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

Do you prefer a simple bus with bare minimum options or a bus with every luxury option there is where there is what feels like thousands of switches but they all are nice features?

Asked by Friend over 6 years ago

I have no real preference as long as it starts, runs, works for what i need it to do and gets kids to and from school. The extra items like AC or anything else is bonus.

You have been being irritating and flat out rude to us lately! Because you think a question is stupid you give a mean spirited , smart ass, poor, or just plan rude answer. Listen your a bus driver and we are not. You have 12 years of experience I am sorry we don’t know what you do. That’s why you created this right? For people to gain knowledge and create transparency. There are people on here who where in no way rude to you and you have gone off on them. You have told people that they speak bad English, accused someone of trying to make you say something, and trying to make people look dumb for asking questions because they wanted a answer. Some people where rude but not everyone. So why are you giving rude answers or flat out removing them!? Again we ask questions because we are not bus drivers so don’t think we know what you know. Also what would even be the point of trying to bait you into saying something like you accused Samantha of a few months ago?

Asked by Angry viewer over 6 years ago

Hello dear angry viewer. I'm sorry if I have pushed some buttons that caused you to get a little upset. If you take the time to read through the 400+ questions that have been asked and answered I often get repeat questions. Some have been removed because they were duplicates of other questions, and still others were removed because someone opted to spam my q&a like a juvenile person. Sometimes a person asks a question that makes no sense whatsoever so i do invite them to share details and get a more detailed answer.

My snarky demeanor is just part of who I am. Take it or leave it.

Is it possible to volunteer as a reserve bus driver?

Asked by Nsnsnsnd about 6 years ago

Not sure. Can't hurt to ask around.

Hi what are some things that you think would make school buses more efficient and how do you do your pre trip inspection?

Asked by Merry over 6 years ago

Good question. I would love a way to check brake lights and back up lights without having to have two drivers. Newer buses have an exterior light check button that the driver can press and it flashes all the lights in sequence so you can see that they're active and available. As for other efficiency concerns, that is left up to the individual driver for customization.

Sorry if this is a bit long but. We had a incident with a driver from the football team a few years back. We had this older lady who was really mean. So what happened was well I guess she yelled non stop at the foot ball players, the few cheerleaders, as well as even one of the adults on the bus all the way to the game. When they coaches, teachers, and sharpens would try to solve a problem so she would not get so mad she would immediately start screaming at whoever they where getting onto. I guess she went on a rant about her job, how bad they all are, and how they think their so rough and cool. This in it of its self is really nothing to write home about because sometimes drivers yell whatever. This lady though was cussing at times and when they got to the school they where going to play at the coach wanted to be let off at a certain point. The driver refused and there was a huge argument. They where screaming and cussing at eachother and told everyone to get the “F” off her bus and threatened to not pick them back up and they can go charter. This gets better after the game she was really upset the game ran late and threw a fit. She also threw a fit because they smelled bad and that they did not take a shower threaten to pull over at a truck stop and make them shower. She also made them go back to the school with the windows down at 70 miles per hour (roughly). She also argued with parents at the school.

Asked by Ryan almost 6 years ago

First yes she should be reprimanded or at least told her behavior is unacceptable. Sometimes our jobs suck but it isn't appropriate to take it out on the kids or other adults on the bus. If she really hated her job that much then she shouldn't drive a bus. That being said the only issue where she might be in the right would be where the coach wanted the team dropped off. Sometimes as drivers we are given separate instructions on how to unload and where to safely unload.

Can the board and transportation have desertion over whether to transport students who don’t live in the district but go to school in the district for one reason or another. I heard word on the street they may start but I don’t know if they can.

Asked by Don about 6 years ago

Yes they can have discretion to provide transportation to out of district kids. In our district if a parent chooses to enroll their child out of district, they are responsible for transporting that child.

Why when there is winter weather or some other event why are some things canceled and others arent

Asked by Ooooooooooooooohhh about 6 years ago

Some things are outdoors events so they are affected by the weather. Other times road conditions may be dangerous for travel. Each school system takes these things into consideration before cancelling activities.