Bus Driver

Bus Driver

Under the supervision of the Area Transportation Coordinator, the school bus driver is responsible for the safe transportation of children to and from school and school related activities, i.e., field trips, athletic events, et cetera.

Main Job Tasks and Responsibilities

• Operate the school bus to pick up and deliver students to/from school in a safe manner obeying all traffic laws and observes mandatory safety regulations for school bus operations.
• Wash bus, clean bus inside and out, and fuel bus and check fluid levels and perform pre-trip inspection of school bus and report operating and equipment deficiencies.
• Conduct periodic emergency bus evacuation drills and report all accidents and complete required reports and be accountable for all equipment on bus.
• May assist in notifying other drivers in the event of delayed openings or cancellation of school.
• Maintain accurate record of time spent driving and submit timesheet.
• Contact Transportation Services when a substitute driver is needed.

Provide safe transport of students

• Transport only authorized students, school personnel and/or authorized chaperones on special trips and enforce appropriate conduct standards for students and make reports as necessary.
• Operate bus on designated route and pick up and deliver children at designated bus stops at designated times.
• Permit no student to leave the bus at other than his/her designated stop without written permission of Division administration and/or student's parents.
• Transport students to special events, field trips, and or athletic events.
• Stop on the right of the highway for receiving and discharging passengers, only at designated stops, where the vehicle can be seen for a safe distance from both directions.
• Come to a full stop on approaching a railroad crossing, look both ways and proceed only when it is absolutely safe to cross the track.
• Support and demonstrate core values of Transportation
• Engage in ongoing professional development relevant to position.
• Respond promptly and thoroughly to written and oral requests for information.
• Maintain a clean, neat appearance, appropriate to position.
• Maintain a record of appropriate attendance and punctuality.
• Serve as a role model for students, colleagues, and the general public.
• Work in close harmony with colleagues, supervisors, and co-workers.
• Comply with all Division and School policies and regulations, including but not limited to guidelines for confidentiality.
• Perform other related duties as required/assigned.

Education and Experience

• High School Diploma, GED or equivalent
• Must be at least eighteen (18) years of age
• Must have possession of, or ability to obtain, a Class B commercial driver's license CDL-B with P and S (passenger and school bus) endorsements with air brakes as defined by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.
• Possession or can obtain prior to transporting students for the first time of First Aid and CPR certifications.
• Must have at least two (2) years of licensed driving experience in the United States.
• Must possess a valid driver's license and a satisfactory driving record from the Department of Motor Vehicles that shows, within the preceding five years, there has been no convictions of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, convictions of refusing to take a blood or breath test, convictions of a felony, or assignment to any alcohol safety action program or driver alcohol rehabilitation program pursuant to 18.2-271.1 of the Code of Virginia or, within the preceding 12 months, there have been no convictions of two or more moving traffic violations or has not been required to attend a driver improvement clinic by the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to 46.2-498 of the Code of Virginia; candidates who have been residents of Virginia for fewer than five (5) years and held a driver's license in another state prior to moving to Virginia must provide a copy of the out-of-state driving record(s) needed to provide a five (5) year driving history.
• No bus driver may be employed in another capacity later than the previous eight (8) hours prior to the start of driving a school bus the following day.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge
  • Safe operation of a school bus
  • Laws and regulations governing Pupil Transportation from the Department of Education and the Department of Motor Vehicles
  • Local streets and road systems
• Skills
  • Follow established bus route and schedule
  • Detect malfunctioning equipment
  • Maintain effective control over groups of students and work harmoniously with Division Staff
• Abilities
  • Complete Bus Driver Training (minimum of eighty (80) hour program (minimum of 40+ classroom/minimum 40+ behind the wheel)
  • Obtain and maintain a current Bus Driver's physical
  • Assist students using patience and understanding
  • Work cooperatively in a team environment to meet goals
  • Organize and perform work independently
  • Meet deadlines for all work even when working on multiple projects
  • Show sustained effort and enthusiasm in quality and quantity of work

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

• Work environment is primarily inside a school bus, with moderate noise, temperatures that are subject to extreme heat or cold, and some exposure to chemicals or other negative air quality elements.
• The work is moderate work, requiring exertion of up to 50 pounds of force to move or lift objects.
• The following physical and mental abilities are representative of those expected to complete the essential functions of the job: standing for prolonged periods; sitting for prolonged periods; operating motor vehicles or heavy equipment; moving the hands, wrists, or fingers repetitively; moving with force on the back or lower body repetitively; feeling, grasping, or holding objects by hand; identifying colors visually; identifying objects in low light or distant conditions; communicating via spoken language; communicating via written language; perceiving sounds; making decisions using logic and rational thinking.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations shall be made, as required by law, to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described.

Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties, just as though they were actually written out in this job description.