| Being
a school bus driver is harder than it looks. Did you know
the school bus drivers must often pass a series of tests for
agility, safety awareness, driving skills and knowledge of
their bus, inside and out? Drivers have to check their buses
daily, looking over brakes, lights, mirrors, engine parts
and more to be sure all is in working order.
It's a
big responsibility to drive a school bus. Keeping children
safe is a school bus driver's first and highest priority.
Interview
with School Bus Driver Hal Leet:
Driving
a school bus isn't just a job for Hal Leet. He sees it as
a calling, a special service, a way to "be there"
for kids. With Hal behind the wheel there's always a smile,
a cheery hello or a word of encouragement for the riders on
his bus. "I like communicating with the kids," Hal
says with a smile.
His day
typically starts at 5am when the alarm rousts him from sleep,
and he's up and out before 6am. The morning bus runs last
about 3 hours as he shuttles kids from street corners to schools.
Then he's off duty for a few hours before heading back to
his bus by 1:30pm. For another 3 hours or more he's driving
kids safely home again.
Hal takes
it all very seriously. He rarely misses a day-he knows the
kids count on him each morning. Whatever the weather-rain,
shine, sleet, hail, wind or snow, if there's school, Hal's
on his bus picking up kids.
It's a
part-time job usually, though some drivers "bid"
to get special trips, after school events or out-of-town assignments.
Some drivers are "subs," filling in when a regular
driver can't come to work. Often school buses carry a "monitor"
who takes care of the riders while the driver focuses on safe
driving. "I'm there to keep them safe," Hal says.
"The driver and assistant work as a team to keep the
kids safe."
Hal's
not going to make tons of cash driving a school bus. But that's
not why he's there-he's behind the wheel because he cares.
What
You Can Do to Get Ready:
- Be
a safe driver-learn road rules and obey them.
- Drive
defensively and be alert.
- Enjoy
being around lots of kids of all ages.
- Be
an early riser and a reliable worker.
What
it Pays:
Pay scale varies
by school districts and hours worked, but usually school bus
driving is a part-time job. When there's no school, bus drivers
don't work, for instance in the summer, though a few drivers
might be needed for summer school. Hourly pay might range
from $10 to about $15 depending on the driver's experience
and skill. Drivers can "bid" on extra bus runs to
increase their hours to make a higher income. In some places
school bus drivers are considered full-time employees and
have health benefits as well as salary.
Other
Resources:
School
Bus & School Zone Safety Kids Page
How
to Become a School Bus Driver
CDL
Test Prep Review
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