School Bus Driver Training

1
School Bus Driver Training

• Unit A
• The School Bus Driver
• Role, Responsibilities, and Requirements

2
Objectives

• At the end of this session school bus operators
  will be able to
• Describe their role and responsibilities
• Recognize that their appearance and behavior
  affect community attitudes
• Demonstrate positive and supportive attitudes and
  habits
• Know their responsibilities to their supervisor,
  fellow employees, and the school district
• Understand the process for becoming a school bus
  operator in Pennsylvania

3
Introduction

• Competent school bus drivers are essential!
• School bus drivers have specific
• Roles
• Responsibilities
• Becoming a school bus driver has certain
• Requirements

4
Roles, Responsibilities, Requirements

• Role as a driver
• Responsibilities as a driver
• What do I need to do to become a School Bus
  driver in PA?

5
Role as a Driver

• Attitude
• You are important
• You are responsible
• You are a member of the Safety Team

6
Attitude

• Stay positive
• Recognize your moods
• Be prepared to make allowances for the poor
  attitudes of others
• Always be mentally alert

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You are Important

• Professional
• Part of the educational system
• Representative of the school system
• Influence

8
You are Responsible

• Safely transport students
• You control your driving
• You control your attitude

9
You are a Member of the Safety Team

• Safety starts with you
• You are transporting students in buses on public
  roadways
• You are a key member of the safety team that
  works with the students each day

10
Responsibilities as a Driver

• High standard of conduct
• Driving technique
• Passengers
• Public relations
• Appropriate dress
• Supervisor and fellow employees
• Relationship to Transportation Director

11
High Standard of Conduct

• Standard of conduct is high
• Your conduct cannot be open to criticism
• You are a role model to students
• You are a representative of the school district

12
Driving Technique

• Driver attitude
• Knowledge
• Skill

13
Passengers

• The conduct of passengers depends upon the driver
• Express an interest in your student passengers
• Show that rules are about safety
• Be fair
• Communication is businesslike, yet friendly

14
Public Relations

• You influence public opinion about the school
  district
• You represent the school district to parents
• Consider all enforcement officers as part of the
  safety team
• Show pride in your work
• Respect co-workers

15
Appropriate Dress

• The school bus driver should be identified as a
  professional
• Dress to instill respect
• Wear appropriate shoes for driving

16
Supervisor and Fellow Employees

• Your supervisor is a member of your safety team
• Cooperation is essential to transportation safety
• Communicate
• Report
• Comply
• Assist

17
Transportation Director

• Your advisor
• Your partner
• Their typical responsibilities include
• Assigning drivers to buses
• Establishing bus routes, stops, and turnarounds
• Assigning passengers to buses
• Ensuring buses are safe to operate
• Appointing monitors/aids as needed
• Understand your working relationship and
  cultivate it!

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What Do I Need to Do to Become a School Bus
Driver in PA?

• First Step - Initial requirements
• Second Step - Knowledge Test Authorization and
  School Bus Learners Permit
• Third Step Training and skills testing
  requirements
• Health and safety requirements
• Driver recertification

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First Step Initial Requirements

• Apply for a Commercial Drivers License (CDL)
  Knowledge Test Authorization/Learners Permit

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Second Step Knowledge Test Authorization and
Learners Permit

• If your documents are in order, and
• You have no license suspensions, then
• You are issued
• a CDL knowledge test authorization, and
• school bus learners permit.

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Third Step Training and Skills Testing
Requirements

• The School Bus Driver Training Course
• Skills examination Three parts
• Safety inspection
• Basic skill test
• On-road driving test

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The School Bus Driver Training Course

• 20 hours of instruction
• 14 hours of classroom instruction
• 6 hours of in-bus training
• In-bus training must be one-on-one with a
  certified instructor

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The School Bus Driver Training Course

• There are two ways to complete the training
• Complete the full 20 hours of instruction, then
  attempt to pass the skills examination
• Complete 10 hours of instruction (7 classroom, 3
  in-bus) and attempt to pass the skills
  examination
• If successful, complete the remaining 10 hours of
  instruction within 120 days
• A Certificate of Completion Card will then be
  issued, keep it! You will need it for your skills
  exam.

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The School Bus Driver Training Course

• Documentation for skills test
• Valid drivers license
• Valid PA CDL learners permit
• Valid Physical Examination Certificate (DL-742)
• Valid Certificate of Completion Card (DL-713)
• Current bus registration
• Proof of financial responsibility for bus
• Valid drivers license for driver accompanying you

25
The Skills Examination Will be Administered in
Three Parts

• First part safety inspection
• Second part basic skills test
• Third part on-road driving test

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The Skills Examination

• Three attempts on a valid learners permit
• One attempt a day
• Failure of a portion requires retesting for just
  that portion
• Three failed attempts requires a new learners
  permit and all training requirements

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The Skills Examination

• Successfully completing the skills examination
• Passing result credited to your driving record
• If all minimum requirements are met, you will
  receive a CDL with S and P endorsements
• You will receive a school bus endorsement card
  (valid for approximately one year)
• If you successfully complete the skills
  examination with only 10 hours of training
• You have 120 days to complete the remaining 10
  hours of training

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Health and Safety Requirements

• General
• Drug and alcohol testing for school bus drivers

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Health and Safety Requirements General

• To establish fitness you must
• Comply with PA Department of Health and local
  regulations for communicable diseases
• Clean criminal history record
• Clean child abuse history record
• Limited traffic violations or crashes recorded
• Drug-free and Alcohol-free when driving

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Drug and Alcohol Testing for School Bus Drivers

• Required by Federal government
• Drug testing by urine sample for
• Marijuana
• Cocaine
• Opiates
• Amphetamines
• Phencyclidine
• Alcohol testing by breath analysis

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Drug and Alcohol Testing for School Bus Drivers

• Federal government requires
• Pre-employment testing
• Random testing
• Post-crash testing
• Reasonable suspicion testing
• Local policy dictates
• Return-to-duty testing
• Follow-up testing
• State law requires testing after ALL Reportable
  crashes involving a school bus.

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Driver Recertification

• Recertification Process in General
• Annual physical examination
• Change of information on license

33
Driver Recertification General

• PA law requires recertification every 4 years
• 10 hours of instruction
• 7 hours classroom instruction
• 3 hours in-bus instruction
• S endorsement skills and knowledge exam
• To be completed no more than 12 months prior to
  expiration date of school bus endorsement card

34
Annual Physical Examination

• Annual requirement
• Examination by a health care provider
• School bus endorsement card will not be renewed
  without physical exam

35
Change of Information on License

• New camera card or photo license issued when
• Adding or deleting an endorsement
• Removing a restriction
• Upgrading class of license
• When changing name or address on CDL or school
  bus endorsement card, submit form DL-80CD with
  appropriate fee

36
Key Resource

• http//www.dmv.state.pa.us/centers/SchoolBusCenter
  .shtml