School Bus Driver FAQ

We’re excited to say that we’ve seen quite a bit of interest in the school bus driving career as of late! People have presented us with some good inquiries, so we’ve decided to make a list of the most frequently asked questions to clear up anything you might have on your mind!

1. Do I need bus driving experience to apply?

   • The answer is no! We welcome people from all walks of life and different career experiences. If you have prior experience driving a school bus or van, great! If not, our friendly and knowledgeable trainers will teach you everything you need to know to perform your new job. All we require is you to have your standard driver’s license for over a year.

2. What credentials do I need to apply?

   • Like we mentioned above, you need to have a regular driver’s license and have had it for at least a year. You also must have a mostly clean driving record and criminal record, and you need to be able to pass a drug test. We take these precautions so our students are in the safest hands possible!

3. What are the licensing requirements to drive a school bus?

   • Our school bus drivers are required to hold a Class B CDL, with Passenger and School Bus Endorsements, and Air Brake Restriction removed. They must also pass a School Bus Physical to ensure they’re healthy enough to drive a school bus. This might sound like a lot, but our trainers and HR team are here to help you through every step of the process!

4. Where can I work for you?

   • Rohrer Bus provides the transportation for several districts around central and northeast Pennsylvania! We have open school bus driving positions in:
     • Abington Heights School District
     • Bermudian Springs School District
     • Cumberland Valley School District
     • Delaware Valley School District
     • East Pennsboro Area School District
     • Halifax Area School District
     • Hazleton Area School District
     • Juniata County School District
     • Lewisburg Area School District
     • Lower Dauphin School District
     • Mifflinburg Area School District
     • Northern York Area School District
     • North Pocono School District
     • North Schuylkill School District
     • Selinsgrove Area School District
     • South Middleton School District
     • Susquehanna Township School District
     • Susquenita School District
     • Upper Dauphin School District
   • We also have limited positions available in other area school districts not listed above.

5. Is driving a school bus hard?

   • Of course, this depends on who you ask, but almost every school bus driver out there will say the answer is no! With all of the training we provide, driving a school bus becomes second nature in no time. Don’t believe us? Check out this video of Michael Gorsegner from CBS 21 test driving one of our school buses! As you can see, he’s a natural, and recommends it to anybody willing to take the leap!

6. Is it safe?

   • Of course! For a number of reasons, the school bus is the safest vehicle on the road. From its size, color, structure, to its highly trained professional driver (you!), kids are 70x more likely to get to school safely than in a standard car. In the very rare chance of a collision, school bus passengers receive much less crash force than they would in a standard car and are highly likely to walk away unharmed. Currently, many people are concerned about the safety about driving a bus during the coronavirus pandemic; we would argue that it’s still as safe as ever! In the 2020-21 school year, we’re transporting smaller/more manageable groups of students, providing students and drivers with protective equipment, and disinfecting vehicles multiple times a day.

7. What are the hours?

   • School bus drivers usually drive in the morning for 2-2.5 hours in the 6:00 – 9:00 am timeframe, and in the afternoon for 2-2.5 hours in the 2:00 – 5:00 pm timeframe, every day kids have school. There are often opportunities for extra work during the days and evenings, doing tasks like shuttling buses, driving field trips, driving sports teams, etc.

8. What do I do during the summer?

   • When school kids enter summer break, the normal schedule for school bus drivers ends. You can either pick up extra work opportunities through us, such as driving the Hershey Shuttle or driving trips for local towns’ Parks and Recreation departments, or you can take the summer off with the kids and claim unemployment through us!

9. What are the benefits of working for Rohrer Bus?

   • Standard benefits include vision insurance and 401k plan with employer match. Other perks of working for us include a company picnic at Knoebels Amusement Resort every summer, New Hire Breakfasts, Safety Breakfasts and Bonuses, Driver Appreciation Breakfasts, Attendance Bonuses, Wellness Coaching, among others! Also, in many of our districts, our drivers can bring up to two preschool aged kids on the bus with them, which allows them to spend more valuable time with their kiddos, while also saving money that would otherwise go towards expensive daycare!

As always, thank you for reading, and if you have any other questions, leave them in the comments below and we’ll do our best to answer! If you’re interested in joining this rewarding career, check out our 5 minute interest form or give us a shout at (717) 957-3811. We look forward to hearing from you!

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