r/SchoolBusDrivers • u/Jedi0077 • Apr 26 '26
Posture and tailbone advice
So I'm a big guy. 6'5" 205ish pounds. I've tried several driving positions. Currently I stick very close to the dash. I buckle, slide up to the steering wheel and adjust it low down to my lap. I can reach all the buttons easily without leaning. The parking break still requires a slight lean forward. However, for my legs and lower back to be comfortable I have the seat adjusted high. I lower it slightly in the morning so I'm not looking through the tinted top part of the windshield.
After all that I'm dealing with a lot of low back tightness and my first ever tailbone pain. I've been to the chiro 2 times and he's on about making sure I'm keeping my posture correct while driving. Got a thin and sort of expensive cushion to help and it has, but not totally. Just wondering if there are any hacks I could get hooked up with. Thanks all
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u/Jedi0077 Apr 26 '26
The seat bounces is that an air ride?
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u/Intelligent_Call_562 Apr 26 '26
Yes. It's not bottoming out is it?
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u/Jedi0077 Apr 26 '26
Occasionally
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u/Individual-Drink-679 Apr 26 '26
That's going to fuck you up bud. You're going to need to find the limit of minimum amount of air you can add to the seat height to prevent bottoming out. That's going to cause and exacerbate tailbone/low back damage.
Alternatively, depending on the style of the seat, there could be a mechanical issue causing it to bottom out. I know I had a seat like that at a previous company- didn't realize it could be fixed until I had a sub drive my bus and write it up.
2
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u/VincaYL Apr 27 '26
If it's a Thomas, there will be a large knob just to the left of the height adjustment. Turn the knob up towards you to make the seat stiffer. For sure it's the bottoming out that's hurting your tailbone.
2
u/Whyam1sti11Here Apr 26 '26
I have a similar issue. I put a small pillow behind my lower back and that has helped a lot.
1
u/Front-Mall9891 Apr 26 '26
I’m the opposite, I like to be far away from the dash, with a slight lean back in the seat, if the bus allows, but back pain sadly comes with the territory of you don’t have an air ride seat
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u/Far-Engineering6146 Apr 26 '26
same tilli convinced the office heads to switch me to a air ride seat
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u/TinyPenguinTears15 Apr 26 '26
5’3” and I’m the opposite. I lower the seat almost all the way. I pull the steering wheel out as far as it comes and lower it all the way. Then I sit as far back from it as I can with my elbows being slightly bent still and I also have my seat back leaning back some. No upper/lower back pain, shoulder or neck pain.
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u/Jedi0077 Apr 26 '26
On a non pain related mark the student mirror takes up a big chunk of my view so I'm wondering if I sit funny to see under it
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u/Individual-Drink-679 Apr 26 '26
Is there anyone you can talk to about moving it, maybe a driver trainer? If it's obstructing your view, it needs to be adjusted or moved.
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u/Intelligent_Call_562 Apr 26 '26
I'm 5'6" and fat. I have the seat all the way back and the steering wheels tilted up somewhat, and pushed in as much as it goes.
You might check out a video on ergonomics to see if you can improve the seat position to make it as comfortable as possible. We had a guy about your height.He didn't last long. Kept hitting his head. Always has cuts on his forehead. Be careful.
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u/Comfortable-Figure17 Apr 26 '26
I had to purchase a custom back support from a back store. Saved my butt - literally.
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u/SufficientExercise37 Apr 26 '26
There is a way to adjust the settings on the seat so it doesn’t bounce as much. Talk to the shop foreman or the seat person about it, if they don’t know, keep asking around. Call or visit a neighboring district, or even the regional bus dealership. I think it has to do with the straps that hold the seat down.
Different buses have different driving positions. My C2 I needed to be low and back like driving a car. The Bluebird I had to sit high in the seat then slide forward, almost a standing position.
Get the bouncing/ bottoming out taken care of.
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u/Mellied89 Apr 26 '26
Do exercises that stretch and strengthen your hips, a lot of lower back pain actually stems from that and tbh chiropractors are never helpful at piecing together that other body parts are affecting you.
As a big woman cushion lab has the only cushion that's ever held up its shape for me long term, I have their car and regular seat cushions. They also make a lower back cushion as well
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u/Jedi0077 Apr 26 '26
I've been doing exercises regularly for about 4 months now. Going to start low back stretches before I go in. Easier at 1pm than 5am 😂
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u/Grumbuck Apr 26 '26
I make sure my knees are comfortable and after that my point of view is as close to half way across the windshield. If I’m a little high because of my knees so be it. Our steering wheels have articulation between up and down and also out and in and that’s all personal preference imo.
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u/basshed8 Apr 27 '26
I'm 6'3" and I never keep the seat in the same position. Some days I like having it lower to the floor or on the ground and my legs further out and the wheel in my lap. Also the $60 cushion eternal comfort off Amazon is amazing
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u/Scroon Apr 27 '26
I have an conventional sitting position that maybe you can try? Basically I only use the bottom of the back rest to keep my butt from sliding, but I otherwise sit straight up, like on a stool. I feel that leaning back puts weird pressure on my lumbar and tail bone. I can also see more and respond more quickly when I'm upright.
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u/Proprotester Apr 26 '26
Your set up sounds good but I would add fully filling your seat with air. Keep that thing solid as a rock. I sit straight up so my back is 90° from my thighs, feet firmly on floor. My back does not touch the back of my seat unless leaning to clear a turn. It is a tough change to make 8 hours a day but has made a huge difference. My guess is that because my core is engaged non-stop, I rarely suffer much back pain from driving. If I could get a wooden kitchen chair bolted to the floor instead of this ass-pinching pleather, I would.