School Bus Driver Training Program Jobs in Indiana

JOB TITLE: Bus Driver Trainee
FLSA CLASSIFICATION: Non-exempt, hourly employee.
WORK DAYS: Training lasts for approximately 6 weeks.
STANDARD HOURS PER DAY: 4 hours per day while in training.
WORK YEAR: The length of employment for the Bus Driver Trainee is approximately 6 weeks, but it depends on the amount of training that is needed for the trainee to successfully meet the District's expectations to become a Substitute Bus Driver or a Bus Driver.
SALARY SCHEDULE & BENEFITS: The Bus Driver Trainee is paid on the "Bus Driver" salary schedule, but is not eligible for benefits due to the temporary nature of the Trainee's employment.
REPORTS TO: The Bus Driver Trainee reports to the Director of Transportation and to the Bus Driver Trainer.
SUPERVISES: The Bus Driver Trainee does not supervise any other employees.
GENERAL SUMMARY OF DUTIES:
Under specific direction, the Bus Driver Trainee is to learn the rules, procedures and methods for safely and legally driving a school bus. The Bus Driver Trainee is expected to learn how to provide for the safe transporting, loading and unloading of students to and from destinations, and the safety and welfare of all persons. The Bus Driver Trainee is expected to learn to drive while monitoring the students, and providing the required assistance to students with special medical needs. The Bus Driver Trainee is expected to pass the state test(s) for the Commercial Driver's License designation at the conclusion of the training.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Learns to provide school bus transportation for the District students to and from destinations, to include field trips and special events.
2. Learns to perform pre- and post-bus inspection activities to ensure proper operating conditions, adherence to prescribed Department of Transportation standards, and compliance with proper safety standards.
3. Learns to maintain a bus evacuation plan and learns to coordinate bus evacuation activities as appropriate.
4. Learns to transport students according to established routing sheets; ensures maintenance of periodic routing updates.
5. Learns to monitor daily school bus activities to ensure proper student conduct at all times, and adherence to appropriate disciplinary controls.
6. Learns to maintain attendance records, seating charts, disciplinary documentation, and updated student information; communicates via radio dispatch as appropriate.
7. Learns to obtain/maintain safe driver designation and applicable physical and dexterity standards.
8. Learns to ensure the safe loading and unloading of students to and from destinations, to include operation of specialized equipment for attending to students with special needs, i.e., wheelchair lifts and tie-downs, toddler/infant seats and seat belts.
9. Learns to perform routine cleaning and bus maintenance activities; maintains neat and orderly appearance, to include assigned uniforms.
10. Learns to conduct re-fueling activities, to include maintaining assigned fuel use logs.
11. Learns to report any perceived or potential school bus defects in a time efficient manner to the appropriate supervisor of fleet maintenance personnel.
12. Learns to establish and maintain effective communications and working relationships with bus monitors, district personnel, school officials, and parents.
13. Learns to be responsible for keeping up to date on current technology, as job appropriate, being used by Warren.
14. Learn to be responsible for timely and accurate information maintained as part of the job responsibilities. 

NON-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
While the following tasks are necessary for the work of the department, they are not an essential part of the purpose of this position and may also be performed by other department members:

1. Performs related duties as directed.

ENTRY-LEVEL REQUIREMENTS:
1. EDUCATION/TRAINING: High school diploma or GED is required. 
2. EXPERIENCE: Must have at least 5 years of satisfactory experience as a licensed driver.
3. CERTIFICATIONS &/OR LICENSES: Requires the ability to obtain and maintain a valid Indiana commercial driver's license class "B" with passenger and school bus endorsements.
4. OTHER: Ability to perform the essential functions, meet the performance aptitudes, and fulfill the physical/sensory/environmental requirements of the job (with or without reasonable accommodations) are required.
PERFORMANCE APTITUDES:

1. Data Utilization: Requires the ability to review, classify, categorize, prioritize, and/or analyze data and/or information. Includes exercising discretion in determining data classification, and in referencing such analysis to established standards for the purpose of recognizing actual or probable interactive effects and relationships.
2. Human Interaction: Requires the ability to provide guidance, assistance, and/or interpretation to others on how to apply procedures and standards to specific situations.
3. Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Materials Utilization: Requires the ability to operate, maneuver and/or control the actions of assigned passenger vehicles, and safety restraint and wheelchair lift devices.
4. Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive and advisory data and information.
5. Mathematical Aptitude: Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; ability to calculate decimals and percentages.
6. Functional Reasoning: Requires the ability to apply principles of influence systems, such as motivation, incentive, and leadership. Ability to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to problem resolution.
7. Situational Reasoning: Requires the ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness and creativity required in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental, or subjective criteria, as opposed to that which is clearly measurable or verifiable. 

Employees in public school transportation roles must meet specific physical, sensory, and environmental requirements to ensure the safety and well-being of students and the general public. The following outlines the essential requirements for individuals performing these duties within the State of Indiana:
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must possess full use of 100% of their body to safely operate a school bus or other transportation vehicle, including but not limited to the ability to grasp, push, pull, reach, and manipulate vehicle controls.
• Ability to sit for extended periods while maintaining control and awareness of vehicle operation.
• Sufficient strength to operate emergency exits, doors, and secure mobility-assistive devices when necessary.
• Ability to bend, stoop, twist, kneel, and climb stairs to assist students as needed.
• Must be capable of performing repetitive motions, including steering, shifting gears, and using hand and foot controls.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds to accommodate emergency situations or assistive equipment.

SENSORY REQUIREMENTS: 

• Must possess sufficient visual acuity (corrected or uncorrected) to read traffic signs, recognize potential hazards, and monitor students inside and outside the vehicle.
• Must possess adequate hearing ability (corrected or uncorrected) to detect traffic sounds, emergency sirens, and student interactions, as well as effectively communicate via radio or other communication devices.
• Must be able to demonstrate sufficient depth perception, peripheral vision, and night vision to operate a vehicle safely in all conditions.
• Ability to distinguish colors necessary for traffic signals, warning indicators, and dashboard displays.
• Must have full range of speech and vocal capabilities to effectively communicate with students, parents, school staff, and emergency personnel.

ENVIRONMENT REQUIREMENTS: 

• Must be able to tolerate and work in a variety of environmental conditions, including:
  • Extreme temperatures (heat, cold, and humidity)
  • Exposure to fumes, dust, and allergens
  • Moderate to high noise levels from student interactions and road conditions
  • Vibrations caused by vehicle operation
  • Inclement weather conditions such as rain, snow, and ice
• Must be able to respond to emergency situations quickly and effectively, including evacuations, medical incidents, and mechanical failures.
• Must be capable of handling the physical and mental stress associated with managing student behavior and adhering to strict safety protocols while operating a vehicle.