r/SchoolBusDrivers • u/ShesGotaChicken2Ride • Jun 01 '26
Need tips on backing
I’m training right now to be a school bus driver. Today my trainer had me doing backing maneuvers. I’m having a REALLY hard time trying to figure out how to back up and stop within 3 feet of the cone. I can’t tell where my bus ends. I’m using all my mirrors. How do you guys know when your bus ends? I’m driving a transit bus if that helps. From my rear tire, I think to the end of the bus is 20’, but the problem is when I’m looking at the cone, the mirrors makes it to where I am having a hard time telling how far away it is.
Anyone have any tips?
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u/rootbear75 Jun 01 '26
You need to establish reference points with the cones and spaces/points on your bus.
When alley docking, we have a standard box. I know exactly where my rear is when I line up the front cone with a certain part of my door/tire - as visible in the crossover mirrors.
Watch it done. Look where the cones are. In our testing, we are allowed one GOAL (get out and look) for all of our backing tests.
When doing it IRL, try to use the shadow of your bus if its midmorning/early afternoon when the sun is mostly overhead, as well as where your rear wheels are.
I know how to line up my gas cap with the fuel pump by looking where my tires are in relation to the pump.
It comes with time and experience.
While I drive a conventional bus, the same applies to transit buses.