First Student Jobs in Tennessee (NOW HIRING)

School Bus Driver Jobs | Oak Ridge Schools | Paid CDL Training | Oak Ridge & Knoxville, TN

Now Hiring Part-Time School Bus Drivers for Oak Ridge Schools

School Bus Driver Jobs in Oak Ridge, TN - Serving Oak Ridge Schools and Recruiting Throughout the Knoxville Metro Area, Including Farragut, Hardin Valley, Karns, Powell, Concord, and West Knoxville.

Looking for a rewarding part-time job with paid training, a flexible schedule, and a chance to make a difference in your community? First Student is hiring School Bus Drivers serving Oak Ridge Schools in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Our location at 100 Woodbury Lane, Oak Ridge, TN 37830 welcomes applicants from throughout the Knoxville metro area, including Oak Ridge, Farragut, Hardin Valley, Karns, Powell, West Knoxville, Concord, Cedar Bluff, and surrounding communities.

No experience driving a school bus? No problem. We provide paid CDL training and support you every step of the way as you begin a career transporting students safely to and from school.

Why Drive for First Student?

• Starting wage: $23.38 per hour

• Paid training at $18.00 per hour once your CLP is obtained

• Guaranteed 4 hours per school day for drivers who work both morning and afternoon routes

• Commerical Learner's Permit Bonus Incentive**: $500 Bonus for candidates who present a CLP within 7 calendar days of completing Virtual CLP training or within 7 calendar days of the offer letter date if they do not participate in Virtual CLP training or $200 Bonus for candidates who present a CLP within 14 calendar days of completing Virtual CLP training or within 14 calendar days of the offer letter date if they do not participate in Virtual CLP training.

• Additional earning opportunities through field trips, athletic events, and charter work

Flexible Schedule

• Morning and afternoon routes with time off in the middle of the day

• No nights or weekends required

• Perfect for retirees, veterans, parents, caregivers, and individuals looking for supplemental income or a second career

Benefits & Perks

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits available

• Child Ride-Along Program

• Employee discount and perks programs

• SALT Rewards Program

• Access to Chime MyPay, allowing eligible employees to access earned wages before payday

• Paid CDL training and ongoing professional development

What Your Day Will Look Like:

As a School Bus Driver serving Oak Ridge Schools, you'll help students start and end their day safely.

Your schedule will include:

• Morning school routes

• Afternoon school routes

• A guaranteed minimum of 4 hours per school day when working both AM and PM routes

• Opportunities for additional work through extracurricular trips and charters

Who Should Apply?

First Student welcomes applications from individuals with a variety of backgrounds, including:

• Military veterans

• Retirees

• Stay-at-home parents returning to the workforce

• Career changers

• Individuals seeking a second source of income

• Candidates without a college degree

• Customer service, delivery, transportation, hospitality, warehouse, retail, and manufacturing professionals looking for a new opportunity

No previous school bus driving experience is required. We provide the training you need to succeed.

You May Be a Great Fit If You:

• Are at least 25 years old

• Have held a valid driver's license for 5 or more years

• Enjoy working with students and serving your community

• Are looking for a reliable part-time position with flexible hours

• Want paid CDL training and a pathway to a new career

Drive with First Student and become an important part of the Oak Ridge Schools community while enjoying competitive pay, paid CDL training, and the flexibility to fit work into your life.

This position is subject to DOT drug testing as a safety-sensitive position. DOT Regulation 49 CFR Part 40 does not authorize the use of Schedule I drugs, including marijuana, for any reason.

Join First Student and get more than a paycheck. We offer perks and incentives designed to support you on and off the job, from early wage access and loyalty rewards to employee discounts, recognition programs, growth opportunities, and appreciation events. If you're ready to be part of a team that Fosters Teamwork and makes a real difference every day, First Student is the place to be.

**CLP Bonus expires 10.30.2026

Bonus Eligibility: Complete all onboarding requirements, including the background check, drug screen, DOT physical, and new hire training. Bonus will be paid on the first payroll following successful completion of training.

Language Requirement
This role requires English proficiency. Federal, state, and local requirements, including U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, require training, safety communications, company policies, employment documents, and other job-related communications be conducted in English.

First for a reason:

At First Student, we are a family of 60,000+ employees who take pride in safely transporting more than 5 million students and passengers to and from their destinations each day! Our family of brands include Transco, Total Transportation, Maggies Paratransit, and GVC II. Our employees are at the forefront of safety and innovation; they create and implement the most advanced training and technology the transportation industry has to offer.

In the state of Washington, all technician and driving positions, including but not limited to van drivers and any other position requiring employees to drive a company-owned vehicle, are considered safety-sensitive and are therefore subject to drug and alcohol testing, including cannabis.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status. First is also committed to providing a drug-free workplace. First will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance, and any other fair chance law. Philadelphia's Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards Ordinance Poster is at this link or upon request https://www.phila.gov/media/20210423160847/Fair-Chance-Hiring-law-poster.pdf.

About us
An industry leader famous for our yellow school buses and service and safety excellence, we’ve provided student transportation services to schools for over 100 years. Continually investing in the services of the future, we’re proud to be part of FirstGroup America – the largest provider of safe, reliable and sustainable surface passenger transportation services in North America.

Industry leader
We safely operate more than one third of all contracted school buses in North America.
Together our 50,000 school buses travel nearly 600 million miles per year — the equivalent of 1,200 round trips to the moon.
We operate in around 550 locations throughout 38 U.S. states and 8 Canadian provinces.

Innovation
We were the first school bus company to utilize global positioning systems (GPS), so at any one time we know where all of our buses are and how fast they’re travelling.
Passionate about safety, we’ve installed Safety Crossing Gates on the front of all of our school buses and use the Child Check-MateTM electronic reminder system to make sure no sleeping children remain inside a bus at the end of each route.

Awards & recognition
We won the Occupational Excellence Achievement Award from the National Safety Council two years in a row.
Dedicated to safety, FirstGroup received the National Safety Council’s (NSC) Green Cross for Safety Medal - the highest award for safety in North America.

Teamwork and trust
It takes a diverse team of skilled professionals to provide a safe, effective and efficient student transportation system. From our school bus drivers and location managers to routers, dispatchers and fleet technician mechanics, the work we do every day makes a big impact on the daily lives of students, parents, local communities and school district partners.

We’re very proud of our elite team of over 55,000 dedicated, caring and diverse professionals. And they are the #1 reason we’re trusted by over 1,400 school districts - more than any other provider. Everybody here plays their part in creating a positive school bus experience.

Our culture
We live and breathe our vision and values. They are embedded in our culture and drive our commitment to our customers and communities. Our culture fosters growth and promotes respect, reliability, responsibility and safety. And we recruit people who share these values and will work together to build strong and trusting partnerships in the communities we serve.

Safety – Although our safety record is twice as safe as the industry average, we continually seek out opportunities to enhance our operational and safety initiatives.
Learning – Through our learning culture that spans over 550 locations, we receive and share insight from our people to enhance our service now and in the future.
Making a difference - By doing our job well, we make a positive impact on many lives – including the millions of students who travel with us every school day.
Careers for all – We’re an Equal Opportunity Employer and an Employer of Choice.
By consistently encouraging and supporting an open dialogue with our people and partners, we’re able to share new ideas and develop new ways to meet the needs of our customers and passengers. At First Student, you’ll feel empowered to serve your community. So join the team and start to make a difference.