Bus Driver

Watauga County Schools•Boone, NC

19h

About The Position

Under general supervision, operates a school bus on assigned routes and schedules to provide safe and efficient transportation for students. The role includes inspecting and operating the bus, following traffic laws and school bus regulations, observing safety standards, maintaining student discipline, completing required reports, and securing the bus at the end of each run or route. The driver is expected to use tact and courtesy when interacting with students, parents or guardians, and school personnel. The position reports to a Zone Transportation Supervisor for bus driving duties. The driver performs and documents required pre-trip and post-trip inspections, reports mechanical defects, and inspects a substitute bus when the assigned bus is unfit for service. Post-trip inspections include checking for students who may remain aboard and identifying irregularities or vandalism. The driver follows the assigned route and schedule, reports route changes, transports only authorized students, and discharges students only at authorized locations. The driver maintains student discipline in accordance with school objectives, reports undisciplined students to the school principal, and keeps the bus clean and safe. The role also requires responding appropriately to emergencies and accidents, including evacuating students when necessary, reporting accidents, remaining at the scene until released by the on-scene transportation supervisor, and ensuring passenger safety. The driver completes time cards and other required reports, and secures the bus at the end of each route by parking it properly, checking for damage and remaining passengers, and securing windows and doors. Applicants must have graduated from high school and have some experience driving large vehicles; experience transporting people is preferred. An equivalent combination of training and experience may qualify. A valid North Carolina Class A or Class B Commercial Driver’s License with school bus certification must be held and maintained. The job requires the physical ability to operate and inspect a school bus, respond rapidly in emergencies, and perform the specified emergency exit procedure within 20 seconds. Physical demand requirements are for Medium Work.

Requirements

Graduation from high school.
Some experience driving large vehicles, or an equivalent combination of training and experience that provides the required skills, knowledge, and abilities.
Possess and maintain a valid North Carolina Class A or Class B Commercial Driver’s License with school bus certification.
Ability to operate and physically inspect a school bus and detect and report observable mechanical defects or failures.
Ability to maintain student discipline and keep the bus clean.
Ability to complete required reports and understand and follow oral and written instructions.
Ability to exercise independent judgment and initiative, and to use tact and courtesy when interacting with students, parents or guardians, and school personnel.
Ability to communicate effectively in standard English, read correspondence and instructions, and prepare reports and correspondence.
Ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately while operating a school bus, handle bus equipment and controls, and recognize standard traffic signal colors.
Ability to respond to emergency conditions, including quickly decelerating and braking, rapidly turning the steering wheel, and completing the described bus-securing and emergency-exit procedure within 20 seconds.
Ability to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, up to 25 pounds frequently, and up to 10 pounds constantly; physical demand classification is Medium Work.
Sufficient hearing to distinguish warning sounds such as horns, screeching tires, sirens, grade-crossing alarms, and train whistles; hearing a forced whispered voice at five feet in the better ear is considered adequate.
Ability to perform under stress and deal with people who may also be under stress.

Nice To Haves

Experience transporting people.

Responsibilities

Perform and document required pre-trip and post-trip inspections of the assigned bus or a substitute bus.
Report mechanical defects or failures to the appropriate transportation supervisor, routing specialist, mechanic, or garage control center.
Operate the assigned school bus on the routes and schedule provided by the Zone Transportation Supervisor.
Report student additions or deletions that require changes to routes, stops, or schedules to the Zone Transportation Supervisor on the day they occur.
Obey traffic laws and school bus regulations and follow school bus safety standards.
Clear the bus and evacuate students quickly in an emergency.
Maintain student discipline using a plan consistent with school disciplinary objectives; report undisciplined students to the responsible principal.
Transport only authorized students and discharge them only at authorized schools or bus stops.
Keep the bus clean and free of items that may create a safety problem.
Report accidents as required and remain at the scene until released by the on-scene transportation supervisor.
Remain responsible for students aboard the bus during an accident, assess injuries, and maintain passenger safety.
Complete personal time cards and required reports, including accident and incident reports.
Secure the bus at the conclusion of each run or route, including parking it properly, checking for damage and remaining passengers, and securing windows and doors.
Maintain acceptable relationships with parents or guardians and school personnel.
Refer to the current Handbook for the School Bus Driver and the Safety Assistant for guidance.