Bus Driver - Hourly

Hours per week: 0-29. Paid training provided to obtain CDL with school bus endorsement.

About the Role

The school bus driver operates various styles of school buses to safely transport students to and from school, field trips, and extended trips (out of town/overnight). The driver is responsible for safely operating the school bus at all times under all driving conditions, maintaining cleanliness and mechanical soundness of the bus, and monitoring student behavior. Attendance, physical presence, and timeliness are required and are essential functions of this position.

Responsibilities

• Operate various brands, sizes, and types of school buses (up to 15 tons GVW or up to 40 ft long)
• Deliver students to and from school in a safe manner
• Monitor and model appropriate behavior and intervene when necessary
• Perform a state-required pre- and post-trip safety inspection of the bus including an under-the-bus inspection and adding necessary fluids
• Complete all state and district-required forms and paperwork
• Demonstrate effective written and verbal communication skills
• Make minor repairs in route
• Attend all training required by state and district
• Effectively clean bus
• Conduct regularly scheduled safety and bus evacuation drills
• Maintain detailed route sheets
• Operate wheelchair lift and properly secure students to their seats when necessary
• Perform first aid/CPR
• Supervise and train adult attendants on the bus
• Enforce school bus safety rules and policies
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements

• Attain CDL with passenger and school bus endorsements
• Possess a safe driving record as demonstrated by MVR report
• Complete new driver training course within ninety days of hire
• Complete state requirements for Learner's Permit
• Complete behind-the-wheel training
• Pass driving assessment
• Pass the State-required Department of Transportation (DOT) drug screening and physical

Re-Certification

To be eligible to continue employment as a school bus driver, the following is required:

• Renew CDL every five years
• Complete the State-required certification program (including required classes and other learning requirements)
• Pass annual State-required physical assessment
• Participate in all random DOT drug screenings
• Maintain a safe driving record
• Complete an eight-hour in-service training each year of employment (including the first year)

Skills

• Familiarity with the mechanical operation of the bus and ability to make minor repairs
• Ability to recognize mechanical problems and report them to bus technicians
• Knowledge of laws and policies (state, interstate, and district)
• Effective communication skills for interactions with students, parents, fellow bus drivers, and supervisory staff
• Student behavior management skills
• Skills in first aid, fuel economy, and defensive driving
• Knowledge of special education policies and laws and ability to appropriately interact with special education students
• Proper communication on a two-way radio

Assigned Decision Making

• Modify routes to meet student needs and communicate changes to supervisory staff
• Use appropriate and approved student management and discipline strategies (driver may NEVER suspend student riding privileges)
• Decide appropriate action with regards to first aid for minor injuries on bus (always notify parents of injury)

Interactions

Positive interactions with students, parents, staff, teachers, administration, and other outside agencies.

Working Environment

• Constantly pay attention to students during loading, unloading, and transit
• Intervene with student behavior when necessary (gang issues, weapons, fighting, etc.)
• Safely operate a bus in adverse weather conditions
• Work split shifts
• Work with medically fragile students including operating a wheelchair lift
• Tolerate extreme weather circumstances (heat and cold)
• Canyon, rural, and city driving can be expected during any regular driving day

Physical Requirements

• Frequently required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, and crouch
• Occasionally required to use hands to handle or feel and must occasionally climb or balance
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception
• Must be able to sit for long periods of time
• Must be able to move and lift under 100 lbs