School Van Driver

Job Purpose

The Van Driver is responsible for safely transporting students to and from school, as well as transporting students and school district-authorized passengers to field trips, activities, sporting events, and other designated outings. The driver is responsible for maintaining a safe and orderly environment while ensuring all passengers are transported according to company policies and applicable regulations.

Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Functions

• Report to the bus garage before the scheduled departure time to check with the dispatcher for route changes, student updates, or other changes to assigned duties.
• Perform required pre-trip vehicle inspections and complete a radio check before beginning each route.
• Safely pick up and transport students at assigned stops, ensuring all students board and are properly seated before proceeding.
• Maintain appropriate student behavior and enforce established transportation safety rules. Report disciplinary concerns, noncompliance, and serious incidents to the Site Manager for follow-up with school personnel as needed.
• Operate the van safely and responsibly while following all traffic laws, applicable state and federal regulations, and company safety procedures.
• Adjust driving practices for changing road and weather conditions, including ice, snow, debris, and unsafe loading or unloading areas.
• Complete a thorough post-trip inspection to ensure no student or passenger is left on the vehicle.
• Transport students and school district-authorized passengers to field trips, sporting events, school activities, and other assigned destinations.
• Immediately report accidents or vehicle incidents to the Site Manager and complete all required incident and accident reports.
• Maintain the vehicle by keeping fuel levels above half a tank or refueling after completing assigned trips.
• Keep the interior of the van clean and orderly after trips, as needed, and at least once per week.
• Report vehicle maintenance concerns or needed repairs to the appropriate office personnel.

Other Functions

• Attend required meetings, in-service training, workshops, and other professional development activities.
• Perform other related duties as assigned to support safe and efficient transportation operations.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge-Based Competencies

• Possess or have the ability to obtain and maintain a valid Minnesota driver's license.
• Knowledge of safe driving practices and transportation procedures.
• Understanding of emergency evacuation procedures.
• Basic first aid knowledge and ability to obtain CPR certification if required by the school district.
• Knowledge of applicable health and safety standards and potential hazards.
• Understanding of state and federal regulations pertaining to student transportation and school vehicles.
• Understanding of appropriate student behavior and basic behavior management practices.

Skill-Based Competencies

• Ability to follow established safety practices and procedures.
• Ability to prepare and maintain accurate records and required documentation.
• Ability to safely operate a vehicle used for student transportation.
• Ability to communicate effectively with students, parents, school personnel, dispatch, and management.

Ability-Based Competencies

• Dependable, punctual, and capable of working independently.
• Demonstrates patience, professionalism, and appropriate firmness when working with children.
• Attentive to detail and safety requirements.
• Demonstrates tact and courtesy while establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.
• Able to communicate effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Maintains confidentiality regarding student information and transportation matters.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Ability to supervise children, maintain effective working relationships with children and staff. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee:

• Will provide the following assistance to students and staff: walking, reaching, holding with arms, bend or twist at the neck and trunk or waist, crouching and/or squatting to assist students.
• Will operate specialized equipment or office equipment; grasp tools; push wheelchairs; lift and/or manipulating objects or persons, and/or use of motion up to 75 lbs. or equivalent with or without assistance by another individual and/or with or without the assistance of devices designed to support the lifting effort.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include distance and close vision, color vision, depth perception and peripheral vision.
• The noise level in the work environment is frequently loud to where you must raise your voice to be heard.  

The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands: 

• Generally, the job requires 90% sitting, 5% walking, and 5% standing