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

is there laws for what a driver can and cant do? ie: i have to get out of my seat to place a seat belt on a child...i place the bus in N and lock the brake, my stop sign is out

Asked by new boss almost 8 years ago

It depends on your districts policies and your job description. Various companies require bus drivers to do different tasks according to state laws and requirements. It also depends on the type of bus it is. For example, regular education buses here in my district do not have seat belts on the bus, but the special needs buses are all equipped with seat belts. Because of this, the special needs buses have monitors on the bus that are required to assist children to and from their seats and ensure that they are properly belted in and secured on the bus. This is for their safety as well as the safety of others on the bus. In other districts, regular education buses have seat belts and it is up to each district's individual policies on enforcement of wearing the belts. Some districts even require their drivers to get out of the bus and assist children in crossing the road by holding up a hand held stop sign. Bottom line, it is all about safety for the kids we transport every day!

Do you think people with a temper should become bus drivers? What if they can drive really good but have a temper.

Asked by Sadie over 6 years ago

That's a double edged sword. If you can control your temper then yes. But if you cannot control your temper then this job is not the right one for you.

Do the Kids respect you and your Work? I mean, they definitely should!

Asked by Lenavog85 almost 8 years ago

It depends on the day and the situation but most of the time show respect to get respect is a good rule of thumb to follow.

Someone threw the filling from inside the seat at someone else and thay threw at me, then I started to tell the guy next to me to stop talking the filling out, but in the meantime someone threw 1 at my eye and then I started to throw some i gt writen

Asked by Bobby almost 8 years ago

1. Don't throw stuff.2. Don't throw stuff.3. Don't throw stuff.

Now that that's out of the way... the bus driver had every right to write you up for throwing stuff on the bus as well as everyone else involved in throwing the seat stuffing. I also hope that the driver and school makes you all clean the bus and repair the seat that was damaged. Just because you tried to tell them to stop doesn't negate the fact you threw it eventually yourself.

Is it against a rule or law to get out of the drivers seat when the bus is parked and running, to assist children both in and off the bus. There are adults and children on the bus.

Asked by Joan over 8 years ago

Short answer, no. Long answer, that depends on your districts policy on the matter. As long as the bus is secured and the children are well supervised then you can get out of the drivers seat to assist children.

Is it common for UPS trucks to drive through the busses
lights

Asked by Dave about 8 years ago

Its common for many vehicles to run through buses lights when they are activated. It is still illegal and the bus driver has every right to turn the drivers in to the authorities. Many states have strict fines against running the lights.

Hi, how exactly do I deal with a bus driver who seems to have singled out my child, constantly threatening to kick him off the bus and going so far as to call ask him if he's a "zoo animal"? He's asked her why and she refuses to give him a reason....

Asked by NRY almost 8 years ago

You should probably contact the bus yard to have the video tape pulled off the bus and reviewed by the supervisor. If there is a problem with the driver, the tape will show it. If your child is misbehaving, the tape will show it. Double edged sword with that one. Name calling a child is unacceptable, but how much of this is a story the child is saying to downplay his own actions on the bus for getting in trouble? Video tapes are a saving grace and school administrators can review and either clear your child or the bus driver in this case.