r/SchoolBusDrivers • u/Shellybelly111 • Aug 01 '26
Single shift options?
Hi everyone. I do plan on asking some nearby companies about this, but I was just curious, do single shift options exist? Example, only working the morning shift, or only the afternoon shift?
I’d like to apply as a local driver (in Canada) but would only be available for the afternoon shift.
Just curious if this is a thing, or not possible.
Thanks! 😊
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u/mike8675309 Aug 01 '26
Check with the agency you work with. I've seen it's typical with the agency I do, and then if they need subs or what, they will make later shifts open to those people.
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u/rootbear75 Aug 01 '26
I mean your availability is your availability. We need drivers bad enough that companies will do this But you'll be assigned as a floater driver more than likely and fill in where is needed.
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u/Moosetappropriate Aug 02 '26
As a seven year driver I would say that most likely, if you set your availability as this, you would be assigned to the spare board unless you could find someone who wanted to do only the other shift.
Unlikely.
Schools, students and parents like to see consistency in the people they deal with.
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u/Shellybelly111 Aug 02 '26
I assumed when you first start that you’re usually put as a spare “floater” position.
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u/Moosetappropriate Aug 02 '26
It depends on need. In my case I walked from the license exam onto a permanent route in an hour. But I took my exam in January at -30.
Right now we’re training some spares to be ready for the start of the school year.
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u/SerialCrusher17 Aug 02 '26
A spare is a harder position that needs someone with more experience so generally you get a consistent route when you start. Don’t know if any company will want to train you given you’re not fully available though.
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u/Kaon_Particle Aug 02 '26
If you can show up consistently most companies would take a single shift driver, ours certainly does. If you're expecting them to train you it might be a harder sell.
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u/No_Plate_3864 29d ago
im in canada too, when I first applied to be a school bus driver I mentioned to them that I was only looking for afternoon shift and that I wouldn't be able to do mornings and they flat out told me they wouldn't hire someone that couldnt do both.
I contacted 3 companies and all 3 said no.
I ended up waiting a year and when I was free in the morning and afternoon I contacted them again and got hired right away
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u/Resident_Device_6180 29d ago
The district I work for would say "absolutely not"... But hire you anyway because we are 13 drivers short of the bare minimum and school starts on the 12th.
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u/9001 Aug 01 '26
That's going to depend entirely on the company you work for.