School Bus driving is a 100% full-on sensory overload skill set. It takes a very special person who not only wants to do it as a profession, but is continually striving to be better at it. When you also add in the mix of noisy, exuberant kids, traffic, insane drivers who do not respect the sheer size and weight of a rolling school bus, in-climate weather, rotten road conditions, highway construction, challenging routes, Base control radio chatter, unforeseen and unpredictable on-road happenings, animals, flying debris, break downs, flat tires, and on-board emergencies, then paying full attention to where the bus is going in front of you and where it's been in back of you and along both sides... you start to get the idea of why we have Rodeos. You never can learn enough...and every new series of bus presents a whole new set of things to familiarize yourself with. We were told they are now making 8 1/2 foot wide and 45 foot long school buses. That's five feet shy of 50 feet. It has to be monster. If they're powering that brute with the Cummings four banger diesel, the manufacturer is crazy! I drive a 30 foot bus, with a Mercedes diesel four and it's an under-powered gutless thunder-tub. At 60 mph it's coughing it's guts out.... don't even think about trying to pass anyone on the freeway. In Michigan, they already banned that 45 foot whopper from being sold to school districts here.
Not trying to demean school bus drivers by any means, but try driving a fully loaded semi. 75ft long and weighing 80,000lbs (more if you have special permits). Massive blind spots, having to back into insanely tight docks etc etc etc. Over the road drivers (OTR for short) are away from family for several weeks if not months on end, we sleep in cramped space and have little in the way of amenities. If you think driving a school bus is hard, try your hand at driving a semi truck. That goes double if you haul flatbed and triple for car haulers. Driving a school bus is easy compared to what I do in retrospect. I'm responsible for my safety as well as everyone I share the road with regardless of their lack of driving skill, I have to always be vigilant. People are stupid behind the wheel.
Amazing ! Idk how they do it! Then add a bunch of laughing, screaming (maybe even fighting)kids and traffic and you've got yourself some real chaos ! It truly amazes me !!! Major kudos to anyone brave enough to even attempt this !!!
I have been driving in southern MD for a year now and I have to say ,when you first get a route it’s a very demanding job there you go dealing with the traffic,kids on the bus who don’t know you and you don’t know them so they can be a bit routhy and to top it all off there you go driving with a route sheet in one hand trying to learn the route. Most people think that all you have to do is drive a bus, let me just say driving that bus is very involved when you go do it with all the parameters involved
Thank you Dennis. I am just now training.. I have only driven with one person for 4 hours and its gone fine...but the turns are still iffy... Also the parking into spots at the school... Will I ever get it down!! I am sooo anxious thinking about it... not actually doing it :(
Yes lol i rode that same bus in High School but didn't have that extra Stop sign in the rear. They gotta have that beep noise so that other vehicles can here it and know the safety when its backing. Semi trucks are the sameway
I feel like it's entirely unnecessary to be applying the brakes that often. Tsss tsss, just get to a safe speed an maintain it. I've never applied my brakes that much in an semi and I've been in a lot tighter places then in this testing yard, and im driving 80ft of truck with absolutely 0 visibility.
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School Bus driving is a 100% full-on sensory overload skill set. It takes a very special person who not only wants to do it as a profession, but is continually striving to be better at it. When you also add in the mix of noisy, exuberant kids, traffic, insane drivers who do not respect the sheer size and weight of a rolling school bus, in-climate weather, rotten road conditions, highway construction, challenging routes, Base control radio chatter, unforeseen and unpredictable on-road happenings, animals, flying debris, break downs, flat tires, and on-board emergencies, then paying full attention to where the bus is going in front of you and where it's been in back of you and along both sides... you start to get the idea of why we have Rodeos. You never can learn enough...and every new series of bus presents a whole new set of things to familiarize yourself with. We were told they are now making 8 1/2 foot wide and 45 foot long school buses. That's five feet shy of 50 feet. It has to be monster. If they're powering that brute with the Cummings four banger diesel, the manufacturer is crazy! I drive a 30 foot bus, with a Mercedes diesel four and it's an under-powered gutless thunder-tub. At 60 mph it's coughing it's guts out.... don't even think about trying to pass anyone on the freeway. In Michigan, they already banned that 45 foot whopper from being sold to school districts here.
Not trying to demean school bus drivers by any means, but try driving a fully loaded semi. 75ft long and weighing 80,000lbs (more if you have special permits). Massive blind spots, having to back into insanely tight docks etc etc etc. Over the road drivers (OTR for short) are away from family for several weeks if not months on end, we sleep in cramped space and have little in the way of amenities. If you think driving a school bus is hard, try your hand at driving a semi truck. That goes double if you haul flatbed and triple for car haulers. Driving a school bus is easy compared to what I do in retrospect. I'm responsible for my safety as well as everyone I share the road with regardless of their lack of driving skill, I have to always be vigilant. People are stupid behind the wheel.
Matt B School bus drivers had to responsibility for every kid on their bus so....... but yes I see how your job wouldn’t be easy
Amazing ! Idk how they do it! Then add a bunch of laughing, screaming (maybe even fighting)kids and traffic and you've got yourself some real chaos ! It truly amazes me !!! Major kudos to anyone brave enough to even attempt this !!!
I have been driving in southern MD for a year now and I have to say ,when you first get a route it’s a very demanding job there you go dealing with the traffic,kids on the bus who don’t know you and you don’t know them so they can be a bit routhy and to top it all off there you go driving with a route sheet in one hand trying to learn the route.
Most people think that all you have to do is drive a bus, let me just say driving that bus is very involved when you go do it with all the parameters involved
_Agree with you_
Thank you Dennis. I am just now training.. I have only driven with one person for 4 hours and its gone fine...but the turns are still iffy... Also the parking into spots at the school... Will I ever get it down!! I am sooo anxious thinking about it... not actually doing it :(
Im 19 but will start driving School Buses next March or April!! Cant wait lol, hopefully they assign me with a C2 as well; the best buses ever
It's very good. In our county the driver must be at least 21 y.o.
+Madyar.NET In NC. you can be 18 actually, what country are you in?
+TRUCKERMIKE910 Sarasota County, FL
I'm in NC also, started driving in April when I turned 19! Love it
I drive a C2 everyday, def not the best but handles pretty good. Very cold in the winter.
Nice job on the video, I'm gearing up for the Pa. competition this helped me get back in the mood!
I finished the competition. 3rd place in the Rookie class.
Announcement of winners
Congratulations, John
How do I sign up.
I love these videos
Do you got to do all this in 2024 though they changed it or is the change only for truck drivers
_Our 2024_ _almost the same with our 2022_
I love your videos
It's too annoying sounds.. All the buses are like that?
Yes lol i rode that same bus in High School but didn't have that extra Stop sign in the rear. They gotta have that beep noise so that other vehicles can here it and know the safety when its backing. Semi trucks are the sameway
he messed up on the right offset
Where is 1. Pre trip inspection
_I didn't filming it._
I hate to see that happening
Bluebird Buses have a better turning radius
_I don't like turn radius on C2 buses. FS-65 have much better radius._
I like turning radius on any other bus besides the C2
International makes the best bus.
? School Bus
you was breaking way to much. It needs to be steadying driving. Good video yes thanks.
I drive stick but this seems hard as f..
_In Ukraine I drove transit bus with stick :)_
I feel like it's entirely unnecessary to be applying the brakes that often. Tsss tsss, just get to a safe speed an maintain it. I've never applied my brakes that much in an semi and I've been in a lot tighter places then in this testing yard, and im driving 80ft of truck with absolutely 0 visibility.
_This is my first time practice video. Right now I don't use brakes as often._
Madyar.NET cool bus.
NO 4 WAYS ON WHILE BACKING UP
+Rodney Marois I used information about scoring from 2011 Southeastern School Bus Safety Road-E-O (www.seschoolbusroadeo.net)
UR SUPPOSE TO HAVE ON
It's a very demanding job for what some people think should pay $10/hour with no benefits. OK, maybe 15!
g bridgman I get paid $20/hr with benefits. We are unionized though.
I prefer local motion
Sunday December 1 HAPPY Birthday party CBS SCHOOL Bus 🚍 TWOAOOW February January 1 AlexFoster Applebee's Reggie