Influencer, bus driver and former manager of a casino chain in Ukraine—Wolodymyr Dadakov combines these unusual roles. He works for SWEG Bus Tübingen GmbH. Before starting his shift, he records a few videos for his followers. Then he drives his passengers according to the timetable. tuenews INTERNATIONAL spoke to him about his career and experiences.
At the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine in 2022, Dadakov left the city of Irpin, a town near Kyiv. His family hid in the basement for about ten days before finding a way to leave. At that time, Russian troops occupied the city and there was heavy fighting.
Together with his sons Luka and Illia, his wife Lesia and their dogs Bonia and Clyde, he decided to make a new start in Waldenbuch in the district of Böblingen. There, the family sought peace and security.
One day, the 43-year-old saw a wanted ad for bus drivers on the bus. It gave him the idea of trying his hand at a new profession. Later, he also found a job advertisement from SWEG on the internet. The company wanted to hire him. But first, he had to meet the necessary requirements.
A challenging path to the goal
Looking back, Dadakov describes his journey as long and challenging. To work as a bus driver, you need a special bus driving licence. First, he had his Ukrainian driving licence reissued. This was followed by a six-month training course in Herrenberg, where he obtained his D and DE driving licences.
A Class D driving licence often costs around 6,500 euro, and sometimes even more. Many companies provide financial support to their new employees. For the Ukrainian, the job centre covered the costs. It took about a year from the initial idea to the first day of work. Earning potential varies according to federal state, region, number of hours worked and professional experience. In Baden-Württemberg, the average monthly gross salary ranges from 2,135 euro to 4,068 euro.
A job like a pilot: “Only the bus doesn’t fly”
The idea for his TikTok channel came about when Dadakov himself was looking for information about the profession, which is facing a shortage of skilled workers. At the time, he found very little information online about how to get into this job. So the bus driver began sharing his experiences. He explains how the system works in Germany and shows what everyday life is like for a bus driver. “One day, I saw a video that said bus drivers get less respect than pilots. You entrust your life to both professions, and they take you from A to B—only the bus doesn’t fly.”
Dadakov writes his blog in Ukrainian. He wants to show that being a bus driver is a good profession. In his experience, many people from Ukraine don’t know what to do next in their careers. They often ask questions in the comments. He responds to these with new videos. Once, Dadakov received a letter. It said: “I’m on my break right now, I’m a bus driver now, thank you.”
Positive feedback from passengers and flexibility
Many passengers know that their driver blogs. Most respond positively to his videos. His colleagues also support him and talk to him about his posts.
What Dadakov appreciates most about his job is the flexibility. He works different shifts and has a clear timetable. This allows him to plan his free time well. He is convinced that this profession is well suited to people who enjoy communicating. In his opinion, a bus driving licence opens up many career opportunities in Germany. He cites the long qualification process and the demanding learning material as challenges.
Not everyone passes the exams on their first attempt.
With interest, motivation and support
His opinion of Germany and his profession has not changed. With motivation, interest and support, Dadakov achieved his goal and found a new path in life. “This interview is an opportunity for me to say thank you to Germany.” He is grateful for the support he has received personally, for his family and for his country. He also thanks SWEG for trusting him and giving him a chance. “I am an example: if you really want something, you can achieve it. You have to have a goal and work towards it step by step.” What if someone is considering becoming a bus driver—whether male or female? “Then I always say yes. It’s a good job. You just have to try it.”
By Anastasiia Nesterova
tun26030301