Job Description

Definition
The employee will perform work as a bus driver, safely transporting students from home to school to home, on field trips, and performing a variety of clerical duties associated with Transportation operations.  Employees in this class are responsible for safely transporting up to 78 students per route.  Work is subject to outside environmental conditions.  Work is supervised by the school Principal and his/her designee.

Bus Duties and Responsibilities
• Safely transports students to and from home and on field trips.
• Performs student counts and gathers information concerning students and routes as required by the School and Transportation Department.
• Obeys all traffic laws.
• Observes all safety regulations for school buses.
• Maintains student discipline, as outlined in Bus Driver Handbook.
• Reports disciplinary matters to the proper authority.
• Keeps assigned bus clean.
• Maintains assigned schedule.
• Checks bus prior to operation for mechanical problems/concerns.
• Notifies the proper authority in case of mechanical failure or schedule delay/lateness.
• Reports all accidents, driving hazards, and other related incidents.
• Adheres to Bus Driver Agreement.
• Must follow Bus Driver’s Handbook.
• Must comply with all NC rules and regulations governing the safe operation of a school bus/ passenger vehicle.
• Must comply with all Gaston County Schools’ rules and regulations governing the safe bus operation.
• Must inspect the bus for occupants at the conclusion of each run.
• Other duties as assigned.

Lead Driver Duties and Responsibilities (as directed by the school Principal or designee)
• Assist with bus driver payroll.
• Assist with bus driver Bus Route/Driver Monitor Summary Forms.
• Assist with bus driver bonus paperwork.
• Assist with bus driver travel allowance paperwork.
• Assist with various DPI Reports.
• Assist with Exception and Activity Use Vehicle Reports.
• Assist in the promotion of school bus safety among bus drivers.
• Assist with emergency school bus passenger safety and evacuation drills and training.
• Responsible for contacting substitute drivers.
• Responsible for calling bus repairs into the bus garage daily.
• Responsible for inspecting buses for cleanliness.
• Assist with recruiting new drivers.
• Responsible for inspecting first aid kits and fire extinguishers and contacting the bus garage for replacement/repairs.
• Maintain knowledge of all school bus routes.
• Ensure all drivers maintain School Bus Certification and Pocket Card and maintain CDL and Pocket card possession while driving.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• Ability to follow written and oral instructions.
• Must have good people skills and the ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with school officials, administrators, supervisors, school employees, parents, and students.
• Ability to read, write and maintain records.
• Ability to perform simple calculations.

Special Requirements of Bus Driver Position
• Must be at least 18 years of age with at least six (6) months of driving experience with a valid operator’s license.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.
• Must meet or exceed the minimum North Carolina (or South Carolina) Department of Motor Vehicles eligibility criteria to apply for a commercial driver’s license (CDL) “B” or “C” Class with “P” and “S” endorsements.
• Must possess the ability to work independently with minimum supervision once the job and route are learned.
• General knowledge of bus routine maintenance requirements.
• Willing to clean bus after students/passengers daily.
• Must have and maintain a good driving record.
• Must be safety conscious.

Physical Requirements
• Must be physically able to operate a school bus.
• Able to climb steps multiple times daily.
• Must be able to quickly decelerate the bus and firmly apply the brake in an emergency situation.
• Must be able to turn the steering wheel of the vehicle rapidly in an emergency situation.
• Must be able to begin in a seated position with seat belt fastened, parking brake released, and engine running, secure the bus (parking brake set, key removed), rise from the seat, proceed to the rearmost emergency exit, and be in a position to assist passengers in exiting the bus within 20 seconds.
• Must be able to exert up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are for Medium Work.

Compensation
• The Lead Bus Driver is compensated for the additional duties noted by pay grade and additional non-driving time, based on the number of buses assigned to that location.

Number of Buses Lead Hours
• 1-5      • 0.5
• 6-10      • 1.0
• 11-1      • 1.5
• 16-20    • 2.0

This Position Reports Directly to: Principal/Administrator

Classification:  Non-Exempt

Salary:              $18.08 minimum per hour; experience will alter the rate

Disclaimer
The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification.  It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to perform this job.

If offered a position, the prospective employee must pass a required health exam, criminal records check, and drug test.  As a safety-sensitive position, the employee will be subject to random drug testing.