JOB TITLE: Bus Driver
FLSA CLASSIFICATION: Non-exempt, hourly employee.
WORK DAYS: 183 days (when students are scheduled to attend school).
STANDARD HOURS PER DAY: Up to 6 hours.
WORK YEAR: The work year for the Bus Driver includes all days when students are scheduled to attend school, plus 1 additional day for summer driver training.
SALARY SCHEDULE & BENEFITS: The Bus Driver is paid on the “Bus Driver” salary schedule, and is eligible for benefits on the “Support Staff” benefits schedule.
REPORTS TO: The Bus Driver reports to the Director of Transportation or their designee.
SUPERVISES: The Bus Driver who has a Bus Monitor, will provide direction to the Bus Monitor.
GENERAL SUMMARY OF DUTIES:
Under general direction, the Bus Driver is to daily operate an assigned school bus on an assigned transportation route for the school district. Employees in this classification are responsible for the safe transportation, loading and unloading of students to and from destinations, and ensure all bus activities support the safety and welfare of all persons. Work may be performed in conjunction with bus monitoring personnel, and includes ensuring appropriate securing of students and the provision of required assistance to students with special medical needs. Performs related work as directed.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Provides daily school bus transportation for district students to and from destinations, to include field trips and special events.
Transports students according to established routing sheets; ensures maintenance of periodic routing updates.
Ensures 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.
Monitors daily school bus activities to ensure proper student conduct at all times, and adherence to appropriate disciplinary controls.
Performs pre and post trip bus inspection activities to ensure proper operating conditions, adherence to prescribed Department of Transportation standards, and compliance with proper safety standards.
Reports any perceived or potential school bus defects in a timely and efficient manner to the appropriate supervisor of fleet maintenance personnel.
Performs routine cleaning, bus maintenance activities, including checking and filling fluids; maintains neat and orderly appearance, to include assigned uniforms.
Conducts re-fueling activities, to include maintaining assigned fuel use logs.
Maintains bus evacuation plan and coordinates bus evacuation activities as appropriate.
Maintains attendance records, seating charts, disciplinary documentation, and updated student information; communicates via radio dispatch as appropriate.
Maintains safe driver designation and applicable physical and dexterity standards.
Establishes and maintains effective communications and working relationships with bus monitors, district personnel, school officials, and parents.
Responsible for keeping up to date on current technology, as job appropriate, being used by Warren.
With the support of the district, attends training to ensure skill level in various technologies is at the level required to perform in current position.
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:
Performs related duties as directed.
ENTRY-LEVEL REQUIREMENTS:
1. EDUCATION/TRAINING: Must be at least 21 years old (Department of Transportation standard), possessing a high school diploma or GED.
2. EXPERIENCE: Must have one year 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) is required.
PERFORMANCE APTITUDES:
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.
Human Interaction: Requires the ability to provide guidance, assistance, and/or interpretation to others on how to apply procedures and standards to specific situations.
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.
Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive and advisory data and information.
Mathematical Aptitude: Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; ability to calculate decimals and percentages.
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.
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.
This position requires individuals to consistently meet the above physical, sensory, and environmental demands as a condition of employment to ensure the safe transportation of Indiana's public school students.