School Bus Driver

Union-eligible position starting at $28.12 per hour.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or G.E.D. Certificate
• Basic reading and math skills
• Good vision and hearing
• Must be 21 years or older and hold a valid Illinois driver’s license
• Must have, or be able to obtain within six months, a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with school bus endorsement
• Safe driving record

Training

• Approximately 1½ months of training, including:
• 5 days of classroom instruction
• 10 to 30 hours of behind-the-wheel bus driver training (ride-alongs included)
• 8-hour first-aid training course

Responsibilities

• Transport students to and from school and other sites along designated route(s) on time
• Pick up and discharge students at assigned stops
• Operate wheelchair-accessible buses: deploy ramps, load/unload students in wheelchairs, inspect wheelchairs for safety, secure wheelchairs in place
• Drive students and teachers on field trips, planning routes and stops as needed
• Maintain order and discipline of student passengers per district policy
• Conduct daily pre-trip safety and operational inspections of assigned vehicle
• Report mechanical issues promptly
• Perform periodic safety drills as required by law and complete related reports
• Keep vehicle clean and in safe operating condition
• Complete mileage logs, passenger counts, and other required reports
• Attend safety, first-aid, and training meetings and programs
• Operate two-way radio
• Perform additional duties as assigned by supervisor

Skills & Knowledge

• Knowledge of Illinois Motor Vehicle Code and Education Code as they apply to school transportation
• Basic first-aid practices and techniques
• Safe driving practices
• Ability to read, write, and follow oral and written instructions independently
• Ability to maintain proper student conduct on the bus
• Ability to drive a school bus safely and efficiently
• Good judgment and extreme caution while driving
• Ability to maintain valid school-bus-driver certification per state regulations
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships

Physical Demands

• Work performed while standing, sitting, and walking
• Effective communication using speech, vision, and hearing
• Use of hands for simple grasping and fine manipulations
• Bending, squatting, crawling, climbing, and reaching
• Lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling up to 50 pounds
• Exposure to moving machinery, temperature/humidity changes, dust, fumes, and gases