Bus Driver

School Bus Driver

Beginning date: ASAP subject to civil service rules and regulations. Experience preferred.

General statement of duties: Drives a school bus on an assigned route and may perform minor maintenance tasks in connection with such operation; does related work as required.

Distinguishing features of the class: This is manual work of average difficulty requiring skill in the operation of a large automotive vehicle. The operator is responsible for the safety and conduct of the children who are passengers. The work is performed under general supervision with considerable leeway allowed the operator in carrying out the details of the work.

Examples of work: (illustrative only) Operates a school bus on a regular schedule and on special occasions, as needed; checks the operating condition of the bus before starting on a trip; reports any operational defect to immediate superior; informs children about safety practices; maintains orderly conduct of children on bus; keeps interior and exterior of vehicle clean and neat; maintains records of mileage, routes, time and incidents; prepares and maintains maps of routes and pick-up points; may be required to operate a station wagon or other similar vehicle; may be required to perform minor maintenance tasks on the vehicle.

Required knowledge, skills, abilities and attributes: Good knowledge of driving safety practices and traffic laws and regulations; ability to operate a bus under difficult driving and road conditions; ability to make minor repairs to the vehicle; ability to understand and follow simple oral and written directions; ability to get along well with children and command their respect; mechanical aptitude; mental alertness; dependability; physical condition commensurate with the duties of the position.

Minimum acceptable training and experience: None.

Special requirements: (1) Possession of the appropriate license to operate a school bus (CDL), issued by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles at time of appointment; (2) Drivers must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age.

Note: Districts that experience difficulty in recruiting fully qualified drivers, (i.e., individuals with the CDL), may hire individuals with a CDL learner's permit and establish a formal, in-house training program geared toward preparing these drivers to take and pass the road test to obtain the appropriate license. The training program must be successfully completed and the appropriate license obtained before the individual drives a school bus with students or is assigned a regular bus route.

Special note: In addition to the above special requirements, candidates must satisfy the requirements for School Bus Driver as set forth in the Rules and Regulations of the New York State Commissioner of Education. New federal regulations require that, on or after October 1, 2005, a school bus driver with a New York State commercial driver license (CDL) must have a new "S" (school bus) endorsement.

Special requirement for appointment in school districts: In accordance with the Safe Schools Against Violence in Education (SAVE) legislation, candidates for appointment in school districts must obtain clearance for employment from the State Education Department prior to employment based upon a fingerprint and criminal history background check.