Silvija Ilic has been working as a bus driver at Knisel for more than 7 years and mainly drives on bus routes 53, 402, 403 and the routes in the Strohgäu. "My passengers make the job so special for me. My job is to move people. It's great, but of course it also comes with a lot of responsibility," says Ilic. According to Ilic, it is challenging to keep a cool head and still remain friendly despite the busy roads and many roadworks.
The professional driver still remembers one particularly nice experience with a smile: "A lady from a retirement home who often travels with me on route 402 gave me 20 euros for my two girls. Simply to thank me for always taking them from A to B with a smile. And that I only drive off when she has sat down," says Ilic. Such praise is the greatest recognition for her as a bus driver.
With heart and care
Whether at school bus training for secondary schools in Remseck, as the face at events such as the Kirbe or the Day of the Bus - the newly crowned Bus Driver of the Year loves and lives her job. She also shows care and humanity time and again in everyday life. For example, she helped a disoriented passer-by who was standing in the middle of the road and didn't know how to get to her destination. Ilic stopped the bus without further ado, clarified the situation and kindly showed the woman the right way. "Ms. Ilic acted very prudently, because the weather wasn't the best that day and so the lady was helped after all," is how one passenger describes the situation.
"With Ms Ilic, we are honoring a bus driver who not only impresses with her good and safe driving style, but also shapes our public transport with her humanity and friendliness. Such personalities are at the heart of a functioning public transport system," emphasizes Jürgen Vogt, First State Official and Head of Transport for the Ludwigsburg district.
As an employer, bus company Knisel is proud of its Bus Driver of the Year: "We are very pleased about this special award for Ms. Ilic," says Knisel Managing Director Matthias Knisel. "She is a real role model for her colleagues: reliable, friendly and always ready to listen to passengers. Being voted Bus Driver of the Year shows how much her commitment and professionalism are also recognized and appreciated outside our company."
At the award ceremony, VVS Managing Director Cornelia Christian emphasized the importance of the bus driving profession for a functioning public transport system: "We would like to thank Ms Ilic, as well as all her bus driver colleagues, for their daily commitment to serving our passengers. They are the figurehead of local public transport and ensure everyday mobility for the general public," emphasizes Cornelia Christian. "The award should also send out a signal: We want to encourage people like Silvija Ilic to choose this important profession. Local public transport needs committed individuals who put their heart and mind into their work."
The VVS has held the "Bus Driver of the Year" competition every year since 2004 - for the 22nd time in 2025. Passengers were able to submit their personal nominations online. A jury consisting of representatives from the VVS, the network districts and the regional bus companies then selected the "Bus Driver of the Year 2025" in each of the five network districts and the city of Stuttgart.
There are a total of 135 bus routes in the Ludwigsburg district, which are operated by
11 different transport companies. They serve over 1,200 stops.
