Bus Driver

Department: Transportation

Pay Grade: Classified

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

JOB GOALS

To transport school bus passengers between assigned stops according to specified routes and schedules, maintain order during trip and adhere to safety rules when loading and unloading passengers. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Complies with Motor Vehicle Laws and Regulations of the State Board of Education;
• Operates the bus over the assigned route and makes no changes unless duly authorized;
• Wears driver’s safety lap belt;
• Uses an approved substitute driver;
• Stops in the right-hand lane of the highway for receiving or discharging pupils at designated stops only at points where the bus can be seen for a safe distance from both directions;
• On a divided highway, stops at points where the bus can be seen for a safe distance from both directions;
• On a divided highway, arranges stops so that pupils will be taken on and discharged on the side of such highways as will eliminate the necessity of their crossing the highway;
• Exercises every possible care of the safety and comfort for the pupils in route and permits no pupil to ride on the outside of the bus or with head, hands or arms out of the window;
• Completes and records daily pre-trip inspections of the bus and reports any needed repairs in writing;
• Governs the speed of the bus according to limits established by law for school buses;
• Comes to a full stop on approaching a railroad crossing, to look and to listen carefully in order to positively determine when it is safe to cross the track;
• Maintains discipline and reports all cases of disobedience to school principal;
• In the event of a breakdown, places flags and flares on highway according to state law, notifies immediate supervisor or designee, and keeps the pupils in the bus until it is repaired unless conditions justify evacuation or transfer to another bus;
• Refrains, when on duty, form use of alcohol and illegal drugs, tobacco, and inappropriate language and sees that the pupils conduct themselves likewise;
• Submits all reports, attends meetings and training sessions as required by LCPS administration;
• Accepts accountability for flares, first aid kit, and fire extinguisher;
• Prevents any object that will restrict passageway to entrance or emergency door from being placed on the bus;
• Keeps bottles or other loose objects off of the floor and bus clean;
• Brings assigned bus in for service every 30 days as mandated; and 
• Performs other work-related duties as assigned by administration.

QUALIFICATIONS

• At least 18 years of age;
• Any combination of education and experience equivalent to completion of high school and/or commensurate experience operating a commercial vehicle or school bus and have the proper certification and license (Class B CDL with S endorsement);

• Satisfy an annual physical examination by a physician licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia and all other requirements of the State Board of Education for persons employed to drive a school bus; and
• Submit to random and post-accident drug testing.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work requires climbing, sitting, stooping, crouching, reaching, pushing, pulling, grasping, and repetitive motions, frequent walking and lifting, up to approximately 30 pounds, and occasional lifting of equipment up to 40 pounds. Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word, and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly, or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels; visual acuity is required for visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, operation of motor vehicles or equipment, and observing general surroundings and activities.

TEMPERAMENT

• Adaptability to performing a variety of duties, often changing from one task to another of a different nature without loss of efficiency or composure.
• Adaptability to accepting responsibility for the direction, control, or planning of an activity.
• Adaptability to dealing with people beyond giving and receiving instruction.
• Adaptability to making generalizations, evaluations, or decisions based on sensory or judgmental criteria.

CAPACITY AND ABILITY REQUIREMENTS

Specific capacities and abilities may be required of an individual in order to learn or perform adequately a task or job duty.

• Intelligence: Ability to reason and make judgments.
• Verbal: Ability to understand meanings of words and ideas associated with them.
• Numerical: Ability to perform arithmetic operations quickly and accurately.
• Data Perception: Ability to understand and interpret information which may be presented in the form of graphs, charts, or tables.

WORK CONDITIONS

Subject to outside environmental conditions, noise, vibration, road hazards, and atmospheric conditions.