Now you can know what its like to be a city bus driver for metro transit, in the twin cities, mn. As if this werent enough, bus drivers must adhere to a ruthless schedule of stops or risk being disciplined or fired. Its not all about money, you have to enjoy what you do and if thats what he. If a school bus driver gets into an accident and its his fault, would he lose his job. Good customer service skills and enjoyment of interacting with others are. It really depends on the company you work for, the situation at the time of the accident, and the circumstances surrounding the incident. Millions of families trust school bus drivers to transport their children every day safely and securely. Bus drivers in portland are terrified of contracting and spreading coronavirus as they drive covid19 patients to the hospital. The best bus drivers know how to change a tire and perform minor mechanical maintenance on their. Candidates should have a strong understanding of traffic laws and the ability to drive a school bus in all weather and traffic scenarios. While specific benefits for each job vary, bus drivers working even parttime often are. Weather conditions vary, and it is important the bus driver be comfortable driving in all types of weather. In some districts bus drivers are eligible for a benefit package. As a driver, youre in charge of the well being of a bus full of passengers.
Youd be surprised how often drivers find kids sleeping in the back of the bus or still sitting. What is the most frustrating thing about being a bus driver. The school bus driver will be responsible for making sure students get on and off the bus safely and to school on time. See whats involved with getting the bus ready for service out on the street. For some people, however, those who find their passion in driving the large vehicle, it is a dream occupation and they would not change it for any other one perhaps a truck driver would do sometimes. Being a bus driver on the job as a community transit bus driver. They may choose to operate school buses and take the morning or afternoon shift during. You want to be smooth to have a good ride for the passengers. But among public transit drivers, bus drivers suffer almost 63 percent of the reported injuries. Working as a bus driver at walt disney parks and resorts. Many states require school bus drivers to be certified in basic first aid.
Im sure, as in most jobs, there are pros and cons but would like to understand what these might be. First aid certification can be obtained through the red cross, or at a local school or other community organization. There are specific characteristics and qualities that every bus driver should possess, including being patient and attentive. What are the pros and cons of being a school bus driver. Stanley carpenter, a bus driver for dart, a transit system that serves cities in the dallas area, certainly fits the bill. Because you work on the school system schedule, you have nights, weekends, and holidays off, which is great if you have school aged children.
Competitive bus drivers on what makes for a smooth ride citylab. Here are just a few of the many benefits of being a parttime bus driver. Bus drivers regularly interact with passengers and must be courteous and helpful. Bus driver does not belong to the most popular career choices. There are minimal education and training requirements to get started, so you can begin working very quickly. Sep 14, 2019 working as a school bus driver requires little formal education. Being a bus driver is a great job i pick up women, they give me money, and eventually everyone gets off. As a community transit bus driver, youll be able to drive just about every vehicle in our fleet and will be the first smiling face our passengers see on their daily commute.
To help curb tiny trouble, drivers can plan seat assignments that offer a better chance of. Youll befriend the children, their parents, your coworkers and school staff. Com by the pin manroklahoma provider of teacher gifts, staff recognition, counselor, school worker, pta, bus driver, head start, community action, public and private school, early childhood, government agency awards and incentives. As a bus driver you are in charge and all goes well when the kids respect you. Some may also maintain order among pupils during trips to ensure safety. Even if its not required, the additional certification might improve your chances of being employed as a school bus driver. You need to be able to discipline and handle a busload of antsy and sassy children. Everything you ever wanted to know about being a city bus driver. Bus and coach drivers transport passengers on local, national or overseas journeys.
Bus drivers need a high school diploma or certificate of equivalency. A new strategy was devised to reward students for positive school bus behavior. Passengers and drivers may take out their frustration on each other, instead of directing these urgent concerns towards those who are in a. The requirement is just a high school degree and although many people may look down at the profession, thinking its blue collar and easy, we usually make more than. Being a good bus driver is more than just having safe driving habits. What do school bus drivers do including their typical day.
Everything you ever wanted to know about being a city bus. Here are some of the pros and cons of being a school or special client. What makes a great bus driver, according to the best in the world. When the driver saw a student meeting an expectation, they rewarded them with the coupon at the end of the ride. Everything you need to know about the career of a school or special client bus driver what they do, how much they make, how to become one, and should you become one. Discussion in other public transport started by gazuk, 1 apr 20. Register to attend our next open day and we can take you through the application and assessment process all in the one day. Bus drivers form a cornerstone for community involvement. The interviewer wants to know which characteristics you feel are most important as a bus driver and that you will bring these specific qualities to the workplace. You should also have a keen sense of direction and be punctual in nature. A day in the life of a trimet bus operator youtube. Emotions such as anger, sadness, nervousness or chemical surges from adrenaline can cause even the best drivers to make poor decisions. Driving a bus requires the controlled use of multiple limbs on the basis of what a person observes. Becoming a school bus driver gets you interacting with your community.
A resume objective is the first thing that a potential employer reads. Learn about the training, job duties and licensure to see if this. The drivers then told the student exactly what they did to earn the buck. You can get into this job through a passenger transport driver intermediate apprenticeship. Bus drivers need excellent defensive driving skills and a thorough knowledge of all bus safety practices. Drivers need to clearly separate their personal matters from the time spent on the school bus. In addition to driving the vehicle, youre in charge of. Buses get to use the express lanes so the amount of time we actually sit in traffic is limited. Also are there any other forumites who are looking to become a trainee bus driver or are in the process of being an trainee. Seven percent of all bus drivers surveyed in 2010 by the. Professional cdl class a with p endorsement under dot regulations, duties. Driving a school bus could be a lot better if they paid all school bus drive full.
Get the facts about training requirements, licensure, career outlook and salary to determine if this is the right career for you. When applying for a bus driver position, it is important to include your skills and experience in your objective statement to paint a picture of you as an employee and to show employers your capabilities. A bus driver will typically start the day by checking in to work, getting keys, filling out the log book if there is one, punching a time clock, and doing a daily pretrip safety check. Everyone is being forced to make due with less, thus for both the driver and the passengers, a bus ride may be a difficult experience. To truly enjoy being a bus driver, it helps to be a people person. Also, bus drivers have a variety of shift and schedule options available. Urban bus drivers have fewer serious accidents than, for example, longhaul truckers. For example, new transit drivers usually get parttime hours or end up with. Bus drivers need excellent defensive driving skills and a thorough knowledge of all bus.
What i enjoy most about being a school bus driver is the reward of a childs smile. There are a few things we look out for to make sure you are ready for the job and able. A safe driver a calm driver a smooth driver a driver that is good with the size vehicle. There is always a need for bus drivers, making it relatively easy to find employment. What are the duties and job description of a bus driver. Your longevity as a bus driver usually determines your possibilitiesfor advancement and the flexibility of your schedule. The advantages of being a bus driver minimal training.
Being a school bus driver is more than a parttime job. As an industry leader, first student doesnt just hire drivers. Being a school bus driver is a parttime job, but it carries fulltime responsibility. How do bus drivers feel when people say thank you, have a nice day when they get off the bus. A lot of the drivers are courteous to bus drivers and block for them when we need to make a turn or change lanes.
Any job is a good job if he enjoys it and works hard. Weather your driving to the mall or driving a bunch of kids home safely. You cant really miss a shift as a school bus driver the kids have to get to school. What do you enjoy most about your school bus driver career. The good thing is you get paid for making sure the kids are safe.
Im thinking of commencing soon and would appreciate some honest feedback that may give me an overall impression. Unless the driver or tour company outright refuses tips, plan to give a bus driver a cash. New york city bus driver david smith points out how to use the fare system to a passenger. Federal regulations require drivers to have normal use of their arms and legs. Driving a fixedroute transit bus is the most stressful job i have hadand i was in. As kids get older, their onbus behavior can start to become a distraction.