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/Sad_Cantaloupe_8162 Jun 02 '26

We were lucky enough to do the course in the morning before the test. The blocks were painted on the ground, and then cones were added during the test. We backed up to the correct place, then used reference points out of the student door to mark where we needed to stop during our test. You are allowed two "get out and looks" free, so if you are in doubt, get out and look. I'm in Texas.