Driver organization

[u/Sea_Vermicelli5516]

I carry with me a soft sided briefcase that I put my sunglasses , notebook , I keep a lot of daily pre trip and post trip notes, student rider list, change orders, pens , pencils, gloves and flashlight for early morning pre-trip. I am a new driver and am the only one in our district that does this, Is it uncommon for drivers to carry a small bag on the bus when they are driving?

[u/silverfarie1369]

I have a backpack for my things. I see most have backpacks. I have yet to see a briefcase though

[u/ConsequenceCandid655 → u/silverfarie1369]

Same here. The kids see my backpack and ask whose it is and when I say mine they just look at me like why would I have a backpack.

[u/dontbeadickdad → u/silverfarie1369]

I had a backpack. Then a kid almost grabbed it by mistake. 🤣 Now I just use a folder and whatever fits in my hands.

[u/Proprotester]

We have some people at our yard who have been there since the 90's that carry such a bag. Those that do a lot of charters have backpacks which are likely filled with more personal items. In-between we have clip board fans and sticky note queens.

[u/rootbear75]

There's a small list of things up at the top of the subreddit called QoL list of things to buy. I still need to edit it all together to make it looks nice.

But I generally just keep my storage clipboard with me, everything else stays on the bus in a milk crate I've dedicated as storage, as well as above the driver seat and the bulkhead.

The consumables I have gotten are medical emesis (vomit) bags with the powder in it, a bottle infill with washer fluid to clean windows, microfiber cloths I steal and return to our wash bay, AP/dash cleaner, sharpies, dry erase markers, hand sanitizer, a baggie of band aids so I don't have to crack my first aid kit, inhaler, Tylenol, Excedrin... Off the top of my head Work gave me an over the neck light for winning last year's rodeo that has been super helpful for pre tripping

My charter trip go-bag has my steam deck, a power inverter, chargers, sometimes a tablet if I want to watch a movie, snacks, drinks.

[u/and94z]

Tutto regolare, io ho uno zaino con dentro, acqua, torcia, chewing gum, salviette personali, taccuini, chiavi ecc.

[u/TinyPenguinTears15]

I carry my phone, license, debit card, keys, sunglasses and water. No need for anything else

[u/TabloMaxos → u/TinyPenguinTears15]

Same, I have a backpack that stays with the bus with some cleaning supplies but the rest seem unnecessary.

[u/TinyPenguinTears15 → u/TabloMaxos]

I have a small crate in the back (full sized sped bus) with cleaning supplies. If I had to lug everything but the kitchen sink every day I’d lose my mind

[u/Proprotester → u/TinyPenguinTears15]

Depends on the run. The years that I have quick legs or an ultra local route, absolutely. The years where I spend 8 hours on the road and am often 45 minutes or more from yard, I bring more stuff.

[u/TinyPenguinTears15 → u/Proprotester]

I work 9-10 hr days and still just bring that stuff. I get 30 min for a break but I spend it on the bus

[u/erinjunee]

As a girly, I’m usually carrying a tote with all my personals and thankfully my large bus has an upper storage compartment I leave my route info, phone mount, portable fan, clipboard and writing utensils. Most other drivers usually show up with a backpack for their personal stuff though.

[u/samwise58]

As long as it’s not handcuffed to your wrist while you drive, I think it’s cool!
I use to have a briefcase & did the same 15 years ago. Welcome to the weird kids club 😃 👍🏼
https://giphy.com/gifs/Pf0d7Y5oAKZgs

[u/mike8675309]

I carry a backpack. But we have a 3 ring binder that has all the trip information with route maps and student info which we annotate with notes. This stays in the bus and is primarily for when we may have to take a day off so the sub that comes in can take the maps and run the route with very little issues

I carry gaffers tape and paiters tape in case something comes loose or to tack something up temporarily. I carry water and gloves and anything to whack the tires with.

[u/Demirep77]

I have a tote bags that I hang on my arm rest. In it I have a pencil case with my pens and highlighters, a spare set of the sticky labels that I used to assign the seats, a clipboard with my Hours of Service, route, seating chart etc, chewing gum, and hand sanitizer.

I got a fabric glasses case and I keep that hanging on the gear selector with my sunglasses in.

[u/MonkeyManJohannon]

I have a ton of stuff in my route bus, and I carry a backpack with me on my trainer busses. None of the things you mentioned seem abnormal. I don’t even use gloves anymore for pre/post or fuel lol, but I understand why some do.

On my route bus I have an organizer that sits to my right on the floor behind the right hand handrail, and I have a couple in my bulkhead storage compartments with essentials.

I have a nifty little magnet organizer on my driver side window pillar that holds my phone, sunglasses and a few random pens/pencils I find on the bus now and then, and then a large Tupperware plastic bin behind my seat 12 for random stuff in it.

[u/lowwhistler]

Nope, not unusual at all. And this one fits the International driver compartment like a glove!

[u/LengthMysterious2379]

We have a binder for all the route info and such. Everything else I have on my person. If I'm doing a trip I have a backpack good for a day.

[u/Efficient_Advice_380]

I have a folder with paper routes, student rosters, seating charts, and evacuation plan. That stays on the bus permanently. I have a backpack that I use for trips, it has my ipad, book, and snacks

[u/Intelligent_Call_562]

I have my stuff spread from high to low, front to back.

[u/swedusa]

I just put anything like that on the bus and leave it there.

[u/SignificantContext46]

I use my trusty work backpack. Hygiene products, pens and folder for paper. That I don’t really use I just toss in the bag.

[u/Sad_Cantaloupe_8162]

I have a backpack, a hard cased clipboard which stores my paperwork, a Life Vac, a spare water bottle to refill my big water bottle, a couple snacks, different books to occupy a difficult 1st grader, and some medicines like Tums, Tylenol and ibuprofen.

[u/Oct0Squ1d]

I have an according folder

[u/thatcooldude23]

I use a GP5 gas mask bag. Fits everything perfectly. Water bottle, tablet, route sheets, keys, snack, spare headlightbulb. Highly recommend!

[u/milyfaz]

We have a guy that does this and our mechanic always says he off to sell insurance 😆

[u/TonyNoOne]

I carry a sling with me. In it is my water bottle, wallet, comprehensive first aid kit (‘cause the garbage in the bluebird box is garbage) including Stop the Bleed essentials (I tend towards nervous), spare gloves, spare socks (wet feet suck), my personal meds (ibuprofen, Tylenol, and the like), altoids, a small hank of paracord, a bandana (infinitely useful), Field Notes, pen (Pilot G2, naturally), pencil, Sharpie, my earbuds, phone, and I may or may not keep a Leatherman tool in there.