School Bus Drivers Archives - Page 3 of 3

Great School Bus Drivers – A Short Guide

Posted on August 13, 2018 by TSB Super Admin

It will not be an overstatement to mention that great drivers are the life-blood of any school district aiming at an efficient and problem-free fleet. It is through these professionally trained men that kids, parents and everyone concerned can heave a sigh of relief.

It is because of these men who are always behind the wheels of school buses that your school-going kids reach home safe and on time. With so much being said about school bus drivers, this exhaustive blog points out every facet of hiring, training, retaining and attracting them.

It also sheds light on all the qualities of a school bus driver that will stand as a testimony for him to be called “Great”. Before you try to understand all the above-mentioned aspects of great school bus drivers, let us first focus on the duties of a school bus driver.

School Bus Driver Duties

Every job comes with a detailed job description speaking of the “good to have” and “must have” skills so as to hire the most befitting candidate.

So is the case with school bus drivers who are supposed to match their job description so that they move on from being considered as mere vehicle-operators to friends of both students and their parents.

On the flipside, every job entails upon certain duties that should be fulfilled by an employee. Here are certain duties of a school bus driver:

The one that tops the list is the ordained duty of picking up and dropping school kids at their designated points.
It is also his duty to follow the routes that are mentioned by the school authorities.
He is required to keep his eyes and ears open to weather and traffic conditions.
In addition to meeting timelines, he should ensure the safety of kids onboard at all times.
He should periodically test the tires, brakes and other bus-body parts and suggest timely overhauling and maintenance procedures.
It is also the prime duty of a school bus driver to ensure that kids maintain a safe environment while onboarding.

Qualities of a Great School Bus Driver

There are many things that separate a good school bus driver from a great school bus driver. While a good school bus driver may follow all the traffic rules, a great school bus driver goes beyond these requirements.

Since it is all about ensuring the safety of school kids at all times in addition to effectively managing the fleet through timely maintenance, here are the “must have” characteristics of a great school bus driver.

Sticks to rules and ensures safety of school kids

The topmost quality of a school bus driver is his adherence to rules. All for the sake of ensuring the safety of school kids, he is expected to demonstrate a great deal of professionalism that manifests in the form of:

Punctuality both in terms of pickup and drop timings and parking the vehicle in the school garage
While following all the traffic rules, he should also wear seat belts so as to ensure his safety which is indirectly linked to the safety of the kids onboard
He is expected to honor the signals at railway crossings
In addition to driving according to the traff ic signals, he is also expected to have an eye on the speed limit

When it comes to handling kids, patience tops the list of qualities

It is the innate quality of kids to be fidgety and mischievous. School bus drivers who deal with kids all the time are expected to exercise a great deal of patience.

While it takes all sorts of well-behaved and unruly kids to make a school trip, a great school bus driver is the one who not only drives carefully but also has an eye on the kids. Hence all those bus drivers who have patience can become great school bus drivers.

Timely responses to issues

Life is uncertain and it does not take more than a second for a calm situation to turn into an eventuality. Things are meant to go wrong with a number of unexpected issues cropping up en-route a school trip.

Hence a great school bus driver is expected to react fast to issues and take remedial steps to avert the extent of damage that can affect kids and the vehicle.

His decision making skills coupled with his strong presence of mind in averting accidents can be the perfect blend of must-have traits in a great school bus driver.

A well-informed driving professional

In addition to knowing how to use the state-of-the-art routing software that is offered by TrackSchoolBus, a great school bus driver should demonstrate routing and time management skills.

He can become an asset to any school as he is well-informed about all the school bus routes which help school management save a lot of time, money and effort.

Should never use school buses for personal use

A great school bus driver, alongside demonstrating his driving skills should reach the garage on time every single day. This mirrors the fact that he has not used the bus to fulfill personal obligations.

Should understand the world of differences between a car and a school bus

School bus drivers should know that maneuvering a passenger car is way too different from being at the wheel of a school bus. School bus drivers are expected to exercise caution while driving. Hence the motto should be to drive slowly and steadily.

Why is there a Shortage of School Bus Drivers?

Topping the list of challenges faced by school districts across the globe is the shortage of school bus drivers. Enabling you to get the right picture of this biggest challenge, here are the main reasons that are leading to an acute scarcity of school bus drivers.

The main obstacle that comes in the way of school bus drivers is the fact that they need to wait for up to 6 months to clear the Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) exam.
Next in line are the monetary requirements that entail upon a driver’s job. Alongside expecting better benefits, school bus drivers are required to spend their time and efforts in getting a CDL.
The number of hours that are required to be put in by a school bus driver is another concern impacting the deficiency of school bus drivers.

From the school administration perspective, here is the main reason for the shortage of school bus drivers.

The fact that mechanics are available only for 4 hours a day is an impediment for school bus drivers to address to breakdowns.

Also when it comes to regular maintenance of school bus fleet, school bus drivers have to rely on these trained mechanics to perform routine safety checks.

Hence it is because of maintenance requirements that schools are unable to bridge the gap between the demand and supply of school bus drivers.

How to Attract School Bus Drivers?

It is the responsibility of every school to attract many applications from school bus drivers so that their fleet requirements are filled in. In an attempt to experience a steady flow of applications, it is the need of the hour to look out for creative ways to recruit school bus drivers.

While the conventional newspaper ads and fliers may yield results, sometimes the informal communication between people can fill in a school bus driver vacancy. If you are looking for other compelling means that will help schools fill their school bus driver positions, here they come.

Billboards Can Make Their Presence Felt

Notwithstanding the fact that the bright yellow-colored school buses make their strong presence felt on city roads, you may go ahead and cash in on the strength of attractive billboards.

Billboards in the form of attention-grabbing vinyl signs can display the message of a vacancy. These billboards when displayed on school buses can create an impact on the readers and riders.

These people can in-turn spread this message to school bus drivers who are looking for an employment.

Maintain a Rapport with PTA

It is important for transport organizations to foster their relationship with the Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs).

Once transport conglomerates start building a rapport with PTAs, they will be able to collect data points about good school drivers who used to ferry their kids when they were small.

PTAs serve as effective means to fill in the drivers’ seats of school buses since they can vouch for the behavior of all those school bus drivers who transported kids on time and safely.

Unleash the Power of Direct-Mailing

Directly mailing prospective candidates for the role of school bus drivers is another means to fill the vacant positions.

It comes as an intelligent move to send a recruitment letter supported by a poster and the job application to people who might be interested to work as school bus drivers. These professions come with flexible schedules which can come as a blessing to fill up school bus driver vacancies.

How to Train School Bus Drivers?

Training school bus drivers is a significant part to ensure the safety of school students. Training is also about informing drivers with emergency planning tactics along with harping on the importance of common sense while being at the wheel.

And to impart this training to drivers, you can bank upon the knowledge imparted by school bus driver training programs.

Given the fact that a majority of these training programs focus only on how to maneuver and drive a school bus, it is the need of the hour to equip them with details concerning safety issues and crises management.

With an intention to prepare the school bus drivers for any sort of eventuality that might arise while driving, below are certain training measures that should be taken by school authorities.

School bus drivers should be informed about the latest trends in school violence so as to avert any such incident.
They should be trained to deal with bus supervision issues.
School bus drivers who have a thorough knowledge of their vehicle will be in a position to conduct pre & post trip inspections. Along with periodical checkup of brakes, they should be trained to adjust their mirrors and reference points so as to avert accidents.
Every school bus driver should be taught about various driving situations including how to maneuver the bus at an intersection, how to safely reverse the bus and the precautions that need to be taken at railroad crossings.
Prevention and effective management of violent incidents that take place in the bus also form a subject to learn.
School bus drivers should be equipped with information concerning bus emergency strategies and exercises that need to be conducted as part of crises management.
They should be informed about all the ways in which school buses can become targets to terrorist attacks.
School bus drivers should be trained about safe bus stops along with having an eye on sleeping children. It is very important for every school bus driver to be taught about the nuances concerning student management.
Last but not the least, it is very important for every school bus driver to identify distractions while driving so that he/she can focus on the road ahead. This is an important part of training that will help the driver exercise his/her presence of mind to avert an accident.

Tips To Retain School Bus Drivers

It is a well-known fact that while good school bus drivers are scarce, then to retain them is quite a difficult task. All the transportation departments looking for means to retain professional and trained drivers can check out these 12 workable tips.

School districts should look at the salary structure of school bus drivers and strive to offer them competitive salaries. Once health and retirement benefits come as perks, they will attract more and more school bus drivers to stick to their jobs.
If school bus drivers are encouraged through adequate support and training, they feel valued and hence will stick on to their jobs.
Any reason for a driver’s unruly behavior should be immediately brought to the notice of supervisors who should be ordained to take timely action.
In an attempt to value the opinions of school bus drivers, it is important to conduct periodical staff meetings. As part of the agenda, supervisors should allow the drivers to say their opinions about anything that is of concern to them.
It is also very important to offer an unbiased treatment to all the school bus drivers.
School administrations inclined to retain school bus drivers should have procedures and policies along with certain best practices that should be followed by them.
Respect for drivers is another factor that will go a long way in retaining them.
A pat on the back of drivers for any positive trait such as accident-free driving or regular attendance is sure to retain them for long.
To top it all, financial incentives like rewards and bonuses can come in as attractive means to retain good school bus drivers.

Closing Thoughts

Given the fact that good school bus drivers are an asset to every school, it pays for school authorities to pay heed to their concerns and demands. Only then they will be encouraged to take pride in their job.

Along with training, appreciating and respecting school bus drivers can bring in a great deal of accountability to their ordained duty of transporting students safely and on time.

How to Tackle Irresponsible School Bus Drivers

Posted on May 3, 2018 by TSB Super Admin

Schools are places where numerous kids come from different places and different cultures to learn. A lot of these kids use school buses as a mode of transport to travel to and from school.

It is important to have a safe environment for them to travel so that their parents feel at peace too. For this to take place the school bus must be handled by someone who is responsible and experienced.

School bus drivers usually enjoy working with youngsters and are skilled and competent. But in certain cases, there are those who engage in unsafe means like driving recklessly, overtaking where it is unnecessary, skipping stop signs, using cell phone while driving and over speeding.

There are also instances where bus drivers lose their temper with kids who misbehave. Some others arrive late or forget to pick up a child. This makes them unreliable.

In this blog, we will discuss about how irresponsible school bus drivers can be tackled. The various steps that can be undertaken to tackle an irresponsible school bus driver are:

Call Up the School

The first and foremost thing you can do is to call up and inform the school about an incident you want to report. Speak to the principal or the administrator regarding your issue.

After all, the driver is employed by the school, so it is your responsibility to let them know about their employee’s behaviour. Keep your calm and state the reason why you are having a complaint against the bus driver.

Give them details about where, when and what happened. You can give the physical description of the bus driver in case you couldn't catch his name.

Refrain from Losing Temper

Yes, it is the matter of the safety of children, but try to refrain from being angry and shouting and cursing the bus driver. Inappropriate language doesn’t solve the issue.

Your complaint will be taken more seriously if you stay calm and relate things with facts. Though the driver’s actions might have put your child’s safety at risk, it is important to deal with the issue in a professional manner so that your concerns will be heard and addressed.

Ask the Solution

Once you have communicated what your concern is, ask them how they can help to resolve the issue. Once you ask how the problem will be solved see if they volunteer the information.

You can expect that they will say that the school management will need to talk to the driver before taking any action. If so, ask them when you can call again to follow up the same. You can also ask for the name of the driver if you don’t know it yet.

Contact the Bus Company

In case the bus driver is an employee of the bus company you need to inform the representative regarding the irresponsibility of their driver.

They are the right people to address your problem regarding the infraction made by the driver. You can start by stating the route, the time at which your child was picked up or dropped off, name of the driver or the name of the school.

Give them all the required details so they can take appropriate action. You can enquire what they are going to do about the same.

Follow Up

Once you have informed the school and the bus company, follow up with calls and letters regarding your issue with the driver’s behaviour.

Make sure that you clearly state all the facts pertaining to the incident. If a solution has not yet been suggested, propose one. For example, if the driver had forgotten to pick up your child from point, ask for an apology.

Involve Others

Talk to other parents with children in the same school bus. There are chances that they might have witnessed the same too. For instance, your child might tell you that his driver is texting while he is driving.

Other children in the same bus might have noticed this behaviour. In case the driver denies this statement you’re more likely to be believed if there are others who support your statement. Ask the bus company to check the footages if there is a camera in the bus.

Disciplinary Action

It must be realized that the driver may not be dismissed immediately. He is entitled to due process as he is an employee of the bus company. Disciplinary action will be based on the seriousness of the infringement. He might be given a suspension or his pay may be docked.

To Wrap It Up

School bus management is a tender issue and must be handled only by experienced and mature people. Any kind of irresponsibility cannot be tolerated.

Even though schools and bus companies give bus drivers ample training, there are chances that they commit some kind of infringement. It might come to the notice of parents or students that drivers sometimes commit follies while they are driving the school bus.

But the lives of students are saddled in the hands of school bus drivers. So it is the full responsibility of the drivers to act responsibly.

10 Emergency Response Tips for School Bus Drivers

Posted on April 3, 2018 by TSB Super Admin

Majority of the students in a school depends on school buses for their transportation to and from school. Along with student safety within the school premises, the schools are highly responsible for the safety of students in bus too.

Drivers are an integral part of the school bus transportation system and that is why schools should pay close attention to driver trustworthy and efficiency.

Proper training programs and assessments should be performed before assigning the role of school bus driver to a person. Even when all precautions are made, there are high chances for emergencies at times.

So it is important to train the drivers to handle the emergencies well and save the situation. As children are involved in the scenarios, keeping them calm without being panic is the key.

Here let us have a look at what all emergency situations can come up while driving a school bus and the emergency response tips for drivers.

1) First aid and CPR training

Getting relevant training and awareness of first aid to be given when some emergencies occur during bus strip is important. With this training, a driver should know how to handle medical and trauma emergencies such as shock, bleeding control, seizures, and cardiac arrest.

2) Roadway positioning

Sometimes the accident can occur at a dangerous curve or a busy road. In such cases, drivers should take initiatives to evacuate students from the bus in a well organized manner in the modest speed to avoid any further mishaps.

A driver should be aware of the places in his bus route so that the students can be held safe in some place until they get some external help.

3) Evacuate a school bus

A driver should be aware of the situations in which the bus has to be evacuated. If a fire is seen, sudden evacuation is recommended as hazardous gases, smoke and fire can get spread in less than 2 minutes.

If fuel spill occurs with the bus or the vehicle that is involved in the crash, evacuation should be immediate as a spark can stimulate fire.

If in case, power lines got curled across the bus, the best option is to stay inside until emergency responders gives the green signal or the power is switched off.

4) Passenger injury

If the students are already injured but not at the risk of losing lives, the best option is to stay calm inside the bus and give necessary first aid until emergency responders reach the spot. Evacuating the injured students can result in further troubles.

5) Passenger accounting

First of all, drivers should know the number of students travelling in the bus on the particular day. It would be good if he can identify the students with their name and other features.

This can be a good help by him to identify the students and convey the message at the right place if in case any mishap occurs. In worst cases, drivers can check their bags for any ID card or name slips on their books to identify them.

It is good to carry the emergency contact numbers of every student travelling in the bus. Some schools advise to keep a book containing list of students and their relevant data near to the driver seat.

This helps the emergency responders to do the necessary if the driver is unconscious.

6) Know the route

Bus drivers should keep the authorities informed about the routes they are handling. This helps authorities to respond fast with necessary help in case of a mishap.

Similarly, drivers should be aware of the emergency centres and hospitals in their bus route. This helps them to save the lives of students in case of an emergency.

7) Know the student locations

A driver should be aware of the locations of every student before they move the bus. A general recommendation is to avoid moving the bus if any students are within 10 feet of the bus as kids can go careless at times.

Similarly, make sure that bus is under control and not moving in case a student is stepping in or stepping down from the bus. It is the role of the driver and the assistant staff to see that children are not stepping down from a moving bus.

8) Signalling students

The emergencies may not always happen with collision to other vehicles. There are many incidents reported where the students got injured with the bus they were travelling due to costly carelessness.

So driver should see that all doors of the bus are properly closed before they start their drive and no students are standing beside door during the drive.

It is good to advise small children to remain seated and not walking when the bus is moving as emergency braking can cause falls.

When you drop off a small kid in the drop off point, see that someone responsible has arrived to pick them. If children have to cross the road in the pick up or drop off point, make sure that they do it safe with the help of your assistant.

9) GPS tracker

A GPS tracking system in the bus can be a good help in case anything goes wrong. And the system has to be accessible to the school authorities as well as the parents or guardians. A GPS tracking app can be a handy solution for both schools and parents.

10) Role of school

Schools should understand that driver training is an ongoing process and their performance should be reviewed on a regular basis.

Prevention is better than cure and so taking some measures before hand can minimize the possibilities of accidents and in worst case to manage the situation well.

Here are a few things school authorities need to take care of to handle the emergency situations well.

When a new driver is interviewed, see that the necessary protocols and guidelines are met.
Educate drivers on the driving safety and perform emergency handling drills on a regular basis.
Set up a GPS tracking system in the bus in order to locate the bus position in case of an emergency.
A regular assessment and inspection of the security and safety of the bus should be made
A database of the students travelling by school bus should be kept ready to handle an emergency.
Every school bus should be having a first aid kit and drivers should be trained in using it.
It would be good if schools can set up an emergency call facility in every bus.
A school should be having all proper emergency response supplies.
The safety and security policies of school bus have to be reviewed regularly.
Students should also be given proper guidance and tips to overcome emergency situations

Final Thoughts

Being a school bus driver is not easy as the role involves many complexities. Sometimes he should take the role of a friend, sometimes a guiding parent and sometimes a life saver.

He should obey all traffic rules and follow safe riding as he has an extra responsibility of handling a bunch of young kids.

The emergency situations may not be always familiar ones and drivers may come across many new problems during their drive. It is his role to stay calm and customize his response according to the present situation.

School Bus Routing Software – How It Supports School Bus Drivers

Posted on February 12, 2018 by TSB Super Admin

The ultimate goal of every school transportation is to constitute a safe journey for students. However, the success of school transportation insist the active involvement of the school bus drivers.

Meanwhile, the task of a school bus driver is challenging and involves risk as they are transporting the precious cargo in the universe.

With the advent of school bus routing software, the drivers are able to govern and assign routes efficiently. Moreover, the route optimization feature enables you to recognize the efficient school bus route and thereby enhance the student safety.

Let’s check out how a school bus route software advocates school bus drivers:

Substitute Drivers Can Relish the Benefits Offered by School Bus Routing Software

The number of substitute driver depends on the number of regular drivers. Ordinarily, there will not be a sufficient number of substitute drivers. In fact, drivers are also human, they also deserve a vacation, sick leave, or encounter personal issues.

Route optimization feature in the app enables the substitute drivers to determine the apt route for the trip.

While the regular drivers split the route with the substitute drivers, every child will obtain the opportunity to relish school transportation services to and from school.

The only matter you should consider is that whether the school bus driver has a valid license, adequate knowledge of the routes, and procure experience in driving those routes.

Routing Software Integrates and Track School Calendars

Different schools have different sessions and have different holidays. Routing software renders an immense assistance to drivers and schools in tracking school calendars and determining the apt route for the specific days.

However, the public and private schools have different timings. As a result, you should arrange transportation services for public schools when private schools are closed and vice versa.

Let’s check how the routing software supports the drivers in tracking school calendars:

Routing software allows you to track alternative routes for “public school only” days and vice versa
Driver will be aware of the routes they are driving
Instant alerts to students and families whenever there is no school transportation services on a particular day

Real-time Alerts for Inclement Weather

In foreign countries, the snowfall is a major concern and will result in road closures as there is a chance of flooding. Even though there is a delay, school bus drivers should commit all the procedures, adhere to the schedule, and clear the snow. Furthermore, the buses should be tested, cleansed, and examined carefully after clearing the snow.

At times, during the inclement weather, it is risky to travel on certain roads due to the increased chance for accidents or roadblocks.

The routing software intends to avoid such congested roads and suggest alternative routes, which is previously loaded into the system. In addition, it will reduce the requirement for taking last minute decisions that endanger the student safety.

Ensures Proper Licensing

Licenses are evidently crucial for school bus drivers. With the software, you will obtain assistance as you receive licensing alerts whenever the requirements are due.

For instance, drivers will acquire alerts regarding their commercial driver license, regular license, criminal background check, physical examination, child abuse checks, and bus inspections that require to be updated immediately.

Meanwhile, with the support of a routing software, schools are able to add and customize alerts. As a consequence, you will be able to confer safety and enhance driver satisfaction.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, the school transportation routing software constitute a range of benefits for school bus drivers such as effortless documentation, real-time notifications, and on the road guidance, which offers solutions to overcome the road related challenges.

In the meantime, the school bus routing software establishes a healthy working relationship between drivers and school transportation officials.

How School Administrators Can Support School Bus Drivers

Posted on February 5, 2018 by TSB Super Admin

School bus drivers have a dominant role in ensuring a safe transportation for school kids. Nevertheless, you can witness a remarkable driver shortage among schools.

Hence, it is the responsibility of transportation managers and administration to formulate procedures that enable them to retain drivers on the payroll.

At times, you are required to implement drastic actions as it is a challenging task to replace a driver.

Here follows 15 ways by which school administrators can support school bus drivers:

1. Providing healthy salaries

Salary is an enormous issue for school bus drivers. No doubt, a majority of schools fails to provide the salary they deserve. As a consequence, it is wise to be aware of the salaries distributed by other schools and alter the pay scale accordingly.

If you are not competitive and is concerned regarding your budget, certainly you will lose a multitude of drivers.

2. Offer other employment opportunities

Of course, offering other employment opportunities is an efficient way to reinforce driver and commit their duty effectively. When you support them and provide assistance to pay off their bills, they will prefer to stay in the duty.

3. Remain flexible to their simple requests

Never attempt to ignore the interests and requests of drivers. On the other hand, when their simple request is neglected, they will not respect the school administration, which negatively affects the school’s morale and principles.

4. Rewarding facility

Offering reward is a positive reinforcement for every employee and it works for school bus drivers. However, when you reward drivers for outstanding performance, you are motivating them to continue the practice of safe and legal driving.

5. Concentrate on the school bus rules and student safety

When you manage students on the school bus, you are augmenting the credibility and reputation of the school. Moreover, you can organize presentations and awareness programs for reducing the disciplinary issues.

6. Conduct community outreach

By conducting community research, you will be able to inform the public regarding the exceptional performance of school bus drivers. It can serve as a motivation to drivers.

7. Planning celebrations and dinners

Entertainment is also essential along with the duty. People will be interested in their work, when you organize celebrations, parties, and dinners, once in a while. Such celebrations can serve as morale boosters.

8. Don’t underestimate their work

As a matter of fact, every job is unique and relevant. Never attempt to underestimate them and categorize them as second-tier employees.

For instance, you can consider their opinions and encourage their participation in every school activities.

9. Sponsor continuous learning for drivers

By sponsoring learning and training, you will be able to provide adequate guidance to school bus drivers. Furthermore, you can also partner with a local community college or refund college classes.

10. Display a sense of personal interest

Displaying a personal interest can be an effective solution to please them, you can send birthday or anniversary cards. While you consider them and include them in the family, they will be delighted and will never quit the job.

11. Clean the driver’s common room

When you spruce up the driver’s common room, a positive energy will be filled in the driver’s minds. A new coat of paint or placing new chairs will create a genuinely positive effect on the drivers.

12. Create a rapport

Meanwhile, when you prioritize the drivers, they will be elated and offer their valuable opinions on the dominant issues. By involving them in the issues, you are inculcating positive vibes in them, thereby increasing their morale.

13. Value the driver’s time

Time is having a crucial role in school bus driving as it is intensely a time focused job. A negative image will be created among school bus drivers when the school administrator itself become late in the meetings.

14. Remain with the driver’s side

Staying with the driver’s side is essential, especially, when the driver is having sufficient evidence against disciplinary issues. It is not desirable to unnecessarily side with the parents, who is not physically present in the scene of the violation.

15. Willingness to install modern technologies

Technology can provide an immense assistance to drivers, henceforth it is advisable to install the GPS trackers, CCTV cameras, and RFID trackers. This will not only enhance the school bus safety, but also offers a relaxation to drivers.

In conclusion, school administrators can reduce the job related challenges of school bus drivers. The above technologies will lower the rate of driver retention and enhance the safety of school transportation.

What are the Defensive Driving Procedures for School Bus Drivers

Posted on November 2, 2017 by TSB Super Admin

Defensive driving skills constitute practices that assist the drivers to drive the vehicle through challenging conditions. And, it is essential for the school bus drivers, especially due to varied reasons. However, they need to wade through constantly varying conditions of weather and circumstances and also they have a responsibility to safely transport the most vulnerable group of people, the students.

Meanwhile, these skills include driving in harsh weather conditions like rain, low visibility due to fog, etc. as well as driving skills under different types of roads, steep surfaces etc..

1. Driving in low light conditions

Drivers need to be extra vigilant since the visibility is lower in the early morning hours or in misty or foggy conditions. Check the interiors of the bus for leakages or whether there is a suitable electrical insulation or not. Rectify the evident defects as soon as possible. In addition to this, apply fog lights when needed.

2. Harsh weather conditions

School buses are intended to safely fetch the students be it sunshine, rain or snow. If you require to drive though snowy conditions, then it is wiser to obtain the equipment for removing the snow such as shovels. Nevertheless, the roads become slippery due to rain and hence it is advisable to conduct a regular check on the tires and tubes.

Buses being heavy vehicles, you will confront difficulty in controlling it on the slippery terrains. Apparently, a bus requires 12 times more time to stop when the road is slippery than under normal dry weather. Also, before applying the brakes, check the rear view mirror for the close driving vehicles at the back. Showing stop signals a little earlier would assist you in alerting the trailing vehicles. Before stopping at the designated bus stop, check the mirrors for the approaching students and send out alerts.

3. Hilly terrains

Steep roads, hilly terrains, and zigzag paths all render a risky combination and therefore safe driving should be your first priority. While descending, slow down. Maintain constant speeds while climbing. Be sure to heed and honk before passing through blind curves. Presumably, you can maintain a minimum distance between your bus and the vehicles ahead for ensuring safety.

4. Transporting special need students

School bus drivers need to be vigilant while ferrying special need students and little children. Slow and steady is the best motto in such instances. Consider and be aware of their limitations. Be empathetic and patient, and recognize their needs. Avoid sudden stopping or speeding up. Also, it is wise to avoid sudden turns.

5. A flat tire? Tire blow out?

These are situations, which warrant considerable sense to stop the vehicle at a slower pace towards the sides of the road away from the ongoing traffic. Regularly check the tires and maintain them with appropriate pressure. The damage to tires must be instantly considered and informed to authorities so that they can rectify it swiftly. Bulging tires should be prevented. At the same time, hold your hands properly on the steering wheel.

Often during the tire blow outs, you will lose vehicle control. Don’t apply the brakes forcefully in such instances. A roll over can be avoided. Apply a little acceleration and then slow down by applying the spring brake. Service brakes should be avoided since it can cause rolling over. And never forget to carry a properly inflated spare tire, as it can be beneficial in the emergency cases.

6. Mirror adjustment

Be sure to adjust the mirrors properly before taking the vehicle out in the mornings for picking up students. Also, you should be aware of the areas that each mirror covers as the drivers can check on the vicinity of the bus at all times.

Ordinarily, the inside flat mirrors serve to view the outside of the passenger windows, but above the window level. And, the top of the rear-view window should be seen in the top of the inside flat mirror for proper viewing angles. The cross view mirrors serves to view the front area of the bus including the bumper. Furthermore, flat mirrors outside should be adjusted to view at least 200 feet at the rear of the bus, sides, and rear tires.

As a matter of fact, outside convex mirrors serves you to view the entire area on the sides of at least one traffic lane width. Moreover, with sufficient adjustment of the mirrors, drivers will be able to cover all the blind spots in front and sides of the bus, but not at the back. Hence, it is wiser to seek assistance while reversing the vehicle.

10 Traits of Safe School Bus Drivers

Posted on July 12, 2017 by TSB Super Admin

Sensible driving needs adequate care, patience and sensitivity towards the safety of the passengers and pedestrians. Driving sensibly, that is giving heed to the traffic rules and regulations can lower the accident rates. But unfortunately, the present societal demands put the drivers through unnecessary stress and anxiety compromising their driving etiquette. Short temper, violation of traffic rules, rash driving, etc. are increasingly common in school bus drivers.

Isn’t it essential for you to ensure your passengers a safer ride? Also, there are no requisites to show your driving abilities to fellow drivers on the road.

Here are ten tips to create a safe trip for your children:

1. Avoid rash driving

Don’t lose your sense of positive driving habits at any instances. Rash driving can never be a safer way to reach your destination. Moreover, it instils fear in the minds of young children in your bus. Such experiences can be traumatic and create a negative impact on their life. school bus safety concerned drivers never resort to rash driving.

If you are a school bus driver, then the lives of those little school children are in your hands. Don’t curse your stars when some fellow drivers overtake you rashly. Just forgive such actions and continue what you are doing, the safe driving.

2. Strictly avoid tailgating

Tailgating or driving close to the vehicle in front can bring you unexpected mishaps. It is always better to take precautionary measures than regretting later. Sensible drivers avoid tailgating vehicles at all times. If any other vehicle tailgates, it is wise to switch the lanes and allow the other vehicle to pass over.

3. Give proper indications

Do not forget to put indications, especially when you intend to stop the school bus. Put the brake lights on, in case you are intending to slow down at the bus stop. Also, wait until the last child has entered and properly seated in the bus before moving forward. Drivers can also guide children with proper indications while they cross the road.

4. Avoid frequent lane switching

Obey the lane rules of the country, where you are driving. Some countries follow a right-hand traffic rule and others follow the left-hand traffic. The best school bus drivers do not involve in unnecessary and frequent lane switching. They resort to it only when there is an absolute necessity.

5. Observe the traffic signs

Give a little heed to the traffic signs and signals. Check your rear view and side mirrors for any oncoming vehicle. Don’t miss on the blind spots. Be sure to switch on the lights in case of poor lighting conditions, especially at dawn and at nights.

6. Avoid common distractions

Simple distractions can translate to major disasters. Many accidents are due to those moments of carelessness. Staying safe means staying away from distractions while behind the wheel.

7. Install GPS vehicle tracker and promote RFID cards

GPS vehicle tracking devices are not mere identity markers. They provide you the safety. You can estimate the time to cover the scheduled distance. RFID tagged ID cards are being issued to students, which will ease your job of monitoring whether and when a student has boarded/ alighted from the bus.

8. Monitor the vehicle condition properly

Fleet management systems regularly updates your vehicle condition and alert you when it needs a garage visit. They also reduce the cost of maintenance and save fuel. Safe driving can contribute towards a cleaner environment. Check the tire pressures, engine condition, brakes and alignment regularly.

9. Do not keep the engine on for long hours

Frequent starting of the vehicle releases abundant pollutants into the atmosphere and can affect the children. If the vehicle is to be parked longer than a minute, safe school bus drivers keep the engine off.

10. Adhere to speed limits

Always keep the speed limits. Sudden braking can be dangerous for the children as they are not prepared for it. Avoid such instances to reduce wear and tear too. Vehicle air-conditioning must be used with care.

10 Things you should Never Say to Your Child’s School Bus Drivers

Posted on April 24, 2017 by TSB Super Admin

Being a school bus driver is not easy. Not everyone understands and appreciates the massive responsibility of being a school bus driver. It takes some serious skills for drivers to effectively manage a school bus full of students. At times, it can be an irritating and frustrating task. They are not only responsible for ensuring a safely driving the school bus, but also for maintaining proper school bus discipline.

School bus drivers are often at the receiving end of some harsh statements from parents, commuters, etc. If you are a parent, there are some statements you should probably avoid making to a school bus driver. Remember, they are ensuring the safety of children on a regular basis. Lets take a look at them.

1. “No, I'll never allow my child to travel in a school bus as it is too dangerous”

Certainly, this is a wrong thing to say to a school bus driver. School bus safety is given utmost importance by everyone from the school bus manufacturers and school authorities to transport managers, drivers and attendants for ensuring better safety.

There are perpetual debates such as whether the presence or absence of a seat belt will reduce school bus accidents. While the debate might rage on for a long time, it is a fact that top padded seats protect students from crashes as they are seated high off the ground. And when you compare the number of car collisions with that of school bus collisions, you will find that a school bus is the safest transportation for your child.

2. “Haven't you noticed how my child got bullied on the school bus?”

It is yet another complaint you will say to a school bus driver. To be frank, it is a wrong accusation. You can imagine a large school bus full of students and hence it can be a difficult task for drivers to take care of each child. As a parent, you should tell your child to report about the bullying incident to drivers instantly. Only then, drivers will be able to know about it and take necessary action.

3. “Are you confident that it was my child behind it?”

Obviously, this accusation can be a great insult for drivers. They are the ones who witness every incident that happens in a school bus. Do you think they are visually impaired? They have a clear idea on the behavior of each student and it can never be a fake one. Hence, it is your duty to advise your child to behave properly inside the school bus.

4. “Actually, the other kid started the argument first”

Every parent try to protect their child but before protecting them, do ask driver about the incident. Before blaming another kid, ask your child about it. And anyway, if your child abused or attacked someone, it is not a right thing to do even though the other kid started it.

5. “Yeah, I know he/she is a troublemaker”

Literally, this means that, “I know my child is a nuisance but I'm not going to do anything about it”. As a parent, you are responsible for inculcating good behavior in your children. If your child misbehave to someone, do tell them that he or she is doing a wrong thing.

6. “Why can't the school bus come to my house?”

Before complaining something to the school bus driver, try to think about their role and responsibilities. School bus is not owned by a school bus driver, he is merely an employee appointed by school authorities. Like every employee, he is liable to follow the rules made by the school administrators. Hence, it is impossible to pick every child from their house as the authorities decide the most efficient route to reach the school quicker and driver have no permission to violate it.

7. “Sorry for being late”

Indeed, this is a wrong thing to say to a school bus driver. You should remember the fact that if you are coming late with your kid at the bus stop, you are making other kids late too. Never tell any silly excuses to the school bus driver as they didn't care about it. And, what they care most is to pick and drop every child at the scheduled time. Hence, it will be better not to make their task complicated.

8. “Sorry, I didn't see the bus”

This is one of the stupidest reasons you present before a school bus driver. Indeed, it is a huge lie as it is impossible for not noticing the big yellow school buses with flashing stop signs. Hence, it is better to be constant vigilant whenever you go near a school bus and above all, keep your big eyes open.

9. “I haven't passed your bus”

No, you should never say such thing to a school bus drivers. They will notice the number plates of vehicles that pass the school bus and immediately notify it to relevant authorities. Today, even the school bus students are trained to notice the number plates that illegally pass the school bus and hence, you could not escape easily by giving false reasons as there are more witnesses than you ever imagine.

10. “Do you seriously love your job?”

Usually, a school bus driver's job is not a glamorous one at all. But don't try to make them regret the job completely. There are people who do this job with intense interest and hence, it is better to never spoil their fun. It is their job and they know how to do it properly. Leave them alone.

As a parent, you should understand the fact that your child reaches home safely due to the school bus driver. And hence, learn to respect them and avoid unnecessary questioning.

“Being a school bus driver is not just a job… It's an adventure”

20 Must-know School Bus Safety Tips for School Bus Drivers

Posted on November 23, 2016 by TSB Super Admin

At an initial glance school bus might not seem different from other buses, but there are vast differences between school bus and other buses.

Compared to driving by themselves or riding with friends, students are about 50 times more likely to arrive at school alive on a school bus.

School bus, no doubt is the ultimate solution for safe transportation of children to and from school. There are a lot of factors that adds to the school bus safety.

From GPS tracking to RFID tags, school bus attains full points as far as safety of children is measured.

School bus driver plays a vital role in managing and maintaining the school bus. There are guidelines for the school bus driver to be followed.

The task of picking up of students from stops and dropping them off at school are managed by the school bus drivers. They also transport students and faculty to field trips or sporting events.

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School bus drivers often work split shifts of mornings and afternoons. They hold a very important responsibility of transportation of the students.

The role of drivers might appear small but there are a lot of things that drivers must concentrate on.

School Bus Safety tips for school bus drivers

1. Usually drivers follow a strict time schedule, but under no circumstances safety should be sacrificed to maintain schedule
2. The driver should be well aware that he represents the school so he must display a clean personality with good behavior
3. Leave at the right time to the bus stop, don’t rush
4. Should concentrate on moving traffic
5. Pay attention to the traffic and safety measures, do not listen to music player, do not play handheld video games which can lead to distractions and accidents
6. Never wear hood while driving as it can make difficulty in hearing and seeing traffic
7. Ensure that all the children are safely seated before starting the bus
8. Be courteous and show respect to children
9. Be friendly to children but concentrate more on road while driving
10. Stop for picking and dropping of children
11. Drive with the headlights on, even during day time
12. Be prepared to act accordingly during emergency situation
13. Deal with the public in a positive, courteous and respectful manner
14. Remain alert for ice, debris, or slippery spots
15. Alerts about bad weather should be noticed
16. If the bus is trapped on tracks, evacuate the bus immediately
17. The speed should always be under control
18. Do not rush to reach the destination fast, always put safety prior to schedule
19. After every drive, bus drivers should check all seats and interior
20. Do not smoke or consume alcohol inside the school bus

Here are the 20 safety tips for school bus drivers shown in the form of Slideshare presentation:

Primary Responsibilities of the school bus drivers

• Transportation of the children to and from school
• Transportation on scheduled time and route
• Before operating the bus, ensure the functioning of the bus. Check the bus tires, breaks, lights, and oil.
• Helping disabled children to enter and exit the bus
• Ensuring that children are seated before the bus starts
• Keenly following the traffic rules
• Informing the passengers of any delay
• Staying updated about the latest driving rules
• Remain alert for ice, debris, or slippery spots
• Emergency numbers must be kept with the drivers
• Drive students and staff members to field trips, sporting events, and other outdoor activities

Knowledge and skills

The driver should possess combination of thorough knowledge, skills and abilities.

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Driver’s knowledge should include

• All routes including the highways
• School bus regulations
• Dealing with children
• Dealing with children of special needs
• Scheduling system and procedures
• Record keeping system
• Equipment cleaning standards and procedures

Skills and abilities of the driver

• Operating the school bus in a safe and responsible manner
• Skills of client service and public interaction
• Team building
• Problem solving skill
• Quick decision making capability
• Verbal and listening skill
• Ability to write and read
• Stress management
• Time management

There are some must follow qualities for being a perfect school bus driver

• Honesty and trustworthy
• Respectfulness
• Cultural awareness and sensitivity
• Should be flexible
• Demonstrate sound work ethics

Special direction for the drivers to follow

There are some school bus safety measures that must be followed by the by school bus drivers.

• The driver should not leave the bus with motor running
• While children are on the bus, driver should never fill the gasoline tank
• No one other than authorized people should drive the school bus
• Driver should not merchandise animals, weapons, or other loads or attachments when transporting children
• There must be a back up bus in the school
• Move the bus only after all the riders are seated
• Do not consume alcohol before driving
• Report to the concerned authority if there are unmanageable pupils
• Never put the child to walk home
• Never use abusive language
• While transporting pupils, driver shall not exceed 15 m.p.h
• Promptly file all reports, routes, schedules and instructions for picking and dropping

7 Reasons School Bus Drivers Play a Vital Role in Student Safety

Posted on February 5, 2015 by TSB Super Admin

When it comes to school kids, everyone believes parents, teachers or his/her friends to be people who play the prime role in their lives. Seldom are the school bus drivers given credit for the work that they do. Being a guide for students from home to school and back was the duty of a bus driver of the past. His role has changed over the years and he is now one of the most important entities in a student’s life. A GPS tracking system along with a well trained driver has proved to be useful in more than one occasion.

Just How Important is the Bus Driver?

Drivers act as the link between school authority and the students outside of the school campus via the GPS tracker app. A driver helps to record and inform on students behavior on the bus. This way the school’s reputation is kept intact as the school is able to take disciplinary actions. With the help of a GPS school bus tracking system, he can do this in real-time.
Drivers are the first line of defense against the smuggling of unwanted materials into the campus by the students. Drivers also act as security for students outside of the campus. While using a bus, the student’s life depends on how the driver conducts himself while driving.
Drivers could provide orientation to new students. A driver can explain to students about the procedures and mode of operations of a school, thereby giving them prior idea of how the school functions.
Drivers are the school’s eyes on the road. Hence they can notify the school authority about traffic blocks and other issue with the use of an effective school bus tracking system. This could help the schools to alert other bus accordingly to stay away from the informed routes.
In some cases, drivers may know more about a student than the teachers. Teachers may teach a student for a few classes but a bus driver may have driven the same student for years through the same route.
A driver’s network runs deeply through a society so his conduct is important as it reflects the values and virtues of the school administration in the public.
A student first meets the driver in a day. So the driver is responsible for imparting positive atmosphere to the student so that his day begins on a positive note.

It is clear that a school bus driver has several duties entitled to him/her. Moreover the schools must also provide the driver with adequate training in order to handle different situations that he may have to face when on duty.

What Training Can Schools Give to Improve Driver’s Capabilities?

School vehicle drivers must be given training to manage the students on board the bus. Without the supervision of a teacher, or some other school authority, the children may misbehave. Hence such training will help the drivers become self-sufficient.
Drivers should be given an annual driving test to know if they are up to the mark. Moreover he must also be given a monthly psychological evaluation to ensure he is of a sound mind and is stress free. Regular health examinations are also a must. A driver of sound mind and body can ensure better student safety.
A driver must be trained to handle students of different age groups. Every student belonging to a different age group has different needs. A driver must be capable of realizing this and must act accordingly.
He should also be given special training to take care of disabled students, if the situation arises.
A driver should also be capable of handling hazardous situations like accidents, fire and so on, as his quick responses could turn out to be a life saver.

In the present scenario, where a lot of questions are frequently posed to student safety, the driver can play a pivotal role in helping the parents and teachers to take care of their wards.