What does a School Bus Driver do?
School Bus Drivers usually work directly for a school district but they may also work for a third-party transportation company to make it easier for kids to get to and from school. They supervise students as they cross the street and enter or exit the bus, greet them and manage their behavior during the bus ride. School Bus Drivers usually take the same routes in the morning and afternoon each day but may adjust their schedules for extracurricular and special events. Their other key role is to maintain the bus by keeping it clean, fueling it regularly and recording mileage.
School Bus Driver skills and qualifications
If there are certain skills your School Bus Driver must have for your school and position, provide a bulleted list of what is required and the preferred skills you need. This can include a School Bus Driver’s education level and years of experience. School Bus Drivers are not required to have a college degree, but having a high school diploma or GED is often a standard prerequisite. Other qualifications of many School Bus Drivers may include:
- Commercial driver’s license
- A chauffeur’s license may not be necessary, but may be helpful
- One or more years of experience
- Clean driving record with no at-fault accidents or traffic citations within the last five years
- Two or more years of experience working with children preferred
- Ability to carry out assigned route on time
School Bus Driver education and training requirements
School Bus Drivers must have an active commercial driver’s license (CDL) and should be clear of at-fault accidents and traffic citations on their driving record, as they are maintaining the safety of children. A minimum of a high school diploma or GED is required. Many school systems require all employees who work with children to undergo and pass a legal background check. Additional physical, hearing and vision testing may be required.
School Bus Driver experience requirements
Previous School Bus Driver training is needed but may be provided to new employees by your school district. This may include on-the-job shadowing and training as needed.
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