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Bus Drivers Career
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The work of a bus driver is to provide transportation for people. There are two main kinds of drivers, transit and intercity bus drivers. Their work is to transport people within or across states. Some perform duties such as school bus drivers. Their work is to pick up and drop off children from their schools. |
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Job Prospect
The primary work of bus drivers is to pick up and drop off passengers at stations and bus stops. Bus drivers have to take precautions while driving the bus. They should operate vehicles safely, especially, in heavy traffic. They need to arrive at the designated stops on scheduled time so that passengers cannot miss the bus and will reach appropriate time at their places. Bus drivers may drive different vehicles from fifteen passenger buses to sixty foot articulated buses. These articulated buses may carry over 100 passengers.
Intercity and local transit bus drivers stock up on tickets. They need to prepare and transfer trip reports after reporting assigned garage or terminal. In many transportation firms, maintenance departments are accountable for keeping vehicles in working conditions. Before starting their work, bus drivers have to check vehicle's tires, windshields wipers, brakes, fuel, oil, and water supply.
Generally, drivers ensure that the bus has equipment such as first aids kits, fire extinguishers, and emergency reflectors. Intercity and local transit bus drivers, during their shift, gather fares, answer questions regarding routes, schedules, announce stops, and transfer points. The work of an intercity bus driver is to make a round city trip or a single way trip to long distance city each day.
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These bus drivers may stop at towns or at large cities, which are few or hundred of miles apart. A local transit bus driver may make various trips everyday over the same suburban streets and same city. Local transit bus drivers have to submit daily trip reports including significant schedule delays, record of trips, and mechanical problems. The work of intercity drivers is to drive across national and state boundaries ought to go along with the US Department of Transportation regulations. These regulations may include recording distances traveled, vehicle inspection reports, and performing other duties.
Some of the intercity drivers operate motor coaches. Their work includes transporting passengers on scheduled trips. In order to make the trip informative and comfortable, drivers interact with tour guides and passengers. Bus drivers are directly accountable for making sure overall success of the trip, keeping to strict schedules, and sticking to the guidelines set by the authority.
These bus drivers serve as customer service representatives, program directors, tour guides, and safety guides. A trip may last more than a day. Sometimes, a driver has to be away from home when assigned an extended tour.
The work of a school bus driver is to drive the same route everyday. They pick up students in the morning and drop them off to their homes in the afternoon. Some of the school bus drivers transport teachers and students on sporting events or field trip. Apart from driving, many school bus drivers work part-time in the school as mechanics, classroom assistants, and janitors during their stay at the school. Bus drivers have to perform following responsibilities.
Responsibilities
- Report accidents, delays, and other transportation and traffic situations using mobile or telephone
- Drive electrically powered, diesel, or gasoline multi-passenger vehicles for students transportation between schools, neighborhoods, and school activities
- Examine the vehicle's breaks, tires, lights, windshield wipers, fuel, oil, water, and other safety equipment to make sure that they are in working condition
- Obey traffic regulations to operate vehicles in a courteous and safe manner
- Comply with safety rules as students are boarding and exiting buses
- Pick up and drop off pupils at scheduled locations following time schedule strictly
- Follow verbal and written geographic directions and read maps
- Operate lighting, ventilation, and heating systems for providing comfort to passengers
- Accompany small children across highways and roads
- Keep bus interiors neat and clean
- Create and submit reports, which may include hours worked, fuel consumption, mileage, number of trips, fares received, and number of trips
Work Environment
Sometimes, it is very fatiguing and physically strenuous to deal with passengers and drive through heavy traffic. There are many bus lines that provide well designed seats and controls for drivers in order to retain drivers and improve working conditions. Some of the bus companies use Global Positioning Systems with the intention of assisting dispatchers to manage their bus fleets.
Training and Educational Qualification
Federal and state governments establish educational qualification and standards for bus drivers. This may include commercial driver's license with the appropriate endorsement. There are many employers who offer many weeks training and assist new employees to attain commercial driver's license (CDL). Many employers prefer candidates who have extensive experience in truck driving.
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