things public bus drivers can't do

You Won't Know When Your Driver Might Slam On The Brakes, You Don't Own The Bus. According to a bus driver resume, "because of possible traffic congestion and sometimes unruly passengers, bus drivers are put in stressful situations and must remain calm and continue to operate their bus." Copyright 2022 NPR. There's no question. 4. Chasing after the bus will only cause further and unnecessary delays. Drivers can also refuse to move the bus as leverage to force passengers to wear masks. . They are constantly in tune with their schedule and route, so you arent telling them anything they dont already know. While the highest bus driver annual salary comes from the education industry. Most parents forget that school bus drivers have been looking after their kids since the first day they got into school. Wait for large vehicles to finish turning before continuing your journey. Only it doesnt. 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. NIARA SAVAGE, BYLINE: I'm standing at a bus stop in downtown St. Louis on one of the city's busiest routes. So if you commute to a full-time job five . Besides parents and the children, the other struggle bus drivers have to deal with is regular drivers. Front seats are usuallyreserved for naughtykids so that they can easily be monitored. They Are Not Morse Code Keys, At Times, Drivers Do Love A Little Chasin', Too, But They'd Also Appreciate It A Lot If You Don't, Bus Drivers Know Their Stops By Heart, So For Heaven's Sake, Don't Tell Them Where And When To, Save Tapping Your Feet To The Groove Of Your Music AfterStepping Out Of The Bus. Here are 20 such things you should know about school bus drivers. 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. As mentioned, these two careers differ between other skills that are required for performing the work exceedingly well. This might not make much sense at first glance, but its true all the same. They have to withstand daily pranks from their charges and at times abuse from the children, parents and other road users. ", Another commonly found skill for being able to perform bus driver duties is the following: patience. Stop request buttons are hard to miss on every bus, and they are there for one obvious reason. He says attracting and retaining qualified workers is problematic for transit agencies in Denver, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and other big cities across the country. Interestingly enough, school bus monitors earn the most pay in the transportation industry with an average salary of $28,331. This is further propelled by the fact that they know they will receive no direct punishment from the bus drivers. I take all of this with a pinch of salt and just let it go because I love what I do.. Uncovering The Enigma Of The 'Center Of The Universe' In New Mexico: Myth Or Reality? Make sure all passengers are buckled up, and that kids are in the safest seat based on their age. A new metrobus operator with a commercial driver's license now starts at $20 an hour. Vicky: Its definitely not about their mode of transport, its just a very small minority of attitudes.. Scan Bus for Both Positive and Negative Behaviors. They also need to be sure of safe turning, and the road also needs to begood for driving during foul weather. This career brings along a lower average salary when compared to a bus driver annual salary. If you earned a degree from the top 100 educational institutions in the United States, you might want to take a look at First Student, Durham School Services, and First Transit. For NPR News, I'm Niara Savage. 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. Buckle Up Using a safety belt is one of the easiest and most important things drivers can do to save lives. Taught CDL classes A school bus monitor works closely with the bus driver to ensure safety while students are entering, riding, and leaving the bus. Here are 20 such things everyone should know about school bus drivers. Coach operators really shine in the technology industry with an average salary of $62,006. If you are one of the passengers who has not transitioned to bus passes and is still using cash to pay for fare, at the very least, for the sake of your drivers sanity, do so with the least amount of coins possible. There are industries that support higher salaries in each profession respectively. The drivers get free access to the place the students visit, and if the trip takes place over lunchtime, they get fed as well. And instead of blaming yourself, though, sometimes you find it easier to put the blame on the driver. People from all walks of life ride a bus at any given time. Provided child care for several family members on the weekends and during school vacations Bus seats are installed to make passengers comfortable. Weight and size differences greatly affect how truck and bus drivers operate. 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. You may find getting stuck behind a school bus irritating, but the bus driver isnt too happy about you eitherespecially if youre tailgating. Its somewhat of an inexplicable bus behavior, but its something drivers wish passengers would stop doing. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. You meet such a mixture of people from different walks of life and so having compassion in certain situations goes a long way. Julie Ewing, a driver for St. Tammany School District in Slidell, La., says she used assigned seating to help her get control of the bus after she took over "one of the worst routes in the city.". This is because, with the children, a driver can find a way to establish control or easily spot the most troublesome ones and place them under monitoring. In the end, it is in the interest of everyone involved that the childrens journey hasas few inconveniences as possible. Besides protocol after an accident, a school bus driver must also follow certain rules to protect students and help prevent accidents from happening at all. Bus drivers work shift work, and full-time bus drivers often work 5 eight hour shifts in one week. Trained new employees in safety, company policies, and customer satisfaction. Its almost as if it is an unwritten rule to assume all drivers are the human equivalent of maps. Graffiti is never really a good thing unless its a considered mural art approved by someone. Trained new drivers on policies and procedures Bus attendants are 1.2% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree. Some will openly tell their children not to listen to the driver while picking arguments with him or her. They're also offering $2,000 bonuses to new and current employees. With bus drivers, the potential shortage could be particularly acute. It doesn't matter if there is heavy rain or snowstorms outside. TAULBY ROACH: Several months in a row, we were seeing, you know, kind of an attrition rate that was closer to 21 to 25. Sharing the road with motorbikes. They would rather that person simply wait for the next bus which is likely only five minutes behind. Only safety is seen as a higher priority. No Eye Contact 4. SAVAGE: To try to deal with that problem, transit officials raised workers' pay. Middle and high school children are also sometimes separated bygenders, with girls seating on one side and boys the other to avoid much trouble. What made you want to become a bus driver? Or the parents are missing at drop off timea no-no for elementary-age children. View more details on bus driver salaries across the United States. Bus attendants tend to earn a lower pay than bus drivers by about $9,492 per year. CHRISTOPHER WHEATON: Now with them making more cuts, it makes it that much harder to get back and forth to where you need to go. 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. 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. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Theyre also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Patience, and Hand-eye coordination. More surprisingly, they are forbidden from touching the kids since it could easily end up in a lawsuit. The American School Bus Council (ASBC) points out that the bus can also distribute energy if a crash happens, diminishing the impact (they refer to this strategy as compartmentalization). But there are times when these seats are misused. Drive various vehicles to include passenger vans, passenger buses, and heavy duty trucks with GVWR up to 32,000 lbs. In other words, avoid using an exorbitant amount of loose change to pay. Watch The Load You're Carrying 8. Bus drivers are mainly responsible for safely transporting passengers to their destinations. 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. SAVAGE: Transportation official Taulby Roach says before the pandemic, the transit system here typically saw about seven workers a month leave because of retirement or a new job. I am a Bus Driver and I will share with you a few things you should never do while on public transit! in the case of such an incident, tell your child that they must not return to the bus as . Bus drivers deserve much more respect compared to what they get. However, eating inside the bus is a totally different story considering that most buses today are air-conditioned. 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Order the combatants to stop fighting, but do not leave your driver's seat area nor go back to the location of the fight. Regardless of the other drivers, heres why school buses are always yellow. Many drivers love getting the chance to be a part of the childrens lives and watching them grow and develop into young adults. They take note of these folks, most notably the ones who tend to be problematic passengers. Take regular breaks, switch off driving with a partner, or get off the road and find a safe place to rest if youre feeling tired or drowsy. "Bus buddies" were also assigned to monitor problems among students on the bus, particularly bullying. Children can sometimes forget and leave things behind on the bus. There are some key differences in responsibilities as well. Obtained CDL Class B with passenger and air brake endorsements on first attempt. Stop and secure the bus. Providing excellence customer service. Build a professional bus driver resume in minutes. In addition, they sometimes get to have a bus monitor to ride with them to keep things under control while they drive. This walkthrough includes finding lost items as well as picking up all of the visible trash left behind by passengers for the day. And, yeah, he doesn't care if you call him an old guy for loving movies with Jackie Chan, Jason Statham, Scott Adkins, and Agent 007 in it. 8. Assist in implementing behavioral goals set by students, families, school staff, and as stated in the IEP. Being a bus driver means meeting different kinds of people every day. School bus operators typically study at similar levels compared with bus drivers. Case in point, passengers who occupy more space by spreading their legs far apart, leaving no space for other passengers. In case the field trip happens over lunchtime, they also get free lunch, whether as a group of drivers or along with the other chaperones of the event. So if the thought "should I become a bus driver?" May | 2.8K views, 54 likes, 15 loves, 21 comments, 4 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from ABS-CBN News: Start your day with ANC's rundown of news you need. Its a pretty common occurrence for frustrated passengers to board a bus that is running behind and immediately tell the driver that they are late. Vicky: I fell into it by accident. Do Not Leave Anything Under Your Seat (Thinking You'll Remember It) 10. Performed daily vehicle inspections and tracked vehicle mileage according to policy. 22 things your school principal is secretly thinking. A tractor-trailer truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. 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. But beyond that the careers look very different. 33 things your childs teacher wont tell you, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Maintain communication with transit dispatch for any changes in route or road conditions. Re-uniting people with lost property is another thing that really gives you that feel good factor., Andy: For me its the sense of pride and satisfaction which I get from my job. Their face and personality may appear insignificant as you see them behind the wheel yet these are people you depend on daily to safely get your child to and from school. Operate a bus carrying passengers in accordance with the rules and regulation of the MTA bus company. Additionally, they're 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree. Everyone is being forced to make due with less, thus for both the driver and the passengers, a bus ride . Exercise student management through correct use of communication and discipline. The responsibilities that rely on this skills are shown by this resume excerpt: "federal and state regulations do not allow people to become bus drivers if they have a medical condition, such as high blood pressure or epilepsy, which may interfere with their operation of a bus" This, Yet another important skill that a bus driver must demonstrate is "visual ability." 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. 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. A nice gift or homemade treats can show them theyre valued, and it can help open the lines of communication. It really doesnt take very much effort to have everything ready to go before you board. That is the maximum safest point for standing passengers. Unfortunately, children are not the only source of trouble to the school bus drivers. Mind Your Surroundings 9. Most bus drivers start their day when most of us are still dreaming, say at 4 o'clock a.m. Key 4: Leave Yourself An Out. These skills include "safety rules," "cpr," and "safety procedures. 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. Help riders with wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, and other conditions board and exit the bus safely. The school bus operator profession generally makes a higher amount of money when compared to the average salary of bus drivers. In the first week of January alone, nearly 60 employees tested positive for COVID and were not able to work. Vicky: My favourite thing ever was on a late bus, where an old man was playing some kind of musical instrument and singing. Drivers have experienced stuff being thrown out at the windshield, and at times their attention has to be divided between solving fights and ruckus behind them and paying attention to what is ahead of them on the road. Driving a bus for a living is a lonely job. Our AI resume builder helps you write a compelling and relevant resume for the jobs you want. Thanks for visiting my channel! As such, they are at times better placed than you are in judging your childs behavior. If their new route calls for a departure at 7PM, but they get there at 6:57PM because their previous route was running behind, it means they only get to relax for a whopping three minutes before they have to head out again. 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. Teach your child that they must walk at least ten feet ahead of the bus in case they must cross the road to get home or to school. Prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs may cause dizziness, drowsiness, and/or slow reaction time. Youd be surprised how often drivers find kids sleeping in the back of the bus or still sitting mesmerized by their phone screens. Few bus drivers will openly tell any customers this, but they really prefer that you not attempt to hold a conversation with them while they are driving. The high ground clearance also ensures the bus is likely to suffer minimal damage in the seating area. They may also notice any missing students. Transport clients to non-emergency appointments, rehabilitation and hospitals. All across the U.S., transit agencies are struggling to keep up. Another of school bus drivers challenges is having to keep on explaining to parents why they have to be at certain stops on time either to drop and pick up their kids. 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. ROACH: Not just anybody can drive a 40-foot bus. Theyre much faster for paying, more organized, and are less likely to get lost. For example, gathering from bus drivers resumes, they are more likely to have skills like "customer service," "vehicle inspections," "mechanical problems," and "local traffic regulations." 5. But a school bus operator might have skills like "dmv," "safety standards," "traffic regulations," and "clean vehicle.". Demonstrate knowledge of designate routes in metro area. Here are 20 things bus drivers in the US would want to say in your face but can't. 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. Eating is an important part of life. Sources: www.stnonline.com, www.scarymommy.com, www.billingsgazette.com www.cracked.com www.rd.com, www.mentalfloss.com, Bus drivers can't touch the students even during medical emergencies, They may know your child better than you do. Rowdy passengers are an unwelcome treat to bus drivers. They expect you to be able to slam on as if you were in a car, or they dont understand the way a bus moves so think its OK to nip around the side of you at a roundabout or as you turn. Whether its transporting children on a yellow school bus, carrying passengers on public city buses across town, or driving paying travelers across the country on a long road trip, there's a lot going on for them. You may have to drive under extreme conditions As a bus driver, you will also have to drive under extreme conditions. Build a professional resume in minutes using this template. Consequently, being a bus driver may also be quite bad for your health, at least if you don't take any countermeasures to mitigate the problem. That means they can drop the bus at the garage and catch up on errands, hit the gym, take a nap, or do whatever they want. Another rider may pass if overtaking. Vicky: You need to be fairly laid back and cheerful. Those flashing lights and swinging stop sign are there for a reasonall drivers in each direction must stop and wait until the kids are safely out of the way. 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. In addition to Readers Digest she has been published at The Week, Bustle, PopSugar, Inside Lacrosse, and more. Her writing focuses on politics, culture, relationships, and health. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. I am a Bus Driver and I will share with you a few things you should never do while on public transit! This happens fairly often, but for some reason, passengers tend to crowd the front of the bus and choose to stand in that general vicinity even where there are other seats available. 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. You may not know much about your school driver- perhaps not even his name, but he or she knows plenty about you. Your bus driver will not be happy with this. With more experience and seniority comes more earnings. Vicky: Yes, its good wages and its a straightforward job as long as you have the right attitude. Maintained order and executed safety rules, including evacuating buses in emergencies and instructing passengers of safety rules. You dont want to be the passenger counting nickels and dimes all the way up to the $3.75 charge. 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. Trucks are much higher off the ground than a passenger vehicle. 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. Pick up and deliver students safely, follow policies and procedures, obey all dot regulations, professional environment. Andy: One hundred percent! And although passengers only stay for a while on the bus, some do things that leave lasting impressions on the bus driverthings that drivers would want to tell passengers but can't. That's because there aren't enough bus drivers, and the city's transit agency has made service cuts to try to adapt. Public transportation is under-funded. Our section on motorcycles provides an overview of the key road rules for riders to be aware of, but as a driver sharing the road, here are the key things to keep in mind: Motorbike riders can ride beside one other ride, and up to 1.5 metres apart. smartphone to navigate vehicle. Bus drivers ought to arrive on time at every stop. They have an onboard computer that provides them with this information. 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. ", But both careers also use different skills, according to real bus driver resumes. 3. Flexing your leg muscles once in a while doesn't hurt, does it? Its only fair to other paying customers behind you and those on the bus as well. Having good people skills is crucial for you to enjoy your job and for passengers to enjoy their journey. Otherwise don't do this. 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. Even with these new incentives, Taulby . Candy wrappers, empty plastic bottles, newspaperspassengers do have it all. As part of the routine, the drivers also have to a carry a magnetic sign from the front of the bus and stick it at the back window so that it shows out of the back window indicating the bus is empty. At this point, I have to wake up over two hours before my shift starts because if I don't get there that early, chances are whatever bus I wanted to take is going to get cancelled. Then at Spartanburg School District Three, bus drivers receive an average salary of $44,077, while the salary at Dublin City Schools is $43,964. And play it cool when you're on the bus: No jumping . It's hard work to become a bus driver, but even the most dedicated employees consider switching careers from time to time. Aside from their most important personal belongings, though, they also carry with them unwanted items: trash. https://thebusdriverlife.com/Check out these other BUS DRIVERS on Social Media:Double Decker Antonhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpEXtcIMyKedWVESLCkHlVwBus Driver Doo (Instagram)https://www.instagram.com/bus_driver_doo/London Decker Travel With Andrehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO6abLiaFlg8IFZjlWEbt4ABus Driver Jadehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTdCEG4TeWdW0Y0bJZ9Ni0QChris Real Talkhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqCbCft7C2htA8RvUCkx4xwThe Flat Cap Bus Driverhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn5iAqZ4SP0KcFUf9yah3CAThe Durham Bus Driverhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs_aZOItgIq6s-9y5TW48oQ#busdriverlife #publictransit #busdriverkeywanVIEWS AND OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN MY VIDEOS ARE MY OWN AND DO NOT REFLECT MY EMPLOYER.FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY In the interest of saving time and moving at optimal efficiency, bus drivers secretly cringe when they see a passenger step on board and pull out cash to pay for their bus fare. They may give you a one time pass, but it doesnt mean they arent annoyed with your deceiving act. Driving passengers to and from their destination Performed combat essential modifications on the generators. Drivers have had a long day driving for an entire shift and the last thing they want is to have to clean up a huge mess left behind by inconsiderate passengers. 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. That compares with 18 percent of all U.S. public and private school teachers and 27 percent of . While their salaries may differ, one common ground between bus drivers and coach operators are a few of the skills required in each craft. It does not stop at not bothering to know the bus driver but what is largely required of them as the childrens guardians. 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.

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