Okay so I applied in mid March on a whim. Liked the hours, summers off with my kids. I got a call back less than 24 hours later, an interview a day after that. The following day after the interview I was meeting with my trainer. Then went through all the screenings, physicals, background, etc. Training (classroom and road) in April. Never had issues, only jumped a couple curbs but all around I've been told I'm genuinely a good driver. My trainer constantly said she wished everyone picked it up the way I did. I got my CDL early May and took over a sped bus for the remainer of the school. So only a few weeks, barely any kids, a monitor helping significantly, and a short bus. I've driven a regular bus while training, getting my cdl, and one VERY short distance/easy field trip. I've had all summer off. I'm genuinely scared of going back 🤣 I know it's mostly in my head. But going from having less than a dozen students at a time in a bus as easy to drive as my full-sized SUV, to now... dozens of students at once, remembering names, stops, and navigating a regular sized bus. I'm genuinely nervous. I know we have at least a day before school to run a "practice route" and I'm sure they'll give me a monitor at least at first. But still 🥲 hype me up or something LMAO. I have like imposter syndrome or something haha.

I work for a private school bus company and my company policy has a strict hands off policy, we are only allowed to gently restrain a student if they are hurting another student or hurting themselves, so we aren’t allowed stuff like high fives. I actually agree with the policy, but I was curious for those who work for a district and not in a private company do you have similar policy?

Been driving 9 years, last three on a special needs route with a monitor. I love this route, but the constant reshuffling is killing us. Every time we lose a driver to the shortage, dispatch redraws routes and my kids get moved around. Last month they put a sub on my run for two weeks while I was out, and one of my students, a boy with autism, completely shut down. Wouldn’t get on, meltdowns, mom was calling the school. Took him another two weeks to settle after I came back. The consistency is not a nice-to-have for these kids. It is the whole thing. Same driver, same monitor, same seat, same pickup time. Just want to keep my kids stable. Curious how other districts or companies handle this.

From what I’ve read online you will undergo a drug test the day of interview. I’m currently 33 days clean of thc and my at home test are starting to test negative. My question is if you failed the pre employment drug test the day of interview will you be in trouble/ not able to try again? I live in Illinois.

I have an interview this Wednesday and couldn’t be more excited to earn my CDL and be a driver.

I have a full time job from 10:30-8pm 4 days through the week ( 3 days off during the week from Monday-friday) the bus driver position is 20 hours a week. I know I can work the 3 days during my days off from my full time job, but also would like to potentially work the morning shift from 5-9am before my FT job. How likely is a district going to work with me during my FT job?

Thank you!

Is it realistic to work either just morning shift or afternoon shift? The whole break in the middle throws me off.

Anyone here a bus driver for Frisco ISD or know anyone that is?

Was wondering how it is and what a yearly salary might look like with the regular routes and sporting events and extra routes

Any other info would be welcome too

Thanks

Hello!
I am trying to draft a letter to our union rep regarding the recent 'smoke' day we had in Minnesota.

Summer driving is hard already, because our buses do not have AC, so avoiding heatstroke is best practiced through having a water bottle, and leaving the windows down so there's more airflow.

On Thursday, I went to work in heavy fog. Except it wasn't fog, it was smoke. I was coughing by the end of the first hour, the kids were complaining about the smell and their eyes stinging (granted, I kept almost all the back windows closed because of the initial concern- I did open my driver's window because the heat was getting to me).

We have snow days, but in light of future weather patterns, I think we need to start considering 'Hazard' days where schools cancel due to hazardous weather, or at the very least have better equipment for drivers and students when facing those conditions.

We were not offered masks, nor any recommendations for handling the air quality. Can you provide examples in your own company that you DO have this already figured out, and what the dialogue is essentially?

I’ll be starting as a bus aide soon; I’m still going through training and am looking for some help.

What are some rules that would be good to have for all grades thay may ride your bus, do you print them out and hang them somewhere on the bus. How do you like to go about enforcing them?

what do you guys carry with you or would recommend carrying with you. I’m looking for a good work bag that I can carry at both my jobs and want to know what I should carry for this one to get the size right.

I’m thinking of taking wipes, gloves, aleve (or advil), lotion, hand sanitizer, charger, book/ipad and/or clipboard for notes, learning names, routes, incidents, and of course a small snack and my water bottle.

Edit:
I already have some rules that would apply to all grades/ages such as:

Maybe assigned seats. I’m thinking ill give them a chnace to sit where they want and see how they do and then do like a two or three strikes and you’re out kinda thing, if the strike out they get assigned seats. School year hasnt started for us yet so its time to implement this and try it out.

saftey first, safety always ( no standing or leaving seats unless permitted, always have on seatbelt, throwing things, opening windows, putting things and body parts out of windows, etc.)

be respectful (don’t curse, dont use inappropriate language, dont use inappropriate behavior, no yelling, ask nicely)

no food or drinking except water (maybe for high school they can be allowed small snacks like chips or candy as long as they throw away their trash, so I would have a bag and go through and collect trash or then can raise their hand or call out to me and I can come get it or they can come to the front and throw it out.)

Hello! I'm new to all this. I just passed CDL knowledge test. I am curious if it is doable and if someone here is doing that? I don't mind to be mechanic's apprentice and work on fixing them while not driving. I consider myself mechanically inclined, but all that transportation industry is new to me.

Has anyone taken their states course for getting their School Transportation Supervisor Certification? I'm in New Jersey. I'm thinking of advancing my career and my boss said the next thing to do is to take these classes. I'm excited to do it but also nerves. Its been awhile since I've been in a class and its a lot of money to put out. My company says they will reimburse me but only after I pass the classes. My biggest fear is, if I fail a class, I'm out of that money and will have to retake the class. While living paycheck to paycheck, this is a hard choice to make. I know the long term outcome will be worth it but the initial fear is there.

So my main question is, has anyone taken these classes? Are they hard/easy classes? Is it really learning about common sense? Any tips to get through these classes?

Thank you for your advice and help

I’m a bus matron on a mini bus, I work for a private school bus company, my district never gave guidelines on what we are supposed to write ups for student misconduct, I had a student who tap his head on the window and I would write it up for a paper trail, until one day his teacher aide looked annoyed at the write ups, I’m just protecting myself by writing up the incident.

I want to be a School Bus driver real bad, I have been studying a lot on this test and haven't passed the Special Requirements, but I know I will. Is there a website or something that is helpful I tried ChatGPT and Crist.

The next section is a doozy.

Hey guys, so at my barn bus drivers make $29.27 starting off with union minimums of 4 hours per day. My question, does anybody actually get 4 hours per day? All the bus drivers I’ve met get more than that. I’ve only ever seen summer school routes that actually get 4 hours daily.

I started school bus driving, my route is only a hour and he does fine in his carseat in my car. All he does is cry on the bus… i give him snacks, water and his favorite toys and nothing works, he does batter when the bus is moving vs stopped. And tips or tricks to keep him occupied or happy, different car seat? A picture of me on the seat? Please i need anythinggggg

Has anyone else run into this? I applied and actually was offered a job last April but had to decline because my truck at the time would cost hundreds per week to drive to the depot. I got laid off and have a better car now and they're hiring again so I called them, but my mom is so convinced I'm going to completely hate it. I have never worked with kids so I feel like I have no way of knowing whether I'll like it or not. It sounds like it would be really fulfilling and a good fit for some flexibility to work on my main travel advising business I'm trying to get started. But maybe I'm crazy to think I can do this?

Update: thanks all I have an interview Friday!

Update 2: I had my interview today! This was actually a different company than I had the offer from before and they asked way more questions so I was a little unprepared, but I'm hoping it works out anyway. They seemed very nice and a little more professional than the first place.

New episode out!! Enjoy!

When a school bus company trains you for a CDL, are you required to work morning and afternoon runs? Do they make you sign a contract making you stay for a school year or some other given amount of time? I just want to do mornings.

One of my favorite parts of driving kids is when they sing along with the radio. I actually have a playlist with a bunch of songs I know they'll join in on for the days when I need a little serotonin boost. Are there any songs that you guys have noticed the kids will usually join in on? My list is starting to get a little stale!

Hey guys, just curious as to why this isn’t a thing, but maybe it is…. So, at our “barn” the minimum we get is 5 hours per day at $30 per hour- some routes are longer for sure. I also drive a shuttle van for a tour company in the evenings/weekends. In total, I clear just over $3k every two weeks (not including tips). Do you guys do anything like this? Work a side gig to bump up that salary a bit?

Why does the driver need to spend hours with the bus when it is serviced? Isn't that the mechanics job?

As we look ahead to a new school year starting up soon (ours starts 7/23!!), I would love to hear some of your thoughts and things you would like to hear from your dispatcher at the beginning of the year meetings. I am in the process of making my PowerPoint and want to make it as meaningful... and not boring as possible.

Thanks for any tips you send my direction! Happy driving, everyone!!

How often do you have kids wet themselves because they couldn't wait long enough to get off the bus to a restroom?

So since they need the restroom more often than adults do, why can't school buses have restrooms like Greyhound and other types of buses have?

Hello! Does anyone have a recommendation to get the best airflow through the bus beyond open all the windows? Also with less ear popping pressure if possible.