How to Train to Become a School Bus Driver
- 1). Ask yourself if you have what it takes to put up with children whose lack of impulse control and juvenile shenanigans can try anyone's patience. Accompany a licensed driver on a "ride along" to observe the action. Ask to ride on elementary, junior high or middle school, and high school routes so you have an accurate picture of a day in the life of a driver. Obtain first aid certification (contact the Red Cross) to get a jump start on credentials you'll need to apply.
- 2). Complete a job application, understanding that every state has a different set of laws, rules and regulations that govern school bus driver hiring practices. Expect to have your background and driving record scoured. Submit to a medical exam, fingerprinting, a background check and drug screen. Reveal the prescriptions you take and ailments from which you suffer. Pass psychological tests if your school board requires them.
- 3). Undertake bus company-directed Department of Transportation, state and municipal training that may range anywhere from two to eight weeks in the classroom, on a practice course and on the road. Learn to operate a variety of bus sizes and configurations, as school bus drivers are called upon to maneuver, zigzag, back up and negotiate streets and highways skillfully when operating everything from a small, 15-passenger bus to a 60-foot articulated model with a 100-plus passenger capacity.
- 4). Study for and pass a written exam that's more complicated than the one you took to get your standard driver's license. State and Federal laws governing the issuance of commercial driver's licenses (CDL or Class A or B, depending upon your state's classification system) also require some type of endorsement: P or S, or both. Get help preparing for your licensing exams from school bus company trainers if you need an extra help.
- 5). Master the practice of pre-checking your school bus and keeping tabs on the condition of the vehicle in your care (e.g., inspecting tires, brakes, windshield wipers, lights, oil, fuel and water supplies before departure). Expect to be drilled on the use of fire extinguishers, first aid kits and emergency reflectors before you load your first bus full of passengers.
Source...