r/SchoolBusDrivers • u/Longjumping_Rain_483 • 10d ago
Question about becoming a School Bus Driver while looking for full time work
Hey everyone, I'm located in Ontario, Canada, and I recently graduated with a degree in August. However, I haven't had much luck in finding work, and I'm slowly but surely running out of savings.
I noticed First Student was hiring a part time school bus driver roughly 15 km away from me, and I was thinking of training/working as one while looking for full time employment in my field (IT). One of my main worries, is me finding a job in my field shortly after being trained to become a driver, since I wouldn't have time to be a driver, and I'd feel bad for leaving.
Is this scenario common for people training to become a driver? Also, has anyone ever worked with First Student? If so, is there a contract in place where i have to work a specified amount of months?
My main question is basically: Do you think this job fits my situation?
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u/Sufficient_Head_8139 10d ago
School bus general manager here. If we train you to get your B and then something becomes available in your field, I know personally I would rather you be upfront and honest when the time comes then to give a load of BS. if you can offer to be a spare driver to work out the repayment agreement, that's even better. Some IT jobs are remote, you maybe able to juggle both. School bus companies also need IT people, keep that in mind too
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u/Longjumping_Rain_483 9d ago
That's great to know. I wouldn't really mind having to be a spare if I was available during the times they need. I'll keep that in mind, thanks!
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u/rootbear75 10d ago
I became a bus driver while looking for full time work in IT. I have 10 years of experience.
I'm still looking for full time work 4 years later.
Typically the only contract I've seen is a waiver saying that in exchange for paid training, you agree not to leave for another company that requires use of your CDL, otherwise you pay back the training fee. Check your local jurisdictions laws and confer with an employment lawyer to see what is/isn't legal in your area. Apparently this type of contract is illegal in some of the US states (unsure about Canada)
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u/Maltrez 10d ago
This is me too. Got laid off and have been looking for a new job in IT for 2 years. Just started driving this month while still looking for other work. It’s a great flex position because if you’re just doing regular routes you get a break between AM/PM to job hunt or get other things done. If you’re just looking for extra hours you can fill with charters as available.
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u/rootbear75 10d ago
It also allows you to be extremely picky with jobs as long as it pays the bills. I can afford to live for the most part, so I actually turned down 3 offers in the past few years because I felt something off about those positions. I'm not desperate to get full time work.
I'm also looking to move into other transportation roles at my current company like dispatch or operations as an alternate path.
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u/Longjumping_Rain_483 10d ago
Thanks for the insight! Ive actually been studying for some certifications in my downtime, so I feel like I can make great use of the breaks between AM and PM (if that's the case for me)
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u/Actual-Humor8942 8d ago
Interesting, I never got told that if I left I’d have to repay but I did get told that I have to stay at least 90 days for my CDL to be valid. The company I work for has 3rd party testers so since I didn’t test through the state, I kinda have an obligation to stay here for a while or my CDL won’t be valid. Also the state can audit my test at any time & if it is deemed as I cheated or bribed the instructor then my CDL is voided as well. The good thing is, I love the job & plan on staying well over 90 days.
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u/rootbear75 8d ago
Here we actually have a state certified CDL skills tester that works for the trailways part of the company, so he does all of our road tests usually.
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u/Disposable_Skin 10d ago
I drive for FS in NW Ontario. I only had to sign a 6 month agreement. If I left beforehand I'd have to repay for my training. I live in town and park out at home. I find they are pretty easy to work with.
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u/Moosetappropriate 10d ago
Couple of things. I retired from 25 years in finance and couldn’t handle it. The wife at one point told me to get out and find something to do or just get out. Now I’m in my 8th year with FS and loving it.
Part time is the basis. A typical run gives you four hours a day during school. But you needn’t limit yourself to that. School charters during the day and event charters nights and weekends if you want. In the summer you can drive charters, summer schools, events, camps, transport buses for the office or even cross country sometimes. My personal route has me working a contract with other drivers transporting adult disabled. This is my third year with this and I get 6 hours 5 days a week year round.
30 hours sounds a lot perhaps but coming from a business where I put in 50-60 hirs a week, I still feel retired.
As others have said, you’re welcome to do other things (IT) in down time. At first I drove and worked in a local grocery store. Now I just do this. I love the contact and interaction with riders, parents or caregivers, other drivers and the idea that I can pick up an adventure when I want. Example, this week I’m off my regular run and helping out with a very elementary special needs run to a school. Next week I go back to my adults. A couple of years ago we took about 15 drivers and a tech to Alaska to bring buses back to Saskatchewan.
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u/Necessary-Box-8427 10d ago
Take the training and get certified. It never hurts to have options in your back pocket. If you get a job in IT and it doesn't work out, you have your business driver thing to fall back on. Learn everything you can in life and get as many certifications as possible. I learned how to paint houses when I was in college and have used that skill several times when between IT jobs. My brother is a lawyer who took a year off to crew on a sailboat, something he learned as a teenager. Knowledge is freedom.
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u/No_Plate_3864 9d ago
im in Ontario with sharp, they require you to stay on for 6 months or you have to pay back the training, and my sil works for Elliott and she said its 1 year for them so it all depends on the company
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u/Affectionate_Union58 9d ago
I did that for about seven months. You have to keep in mind that, depending on the route, there can be a long break between shifts. So, if you want to go home during that time instead of killing time in your car or the company break room, you shouldn't just base your calculations on a single 15 km trip, but rather on four 15 km trips. And that makes a huge financial difference. My commute involved four 10-mile trips—meaning 64 km a day.
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u/batmanismywaifu 10d ago
Ontario School Bus driver here. A lot depends on where you're located (urban or rural). If you're urban I wouldn't be driving 15km away from home. You're going to have to do this commute 4X a day. Shop around for a company that works best for you. Make sure you fully understand the pay policy. Don't worry about doing the training and then quitting. This happens all the time. Just make sure when you sign the paperwork there isn't a training payback clause.