Congratulations Julie.My D/W has drove a school bus for over 20 yrs.Its not bad pay but she does have to leave early in the morning and shes off all thru the summer.If only she could get off more in the spring and fall it would be better.Shes going to retire within the next few years,although shes not of age to retire,and I'm sure she might miss it!LOL!
2006 Dodge Quad-Cab 2500 CTD,4;10 gears,pulling a Forestriver Flaggstaff 831qbss
(Will you be replacing your 5er with something a bit DIFFERENT now, then? )
John
1984 Ford B-700 school bus conversion, Thomas body
A bunch of other vehicles
3 nutty cats (Maya, Vierna, Briza)
One lazy dog (Marmaduke)
One wife (Liz)
"A wasted youth is better by far than a wise and productive old age"
-Jim Steinman
Thanks everyone! I appreciate the words of advice (and humor). As for trading in the 5er . . . NO FREAKIN' WAY!
I do have to say that my experience towing the 5er has certainly helped me when it comes to driving the school bus. For one, the size of the bus isn't intimidating, in the least. That's a good thing!
One of the things my trainer (Joe) asked me was how could I know if there was a car following so close behind me I couldn't see it in my mirrors. I responded with "Depending on the time of day, I should be able to see it's shadow." That's something I learned driving the 5er. Some folks get so close the only thing you can see is their vehicle's shadow!
There were also a few other things that made me realize I had a "leg up" on folks who weren't used to driving something so big. Suffice it to say, my trainer was impressed with me!
I've had lessons for three days now (about 1-1/2 to 2 hours each), and I'm VERY comfortable with the bus. Today, first thing I did was make a U-turn (and was amazed that there was enough room where he told me to make the turn! Next, I had to back up the bus around a corner and center it between four cones.
On my driving test, they will have cones placed in areas to show me how much room I have to maneuver. I must stay within those "lines" from the cones when I'm making my maneuvers. I started out facing east, and had to back up around the corner so that I was facing south. I only made this maneuver once before, so I was a bit nervous, but geez, it's a LOT easier than backing the 5er! LOL I backed the bus up absolutely perfectly! I had to do that two more times today, and each time, had no problems! This is especially important for me, not only to pass my driving test, but because there are TWO places on my route where I will actually have to do this on a daily basis (twice each day -- morning & afternoon).
So, that's it for now! I'm learning and gaining confidence with each day. Once I pass my test, I'll be riding the with the current (substitute) driver for a few days to get used to my route and the kids. Looking forward to meeting them all!
Late this afternoon, I took the road test for my CDL and School Bus Endorsement. I PASSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Doing the happy dance!
The tester told me that in five years of his testing, he's never had a driver score better than me on the road test! Wahoo! I couldn't believe it when he said that! The way it works in Wisconsin is that there are a certain number of "points" you can get and still pass the test. I don't know how many that is. You get a point when you don't do something. In all the driving I did (which was a LOT), I only got FOUR points! That's just AWESOME!
Tomorrow, I have to get up and go on the route with the current driver (one of my trainers) and meet all the kids. That should be interesting!
I'm looking forward to it, but I'm a little nervous, as well.
I'm going into 14 years. I've always had the same route, and so the kids know me and that I won't put up with much. We also have a lot of fun, and a lot of discussions. It's amazing what some of those kids go through. I drive for the insurance, and need about 18 more months.
Use to drive a lot of activities. Since we are in the Texas Panhandle a lot of the schools we play are 70 miles all the way to 220 miles. Thats our district. State playoffs are over 500 miles away. I finally burned out of most activite trips. I wanted to see my wife now and then. I do love the kids, you just have to be in charge with love.
kenneth wooster- school bus driver & teacher
wife Diana-adult probation officer
365BSQS Quad slide 2007 Quantum
Ford F350 2005 model, 4X4 FX, King Ranch
18K SuperGlide Hitch
When I started driving, late fifties, I had never driven anything larger than a pickup.
My new boss drove me out to where the bus was, 72 passenger,
Explained where the route went, I drove the thing home and next morning started picking up kids.
The pay was great!
Two dollars morning run, same thing at night, twenty bucks a week!
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