Nikolai Nikolaevich and his important route: 6 years behind the wheel of a school bus

      In September, morning in Zainsk doesn't begin with the first bell but with the roar of an engine and the carefully opening doors of the school bus.

      At the wheel is Nikolai Nikolaevich Loginkin. His name is sometimes confused, but his work cannot be mistaken for anything: for six years now he has been the most important link between home and school for children from the surrounding villages. His day is a series of familiar turns: Nalim, Zainsk, Kadykovo, Sarmashbash. A route honed to automatism, but that does not make it any less responsible. On the contrary, each year this responsibility only grows.

      "It's definitely getting stricter. Especially this year," says Nikolai Nikolaevich.

      His story is about how the world is changing. If traffic rules used to be the main thing, now the strictest safety measures have been added. "Counter-terrorism" — this word has firmly entered both his work vocabulary and his daily ritual. You may stop only for officers of the State Traffic Inspectorate or the administration. No outsiders, no exceptions. The children must be safe — that is the absolute priority.

      He is not alone in this mission. School chaperones — teachers who keep order inside the bus and help the little ones — are always nearby. It's a well-coordinated tandem whose common goal is the welfare of the children.

      Fortunately, the roads along his way are good. "Asphalt everywhere," the driver remarks with a slight smile. "The roads are regularly cleared so the bus runs smoothly."

      Ask him if he likes his job, and he will answer without hesitation: "Of course, I do!"

      "The job is calm, and the children have become calmer too," he shares.

      Of course, there are nuances. Sometimes he has to calm unruly passengers, but that's just part of the care to make the trip comfortable for everyone. For the most part, his young fellow travelers behave quietly and with understanding.

      Nikolai Nikolaevich is a local man, from Zainsk. And he has been behind the wheel for almost his entire conscious life. His 45-year career did not begin with the school bus. Before that he drove shifts for oil workers — completely different roads, different distances, a different life.

      But for six years now his life has been this route. These children. This quiet but extremely important responsibility. He doesn't just transport schoolchildren from point A to point B. He provides them with the opportunity to study, meet friends and return home. He is one of those unseen heroes whose daily work shapes the daily schedule for dozens of families.

      And as long as there are drivers like Nikolai Loginkin — calm, experienced and positive about their work — parents in Nalim, Kadykovo and Sarmashbash have no reason to worry about their children. And that is worth a lot.

      Photo: Klara Ermolayeva

      Aigul Yarullina

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      Nikolai Nikolaevich and his important route: 6 years behind the wheel of a school bus

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