.

The buses are well equipped to keep drivers as well as passengers entertained, said Gagnier. They have satellite radios for music and CB radios so bus drivers can chat with truck drivers, if they want.

As well, "we get some real characters (for passengers)", said Gagnier, which always keep trips interesting.

There are times when Gagnier must radio for police help.

The buses have a zero tolerance no-alcohol policy, he said, but they always have the police meet them when drunken passengers need to be kicked off.

Generally though, he said his job is a pleasure and he doesn't intend to quit anytime soon.