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.
Yes. In my district we have to pass a yearly physical by a DOT certified doctor. They aren't anything too bad, mostly just a general physical and then questions about history and medications. The DOT is cracking down on people with CDL licenses (both Class A and B) and are requiring some drivers to go through additional testing. This may be anything from an extra eye exam if you wear glasses to a sleep study to rule out sleep apnea.
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There are many ways of starting out in a bus company and being a monitor is a good way to decide if you like the job before you decide to go to the training to become a bus driver. Since becoming a bus driver requires a CDL-B license, many bus companies offer training and assistance with getting the license, though much of the responsibility falls on you as the trainee. In this way, just being a monitor for several years does not qualify you to "move up" to be a bus driver as the requirements for the position vary. However, if you want to start as a monitor and get your CDL license, then I am sure any bus shop would love to have you on as an employee.
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Let them choose their seats, if there is a problem with them, then assign specific ones seats closer to the front where you can manage them. You'll find that several of the kids will sit with the same people every day and that they will usually have a preferred area of the bus. I have elementary, middle, and highschool on my bus so I separate the bus by sections. It gives the kids autonomy of choice when deciding where to sit. Alternately you could ask them to decide amongst themselves where they are going to sit, or at the very least whom they would like to sit near/next to. In that case, I would hand out index cards and then once names are written on each card, hand one student tape to put the name cards above the seats. At any rate, highschoolers like the autonomy of choice, so unless they give you a reason to assign them a seat, let them sort it out.
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Be firm but fair. Don't let them see your weaknesses, but also realize that they are kids and will make mistakes. Try to listen to the kids. Calm bus driver = calm bus kids = easy time for all. Good luck!
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Did you apologize for throwing something? If so, its likely the driver probably accepted your apology, no harm no foul. If he said he was going to write you up, then you will have to accept the consequences that the school gives you for throwing something you shouldn't have. If you want to really impress the bus driver and let him know you are really sorry for what you did, you can simply write him an apology letter and hand it to him tomorrow when you board the bus. If you don't feel like writing an apology, then simply saying you're sorry to the bus driver will make all the difference in the world. My bus kids know that its easier to be up front and honest with me and that its likely they will only get a verbal warning for their behavior. Good luck.
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This is kind of a slippery slope for bus drivers. It is probably best to maintain the professionalism and not get personal. Thats not to say if you see him out and about in a place other than the bus, that you can't strike up a conversation with him, but in my opinion best to keep those conversations for interactions outside his professional job.
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First off, is this a school sanctioned thing? For example, is the bus driver recording students in order to put together a "school bus safety" video for the district. If so, then notices should have been sent around to all parents of the children involved. As it is the only LEGAL camera on the bus is the one that is hooked up to the bus monitoring system. Occasionally, I might take photographs of certain kids, but that's because I know their parents and will text them a goofy picture of their kid. Usually it is co-workers children. At any rate, I would seriously question why this driver is videotaping your child getting on and off the bus, or if maybe there was a miscommunication and the driver was referring to the overhead cameras in a bus lecture which are pointed at the students getting on and off the bus and sitting in the seats.
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