School bus drivers are in charge of transporting students to and from school in a safe manner. They also provide transportation for students to field trips and other official school events. A person must fill out an employment application with a school district that is hiring bus drivers in order to find a job as a school bus driver.
A high school diploma or GED is usually required to be considered for a position as a school bus driver. A commercial driver’s license (CDL) with a passenger endorsement is required. They must provide work and personal references in order for school districts to ensure that they are hiring the best candidates possible. Those interested in driving school buses must also pass a criminal background check. Bus driver applicants are also subjected to a drug test.
Newly hired school bus drivers go through training to learn how to drive a bus. They practice driving the bus, learning how to make turns, back up the bus, navigate narrow streets, and perform other common maneuvers. Bus drivers are educated on state and local bus driving regulations as well as the rules of the school districts in which they work.
Working with children is not easy, but school bus drivers are required to do so on a daily basis. They must be able to keep the school bus in order and deal with any behavioral issues that may arise. As the students board or disembark from the bus, they may need to assist small children or children with disabilities.
A school bus driver is frequently confronted with tense situations. On a school bus, for example, children can be noisy and disruptive. The bus driver must deal with issues such as passenger behavior, heavy traffic, and the pressure of arriving at destinations on time.
If someone wants to work as a school bus driver, they should contact the local school district. There is a lot of turnover because it is an entry-level job that can be stressful. As a result, finding districts looking for new bus drivers is usually simple. Many school districts actively recruit drivers, providing sign-on bonuses and hourly pay that is higher than the minimum wage.
Because most schools do not have classes during the summer, anyone who finds a job as a school bus driver can expect to have summers off. Bus drivers can take vacations during the spring and winter breaks in addition to their summer vacations. Some people who work as school bus drivers look for summer work to supplement their income. Other bus drivers prefer to relax and enjoy their time off, supplementing their income with money saved during the school year.