Bus Drivers, School
People classed as Bus Drivers, School drive a school bus to transport students. The strongest interest signal is Realistic (5.5 of 7), then Conventional (4.7) and Social, which gives it the code RCS. The preparation level is some preparation, typically a few months to a year of learning on the job. O*NET’s skill data points to monitoring, critical thinking, and active listening as the ones to build. A regular part of the work is to comply with traffic regulations to operate vehicles in a safe and courteous manner. You may also need to follow safety rules as students board and exit buses or cross streets near bus stops. If you want hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world, keep it on your list. If you need creative work with room for original expression, it may feel thin.
What they do
Drive a school bus to transport students. Ensure adherence to safety rules. May assist students in boarding or exiting.
Main tasks
- Comply with traffic regulations to operate vehicles in a safe and courteous manner.
- Follow safety rules as students board and exit buses or cross streets near bus stops.
- Check the condition of a vehicle's tires, brakes, windshield wipers, lights, oil, fuel, water, and safety equipment to ensure that everything is in working order.
- Report any bus malfunctions or needed repairs.
- Pick up and drop off students at regularly scheduled neighborhood locations, following strict time schedules.
- Escort small children across roads and highways.
Skills
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Social Perceptiveness
- Speaking
- Operations Monitoring
Who this career fits
May suit you if
- You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
- You like clear rules and getting the details right.
- You want to start work after a short stretch of training.
- You are comfortable relying on monitoring and critical thinking.
May not suit you if
- You would rather stay away from physical, hands-on tasks.
- You need creative expression to be a big part of your day. Artistic rates 1.2 out of 7 here.
- You want a career built on years of advanced study.
Interest profile
O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code RCS takes the three highest, and Realistic comes first here.
Preparation
Some preparation. Most people start with a high school diploma, then learn from experienced coworkers over a few months to a year.
Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED). This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.
Also called
- Bus Drive Coordinator
- Bus Driver Route Coordinator
- CDL Bus Driver (Commercial Driver's License Bus Driver)
- Public School Bus Driver
- School Bus Driver
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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.