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 you really get fined by the FCC if you make unsolicited messages, cuss, or make weird noises on the CB. I know it can be a nuisance but I heard someone can be fined. Is that true?

Asked by Mrs. Crabtree over 6 years ago

Honestly, I've never heard of that. We joke all the time on the radio and cut up and have a good time. Sometimes adding a little humor to the day is the only way we survive.

If you don’t do any summer school routes are driver paid in the summer? Does it depend on the district/company.

Asked by Bob over 6 years ago

It depends on the district and company. My district pays us in the summer but that means they withhold money from us all school year to pay us in the summer. We are contracted for 180 days but they take that and spread that over 12 months. Summer school and other extra things like field trips and alternative school runs and mid days are considered extra so they pay us a minimum hourly rate for that. For example, I'm doing summer school so I am allowed to put down 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon for transportation.

Okay then who do you think some drivers think that it is a good tactic to scare and intimidate students?

Asked by Job about 6 years ago

Control. There are many different ways to exert control over a bunch of kids. Some people do it through intimidation and scare tactics. I prefer a more practical approach. Treat them like I want to be treated.

Why do kids like to complain about the music that the radio is on when it is on their station most of them don’t even listen to it. They are too busy with head phones in, being loud, etc

Asked by Jsopdsofj about 6 years ago

Because sometimes they can hear that music over their headphones. I try to keep the music at a reasonable level so we all get along.

What is the difference between a sequential flashing system and a non-Sequential sequential flashing system?

Asked by Dimmue almost 6 years ago

One is sequential and the other is non sequential sequential? My guess is that you may be referring to the student lights. When they alternate thats non sequential but they still all work sequentially together. Whereas the hazard lights are flashing all together at once.

Why are some bus drivers so nice and some are so mean. For real most of my drivers where one or the other either super nice or really like yell their butt off at everyone or be super sweet and only yelled on occasion when no one was listing

Asked by ASDFJKL: over 6 years ago

It depends on how the kids are to us for many of us but some people are just plain mean. I prefer a quiet approach. I rarely yell, say please and thank you to my kids and they respond much better.

What is so special about the back of the bus

Asked by Daniel about 6 years ago

Nothing. Kids think its a privilege but we see everything that happens.