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

Do you prefer a simple bus with bare minimum options or a bus with every luxury option there is where there is what feels like thousands of switches but they all are nice features?

Asked by Friend about 6 years ago

I have no real preference as long as it starts, runs, works for what i need it to do and gets kids to and from school. The extra items like AC or anything else is bonus.

Hi what are some things that you think would make school buses more efficient and how do you do your pre trip inspection?

Asked by Merry almost 6 years ago

Good question. I would love a way to check brake lights and back up lights without having to have two drivers. Newer buses have an exterior light check button that the driver can press and it flashes all the lights in sequence so you can see that they're active and available. As for other efficiency concerns, that is left up to the individual driver for customization.

is it legal for a bus to use a driveway as a turnaround?

Asked by Dog lover over 5 years ago

Yes. It is. Sometimes driveways are all we have that give us enough space to turn around at the end of a road.

Why do some buses have a door on the passages side and a door behind the driver.

Asked by Kay almost 6 years ago

In larger cities like New York they have buses that have passenger doors on both sides which allow for loading on both sides without the need for crossovers. Supposedly this eliminates a danger facing students crossing in front of the bus, but i think it just causes more issues. Some buses are equipped with an emergency door on the side of the bus instead of in the rear if their engines are rear engines.

Why can Middle Schoolers not sit behind a certain point and High Schoolers can’t sit in front of a certain point but Jr. High can sit where ever they please?

Asked by Joe over 5 years ago

Its bus drivers choice really. Ask your driver?

How do I not get a certain sub again? I always get complaints on her and she messes with seat controls, changes the radio station, leaves windows down, climate controls, etc. I also get a lot of negative feedback about her.

Asked by Glynn almost 6 years ago

So you expect a sub to not adjust a seat and mirrors to help them do their jobs? Things like that are a safety concern for the students. If a sub cannot see adequately out the mirrors and out the dash board you are putting the kids at risk. As far as leaving windows down, the sub should put the windows up. Radio stations are an easy fix. Have the driver put their favorite stations on a separate band. Generally radios have 3 bands of FM radio available. When they plan to be out, simply inform them to switch the band that way their presets are not messed with.

Question what do you think the rest of this school year (and possibly next) look like?

Asked by Lola over 5 years ago

Well, many state governors are calling school done for the remainder of the year. Until the stay at home orders are lifted, we are likely to just stay in place until this whole crisis blows over. Rest assured many children are in the same boat so lack of education is not really a concern as much as getting them food and supplies for their families who depend on the schools 9 months out of the year for breakfast and lunch.