Categories: Careers & Job Searching

How to Become a School Bus Driver

Do you need a job? Try getting a job as a school bus driver. This type of job is often in high demand, simply because many people don’t think that getting this job is possible. They are wrong. It’s just like getting any other job. It’s a pretty good job too. Pays well and is not stressful or unpleasant.

You’ll need a few things before you start thinking about this job. You will need a fairly clean driving record. The ability to pass a urinary examination. You need to be able to take care of children. You will also need patience and the ability to drive a large bus while monitoring children. A regular driver’s license will be fine because most companies will train you.

Find out which bus companies are in your area. Some companies are strictly school bus, others are general coach travel companies with school bus operations as well. Besides private companies, you could also try working for the district. In my area, the local school district runs many school buses. There are also several companies that run school buses too. Just an example of the private companies that run school buses would be http://trobecsbus.com/ or http://voigtbus.com/

Call the bus company. Tell them you are interested in driving a school bus. Sometimes companies ask if you are willing to work in their shop for a month or two. This is because they want to know if you can show up for work or not. School bus driving is not the kind of job in which you can call in sick for 15 minutes before a shift.

Go in and fill out the application. Some companies will sit down with you to fill out the application. Due to the fact that you will be working with children, some applications can be 3 to 4 pages long. Hopefully, you will get an interview right after the application or within the same week. If you don’t hear from the company within a week, you must call them. Calling the company back will remind them that you are interested and will also show initiative.

The interview: Once you get that interview, try to dress up a little. A suite is not needed, but please, no jeans. Tell them that your work represents who you are (you don’t have to, I’m just giving suggestions). Hopefully your interview will go very well and you will either be asked when you can start or you will be thanked and told that you will get a phone call within a week or two. If you don’t get a call within a week, you should call the company and ask about the status of your employment.

WARNING: This job requires a pre-employment drug screen. This means that the company will want you to complete a urine drug test before or within a month or two after employment.

If your company is one of the companies that trains you, that’s excellent. I would recommend going to your local DMV to pick up a Commerical Driver’s Manual. Read the manual! The information in the book is all you need for the “written” portion of the commercial driver’s license test.

Remember that once you get the job, you must be on time. Smile and be sociable. You need to be the one that is dependable, reliable, and punctual.