As of 2013, the BEST runs a total of 4,680 buses,[REF] ferrying 5 million passengers[REF] over 365 routes, and has a workforce strength of 38,000, which includes 22,000 bus drivers and conductors (this comes to an average of 11.2 employees per bus).
In June 2005, in order to cut costs, BEST decided to hire buses from private operators instead of procuring new buses.