School bus driver

It wouldn’t count towards tractor trailer but would be good experience for class B. My dad drove a bus. He had to go into work 2-4 separate times a day (morning, afternoon, and sometimes extra trips). They don’t get paid very good. You can get better paying jobs with straight truck if you look around.

 

No, don’t do it. Children are arseholes. They’ll throw shet at you while you drive, and it’s frowned upon to hit other peoples badarse children

 

I got my first (Class B) CDL as a school bus driver in 1999. It was a decent first driving job, and led to better paying coach bus work, which I did for 20 years. But I wish I had just done whatever was necessary to get a Class A CDL and had started driving trucks then, because truck driving pays better.

 

You could be like Otto man from the Simpsons. Open the bus door and a bunch of empty bottles of tequila and a huge cloud of marijuana smoke spill out lol.

 

Driving a school bus requires a class B CDL with passenger and school bus endorsements. Yes, School buses require a school bus endorsement but coach buses do not (I think it has something to do with the laws regarding picking up children on side of the road). You have to road test in an actual school bus to get the school bus endorsement. Passenger endorsement also requires a road test, but that can be done in any ordinary bus, limo, shuttle van, etc. however, you only need the passenger endorsement if the vehicle carries 16 or more people.

So I guess, theoretically, you could drive one of those tiny special ed buses with only a school bus endorsement, if you follow me.

Also of course if the vehicle has air brakes, you will need to take the air brake test.

Will all this count as driving experience? Sure, but it won’t mean squat to a tractor trailer insurance company. So if your goal is still to drive for pepsi or whatever, you might as well go right to doing that.

 

I see what you did there. (Nods approvingly)

 

Only positive about school bus I can think of is the free training to get a Class B with passenger/ School Bus endorsement that most counties will offer. I know some states are activating their National Guard to help kids get to school, so I assume you can make a bit more than what drivers made a few years ago.

Aside from that, do your contract and go find other Class B work. Dump truck, garbage truck, cement trucks, or straight truck delivery service are all open option to you. Some trash companies will help you train to upgrade to a Class A. It's always easier and cheaper to train an existing employee to get a Class A than to take a shot at someone new.

Best of luck

 

I’m a current driver for APS. It’s a good way to get your foot in the door for the endorsement’s, but tough on pay days. They take money through the school year out of your check to cover when your not driving , holidays, summers ect . Your not paid OT at time and a half like other companies . You receive straight pay. I currently just passed class A permit, and have TWIC background in process to apply and take hazmat endorsement. With class B and hazmat endorsement I can move on to better paying job here locally. I love what I do, but you can’t make it on those checks. Great for retired person. And the part about going and coming is true. I start at 6:30am done by 8:30am off clock until 1:30-5:30pm . Sometimes they will ask if you can cover someone’s route and you may have to go back in between your shift. Best of luck to you.

 

looking forward to the next thread