×

First ever Bus Driver Appreciation Day Wednesday

NEW ULM — Gov. Mark Dayton has declared Minnesota’s first ever Bus Driver Appreciation Day.

Wednesday, Feb. 22, is the day to show appreciation to the drivers who transport children to and from school and activities every day.

“The drivers, they do need to be recognized because they do a lot, and in a lot of cases they do a whole lot of good that just kind of goes unnoticed by a lot of people,” New Ulm Bus Lines (NUBL) General Manager Dean Hosna said.

A bus driver’s day starts early. In New Ulm most rural route drivers have to be on the road by 6:30 or 6:45 a.m.

The first thing a driver does is a pre-trip inspection, checking lights, mirrors, air-brakes and more, to ensure that the vehicle is in safe operating condition.

Morning drives typically end around 8 a.m. Drivers then usually have to get back on the road by 2:45 for dropping off students.

To be able to drive a school bus, a driver takes numerous tests. Four written tests are required by NUBL to drive students.

The first is a general knowledge test for obtaining a commercial driver’s license (CDL). The next three are a school bus endorsement, a passenger endorsement and an air brakes endorsement.

Technically the air brakes test is not necessary to drive a school bus. However, it is necessary to drive a bus equipped with them, so NUBL requires it.

After passing the written tests, a driver receives their CDP. It can be likened to the permitting process that many 15-year-olds experience.

“Once you receive that permit, that is when you come down to us, and we will train you the way that the state testers want you to show them what you are capable of doing,” Hosna said.

On top of the multiple tests, a driver needs to go through a background check. The background check follows Minnesota statutes involving teacher background checks.

“When I have an applicant come in, I like them to fill out the criminal background check application right away because that is not done by us. That is done by the state of Minnesota,” Hosna said.

Additionally, a driver can be disqualified if they have had three or more moving or driving violations in the last five years.

Finally, at least 14 days after passing the permit test (though most drivers take longer than that, Hosna said), the driver can take the final test for a CDL.

There are two parts, pre-trip inspection and a driving test. The pre-trip tests checks that the driver knows what to look for every morning before rolling out.

The driving test examines training and skills on the road. In addition, the driver has to pass a Department of Transportation physical examination that is good for two years.

It is quite a lot to go through to be put behind the wheel of a bus, but drivers are transporting what parents would consider their most precious cargo.

“You got to think of it this way,” Hosna said. “A school teacher has a class of 25 to 30 students in their class, but the teacher gets to face the class. In our case, we have the same number of students, and in some cases twice as many, but they are all sitting with our back facing them.”

Hosna was quick to point out that usually the students are not the biggest problem. Instead, usually it is the adults driving outside of the bus — motorists who ignore the bus’s eight-way system — the flashing lights and stop sign indicating a bus is dropping off students.

Driving a bus is rewarding, largely due to the relationships a driver develops with the students onboard, Hosna said.

“Really, the neat thing is, a lot of times you will get to know your children’s friends and their parents,” Hosna said. “My wife and I, to this day, some of our best friends are people that we got to meet through our kids.”

Drivers also serve as an important resource for keeping track of students. Hosna pointed to instances of children going home when they were not supposed to.

A driver noticed a child unable to enter their home, called in and found out they were not supposed to go home that day.

The driver called the student back to the bus and was able to get them where they were supposed to be.

“There are a lot of those little instances where the drivers really care about the kids; they will go out of their way to make that child’s day is a little bit easier,” Hosna said.

Though bus drivers are an important resource, NUBL currently is suffering a shortage of them. Between running students to and from school, there are a lot of activities that require transportation.

“I always call it my Rubik’s cube,” Hosna said. “I got to find drivers that fit the schedule of the sports or the activities, along with the routes.”

Spring is one of the bus line’s busiest seasons. Most sporting events require an extra driver because activities buses leave at the same time as students get out of school.

Bussing can fit into many schedules. Even driving a few days a week can net a driver a few extra hundred dollars, Hosna said.

This Wednesday, even a simple expression of gratitude can make a driver feel appreciated.

“Just like anything else, I think a thank-you or a pat on the back goes a long way,” Hosna said. “People appreciate that.”

Connor Cummiskey can be emailed at ccummiskey@nujournal.com.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper?
   

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today