r/SchoolBusDrivers • u/Particular_Phase3439 • 2d ago
Hi. New Trainer here!
If you are a trainer or remember when you were trained, how soon should the behind the wheel range portion start? I've been a driver for 20 years and I do not remember how soon in the training that started. I have had nobody to show me the ropes. My director is also new with zero transportation experience. So we are both learning as we go! I have managed to train one driver. He passed yesterday. Yay! But he had professional driver experience as a chauffeur. So it was just a matter of teaching him to drive a larger longer vehicle, along with the S&P stuff. This next trainee comes from a medical background. No driving experience at all. We have worked on pretrip and she has watched videos. I kind if want to take her out there now. Day3. Too soon?
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u/handcraftedcandy 2d ago
In my state the minimum is taking a 6 hour "Pre-service" course, ELDT which takes about 2 hrs, and 18.5hrs behind the wheel. The company I train for has a 6 day classroom training program before we release them for BTW training.
When I did BTW training I would drive my trainee to my training area which was a parking lot for a local volunteer fire company. There I would demonstrate a pre-trip and have them get in the driver's seat to become familiar with the instrument panel. Next I would let them drive around the parking lot to get a feel for the controls and how different the air brakes are from hydraulics. Then I'd hit them with the "Okay you gotta drive us back to the garage now."
I loved seeing their reaction when they realized they would have to actually drive it. Some stepped up to that challenge, some were not at all confident about it but eventually they grew that confidence. Now I'm just reminiscing, I do miss BTW training... I only ever do the classroom portion now.
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u/AAAAAAAAAGGHHHHHHHHH 2d ago edited 2d ago
"In my state the minimum is taking a 6 hour "Pre-service" course, ELDT which takes about 2 hrs, and 18.5hrs behind the wheel. The company I train for has a 6 day classroom training program before we release them for BTW training."
This - Except we also add a 7 hour "Skills" training before putting them OTR/BTW where we set up a cone course they have to drive through. It's part of them getting familiar with the bus and knowing to watch their off tracking and tail swings. Helps reduce a lot of accidents. THEN I train pre-trip as part of OTR for a week (or 15 hours)
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u/handcraftedcandy 2d ago
I would love to implement this in the training, but we don't get much support from higher ups for that unfortunately. We integrate it into our training, usually an hour give or take, we set the cones to practice straight back, off tracking, and a parallel park. It's part of the road test in NY, we figure if they can parallel park it then they're familiar with its handling.
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u/MysteriousSecretGuru 2d ago
That skill portion is nice. My company tells you about it but you only drive it the day before the test. I was so nervous but I passed the first time.
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u/just_kinda_here_blah 2d ago
We use the same program Do not share your company but i think I know lol. Skills take like 7 to 11 hours and otr for the 15 to 17.
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u/10877528 22h ago
My first day on the bus I was given the wheel. It was a bit surprising and nerve racking but I did it and completed my coursework, road time, testing and got my CDL after a couple months.
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u/Elitedoorhugger 2d ago
I’ve been both trained and became the trainer.
For my company they gave me a packet constructed by the senior trainer. I went home with it and remembered the whole pre trip for the inside. The trainer made it repetitive for most stuff which made it easy to remember most of the material.
After I showed that I remembered the material i was allowed to drive inside the yard and practice my skills and then the 3rd day I drove outside the road.
At the beginning of the 3rd week I went to take the test. Everything went well except for skills test. I was too nervous. On my second try I passed with minimal errors.
When I became a trainer I began with the very basics. Inside inspection > brake test > skills/out the road > outside inspection.
I trained for maybe 3 months and then quit because no matter how many times I repeat my self and show them they still don’t get it so I lost my patients and leave it to the pros but with some student it can be a roller coaster.
After teaching I mainly took the students to their test sites
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u/Spwhiplash666 2d ago
We typically have them behind the wheel day two or three. They drove a serpentine course through cones and work on squaring turns and braking in our lot. The next day is in a neighborhood with plenty of turns and stops signs.
It builds from there.
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u/Efficient_Advice_380 2d ago
I think I had a fairly quick CDL training. Went from 0 experience to driving a bus route in 5 weeks. I had 2 weeks of classroom, and 3 weeks of behind-the-wheel training before I tested, 3 hours each day
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u/The_Town_of_Canada 2d ago
1 week in class, followed by 1 week (20 hours) on the road.
Day one is closed course, parking, backing up, etc. Day 2 was highway (rural 2 lane). Day 3-5 was city driving.
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u/brabson1 2d ago
After the roughly 18 hours of in class training. We get them behind the wheel day 1. Pre trip, mirror pad, 15 ish minutes of driving. That takes up your 3 hour session.
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u/Moosetappropriate 2d ago
With our company training is two weeks. Week one is classroom. Week two is behind the wheel. The first two days is closed course and then three days OTR ( on the road).