School & Paratransit Bus Drivers Job Description

Paratransit Drivers: A Job Description

Paratransit drivers work for transportation companies that provide medical services. Paratransit drivers go above and beyond the duties of a regular bus driver to ensure that passengers are safe and comfortable in transit despite their physical conditions. Paratransit drivers are tasked with safe operation of vehicles that transport people who struggle with physical challenges.

Drivers pick up and drop off riders according to the schedule that fits the needs of passengers. You help passengers board and exit the vehicle and ensure their safety, fastening wheelchairs and other medical or mobility equipment in a secure fashion. You are responsible for keeping records and trip logs that outline your driving activities.

You need a valid driver's license and clean driving record to be a paratransit driver. Drivers who are 21 years or older are required in some positions. Drug tests, fitness tests, and criminal background checks are all possible if the employer's hiring policies are right.

School Bus Drivers

School bus drivers take kids to and from school. They take school sports teams on trips. Bus drivers are often involved in other roles in the school district.

The average annual salary for a school or special client bus driver was $29,220 in 2010, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. School bus drivers have to do multi-tasking. They have to drive safely and watch the road, but they also have responsibility for the conduct of students on their buses.

The front window of the bus has large mirrors that allow drivers to see the entire bus. Monitoring student behavior and stopping horseplay are immediate duties. Drivers must sometimes file reports on students who are harmful or repetitive.

School bus drivers with professional driving experience are preferred by many schools. School Bus Driving experience is ideal, but passenger transport experience is valuable. If they seem like the right candidate, some schools and bus operators may hire School Bus Drivers without driving experience.

Good school bus drivers have pleasant personality. They must be patient and enjoy working with children, otherwise they will become rowdy. They should know how to encourage better behavior when students are bad.

The school bus driver should be safe on the road. The school bus driver needs to have good time management skills and not take driving risks. School bus drivers only drive students and faculty.

Bus drivers are hired to transport people. They drive children but don't interact with them as much as School Bus Drivers. School Bus Drivers work only in the morning and afternoon.

Bus Drivers

Bus drivers are responsible for taking people from one place to another on a bus. There are different types of drivers. School bus drivers take students to and from school.

Bus drivers follow specific schedules to get people where they need to go. People are transported between different cities by city bus drivers. Bus drivers and employers have different duties.

Some bus drivers are responsible for keeping track of passengers. The BLS notes that transit and intercity bus drivers have the highest injury rates of all occupations it tracks, and that most of them are related to traffic accidents. Bus drivers are required to follow the rules of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

School Bus Drivers: The Role of Work and Environment

School bus drivers are not on duty during school hours. If schools are open and close at different times, some people make multiple runs. Others only make two runs, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, so they can't work as much.

Motorcoach drivers are traveling with their passengers. The schedule dictates the hours of the driver. Motorcoach drivers can work all hours of the day and weekend.

Intercity bus drivers can spend some nights away from home. Other bus drivers make a round trip and go home at the end of their shifts. Bus drivers typically go through 1 to 3 months of training, but those who already have a license may have a shorter training period.

The training includes a driving course where drivers practice their skills with a bus. They begin to drive in light traffic and then make practice runs on the route they expect to drive. New drivers are accompanied by an experienced driver who gives helpful tips, answers questions, and evaluates their performance on a regular basis.

The classroom is where some drivers training is spent. They learn about the company's rules and regulations. Drivers are taught about bus routes, fares, and how to interact with passengers.

Application for the Instructor Certification Course in California's Bus Driver

The person applying for the training program will be interviewed by phone and given a written and driving performance test. The Department's Instructor's Behind-the- Wheel Guide for California's Bus Driver's Training course is the required reading for the applicants. The Office of School Transportation will conduct the assessment tests.

The person who failed to qualify will be disqualified for at least a year from the date they failed the test. All applicants must have their employer sponsor them. The application should be signed by the employer and dated as required.

The Office of School Transportation must approve all required documents before the application can be submitted for assignment to a class. The Office of School Transportation will contact applicants to arrange for the appropriate assessment tests. After all entry requirements and assessment tests are completed, an application will be assigned to a class.