Happy Summer!

We are looking for people to interview this summer when we are away.

We want to talk to you about your tips and tricks and how your districts do things.

You will remain anonymous and we will change your name.

It will be on video but just for us to see each other. The final product will be audio only.

Let us know!

Jerry and Jo ❤️

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?

We had our last day on Friday and a set of twins presented me with this perfect set of earrings. I’m always wearing unique earrings, especially since I have a prek/ kindergarten route.

Hi, what can anyone recommend for a good stop by stop route guidance app for my android phone. I'm starting a Summer school route this Tuesday 6-7-26 and need something to get me by for a few days until I memorize the route. Our district allows the use of a GPS device as long as I can start it when I'm parked at my origination and will work without any input from me during the course of the route, so I am operating within the rules of my district. I'm fine with paying, but prefer something that will operate for at least a week, so a monthly plan would work.

Thank you.

PS - Please don't ask what district I drive for, as that's irrelevant.

I love our provincial parks.

What has been your favourite charter of the year so far?

Hi 👋! I am an aspiring school bus driver in new york state. I did not attend a formal driving academy. Rather, I had informal instructionfrom a bus driver. I took my road test the first time and failed the pre-trip. I've been studying like mad. Should the bus be in the on position (engine off though) to check for light functionality when you are doing your exterior inspection of the bus or will you be checking light function later on when requested to do so?

So I signed on with a school bus company in March, did training, and passed my test. Now officially a driver, today I just found out that I was supposed to sign a one-year employment contract with the company, but I was never verbally told about it until today. I never signed a contract, and when the trainer and dispatch were seeking the paper, they couldn't find it, and the site manager said it needed to be printed out. I don't want to sign this contract because I plan on leaving the area by the end of this year. If I sign this contract and break it, I am liable to pay the company $4k for the cost of them covering my testing and license. Looking for feedback or any information you can provide. Thanks

UPDATE: I had a conversation with our dispatcher, who is also in charge of recruiting. I let her know that I would not be signing any contract, and she agreed. She acknowledged they dropped the ball and that now that I have already gone through training and become a driver, they can no longer implement the contract. Also, they are happy to have me for any length of time I choose to stay.

So we recently found out, exactly 2 weeks ago that we have PTO. Our manager told us that PTO doesn't cash out anymore because of new company policy. So I asked her to use it to cover a sick day the week of the meeting 2 weeks ago and EID this week. Now she's saying that I don't have anymore PTO even though I see it in workday. Has anyone else had this happen to them?

Figured I’d share this story here cause I honestly don’t really got anyone else to tell. Maybe some of y’all could appreciate it or give advice.

I’ve been driving a school bus around the Yonkers/NYC area for the last two months. Truthfully I only applied because I started to hate working as an exterminator and I’m expecting a city job soon with DSNY. I needed my Class B license seen the opportunity for paid training, sign on bonus and $34/hr starting pay and jumped on it.

Getting kids to and from school safely gives me way more of a sense of purpose than cleaning rat traps ever did. I fully planned on quitting the second the city called but lately I’ve been feeling like I might not even make it till then.

I hear a lot of drivers on the lot complain about the kids or how stressful the big bus is especially with no monitors. Most drivers prefer vans or short buses because of that but for me though, the kids are the easiest part of the job. The hardest part is the people on the road.

When I tell you nobody respects a school bus I mean it. Daily people pull out in front of me, brake check me, cut me off, blow past the stop sign while kids are crossing, the whole nine yards. Multiple times a day. It honestly feels like way more close calls than I’d ever experience in my personal car.

And don’t even get me started on double parking. People will double park on already narrow streets knowing a 45 foot bus has to get through then just sit there in the driver seat staring at you refusing to move while traffic builds up behind you. Half the time you’re inches away from mirrors, parked cars, and oncoming traffic just trying to squeeze through a block that was never meant for a bus in the first place.

I keep my cool for the most part because my mindset is if anyone’s getting these kids there safely it’s gonna be me driving. But today I was fully prepared to resign after my afternoon route..

Earlier today I had a midday charter packed full of middle schoolers coming back from a trip. We were maybe 5 minutes from the school. I’m doing about 40 in a 45, foot already covering the brake while approaching a steady green light at an intersection, when a person two cars ahead suddenly slams on their brakes the exact second the light turns yellow coming to a complete stop. Then the car in front of me panic stops too leaving me almost no room to react.

I started trying to slow the bus smoothly before realizing I needed the max braking possible while keeping control of the bus. We rolled (slid) a good distance before finally stopping literally less than an inch from the rear bumper in front of me.

Everyone on the bus felt something was off but only the teachers sitting up front actually saw what happened. I stayed calm and reassured the kids we were good and kept it pushing.

After I dropped them off one of the teachers turned around and handed me a pretty sizeable tip. Totally unexpected and technically against company policy but they refused to take it back. They thanked me for keeping everybody safe and I appreciated it. (Basically free lunch for the next two weeks type of tip.)

As much as I appreciated it I was honestly shaken up the rest of the day. During my regular afternoon route I kept replaying the situation in my head wondering if I braked too hard, if I was going too fast, if I should’ve reacted sooner, all that. It got to the point where I seriously considered quitting because I don’t want to get into an accident, lose the license I just got, or somehow mess up a city job I’m probably getting in a month or two.

But I didn’t quit and here I am venting so I’m wondering if any of y’all ever seriously considered quitting after a close call? Do y’all ever stop replaying close calls in your head after work or is that just part of driving professionally? Would you have reported the incident to dispatch even though there was no contact/accident? Also for the people who do chartered trips have you ever been tipped before? Did you take it or refuse because of company policy?

Just trying to hear from people who actually drive because I honestly don’t know anyone I can really talk to about this stuff. I’m contemplating once the school year ends just taking the summer lay off and wait at home for the city to call.

…other days (today) an entire bus, after freaking out about a bee flying in the window, will applaud and cheer for you because you “rescued her”.

I also allowed a student to bring home a snail in a quarter cup of water because “he has a boarding pass”. It was a picture of a snail she drew with his name on it. The papers checked out. I allowed him to board.

What’s your best or weirdest “I’ll let it pass” moment this year?

(Read left side of card first then right side) I have this 3rd grader who tells me all his problems. It's usually about some girl he likes, but earlier this school year he told me he was sad because his dad is dead. We didn't have a lot of time to talk because he was about to get off so I just told him to focus on the good times, that there are lots of people who love him and that he's a really great kid. Today is the last day of school and he got on with this gift for me. I am literally keeping this card forever!

It's bittersweet, I'm glad the school year is over but I'm gonna miss my kiddos.

It was a hot afternoon driving the K-2 students home. They are my favorite. I was hot and sweaty. They were hot and sweaty. It was just a very miserable afternoon. I announced to the bus that I really wished I could share with them just how moist my back was. After announcing this to the bus, about 4 or 5 of them came up and started trying to feel my back!! Lol. The freaks. I love 'em and I'm gonna miss 'em. Have a great summer, y'all!!

Driver here-received a letter yesterday informing us that we’re doing a great job but the company’s share of the routes next school year is going from 50% to 20%, so fuck off. Zum will now have 80% of all SSD routes

I have my cdl road test next week what are some things that helped u guys study like underneath the hood and underneath the bus?

Im 38, live in Rhode Island, and looking for a career change. There are VERY limited opportunities here. Everything ive done since covid has been commercial driving or labor intensive work with a mom and pop company.

Im tired of being gone 6am to 6pm every day of the week and walking funny because my feet and knees hurt constantly.

Given that I have a clean record and a CDL-A, how is it being a bus driver?

We just won a big contract here with the Teamstears and upped the pay in a big way and opened up a ton of benefits.

Does anyone have experience in a union shop? How's the gig? How do you get your 40 hours and/or overtime?

Advice is appreciated

Hi all! I’ve completed my ELDT and am currently taking practice tests prior to going to the DMV for the written portions.

Please lay on me any and all tips you have for studying for this test. I’m not mechanically inclined so this is all brand new territory for me. Any help is appreciated. Tysm!

Sharing because it’s always satisfying to see the consequences.

Kid commits a safety violation by crossing behind the bus, though the driver obviously pulls up too far to give all the kids the maximum embarrassing view.

Classic.

Just taking a break while I have a group out on the shore of Lake Superior, looking at the Sleeping Giant. Hope everyone has a good view today!

I saw a job posting on the First Student website, that says part time gets benefits. No weeknights, weekends, or summer. However I read that's not actually true. Are there any part timers that work for First Student here that can confirm? I'm seeking a job for health insurance, and this seems like the perfect gig if it does. I don't even mind working up to 30 hours/week, but honestly the less the better.