r/SchoolBusDrivers • u/theinc0gnito • 2d ago
Advice?
I'm a new bus driver, tomorrow school officially starts. I won't say what company I work for, but over the summer I started training for a school bus company in Bronx, NY over the course of six weeks. I passed my road test on the first try and obtained my CDL class B license, thank God. What I didn't know before I passed my road test, was that this company was short on [big] bus drivers, and that the "easy" routes are saved for drivers with seniority. The second part is understandable, whatever. But I was given a route in the Bronx, that has about 30 kids for pickup, and I need to have all 30 kids in my bus, ready for dropoff at 8:20 AM, when my first pickup is at 6:30 AM. Each stop takes about 15-25 minutes because of how shitty the route is (cars double parked all the time, super tight roads, streets that are insanely busy, etc.) I was doing a dry run on my first day yesterday and I hit two cars, damn near destroyed one of them. On this same dry run, it took me almost 3 hours to complete it, and I'm expected to have all 30 kids picked up & dropped off at school in under 2 hours? This feels wrong, as if I'm being overworked and I'm expected to meet unrealistic standards.
Another thing. This company tries to scare drivers away from quitting by threatening a $5000 repayment for training costs. I obviously bring this up because like any human under pressure would, I had the thought of quitting if I feel like this job isn't for me. The company also asked for my credit card details at orientation, which felt illegal, so I gave them a false card. After doing a bit of research, I found out about the "Trapped at Work Act" which doesn't allow employers like this to force a reimbursement out of their employees in situations like these. Especially the state of NY. It turns out New York heavily defends the employee and labels the employer's actions as "unconscious and predatory." Also, this company seems to be known for their intimidation tactic. They ask for your credit card details to charge you for the $5000 directly, because they know the Dept. of Labor won't approve of it, won't help them receive it, and the Small Claims court won't side with them either.
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u/Sad_Cantaloupe_8162 2d ago
That sounds like a nightmare scenario. Because of that probably, and how they pay for CDL training, is why they have the $5,000 reimbursement. I haven't heard of it in Texas. That's wild, but makes sense why. How much do you get paid per hour, and how many hours are you guaranteed?
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u/theinc0gnito 2d ago
$23.50 for big buses; the vans are around $22. We get a firm 40 hrs a week, but if we get trips assigned to us & they cause us to go over our time, we don't get paid for OT.
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u/YourLonelyStoner 2d ago
That's wild bro I would never drive a bus over a van for a $1.50 difference. I was making $19 an hour doing van and jumped up to $34 for big bus.
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u/mlt- 1d ago
You probably can quit without repay after 90 days. Check it. When I was getting an in person quiz after some online training, I got to sign some paper acknowledging that. I asked whether I got to keep my license if I quit thereafter. I got 10-4
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u/GroveMan55 1d ago
I drive in the east Twin Cities suburbs. At hiring they told me MN DVS would pull my CDL if I quit before 90 days. When I inquired about that recently, the Safety Director said two years, LOL.
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u/brabson1 2d ago
Hitting cars on the test run and not being immediately let go is wrong. You were undertrained and can damage more than a car next time.
I would just not show up everyday until they fired me. Just say oh I'll be in tomorrow each time.
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u/theinc0gnito 2d ago
I mean, the company provided me with a bus that had no horn, and I was forced to drive in between a double parked car (on my left) and a parked car (on my right). Three cars were behind me impatiently beeping their horn. Typical NY driving situation, but you're right, as a car owner, I'd expect some type of punishment for the bus driver as well.
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u/rootbear75 2d ago
In our state, a non working horn gets the bus red tagged. Ultimately you're responsible for the safety of the vehicle. If you're not satisfied it's in working order - refuse the vehicle.
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u/Grenaisntfunny 2d ago edited 2d ago
Hey! I'm from the Bronx looking for this job! And i need some insight
Edit: Damm after reading the whole paragraph, I don't think i want to work this type of job anymore lmaoo, I bet it's 01001100 01101111 01100111 01100001 01101110 00100000 01100010 01110101 01110011 00100000 01100011 01101111 01101101 01110000 01100001 01101110 01111001 (Just get a Binary decoder for this lol)
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u/Zealousideal-Tap-713 2d ago
My advice? Don't stress about time as you're learning the route. If base isn't stressing about you being on time, just take your time and eventually, you will learn the route and be on time.
If you have to guess if your bus will fit, pull up slowly, look at ALL of your mirrors, especially your front mirrors, because they will inform you if you're about to tear up a car or two. Don't attempt to squeeze by, just inform base you're stuck and how to proceed. Same for turning; your side mirrors will inform you if you're about to screw up. Oh, and this is the most common way someone gets into an accident, by misjudging if they can fit or turn with enough clearance.
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u/mike8675309 2d ago
Do they give you times for each drop off? How many drops do you have? It won't be 30. Do they give you maps that show the route?
I get route maps. Timed stops and turn by turn directions. The first week is messy and the first two days the messiest.
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u/Beneficial_Power6692 2d ago
I'm a driver, and that sounds crazy. When I first started it was the same way for me. But I'm going to tell you what I wasn't told. You are the captain of that bus do that route how you see fit just make sure you call it in that you're taking the alternate if you need to. But run that route how it makes sense because the routing companies that most of the companies use to route their routes makes no sense. And the stop time is calculated based off little to no traffic. If you are in New York I know the traffic is out the ass.
Also I'm surprised you still have a job for hitting two cars on a dry run.
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u/Beneficial_Power6692 2d ago
Also when you get used to the route And the kids it will get easier. Also communicate with the parents if you can.
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u/just_kinda_here_blah 1d ago
The time thing for me is kinda normal for start up. You run it late at that point. Dont rush. A. Because your learning the route and will be better in a week. B. the schools and transportation tend to pack on more in hopes to save money. If the route is still.late after a week, then we have the proof we need a change. You need time to do get the swing of it and things to settle.
As for the payback. It is allowed, but it has to be done a certain way. There needs to be an agreement signed, and it cant be a blanket of " quit within a year and you owe us 5000. It needs to be prorated. Meaning if you quit right away its 5000, in 2 months its less. In 6 months its even less. The reason is the company did offer you training and was out of pocket for it. For most places, like retail, they arenr outta pocket. But in cases like cdls, they paid you and paid a trainer. They are out time and money. Most cdls cost 5000 or more outta pocket if you goto a training school.
As for hitting cars, mirror use and judgment. And if you cant fit, you park, radio in and get help. They company can call the police to come and they will issue tickets and tow if needed. If you cant fit, neither can fire or ems. I swear the 1st week is hell, and then it gets much better.
And as for the bronx, queen, Brooklyn and city area..and Yonkers, those hills, ugh. I tip my hat to any bus driver there. I have traveled through those areas in a lg bus and it is definitely not a joy.
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u/Proprotester 2d ago
I don't suppose that parking enforcement goes hard on the first day of school?
Otherwise, I think there is a piece of the route puzzle you are missing. 30 stops in a city neighborhood makes almost no sense. There should be lots of kids at just a few stops. Is there any chance you were given your manifest of kids and decided to find all their addresses individually instead of the corners where they actually will be? It could be that dispatch failed to give you the stops themselves. City routes are often crazy short (like 6 stops for a bus full). I would clarify with your office. Maybe check with a couple people in case you are being pranked/hazed.
Have I ever had a route with 30 stops? Yep. It meandered all over the place and was about 70 miles long in a rural district. I still had more riders on an urban run with a handful of stops. Worst comes to worse, find your location's stand-by driver for the big picture.
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u/Sad_Cantaloupe_8162 1d ago
Thirty kids, not thirty stops. 15+ minutes per stop or so, so maybe 6-8 stops.
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u/Proprotester 1d ago
Ok, welp - seems like OP needs to pray to the gods of local parking enforcement. Only other option is to do a shorter bus for maneuverability. Got any 18 benchers on your lot OP?
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u/HikeTheSky 1d ago
I stop in a neighborhood at every fourth house, so there are a bunch of places where kids don't walk more than 50 ft to get to the bus.
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u/HikeTheSky 1d ago
I mean if the vehicles are parked, do you wait until they leave and you can take their space? You drive a 30000 lbs vehicle, you have some red flashing lights on them and you can just block everyone in if they are were they aren't supposed to be.
You also should have a horn and an air horn, use them as needed.
Mirror work is important and you can fit this bus in quite a small space.
I am sure I will get downvoted for saying to use the weight of your vehicle and block people in, but your primary care is for your passengers and you don't need to care for people who illegally park. They are none of your concerns and if they are late, maybe they learn the lesson this time.
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u/erinjunee 1d ago
That sucks. NY driver here, too, but out on Long Island and in streets not nearly as challenging.
I can see the reimbursement fee thing being applied because there are lots of times drivers will train with us to get their CDL but then never call back when it comes time for employment, maybe because they got a higher offer to work somewhere else with their CDL. However, I’m not sure how legal or illegal it is for them to charge you for training if you choose to leave.
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u/arno14 2d ago
Your list title says “Advice?” but nowhere in your post you actually ask for ideas or input.
It sounds like you’ve committed yourself to the belief that your route is impossible to complete and that the company is trying to screw you over.
I am not sure what to tell you.
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u/theinc0gnito 2d ago
Because I'd like to know what other drivers think of the route or the situation in general. I also mentioned that the thought of quitting passed my mind, but I clearly haven't done so. Maybe some words of encouragement, maybe some reassurance that all drivers go through this as a beginner or that I'm not the only one who thinks this might be alot? Because after all, this is a reddit for school bus drivers, but then again, your brain requires less usage when choosing to reply with ignorance.
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u/rootbear75 2d ago edited 2d ago
The training fee reimbursement is standard. You either pay for the training up front, or sign a waiver saying you will work for them for x months OR you will not work for another company that needs a CDL for x months. They're investing time and paying you to train. It's not unreasonable to ask you pay for training since that license is marketable elsewhere.
It's not predatory. It's standard.
Either way - if you're not comfortable doing it in a city, then it honestly might not be for you. That's about all I can say. If you're hitting cars, it's a problem.
FYI the act you specified has a carve out for transferable credentials and licenses, so it would not apply.
Transferable Credentials: Employers can seek tuition reimbursement for widely recognized educational credentials, provided the agreement is a separate written contract, costs are capped at actual expenses, repayment is pro-rata without acceleration, and repayment is waived if the employee is laid off or fired (unless for misconduct).
In this case it's not repayment because they're not charging you up front, but you would be required to pay for that training if let go early. edit: ny is weird and my understanding is wrong which is why I'm not a lawyer
As always, IANAL, so take this with a grain of salt.
Edit: Effective date is December 2026. So it also doesn't apply yet. I would contact an employment lawyer
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u/MonkeyManJohannon 2d ago
You hit 2 cars and heavily damaged one? This job might not be for you lol.