Reports to: Transportation Supervisor

Date Revised: 06/08/2026

Primary Purpose:

Operate school bus and related equipment to provide safe and orderly transportation of students and other authorized persons on assigned route and to and from other designated locations.

Qualifications:

Education/Licensure:

• Clear and valid Tennessee commercial driver's license with Passenger (P) and School Bus (S) endorsements

Special Knowledge/Skills:

• Must be 25 years of age (23 years of age if veteran, national guard or reserves, or licensed teacher employed by LEA)
• Ability to pass U.S. Department of Transportation annual physical exam
• Ability to complete required bus driver safety training
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions
• Ability to use maps and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to follow routes and locate addresses
• Ability to manage student behavior
• Ability to communicate effectively with others
  Ability to operate bus

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

Vehicle Operation

• Drive bus daily following assigned route and adhering to established schedules.
• Drive bus to and from extracurricular activities.
• Anticipate problems such as traffic, weather, road conditions, and schedule changes and make necessary adjustments to ensure student safety and reduce delays.
• Perform pre- and post-trip inspections according to specifications to ensure bus can be operated safely and notify supervisor of needed repairs. Keep assigned bus clean and maintain appropriate level of fuel.
• Report all accidents, vehicle damage, student injuries, and mechanical problems and complete required corresponding reports.

Student Management

• Instruct students on safe entering, exiting, and passenger rules and regulations. Supervise students while they board and leave the bus and cross the street.
• Perform emergency evacuation of students on bus when the situation warrants.
• Maintain discipline and use effective behavior management control over groups of students. Report student discipline problems to appropriate administrator and communicate with teachers and parent(s)/guardian(s) regarding student's behavior when warranted.

Safety

• Observe all traffic laws and safety regulations for school buses.
• Ensure proper condition of emergency equipment, such as first aid kit, fire extinguisher, flags, fuses, crow bar, and reflector.
• Correct unsafe conditions in work area and promptly report conditions that are not immediately correctable to supervisor. Report any hazardous conditions along scheduled route.
• Install snow chains during inclement weather.
• Maintain safety certification.
• Follow district safety protocols and emergency procedures.

Other

• Operate and monitor two-way radio equipment to communicate with transportation office and other drivers.
• Complete and maintain accurate, up-to-date, and timely records and reports including but not limited to those related to bus mileage, gas and oil consumption, and number of passengers transported.

Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors:

• Tools/Equipment Used: Operate school bus; two-way radio; global positioning system (GPS); safety equipment including but not limited to flares, reflective signs, and fire extinguisher
• Posture: Prolonged sitting; frequent standing and twisting; occasional kneeling/squatting, bending, stooping, and pushing/pulling
• Motion: Prolonged driving; moderate walking; frequent climbing stairs, grasping/squeezing, wrist and shoulder flexion/extension, and reaching
• Lifting: Limited light lifting and carrying (less than 15 pounds) on a daily basis
• Environment: Frequent exposure to extreme hot and cold temperatures, noise, and vehicle fumes; work around moving vehicles; regularly work irregular hours, and occasionally work prolonged hours
• Mental Demands: Maintain emotional control under stress