School Bus Driver

School Bus Driver

The Bus Driver

15 Years Experience

South, ..

Female, 37

I have been a bus driver since late 2006. I know the inside story, the scoop, the down low dirt of what it takes to be a bus driver, how to handle kids and adults, and how to survive on the "streets" so to speak. I used to have a blog, feel free to browse it or ask me a question here.

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Last Answer on February 07, 2021

Best Rated

Why do parents show up in droves when a bus driver pulls over due to excessive noise? I have seen videos of it and it makes me mad because I bet the driver pulled over and told them to be quite and then they start getting louder. I mean the noise level in the buses I have seen. Do the parents expect the driver to drive with that kind of screaming like wild banshees? Seriously?! The parents make it worse because I assume the driver can’t just let kids off with random people for all the driver probably knows. Their kids aren’t dying and if they shut up for a few minutes I bet they would have been on their merry way. Just let the supervisor, principle, and/or police show up take care of it then maybe they will let your kids off too you or they will continue on home or school. I understand they may be scared if the district never contacts the parents and they are twenty minutes late but when they know what happened why do they do that? Even calling the cops saying their kids are held hostage and make it sound like the driver put a gun to their heads. Anyways what do you think and have you ever been in a situation like this?

Asked by DJ almost 7 years ago

DJ, first off how the heck did you get around the character limit??? Secondly, we live in a society of "me first." If anyone, including children, feel they are being wronged by anyone, their first instinct is to scream discrimination. It's sad, but a reality. With free access to social media and giving our children free access to these items, we create a level of distrust in everyone. Adults that were once held in a position of authority are now being stripped of that authority in order to further our own agendas.

All it takes in a situation like you described is a kid to call a parent and falsely accuse someone of doing something that they are not. We are so quick to blame as a country and to point the fingers at someone else that we fail to see the actual source of the blame and take care of the initial problem. So while the initial problem may be unruly disrespectful children, it is blown out of proportion to make the persons in charge at fault for the initial behavior. This is a direct result of a "not me" society. We refuse to take responsibility for our actions and therefore the blame lies with someone other than ourselves when it should lie directly with ourselves. The perceived injustice to themselves is never their own fault.

People need to start taking responsibility for their actions. As far as being in that situation, I have had furious parents who decidedly cuss me out for something that I did not do. It's frustrating because you are put in an impossible situation.

But here is the thing when I am good I still don't want to hear them yelling at other people and about other things. They only like a handful of kids and the new lady has a shrill yell. Miles away from school both parents work

Asked by The man almost 7 years ago

Wear earplugs? Or get your fellow students to sit down, behave, and stop doing shit that will get them yelled at.

Do I have to have a air brake endorsement to drive a bus? What if I don't drive a bus with air brakes?

Asked by ZNnasnnssnnsn over 6 years ago

That depends on your district's requirements. Most school buses have air brakes to my knowledge but there are a good many that don't have them. Check with your local district.

What do you think about eating and drinking on your bus? Are more lax as long as there is not mess? or are you more of no ones eating unless their starving to death or your a diabetic?

Asked by Jimmies over 6 years ago

I prefer they didn't eat on my bus because I don't want them to choke while the bus is moving. I understand that kids will be kids and they will eat, but as long as they're responsible about it and do not leave a mess or create more problems i generally won't say anything.

For real try and write me up for a dirty bus when I clean my bus every day. Other weird stuff they pull. The director of transportation is a good guy. They do it to other drivers too. Advice? I have chilled a bit. Then they talk about misbehavior

Asked by Carlene almost 7 years ago

Take photos of your bus that's been clean and document document document. If you're writing kids up for little things then maybe its time you found another job?

How did DJ ask that long ass question? I can barely even get my whole question across sometimes because of a character limit. But I think he long surpassed that. Can you set it different for certain people?

Asked by Eric almost 7 years ago

Honestly i have no clue!! I'm going to answer his question later today

Do any buses have Bluetooth or a audio jack so you can listen to what you want over the radio?

Asked by Gocohcc over 6 years ago

I can't speak for all buses but the newer buses in my district including my own have an auxiliary feature where i can plug in an aux cord and play music through my phone through the radio. I generally will play pandora Disney kids music or tween popular songs that are mostly clean lyrics. If i have only older kids on the bus like highschoolers, i will allow them to hook up to the aux cord themselves and play their music or use my phone to search pandora.