School Bus Driver

School Bus Driver

The Bus Driver

15 Years Experience

South, ..

Female, 37

I have been a bus driver since late 2006. I know the inside story, the scoop, the down low dirt of what it takes to be a bus driver, how to handle kids and adults, and how to survive on the "streets" so to speak. I used to have a blog, feel free to browse it or ask me a question here.

SubscribeGet emails when new questions are answered. Ask Me Anything!Show Bio +

Share:

Ask me anything!

Submit Your Question

1007 Questions

Share:

Last Answer on February 07, 2021

Best Rated

Why dont bus drivers have a door on their side ?

Asked by Rolando Mota about 10 years ago

I'm not really sure exactly. I know on smaller buses (20 passenger) the driver has a door on both theirs and passengers sides because of the design of the bus. For larger buses, its only feasible to have a door on one side for all entering and exiting the bus. Interesting fun fact, that in any accident, the drivers side window and both front windows (as well as most any other window in the bus) can be kicked out to aid in evacuation procedures if such procedures are warranted)* * I don't advise you getting on a random bus and kicking out the windows without a warranted cause. That may get you arrested and charged with vandalism. Plus the other folks look at you like you are crazy.

When I applied for a bus driver position I put that I was wreck free for the past three years but it actually falls off in a few months. I will let them know but Could still get a bus driver position or does this factor me out?

Asked by Kayla almost 10 years ago

If you lied on your application (or stretched the truth) they will still be able to see it on your DMV record if it was recorded on your license. Depending on who was at fault will determine whether they will hire you or not. If you were not up front and honest with them in the first place, they probably won't hire you. Had you spoken to the transportation director and explained that the wreck you were in was a few years ago and gave them details, then they might be willing to work with you. Good luck.

Does anyone know what the law is about not having heat on a school bus?

Asked by jhp about 10 years ago

I don't know if there is a law or not. Most, if not all, school buses come equipped with heaters. Not every bus has an air conditioner, but a heater is fairly standard. Occasionally, as with other mechanical items on a bus, the heater may break down. This is usually unexpected and not preventable. It makes for a very cold bus ride in the mornings during the winter months if a heater breaks. Most of the time its fixable or if it needs further service, the bus companies will often swap buses out for a fully functioning bus. Also, as I told the kids who got on my bus in short sleeves and shivering this morning while holding their jacket in their arms... a jacket works better when its ON!

So today I threw something on the bus , and it landed close to the bus driver . So he stop the bus and called in the radio and asked who threw it and I said it was me , what will happen to me ?

Asked by What will happen to me ? about 9 years ago

Did you apologize for throwing something? If so, its likely the driver probably accepted your apology, no harm no foul. If he said he was going to write you up, then you will have to accept the consequences that the school gives you for throwing something you shouldn't have. If you want to really impress the bus driver and let him know you are really sorry for what you did, you can simply write him an apology letter and hand it to him tomorrow when you board the bus. If you don't feel like writing an apology, then simply saying you're sorry to the bus driver will make all the difference in the world. My bus kids know that its easier to be up front and honest with me and that its likely they will only get a verbal warning for their behavior. Good luck.

Whats the fastest and easiest way to assign seats on high school only route? School just started, lots of high school students and its hot so I dont want to have them sitting inside the bus for long. Its too hot.

Asked by Edwin(texas) over 10 years ago

Let them choose their seats, if there is a problem with them, then assign specific ones seats closer to the front where you can manage them.  You'll find that several of the kids will sit with the same people every day and that they will usually have a preferred area of the bus.  I have elementary, middle, and highschool on my bus so I separate the bus by sections.  It gives the kids autonomy of choice when deciding where to sit.  Alternately you could ask them to decide amongst themselves where they are going to sit, or at the very least whom they would like to sit near/next to.  In that case, I would hand out index cards and then once names are written on each card, hand one student tape to put the name cards above the seats.  At any rate, highschoolers like the autonomy of choice, so unless they give you a reason to assign them a seat, let them sort it out.

My 6yr old told us his bus driver video taped him getting off the bus. Very well behaved boy, never been any issues with him or others his age. I'm positive it wasn't to record bad behavior. Driver very friendly, son said it was uncomfortable. Legal?

Asked by Frank almost 10 years ago

First off, is this a school sanctioned thing? For example, is the bus driver recording students in order to put together a "school bus safety" video for the district. If so, then notices should have been sent around to all parents of the children involved. As it is the only LEGAL camera on the bus is the one that is hooked up to the bus monitoring system. Occasionally, I might take photographs of certain kids, but that's because I know their parents and will text them a goofy picture of their kid. Usually it is co-workers children. At any rate, I would seriously question why this driver is videotaping your child getting on and off the bus, or if maybe there was a miscommunication and the driver was referring to the overhead cameras in a bus lecture which are pointed at the students getting on and off the bus and sitting in the seats.

How can I ask my bus driver out on a date with me? He's my Uni's shuttle bus driver. I know he knows I exist because I am a regular passenger. Is it acceptable to ask, despite him being the uni bus driver and I am the student?

Asked by L.Saes over 10 years ago

This is kind of a slippery slope for bus drivers.  It is probably best to maintain the professionalism and not get personal.  Thats not to say if you see him out and about in a place other than the bus, that you can't strike up a conversation with him, but in my opinion best to keep those conversations for interactions outside his professional job.