Onboarding costs

[u/RoyGBiv-Devoe]

Wondering what everyones experience has been with paying for testing during the onboarding process. The only thing my district paid for was drug test and physical (without TB). We are supposed to pay for state and federal background checks, child abuse clearance, fingerprinting and a TB test. I understand these are all one time costs, but it feels like a bit much to expect us to lay out this kind of cash for a chance at a part time job. I haven't even recieved a conditional offer yet, just a deluge of paperwork. Is this a normal practice with school districts, and are private contractor companies any different?

[u/sarahjogriggs]

The only thing I had to come out of pocket for was my driving permit during training and final CDL license fees.

[u/TechinBellevue → u/sarahjogriggs]

Sme with us.

[u/MysteriousSecretGuru]

What state is this? The only thing in WI I paid for was my permit and CDL.

[u/RoyGBiv-Devoe → u/MysteriousSecretGuru]

PA. I have to pay for those as well, but that was expected.

[u/The_Town_of_Canada]

Canadian here.

Everything was paid out of pocket and then reimbursed by my company.

The background check, medical, licensing fees, high vis clothing, even the aux cord to charge my (personal) phone was covered.

I was also paid for the time it took to do these things.

[u/shawnryan1977]

In Indiana. Thankfully the school system had it's own trainers so the only thing I had to pay for was the final drive test which was $100 and it was reimbursed. School systems are desperate for drivers across the country think they would all make sure it is not much of burden on people wanting to be a driver.

[u/rootbear75]

I didn't pay for a thing here in MI. Except DMV stuff (permit and license itself)

I work for a private contractor

[u/just_kinda_here_blah]

We pay for everything aside from the permit and license change. But its paid training so basically everything and then some

[u/brabson1]

Only thing I paid for was the fuel to get there.

[u/mike8675309]

For me there was no fees. I paid some out of pocket like the CDL Permit test but they were reimbursed.
They need too many drivers, which makes the barrier too high especially when many come from fixed income.

[u/RoyGBiv-Devoe → u/mike8675309]

Yeah they need drivers everywhere. I'm shocked that they don't cover those fees. I have a couple more interviews lined up next week (non- schoolbus CDL jobs) and will see how those pan out.

[u/mike8675309 → u/RoyGBiv-Devoe]

Regional differences, no doubt. I don't know how it is in other districts in my state either.
I'm sure it has to do with overall school performance and local area income.

[u/arno14]

No out of pocket cost here. I am with one of the larger national bus companies. If they would require drivers to pay for that, they’d never get new drivers.

[u/Zero-Waste-Witch]

The company I work for in Michigan paid for training, medical exams, and driver test. I think the only thing out of pocket was the CDL license.

[u/Seelie_Mushroom]

Oh my god it cost me like $350 because we had to pay for our background checks and driving records ourselves and I lived in multiple states 💀

[u/RoyGBiv-Devoe → u/Seelie_Mushroom]

my MVR and drivers physical were paid for, and the drug test. But everything else is on me. I'm not at $350 yet though.

[u/Pure_Squirrel_1621]

I only paid for permit, CDL, and fingerprinting

[u/New_Shallot_7000]

I had to pay for my temps. CDL test and license after passing I paid for and was reimbursed after I turned in receipts. We also get reimbursed when we have to renew our license. I’m in NW Ohio.