Lux Express names the best bus driver in Latvia for the first time
During European Mobility Week, when attention is focused on how to make mobility more accessible and of higher quality, “Lux Express” highlights the role of bus drivers in passenger safety and the quality of public transport. In the passenger transport sector, the question of how to increase interest in the bus driver profession and strengthen its prestige is becoming increasingly relevant. To draw attention to the work of bus drivers and highlight the skills required for safe and high-quality passenger transport, the company organised a professional skills competition in Latvia for the first time.
During the qualification stage in Latvia, 73 “Lux Express” bus drivers participated, while the ten best competed in the final in Tartu on 22 September together with 20 colleagues from Estonia. The drivers were assessed not only on their driving skills, but also on their professional knowledge, passenger and colleague feedback, economical driving and ability to handle everyday work situations. Gatis Burģelis from Riga, who was born and raised in Dobele, has been named the best “Lux Express” bus driver in Latvia in 2026.
“Safe and high-quality travel largely starts with the professionalism of the bus driver. This job requires not only excellent driving skills, but also the ability to ensure that passengers feel safe, welcome and cared for on every journey. Much of a bus driver’s professional expertise goes unnoticed by passengers in their everyday lives, which is why European Mobility Week is a good time to remind people of the importance of this profession. It is particularly gratifying to see the performance of Latvia’s winner – he demonstrated very convincingly what it means to be a truly good bus driver,” says Aldis Ķibēns, Member of the Management Board of “Lux Express”.
The aim of the competition is to highlight the importance of the bus driver profession and show how many different skills are required in this job. A high professional standard, a responsible attitude and the ability to respond professionally to unexpected situations are essential both for passenger safety and a high-quality travel experience.
The best bus drivers from Latvia and Estonia meet in the final in Tartu
On 22 September, the joint final of the competition for Latvia and Estonia takes place at the Estonian National Museum in Tartu, where ten “Lux Express” bus drivers from Latvia and 20 from Estonia compete. The final tested practical skills – preparing the bus for a departure, recording working and rest time, as well as precise and safe manoeuvring. Both accuracy and execution time were assessed in the tasks.
From March to August, 73 bus drivers participated in the Latvian selection, whose performance was assessed based on professional knowledge, passenger and colleague feedback, as well as economical driving indicators. Passengers in Latvia also had their say in determining the best drivers – a total of 1,694 ratings were received. After compiling all the results, the ten best Latvian bus drivers qualified for the final.
The best bus drivers in Latvia
The winner of the competition, Gatis Burģelis from Riga , born and raised in Dobele, has been part of the “Lux Express” team since 2024. G. Burģelis has been working in the company as a bus driver for 2.5 years and transports passengers daily on routes in Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania.
“To become the best bus driver, you need determination, patience and, of course, a certain amount of luck. But at the foundation of everything are professionalism, experience and seniority – the work you put in bears fruit over time. This job means a lot to me; it is my passion. It is important to me to provide passengers with a positive attitude and to see that it is also returned – that is exactly what motivates me to continue and become better every day. I am very grateful to my colleagues for their support, to the management for the opportunity and for organising the competition so well. It is truly a pleasure and a great source of satisfaction to see that our work is appreciated,” says Gatis Burģelis.
In the competition for the best “Lux Express” bus driver in Latvia in 2026, Aigars Grīnmanis from Ogre took second place, while Aleksandrs Andrucis from Riga took third place. The winner of the competition received a €2,500 cash prize, while the second- and third-place winners received €1,000 and €500 respectively. The five best Latvian competition participants will also take part in a professional experience trip.
Lux Express Group is an international bus operator providing long-distance departures to the largest cities in the Baltics and Warsaw, as well as domestic passenger transport in Latvia and Estonia. Its fleet consists of 105 high-comfort coaches. Last year, Lux Express Group celebrated 30 years of operations in Latvia and is the international bus operator with the longest experience in the Latvian market.