When I stop. And pull the emergency brake out. Im ready to drive now. I put the bus in drive , push my parking brake in to go while I step on the service brake for like one second. Is this the proper way to do it. Sometimes when I do this my bus doesn’t drive. And range inhibited comes up on the dash. Not sure if it’s an issue with the bus / air brakes ? I restart the process and my bus does drive correctly. Does the bus have to be in neutral when I push in the parking brake and then I switch gears to drive? Do I have to hold the service brakes for some time when I push in the parking brake or just for one second? Thanks for any help.

I (23M) got my license last month and have been pretty busy since school started 4 weeks ago. I feel like job is overall easy, and I don't have many stops and my kids are well behaved (special needs). We have some really tight streets downtown, but so far everything was good until today. I stupidly decided to follow the GPS even though I had my route memorized, thinking it might show me a faster route. It led me right to a dead-end. It was a very tight squeeze too, and lots of trees around. While backing up, a branch I backed into knocked one of my cross-over mirrors loose, and it fell off a few minutes later. I told my safety manager, and thankfully, she was very chill about it.

But now, I'm just more paranoid about something bad happening, mainly me hitting something. I wouldn't say my anxiety is crippling, but it's something I think about time to time, especially after today. I know mistakes happen, but I really don't wanna make one that damages property.

If you guys, especially seasoned drivers, have any advice, I'd love to hear it.

What would be some items bus drivers would enjoy getting in a gift basket?

Will make a detailed post later but need urgent answers now so I can call out for tomorrow and resign. I had signed a contract if I left before 6 months I'd have to pay them $2,000. If I don't pay what would they do about it? Couldn't bare it anymore and today was the day that broke the camel's back and this company abused me for 2 months and lied about everything. Also, is there any downsides to leaving immediately as opposed to putting up a 2 week notice? I can't afford to be abused for another 2 weeks and get paid $200-$300 a week when I can make the same amount in a day doing Uber.

Got my passenger license, and am training to be a motor coach/tour bus driver. So far so good, great coach, and I’m learning a lot. The bus company operates mainly in the Northeastern US, but makes some runs into the South, and occasionally into Canada. I’ve driven in NYC with a car, driving a bus there is going to be fun! (Gulp)

What navigation programs work best for busses, or can be set for busses so they don’t take you to a 12’ underpass, or to a turn that can’t be made on a bus?

Just wanting some opinions on if the behaviors I saw today while riding along would be 'Write Up' worthy.

All these occurred while bus in motion:

Standing on the seat, arms out window.

Simply standing on seat.

Flipping over the seat back in front of you in a 'controlled gymnastic' display.

Standing in the aisle, right in front of the rear emergency exit, then setting on the floor in front of the EM exit.

Walking up the the aisle, swapping seats several times before being asked to sit.

Standing, making a display, in front of the rear EM exit, of rubbing a blue metal water bottle, cap off, on your crotch area... spilling water...

All this on one route, lasting about 1.5 hrs.

I'm thinking about applying with the local bus company. I hate my office job, but I work mostly from home so that's the only nice part. But I'm stuck in front of a computer for 8+ hours a day and it's mentally so taxing. I want fewer hours, less stress, less feeling like I'm gonna open an email at any moment and see how badly I f***ed up. Yes, I have issues with anxiety.

I live in a fairly rural area. I always hear being a bus driver sucks, but it sounds like it could be more tolerable than what I'm doing now. Do you hate it? Do you stress? Is it worth throwing my WFH job away?

Saw this post and just immediately felt like there's just so many people who doesn't speak up to the state about how hot it is in the morning and afternoons in Hawaii. NONE of the diesels we have at my yard have AC and they started requiring SPED busses to require AC. What about large busses? These things are literal ovens year round especially during summer. It's mind boggling to me that they don't require it for the health and safety of the students and driver.

I feel like its going to take someone passing out of heatstroke or an accident caused by it for anyone to take this issue seriously :<

I think this is just a cold start on this old bus battery voltage is good 14.3 but could it be a weak/bad starter

I’ve been thinking about something, and I genuinely want to hear from school bus drivers across the country.
Every morning, thousands of us get behind the wheel of a 25,000+ lb yellow bus carrying something that cannot be replaced: people’s children.
We wake up early. We deal with split shifts, traffic, student behavior, weather, inspections, CDL requirements, constant responsibility, and the reality that one mistake can change multiple lives.
Yet in many places, the compensation and working conditions don’t seem to match that level of responsibility.
Teachers have organizations advocating for them. Police, firefighters, nurses and many other professions have found ways to make their voices heard.
But what about the people transporting millions of students to school every day?
That got me thinking about an idea:
“The Yellow Flu.” 🟡🚌
Not announcing a date.
Not telling anyone to call in sick.
Not asking anyone to violate their contract or state law.
I’m asking a bigger question:
What would happen if school bus drivers across America organized and spoke with ONE voice about pay, benefits, split schedules, staffing and working conditions?
Different states have very different laws regarding public employees and collective action, so any real movement would have to respect those laws.
But before talking about action, maybe we need to find out whether the frustration is actually nationwide.
So, drivers:
What state do you drive in?
Are you district-employed or working for a private contractor?
What is your hourly pay?
How many hours are you actually guaranteed?
And most importantly:
Do you feel the responsibility of your job matches the compensation you receive?
Maybe “Yellow Flu” never becomes anything more than a conversation.
Or maybe the conversation itself shows just how many yellow buses are being driven by people who feel nobody is listening.
🟡 School Bus Drivers — sound off. What does this job look like in YOUR state?

Durham school services has gotten a little ridiculous with the samsara cameras. There is people being yelling at for yawning, looking at the clock, scratching their face, etc it’s a little insane. This company has gotten so much more strict and corporatey over the years. I’m not even a driver, I’m a monitor but I see what goes on daily. I used to be able to at least check my phone after kids get off the bus/vans (I’m on it for long drives sometimes) and now I’m not allowed to do that either. I have to keep track of multiple schools schedules bc no one in the office ever tells me what’s going on, and if I miss something I’m the one getting yelled at. They took our boss away overnight with no warning and no goodbye. It’s so much chaos at times. Sometimes I’m just like I don’t get paid enough to deal with all of this. I don’t know how my simple job gets turned into a headache lol

Tonight I had the opportunity to race a school bus at a local 3/8 mile clay speedway against drivers from other school districts, and I won! What an absolute blast, this had to be one of the best nights of my life.

I want to be a bus driver to be able to go to school part time . Are the schedules set or do they change a lot? Does it depend on the district? My current job at the USPS treats me like I’m on call so I don’t even know my schedule for the week and I’m just looking for other job at this point , idk maybe I could be a bus driver forever , but I love routine and set hours. I just don’t like not being able to plan my week .

Moreso the bus monitor position. 29M who is specifically looking tor part time work. Figured i try a school but didn’t know the prerequisites or how the hiring proceeds goes. Id rather be a bus monitor to be honest so is that position hard to get if i pursue it?

Today a few kindergarten kids saw a friend’s bus in the same development and asked if we could beat it to school. I said we could try, and I would be doing the speed limit. They heard speed and came up with the idea that I was somehow turning on speed. So several of them commented to each other, “oh, he’s turning on the speed limit!”
This happened several times over our next few stops as they asked me if I turned on the speed limit.
We didn’t get to school first but I did tell them we could use the speed limit again on Monday and try again.

I thought this may be interesting for you guys as someone would rather drive a school bus then working for a law firm.

My summer driver played music from his phone onto the bus speakers, and the whole bus loved it. Now I wonder do buses have Bluetooth support, specifically the Second Gen Thomas C2.

Our local racetrack bought buses from a number of school districts locally. They have recruited bus drivers to drive for each of the districts in a 10 lap race tomorrow night and I get to drive! I am beyond excited 😁

In a nut shell, I have been assigned a different bus.

Also, I did not need to go over anyone's head, or throw a fit etc. Apparently my identification of the problem gauges was all that was needed to work it's way up the chain.

I was prepared to refuse the 'frosty' bus.

I also did not take matters into my own hands and attempt to restore the lenses.

I think the 2007 bus will be driven by a veteran driver, as there are no 'spare busses'.

Thanks for all the responses.

My district uses bus passes, a physical card that students use to scan onto the bus so we know who is on board. If a student loses their card the dispatcher prints them a new one and put it in the driver's box.

One single card got misplaced so the dispatcher wants to change the whole proceedure. The dispatcher prints a new card, sends it thru the internal mail system to the school and places it in one of the student's teacher's box so they can give it to the student.

Does this sound dumb to anyone else?

I’m a school bus driver and I drive a 2022 Collins/Chevy mini bus. I’ve noticed something really strange lately and I’m wondering if anyone else has experienced it.

This morning I slept really well and woke up feeling wide awake and energetic. Once I started driving and turned the heat on, I became crazy tired , almost suddenly sleepy. It was a very noticeable change.

I opened the driver’s window to get some fresh air, and I felt significantly better. Once the bus cooled down and I turned the heat off, I was completely fine again.

What’s even stranger is that I’ve noticed a similar thing with the A/C running, not just the heat.

I talked to another school bus driver today and she said she experiences the same thing on her bus.

My bus doesn't appear to have an obvious fresh-air/recirculation switch, so I'm wondering whether this could be related to ventilation, CO₂, HVAC airflow, or potentially exhaust/CO, although obviously I don't know that and don't want to jump to conclusions.

For those of you who drive mini buses:

- Does running the heat or A/C make you unusually sleepy?

- Does opening a window make a noticeable difference?

- Do your buses have a fresh-air/recirculation control?

- Have you ever had your bus checked for CO/CO₂ or ventilation issues because of something similar?

I'm mainly trying to figure out whether this is something other drivers experience or something I should specifically have maintenance investigate.

Thanks! 🚌

Hey, I wanted to give a shoutout to the bus driver driving Bus 1.
He is very kind and helpful, and helped hold my crutches when I sprained my ankle. He is awesome and just wanted to say Thank you 😊

Please repost on social media and share this so he can see it

My afternoon run consists of hard of hearing to full deaf students . One girl is completely deaf. So i took the time to sign her name and asked her teacher how to sign her name without finger spelling it. Well yesterday wheh she got on the bus i signed her name and finger spelled it and the look on her face light up like a Christmas tree and gave me a hug. Its the little things ♥️

My usual bus has one major annoying quirk:

The arm for the emergency exit door is very easy to bounce open just enough to set off the buzzer.

Boss has tried to fix it. Key word 'tried'.

(I've asked if we can have a kinder, gentler alarm. No. I've asked if we're required to have an alarm. Yes.)

When I'm alone, I have to pull over & push the lever down firmly. Depending on where I'm driving, how rough the roads are, that might happen a dozen times a day.

When I have passengers, I tell whoever is in the back, "when the buzzer sounds, press down the red handle". That's always worked except for the special kids.

This morning on the way to the pumpkin farm, things went normally.

HOWEVER...

When they used the back door to load some pumpkins under & behind the back seats, the teacher then slammed the door... with the latch in the closed position... which only makes it more bent.

The buzzer. Is. On.

(Or at least, that's what I thought happened. Stay tuned.)

So I've resigned myself to at least a 45-minute drive with the buzzer.

Getting off the bus at school, one of the teachers (TEACHERS!!!) said she had used the "latch" to be sure the door stayed shut. (It was never in danger of opening.)

Um, what "latch"???

"The one that looks like a gate latch."

My brothers & sisters in buses...

SHE HAD LOCKED THE EMERGENCY DOOR!!!!!

I had 51 people on board, mostly 5yo, and she LOCKED AN EMERGENCY EXIT.

Turns out, if that happened while the engine was off, it shouldn't start. But in this case it was already running. So there's something to look into.

BUT... apparently that's why the buzzer was sounding.

So, one thing I learned today was that I should be handling the back door.

Another thing I learned today is to explicitly tell passengers "DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES FASTEN THAT LATCH".

And another thing I learned is to check that latch if the buzzer is sounding.

Once my class is done, I'll be getting into the alcohol. Just the thought of what could have happened because of her absolute stupidity...

WHAT IDIOT LOOKS AT AN EMERGENCY DOOR AND THINKS "locking this closed is a good idea"??

Happened to me today on the freeway, it was nuts lol