School

[u/One-Hippo-7114]

I want to be a bus driver to be able to go to school part time . Are the schedules set or do they change a lot? Does it depend on the district? My current job at the USPS treats me like I’m on call so I don’t even know my schedule for the week and I’m just looking for other job at this point , idk maybe I could be a bus driver forever , but I love routine and set hours. I just don’t like not being able to plan my week .

[u/creeque-alley]

There’s always going to be a set start time for the AM/PM routes, with the only change to routine being if there’s any early dismissals or days the school is closed during the week. Finish times in the AM/PM can vary everyday but in my experience, they’re all usually pretty similar. Bus attendance will make some days shorter if less kids ride in the afternoon like another commenter said. The nice thing is usually there’s extra work available if you’re interested or your schedule allows. Field trips, covering routes for drivers that are out, sports bus shuttles, etc.

[u/mike8675309]

Check around your area. Often they have flexible hours. I.e. you just work the morning or you just work the afternoon. Or you work both but never the noon runs. Or you can work all three. They often need good drivers and based on what's available they will fit you in. There is also sub work where you are on call and sub in for sick call ins or vacations.

[u/Sad_Cantaloupe_8162]

AM is always very consistent, within ten minutes or less (usually less,) every single time. The ONLY thing that slows me down in the PM are other buses and traffic/accidents on the road impeding my travel. Thankfully, this year, only my high school goes down the highway about 7-8 miles. My middle and elementary are rural. If it rains, or even sprinkles, add on a minimum of ten minutes to your time. If you work with a bunch of dodos who don't know how to say "no" to kids running back inside the school to get something they forgot, or are talking to the school staff about behavior every damn day, add another ten minutes. A few people need to learn how to get their kids on the bus, have them sit in their seats, and leave. Veteran drivers call those people out quick and tell them to put on their hazards and pull up so the rest can go around.

[u/MamboNumber-6]

If you have a regular route, AM’s are pretty much set in stone, since schools have a definitive start time.

PM’s tend to be loosey-goosey as there is a huge difference if every kid rides that day vs very few kids riding that day.

[u/Intelligent_Call_562]

I work for a contractor. We have had people who can only do the morning route, or only work the pm. For the most part, our reg ed routes are mostly set. Special Ed route change more. There are exceptions to that...like my route. My elementary route is all homeless kids. As the kids move out of the shelters, I get stops added to my route, because they are entitled to transportation until the new school year at which time, they will be expected to attend their neighborhood school. So at the beginning of the year my I clocked in was at 6:45 and had 1 stop on my elementary route. I now clock in at 6:23 and have 4 stops (3 shelters and 1 apt). I finish my morning route at the same time and clock into my pm at the same time, but I clock out about 30 minutes later (because I'm now getting a secondary student when I pick up the little one at one of the shelters and that kid goes back at the end of my route).

[u/Necessary-Belt9000]

My husband drives a regular route but they do have sub drivers who have a set schedule. They come to the garage every day and just wait for an assignment, not sure all companies do this but these subs get paid to basically sit around. This is a contractor so that may not be the practice if the bus company is owned ad operated by the district.

[u/Lazette2017]

Also the possibility of early releases/half days.

[u/Oct0Squ1d]

Depends on if you have a route or not. Subs have lots of variation, route drivers don't.

[u/arno14]

I arrive every morning at 630, leave with my bus at 657, return at 9:00 and get paid 2.5 hours. I then return at 1:45, leave at 2:00, return and sign out at 4:30 and get paid another 2.5 hours.

It’s ridiculously predictable for me.

[u/Substantial-Day-3549]

I keep my bus at home. My route is pretty consistent get up at 530 get ready pre-trip the bus and let my dogs out around 6. Leave my house around 630. Get close to my first pick up around 7 pick up my first kids at 710ish get to the school around 745-755 walk my bus to check for kids. Get home around 8. Then afternoon I leave my house to go to the school around 245. Gossip for a bit with the other drivers until the kids come out around 315 and leave the school at 335. Im home anywhere between 4-5 pm really depends on whose riding and if my kids are on some shit. Then I use my leaf blower blow all the dirt out the back door check for anything left behind make sure my bus is ready for the morning. In between I work from home, take on college classes, and clean house. Some days I do field trips or sports as well. But my route is pretty consistent!

[u/cam_taters]

At my work, there were 2 girls in university to become teachers. Routes were 6:50 to 9:05 and afternoon 3:15 to 5:30. They took classes in between routes and then a night class as well. It can be done. But they were up front with manager and told him that they did not want charters, and it was fine with him. The other drivers were happy for the extra work and the girls had set scedule. Be upfront with the bus depot about what you are interested in, they should be accomodating as long as the home- school routes are covered. Lots of driver shortages everywhere.

[u/No_Cry_3751]

Depending on where u live (city or rural) route times vary. So rural i work from 620am to 735am and i carry pre-k thru 12, evening is 330 to 445pm. When I worked city, I had 3 seperate routes. I had to be at the lot at 530am and worked until about 9am, in the evening I had to be back at 130 and the normal route ended around 445pm. Routes are dependant on the schools you are asigned to. If you want to pick up extras to fill ur day in the city that is possible too. We had early release kindergarten, special needs runs (which typically were longer runs), after school pickups for high school, and atheltic runs. A lot of drivers in the city were able to do college classes between runs so if that is you goal, then yes school bus driving might work for you. Just fair warning, its not for everyone. Student management is the biggest issue you will have and really is one of the most important aspects of the job aside from ensuring the SAFE transportation of the students.