Stigma vs. Reality: 4 False Statements About Bus Drivers
We see the detrimental effects of stigma all the time. There is a widespread shortage of school bus drivers across America, and many people won’t even consider applying to drive bus. Unfortunately, the media has perpetuated many myths about bus drivers, and more often than not, portrayed them in a bad light. After nearly 100 years in the school bus industry, we are positive that the nasty stigmas are unarguably false. Stick with us as we go through some common misconceptions about bus drivers and prove them wrong!
Bus Drivers Are Mean
In a lot of movies and TV shows, a grumpy bus driver is often used as a form of comedic relief. It might be amusing to see on the screen, but the lasting impression people get of bus drivers from this is simply not fair. In reality, the vast majority of bus drivers loves their jobs and happily greets their kids every day (bus driver friends, sound off in the comments!) Bus drivers have the power to make their students’ days brighter, and most drivers try their best to do so. We know that lots of people refuse to drive bus because they don’t want to be lumped in with a bunch of grouchy people. However, be assured that you’d become a part of a positive and supportive community. If you feel like you have what it takes to be a good bus driver, don’t hesitate to make the first step and crush the negative stereotype!
Bus Drivers Are Uneducated
Another misconception about being a bus driver is that anybody can do it, and you don’t have to put in any effort to get certified. This couldn’t be further from the truth. While it’s true that you don’t need a Bachelor’s degree to be a bus driver, most people don’t realize the amount of studying and training that goes into becoming a school bus driver. To sum it up quickly, bus drivers must go through at least 16 hours of in-class learning, a minimum of 6 hours of on-the-road training, pass four extensive knowledge tests, pass an on-the-road test, and refresh their training every four years. While this is a lot to go through, most bus drivers will say that it was possible through hard work, and that it well worth the effort! If you have a passion for learning, and you want to enter into a rewarding career, driving bus is the job for you!
Bus Drivers Disregard the Law
The news media is quick to jump on any recent happenings that are scandalous, so a lot of news you see about bus drivers is about an individual making poor decisions and breaking the law. While these cases are unfortunate, they do not reflect the entire bus driver community; the vast majority of bus drivers are caring, upstanding citizens! The truth is, every perspective bus driver has to undergo thorough background checks, a drug test, and a driving record check, to be as sure as possible that the future generation is in good hands.
Bus Drivers Don’t Care
A lot of people seem to think that driving is just another job for bus drivers; almost anyone who has been a bus driver will strongly disagree. Through our almost 100 years in the industry, we’ve seen bus drivers go above and beyond for their students. They greet their kids every morning and send them off every afternoon with a smile. They check up on any kids that look like they had a bad day. They take the time to hand out little treats and tokens to their kids on holidays. Most importantly, they try their absolute best to keep all of their kids safe on the way to and from school. Even if that means enforcing rules and not always being their kids’ friends, bus drivers always consider safety their number one priority. But why all of this? Because drivers care about and love their students and want only the best for them!
Hopefully none of our readers had any of these misconceptions about bus drivers, but if you did, we hope we were able to convince you otherwise!
