Bus Driver Training

On this page you can find out what a Bus Driver has to do to become eligible to drive your child to and from school everyday!

There are many aspects of training that a person has to go through to become a bus driver.  Training is a major and ongoing part of the job. 

A driver must successfully complete a written test at the Department of Motor Vehicles to obtain a permit.  From here, the driver goes through at least 40 hours of on road practical drive time with a certified trainer. 

After the trainer decides that the applicant has more than enough knowledge to successfully complete a Practical Road Test with the Department of Motor Vehicles, an appointment is made.  Here the applicant demonstrates his knowledge to a  NYS Motor Vehicle Licensing Examiner.  If the MVLE decides the applicant has the knowledge it takes to drive a School Bus, he is then licensed.

The training does not stop here.  Let's take a look at the three agencies that govern the School Bus Industry, and what training and testing they require of each  Bus Driver in New York State.

Department of Motor Vehicles

The DMV carefully monitors the bus drivers in NYS.  They require that each and every driver in the state go through yearly and biennial training to remain qualified as a school bus driver. 

One of the tests completed every year is a Defensive Driving Review.  This is just as the name says.  A certified Examiner rides along wiith the driver being tested on a run.  The examiner critiques the defensive driving skills of the driver in question.

Another exam that is done is the Written Test.  Here the driver has to complete a 20 question written exam.  To successfully complete the exam, the driver must have a passing score of 80%.  Along with the written exam, a driver also goes out for a road test.  Again the Certified Examiner performs this exam.  The driver actually goes out with the CE and completes a road test just like he did with the DMV to obtain his license.

The DMV also requires that a driver go through a yearly Physical exam to be done by a qualified medical doctor.  The driver must pass this exam to continue driving a school bus in New York State.

State Education Department

The SED also keeps track of the people transporting your child to and from school.  This agency takes a look at the background of the driver.  Each driver has to be fingerprinted.  These prints are then sent to the FBI and the Bus Driver Certification Unit. These agencies then monitor daily the background of the driver, if there is a disqualifiying action, we are told immediately, and the driver is pulled off the road.

S.E.D. also supplies each district in NYS with the curriculum that is to be taught during the two refreshers throughout the year.  They also keep track of the Physical Performance Test that is administered to each driver every two years.

Department of Transportation

This agency takes a look at the vehicle that transports your child.  D.O.T. does a bi annual inspection of every school bus in NYS.  They come to our department and  do a very thorough inspection of the vehicle.  D.O.T. then determines whether the bus may transport children.