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

Why do some routes not start until past seven and others at 5:30? Am but in the PM they start about the same time

Asked by Jim over 6 years ago

Depending on where you live and how the bus system is set up will depend on how the routes start and end in both morning and evening. Some districts have the schools separated on each bus by school/grade level. For example there may be high school routes, middle school routes, and elementary routes that all start and end at different times based on when those schools start and end their day. Alternatively you may live in a county that puts all grade levels on each bus. There are positives and negatives to this. A positive is that if you are a family that has older siblings, the older ones are riding with the younger ones and you don't have to worry as much about childcare when your high schooler gets off with your second grader. Due to the distance from the schools will depend on when each route needs to start. You can guarantee that the one that starts early will end late in the afternoon due to the distance they have to cover with children.

Should I call the bus barn after the bus took off and the neighbors could not get their lunch because she honked then drove off as soon as they came out. I don't know how much money they have and that driver could have caused them to miss a meal

Asked by Jay over 6 years ago

Being that some systems are on a certain schedule, it's likely the parent has been notified of when the bus will be there to drop food. If you did witness this, the neighborly thing to do would be to check on the family and ask if you can help them by calling the bus barn. It's hard to say whether or not they've already been told "be out at x time we will be there at y time" just like a normal bus stop. I would err on the side of caution and be polite with a phone call.

Am I allowed to catch the elementary bus if I miss the secondary bus? I would be late but would it be okay?

Asked by SI over 6 years ago

That would depend on your district and the bus driver. You could ask but chances are good the driver will say no.

Someone was standing on my bus and the bus driver brake checked him and he went flying on the floor

Asked by Blake over 6 years ago

Report the driver to the district. Also don't stand on the bus.

Do buses ever have outside temperature on the dash or where ever else like many cars do?

Asked by Gentlemen over 6 years ago

Mine does not, though i am not sure about the newest buses we have.

Hello why do some places like to make you turn around a 100 times and then yell at you for being late? Also, what’s the point in going back and picking up a student and making everyone behind because they decided for the upteenth time to be late and got left?!

Asked by Mrs. Bitchyasshole over 6 years ago

It depends on district policy as to what is acceptable in certain circumstances. We live in an entitled world where the thought process is me first and never tell me "no". Sadly this is not how the world works primarily and the sooner kids learn this concept the better. For me, if a child is a chronically late person, they get bus left and i will not return to pick them up. If the child has never been late and was just having a bad morning or an off morning, i might consider going back if its not too far out of my way. We also have a policy that they need to be out at each stop 5 min prior to avoid issues like this.

Hey also when on trips can your radios get on channel 19 so you can talk and if something happens you can talk with other drivers on the road or can only other bus drivers talk?

Asked by Merry over 6 years ago

Most bus companies have a radio system that allows buses to communicate with each other. Though generally the frequency is not available to the public and we cannot communicate with other buses outside the district. Occasionally our frequencies will interfere and interact with the 911 tone out for emergency response and we hear the dispatch. Or can hear the police channel of another city.