SOME Metro bus drivers who are unable to drive buses because they are overweight say the company's policy to help them lose weight is one of the best things that has happened to them, a government business enterprise scrutiny committee has heard.
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But some drivers are also reporting they have been publicly humiliated by passengers after the policy was made public.
Last month, Metro Tasmania announced it would not allow drivers weighing more than 130kg to drive buses because the driver seats on its buses were rated to that weight.
Chief executive Heather Haselgrove said the affected drivers, who are required to self identify, were loyal employees with significant experience and the company did not want to lose them.
``We're putting every available support around them,'' she said.
The program Metro has put in place to help overweight drivers lose weight includes appointments with health and fitness professionals, a dietician and a psychologist.
``We're hoping that they'll all succeed,'' Ms Haselgrove said.
She said it had not been Metro's intention to make the policy public and it was disappointing that other drivers ``on the larger side'' had reported they felt they were being scrutinised by passengers.
