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.

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1007 Questions

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Last Answer on February 07, 2021

Best Rated

Can a driver get in trouble for smoking on the bus. No students (passengers) on board but smells like smoke.

Asked by jhg over 6 years ago

Yes. Report it to the proper authorities.

Why do bus drivers almost never get in trouble. The principals and supervisors always take the drivers side even if there is video of them screamig and cussing middle to high schoolers out and sometimes after calling 100 times they will move them?

Asked by 667 over 6 years ago

Because generally bus drivers don't do the things you accuse them of. The video is proof of them doing nothing wrong. It also depends on what your definition of cussing is and truthfully if the kids were better behaved then there wouldn't be a problem in the first place.

Okay so I heard somewhere that a bus driver can not break up a fight. My bus driver a few years ago did and nothing happened to her. She still drove so she did not get fired, suspended, or put in jail

Asked by Karen over 6 years ago

It depends on the district policies and is generally left up to the personal call of the driver in charge. For example, if I have two middle school or high school kids fighting, I will call the cops. But if the kids are elementary, scrawny and tiny, I'll intervene before they beat the snot out of each other.

What happens when a school bus has to enter gated neighborhood like how do you open the gate?

Asked by Mr. Dr. Professor Patrick over 6 years ago

The bus driver is given the code by the association that owns the gate and generally like everyone else has to press in the code to open the gate. Some gated communities are open during certain periods of the day like commuter times to allow buses in and out. Some are open during the day and close only at night. Some require a remote to open and the bus is provided with that. There's ways around it. Some communities have a gate guard that will let a bus in and out.

Do you think that two way radios can be a distraction for bus drivers? Why do some drivers think they are just something to chatter on. Like no Donna I don't care what your having for lunch I am in a wreck.

Asked by Chain Saw over 6 years ago

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha <gasp> hahahahahahahahahahaha!!!! Omg thank you for making my night. Truthfully they have a good place but like you said, Susan is too busy planning her nail salon appointment and Joey is asking for a prayer request. On top of Dumbass Debbie who can't find an address that you've told her 8675309 times.....

Why are parents and students so mean to subs? They are just trying to do their job and they are yelled at they are too early, too late, made a simple wrong turn and can easly turn around. Also kids are usually for them then their regular driver.

Asked by afasdfa over 6 years ago

Subs have a more difficult job than regular drivers because they do take the brunt of problems if a kid misbehaves or is not out at the stop. That being said no route is without problems and problem kids. The trick is to figure out how to approach it.

Okay this happens months ago but I want to see what you think. Okay my Ag teacher who drives a bus of the class down to the school farm took a phone call while he was driving. Should I have said something?

Asked by Jims over 6 years ago

Again situational. Depending on the situation at hand the rule states no phone use primarily. That being said if he wasn't a normal driver he might not have thought about it. Truthfully, I've taken phone calls but usually make them brief as unless its an emergency it can wait.