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

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.

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.

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 do when the subs are useing old route maps and stopping by a sex offenders house and the driver just screams at me "DON'T TELL ME HOW TO DO MY JOB!" or worse tells me to shut the hell up and let her drive or she will pass it and make me walk

Asked by ?? over 6 years ago

Call the bus shop and ask them to redo the route in the system. Also another way to get on a substitutes good side is for you to offer to show them the route then be good about telling them turn left, turn right, stop just after this white mailbox, green trash can, orange car.... etc. The less a sub has to deal with other kids screaming in their ears the better.

Hey, have you ever known someone who has drove a bus for over 30 years? Do you plan on driving the rest of your life or do yoi think you will move on to bigger and better things. Have you always wanted to become a bus driver?

Asked by Red Beard about 6 years ago

Not 30 years but many of our drivers are topped out at over 20 years of service. I could definitely see myself doing this long term, but when i think of what else I could do, I don't see myself leaving my bus babies. But then again things change. I never thought in a million years that I would be a bus driver. It certainly wasn't my first choice but is my best choice for a job.

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.

Has anyone ever gave you a tip before?

Asked by Brandy almost 6 years ago

Yes. It's few and far between but gifts and tips do happen. This one time, I was specially selected to provide transportation for a group of people coming in from out of town and they provided tips which were a welcome bonus.