Also, you need to have a great deal of patience, whether thats due to the traffic on the roads, rowdy school kids or people who have had one too many to drink! Most drivers will entertain the questions and small talk purely out of respect and their desire to be nice, but would rather they be allowed to focus on the important task in front of them drive passengers safely to their destinations. Avoid passing trucks and buses going down hills, mountains, etc., where they tend to pick up speed due to their heavy weight. On the contrary, if I am late at the terminus it comes out of my break time. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Another rider may pass if overtaking. As St. Louis Public Radio's Niara Savage reports, multiple service cuts to that city's transit system are also making it hard for riders to get where they need to go. They're also offering $2,000 bonuses to new and current employees. In addition, the number of bus driver opportunities that are projected to become available by 2028 is 32,800. You Won't Know When Your Driver Might Slam On The Brakes, You Don't Own The Bus. They take note of these folks, most notably the ones who tend to be problematic passengers. With assigned seats, its pretty easy for drivers to spot who the culprit is. Everyone is being forced to make due with less, thus for both the driver and the passengers, a bus ride . Assist in the boarding of passengers using wheelchairs or other mobility aids and properly secure wheelchairs and scooters. According to drivers on Quora.com, any discrepancies in my ticket money comes out of my paycheck. If a driver seems too strict with the bus fare, its only because they are often held responsible for the accuracy at the expense of their own take-home pay. Stay a safe distance back when stopped behind a truck or bus, particularly going up an incline, where large vehicles might roll backward. To get the inside track on the working lives of these people, the Liverpool Echo talked to Merseyside drivers Vicky Unsworth, 35, from Knowsley, who is employed by Stagecoach, and Andy Gifford, 40, from Rock Ferry, who is employed by Arriva. Drivers aren't required to wait with the bus while the kids and chaperones head out to for fun. Eagle Lake, Texas 07/12 - 03/17 Unless the driver has written permission from the parents, he or she will have to drop the kids at the sheriff or police station at the end of the route. NIARA SAVAGE, BYLINE: I'm standing at a bus stop in downtown St. Louis on one of the city's busiest routes. Cleaned and closed the store according to company policies. It takes extreme circumstances, such as assault or getting a DWI but not informing the employer, for the driver to be fired. In addition, they sometimes get to have a bus monitor to ride with them to keep things under control while they drive. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services. Delivered customer orders in a timely fashion and provided exceptional customer The smell of food brought inside the bus will permeate the interior, leaving behind an unpleasant odor for everyone onboard to breathe long after you're gone. ", Another commonly found skill for being able to perform bus driver duties is the following: patience. Flexing your leg muscles once in a while doesn't hurt, does it? More surprisingly, they are forbidden from touching the kids since it could easily end up in a lawsuit. When youre stuck in traffic it can get frustrating as well. More interesting, however, is that in certain districts, senior drivers get to drive smaller van-like buses which essentially have smaller capacities and carry fewer children, hence less chaos and shorter routes. Tapping it produces annoying sounds and vibration. Its somewhat of an inexplicable bus behavior, but its something drivers wish passengers would stop doing. Follow the rules of the road below to learn about actions passenger vehicle drivers can take to help avoid crashes. The education levels that coach operators earn is a bit different than that of bus drivers. Her writing focuses on politics, culture, relationships, and health. In the first week of January alone, nearly 60 employees tested positive for COVID and were not able to work. Parents too get in the game and may decide to offer treats to the drivers especially during seasonal festivities. Out of respect for fellow passengers, its simply a courtesy to have bus fare or the bus card out, ready to pay as soon as the bus arrives. Well, you stack several of those months in a row, along with the effects of the pandemic and then the next thing you know, you have a problem. Even with these new incentives, Taulby Roach says finding qualified bus drivers remains a challenge. While some skills are shared by these professions, there are some differences to note. Meet with teachers/ school administration/parents regarding student's behavior and create safety plans as part of the student's IEP. Many drivers love getting the chance to be a part of the childrens lives and watching them grow and develop into young adults. In general, bus attendants reach similar levels of education when compared to bus drivers resumes. That's because there aren't enough bus drivers, and the city's transit agency has made service cuts to try to adapt. Here in St. Louis, Catina Wilson says her union is negotiating with local transit officials to try to reach an agreement over both safer working conditions and higher pay for transit workers. There are a set of workers that often get overlooked for their hard work because a decent sized part of society assumes their jobs to be fairly easy or non-essential. Most of this rubbish, unfortunately, ends up on the bus floor. Andy: My main issue is when people who have just got off the bus then walk straight in front of you as youre trying to pull off. According to resumes we found, customer-service skills can be used by a bus driver in order to "drive safely and obey all traffic laws while maintaining all guest in bus in order and happy. And play it cool when you're on the bus: No jumping . Taught CDL classes Seating arrangement in the bus is largely left to the drivers discretion. She is currently a Roy H. Park Fellow at the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media and previously worked as the Head of Audience Development at The Week. Image credits: shrinkin'violet (not the actual photo) According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average, one-way commute in the U.S. takes 26.1 minutes. Buses are not necessarily meant to operate at maximum capacity, but when they do they are very likely running behind schedule to a significant degree. It essentially works like a domino effect, with large effects downstream that passengers on a single bus wouldnt understand. Answered phone calls to complete customer orders in an efficient manner. But sometimes I do feel there is a general lack of respect for bus drivers, in particular when members of the public board the bus glued to their phones without any acknowledgement at all, so . Here are 20 things bus drivers in the US would want to say in your face but can't. 20 When A Stinky Passenger Has Boarded, A Driver's Tolerance Is Tested Okay, your bus driver can tell that you just came from a week-long hiking trip with your mates, or you're just plainly too ill to splash even a single drop of water in your face today. Performed combat essential modifications on the generators. Mind Your Surroundings 9. They have to walk the full length of the bus and confirm that every kid hasexited the bus. Their job is also important because they are performing an essential duty that would otherwise set back a big part of our communities. What made you want to become a bus driver? Vicky: Its definitely not about their mode of transport, its just a very small minority of attitudes.. Key 4: Leave Yourself An Out. She has a B.A. 7. Vicky: Helping people get from A to B. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Performed daily vehicle inspections and tracked vehicle mileage according to policy. 4 The Color Yellow. Someone suggested I should go and work for a bus company for a while to gain the licence and get some experience handling large vehicles. Unless, of course, if you have mobility issues. There are industries that support higher salaries in each profession respectively. That's because if the bus is in an accident, the seatbelt will keep you from bouncing all over the place. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. Vicky: We drive different routes and know them all really well but the problem is if youve been on one route for a while then youre put on a different one. One of the reasons for tracking this data is to ensure the fare collected matches with the headcount. Bus drivers not only have to worry about maneuvering their own very large vehicle, but have to constantly be on the lookout for smaller cars who recklessly cut them off, get into their blind spots, ride them too close from behind and so much more. Having good people skills is crucial for you to enjoy your job and for passengers to enjoy their journey. Bus drivers must be able to pass vision tests This is clearly demonstrated in this example from a bus driver who stated: "performed visual inspections and reported any mechanical problems or defects. Start at the front of the bus and see how it winds up! When riding buses in an unfamiliar place, ending up in the wrong destination is commonplace. They enjoy when they are able to create a good rapport with the kids and also the cool benefits that come with being a bus driver including vacation time and flexible working hours. Conducted home child care for six children during the day. Shirts & Stuff:https://. When instances of bullying occur, they try their best to take care of it; this can involve a trip to the principals office, a call to parents, and even suspension from the bus if the behavior is bad enough. I did a degree in media and applied for a job as a runner, where I was told I would have more chance if I had a D1 licence so I could drive large vehicles between the sets. Once you've obtained the level of education you're comfortable with, you might start applying to companies to become a bus driver. 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Others fall asleep on the bus and if it were not for this crucial routine, they would be locked in the bus the whole day. Simple physics tells us that a body inside a moving bus continues to move in the bus's direction at the same speed as the bus after the driver hits the brakes. Given that school bus drivers have to be listening to the children, it soon becomes easy to create a rapport with them. Keep Your Cell Phone Business To Yourself, Just Press The Stop Request Button Once. Case in point, passengers who occupy more space by spreading their legs far apart, leaving no space for other passengers. If you need to do anything in your car besides driving, get off the road and stop. Apparently, no one ever wants to be stuck behind a school bus and most other drivers will use all means just to get ahead of the yellow bus including underhand tactics that place the children and themselves at risk of an accident. Do you ever wonder why buses have two doors? As such the prospect of firing an experienced driver is not an attractive option. Then choose from 12+ resume templates to create your bus driver resume. Some of my older passengers love having a natter about where theyre going to or what theyve done that day, and its nice to think that bus travel is what made it possible. You dont want to be the passenger counting nickels and dimes all the way up to the $3.75 charge. Build a professional resume in minutes using this template. Has crossed your mind, maybe you should take the growth rate into account. The usual advice even when the kid is having an allergic reaction or seizure is to take the kid home or to school, whichever is closer, placing a mental strain on the driver and further risking the childs life. Although passengers only stay for a while on the bus, some leave lasting impressions on the bus driver, but they may not know it. Use Your Resting B*tch Face 2. The number of passengers that board a bus is tracked closely. 4. One of the strangest quirks in the daily tasks of a school bus driver is the one ritual they do after every route. In other words, avoid using an exorbitant amount of loose change to pay. SAVAGE: To try to deal with that problem, transit officials raised workers' pay. This means they have plenty of time during the day and if there is no field trip scheduled, they can easily catch a nap, attend class or some training, or just go to the movies as long as they are back in time for their afternoon schedule. When you see a weary bus driver, it is because he really is. Stop request buttons are hard to miss on every bus, and they are there for one obvious reason. Passengers standing outside of that line were blocking the driver's view to the right, so don't do it. Even a simple thanks and greeting as well as teaching your kids to treat them with respect may be all that they need for the day. Just about every mass transit system in existence in the United States has upgraded to bus pass cards as a means for payment and it really is best to use this form. They have an onboard computer that provides them with this information. He loves doing wholesome things ending in -ing: writing, editing, traveling, laughing, sleeping, drinking lots of coffee, eatingjust about anything. This time as an annoyance to drivers everywhere in the form of slow passengers who are simply too busy lollygagging. Fun things to do on a party bus don't have to be difficult to plan. Order the combatants to stop fighting, but do not leave your driver's seat area nor go back to the location of the fight. So if you see one approaching your stop, skip it and save yourself the trouble of riding with a bus-load of sulking people. Train to perform emergency first aid on passengers, including CPR when require and in accordance with company policies and procedures. In fact: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, United States Department of Transportation, National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners, ADA Requirements for Over-the-Road Bus Companies, Apply for a New USDOT Number and/or Authority, Pocket Guide to Large Truck and Bus Statistics. They also usually fall into one of two categories: intercity drivers, who transport people within metropolitan areas, and school bus drivers, who transport children to and from school-related. It doesn't matter if there is heavy rain or snowstorms outside. First thing's first, most of the confrontations in a bus amongst children are secretive and end fast. Answer phone calls and place customer orders both over the phone and in person. We calculated that 26% of Bus Drivers are proficient in CDL, DOT, and Customer Service. There are those kids who treat the drivers as great friends and even an extension of their family. ". If your bus isn't equipped with a stereo system, you can still implement this reward by equipping your bus with a simple Bluetooth speaker. What things would make your job even more enjoyable? Washington, DC 20590 Exercise student management through correct use of communication and discipline. Vicky: Yes, its good wages and its a straightforward job as long as you have the right attitude. Helping someone in need only makes sense. Copyright 2022 NPR. Rules for Bus Safety. There is so much that parents overlook about how their children are picked up from home and dropped back from school. Much can be done. I love it when the passengers have a bit of banter too, it fills the bus with happy energy., Andy: I genuinely really enjoy this job and cant really think of anything that Id change about it really, other than perhaps we could offer a special Monday morning party bus service to help commuters beat those back to work Monday blues!, Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. They want to be on time just as much as you do. 10 Most Beautiful Temples In Japan You Should Visit, Here's Why Austin's Oasis Restaurant Has Such A Big Reputation (Literally). It may not be much in terms of compensation but it is one of the best perks people in other professions envy about school bus driving. They're also offering $2,000 bonuses to new and current employees. Although most mass public transit systems employ maintenance crews to do the deep cleaning that is required of each bus after its parked for the night at the garage, drivers are still expected to perform walkthroughs after completing their shift. Being able to stay calm and think positively is important too. This is further propelled by the fact that they know they will receive no direct punishment from the bus drivers. You may wonder why your child gets assigned a specific seat but that could easily pinpoint whether he is a noted troublemaker or a good child. These choices help to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and increase on-time performance. Being a bus driver may not be the most glamorous job, but it provides flexible hours, nice vacation time, and the chance to interact with great kids. Participated in convoy exercises designed to prepare personnel for combat operations. A driver's concentration is crucial when on the road. Received customer orders, entered into computer, prepared and delivered customer orders. "Bus buddies" were also assigned to monitor problems among students on the bus, particularly bullying. Trained new drivers on policies and procedures I found that I enjoyed the work, and 14 years later here I am!, Andy: I first thought about becoming a bus driver because my dad was looking into applying and at the time I was being made redundant from my job. Although bus drivers seem to be the last people on Earth to complain about people's behavior inside their buses, they also get vexed by disrespectful passengers. After all, drivers can't do their best job (keeping kids safe) when they're distracted by rowdy kids. Vicky: I fell into it by accident. We're focusing and scanning for the presence of life in the buses danger zones. But dont expect them to intervene in a way that puts them in danger. Everyone else is late too. As one frustrated bus driver who commented on Quora.com puts it, I am not late just to spite you. The job isnt easydrivers get yelled at, ignored, and have to get tough when managing disruptive kids. They simply have to stay on schedule and every time they stop, that's more lost time they have to account for. ". Passenger vehicle drivers transport people, sometimes across state and national borders. And instead of blaming yourself, though, sometimes you find it easier to put the blame on the driver. While in most cases the entry requirement for one to be a school bus driver is a commercial driving license, many bus drivers get on-the-job trainingand earn various qualifications in safe drivingso they are best placed to react and avert disaster when on the road. So if the thought "should I become a bus driver?" Provide directives to the students near the combatants to distance themselves from the combatants. CATINA WILSON: How many of us would drive down the street in our cars, let somebody flag us down and put a stranger behind our head right now in this day and time? If you use medication that carries a warning, arrange an alternate driver or use other forms of transportation. School bus drivers go through a lot on a daily basis mostly above and beyond their duty. Do Not Leave Wallets Exposed in an Unzipped Bag 11. You can plan ahead and pick out a prize from somewhere and whoever wins gets the prize! While bus driver responsibilities can utilize skills like "dot," "passenger endorsement," "vehicle inspections," and "post-trip inspections," some school bus monitors use skills like "behavior problems," "bus safety," "kids," and "behavior issues.". Build a professional bus driver resume in minutes. Now, let's take a closer look at the financials in each career. In the event of a crash behind a truck, passenger vehicles could slide (or be pushed) under a truck. For example, they're 0.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree. Assisted with store management. Parents: Bus drivers tell stories of parents telling their kids they dont have to listen to the driver. I am a Bus Driver and I will share with you a few things you should never do while on public transit! Its only fair to other paying customers behind you and those on the bus as well. Party bus drivers do far more than just drive, and an especially helpful and courteous driver should be rewarded accordingly. He says attracting and retaining qualified workers is problematic for transit agencies in Denver, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and other big cities across the country. Jason Miller is with the Denver-based transportation consulting firm Fehr & Peers. The driver is only aware of the major incidents since his eyes are on the road. But those perceptions are entirely untrue a bus drivers job is neither easy, nor is it unimportant. They also need to be sure of safe turning, and the road also needs to begood for driving during foul weather. They would rather want you to wait for the next bus, which is approximately only five minutes behind. Generally speaking, coach operators receive $7,733 higher pay than bus drivers per year. Alcohol and other drugs impair judgment and reaction time. They operate a range of vehicles, from small cars with limited seating to 60-foot articulated buses (with two connected sections) that can carry more than 100 passengers. Have the charades match your theme for even more fun! Children love telling tales and a listening ear is all they need to go on revealing stuff their parents would have preferred remained private. What qualities do you need to be a bus driver? Assisted with safety classes, The most important skills for a bus driver to have in this position are customer-service skills. There are a number of roads they do not drive up on including private roads. 6. The best way to avoid trouble is by designating kids to certain seats. Part-time bus drivers are guaranteed at least twenty hours per week, but they often may have the option to work more. And though everyone around you starts to get uneasy, your bus driver would only trynot to breathe it in. Post a Job on Zippia and take the best from over 7 million monthly job seekers. Participate in a health awareness group at MTA and run a 5k with different organizations to improve health wellness. Only it doesnt. That compares with 18 percent of all U.S. public and private school teachers and 27 percent of . "cdl," "dot," "customer service," and "passenger endorsement" are skills that have shown up on bus drivers resumes. No Eye Contact 4. Here are 20 such things everyone should know about school bus drivers. Check out this example of how bus drivers use patience: "provide excellent customer service and patience with all passengers. This not only helps for convenience purposes but becomes crucially important should the bus driver require to reach you in times of emergency. Hiring and retaining enough bus drivers is proving especially challenging. Since salary is important to some bus drivers, it's good to note that they are figured to earn the highest salaries at Preston High School, Spartanburg School District Three, and Dublin City Schools. When changing the information you should remember to update it with the bus driver so that you can be easily reached always. As long as you like people, get along with your passengers and dont let the occasional daft manoeuvre get to you then all you need to do is drive to town and back a few times which is really enjoyable. Pull off to a safe area if possible. But having more passengers than the bus can seat makes it impossible for them to do so. This means many school districts are struggling to sufficiently fill up the required slots. Very few parents get to understand the crucial role that school bus drivers play in the lives of their children. Head's up. Although we encounter them every day, we arent fully aware of their duties and the behind the scene things we never get to see. Being able to gather information such as passenger count by day of week, time of day, month, etc. The majority of passengers are lovely and just want to see a happy face. Whenever anyone boards my bus with an instrument I hope theyre going to get it out and start playing it, because it just creates such an upbeat atmosphere. Moreover, the senior drivers get to be accompanied by bus monitors in some school districts which allows them to be more focused on the road and avoid the usual chaperoning duties. You meet such a mixture of people from different walks of life and so having compassion in certain situations goes a long way. Once the bus is all clear, the driver puts up a sign in the back window to indicate the bus is empty. Whereas bus drivers tend to make the most money in the education industry with an average salary of $37,869. It's hard work to become a bus driver, but even the most dedicated employees consider switching careers from time to time. This career brings along a lower average salary when compared to a bus driver annual salary. There is no safe limit for drinking before driving. Other passengers may file complaints for delays or . Drivers can be responsible for about 70 children at any given time, so its unrealistic to expect them to catch everything happening on the bus. Child Care Giver Trucks are often 20 to 30 times heavier than passenger vehicles. It is 2019 after all, so our smartphones should do the trick just as well. If you want to push yourself mentally and professionally then this is the job for you. Your bus driver will not be happy with this. Drivers plan out seat assignments because it helps maintain order and provides better chances for cooperation between childrenespecially as they get older, when their on-bus behavior can become even more of a distraction. Obviously, a single bus door could not accommodate passengers going up and down the bus all at the same time. Demonstrate knowledge of designate routes in metro area. They are not adequately prepared to deal with emergencies whether it is the kids fighting or medical emergencies. Whereas, bus drivers have higher paychecks in the education industry where they earn an average of $37,869. Believe it or not, kids are safer taking the bus to school than when you drive them: The chances of getting in an accident are much lower with a school bus. Transported students on daily bus routes smartphone to navigate vehicle. ", But both careers also use different skills, according to real bus driver resumes. Based on feedback from the bus buddies, drivers and transportation management select a Bus of the Month, and these students and their drivers receive a special lunch and certificates. Sometimes people get on and dont know where theyre going. When a truck or bus is passing you or merging into traffic from an on-ramp, give them extra space to change lanes safely. 4. Given the ambivalence of the general public towards school drivers, it is no surprise that so much about the day to day lives of these people is known. For example, a bus driver responsibilities require skills like "cpr," "transport children," "safety equipment," and "windshield wipers." 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