Requirements for Driving a school bus?

Answer 1

It is estimated that 26 million American children ride the bus to school and more than 450,000 school bus drivers are on the road each school day. In some states school bus drivers are employed by the Board of Education while other states contract school bus services out to a private company. The Bureau of Labor Statistics places the median wage for the job of school bus driver at $12.79 per hour.

School bus drivers are typically considered part-time employees and rarely work more than 30 hours per week. Most school bus drivers work a split shift consisting of an early morning route getting students to school, several unpaid hours while the children are in school and an afternoon route transporting students back home. Some bus drivers supplement their earnings by accepting after school driving assignments such a field trips and sporting competitions. In addition school bus drivers only work when school is in session and receive no pay for school holidays or vacations. Summer school routes are offered to only a small portion of regular bus drivers.

A commercial drivers license with passenger endorsement is required in order to drive a bus. Many times training for CDL licensure is provided by the employer to new hires at no charge. Commercial drivers licenses are issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles and can be obtained independently however one must have access to a bus for the driving portion of the test.

Because the school bus driver is responsible for each rider's welfare drivers typically receive an additional 40 hours of instruction before being allowed to transport students, which provides 20 hours of actual driving time and 20 hours of classroom instruction specific to dealing with student safety and behavior issues. Bus drivers must also complete CPR and first aid training.

Before hire school bus drivers are rigorously screened through motor vehicle, FBI and Department of Justice background checks. Individuals with violent, sex or drug related convictions as well as those with poor driving records are excluded from working as a school bus driver. School bus drivers are also subjected to pre-employment and random drug screenings.