All drivers follow time schedules and routes over highways and city and suburban streets to provide passengers with an alternative to the automobile and other forms of transportation.
Intercity bus drivers and local transit bus drivers report to their assigned terminals or garages, where they receive tickets or transfers and prepare trip report forms.
School bus drivers do not always have to report to an assigned terminal or garage. In some cases, school bus drivers often have the choice of taking their bus home, or parking it in a more convenient area.
Before beginning their routes, drivers check their vehicle's tires, brakes, windshield wipers, lights, oil, fuel, and water supply. Drivers also verify that the bus has safety equipment, such as fire extinguishers, first aid kits, and emergency reflectors.
Drivers pick up and drop off passengers at bus stops, stations, or, in the case of students, at regularly scheduled neighborhood locations.
Intercity and local transit bus drivers collect fares; answer questions about schedules, routes, and transfer points and sometimes announce stops.
School bus drivers do not collect fares. Instead, they prepare weekly reports with the number of students, trips or runs, work hours, miles, and the amount of fuel consumption. Their supervisors set time schedules and routes for the day or week. School bus drivers also must maintain order on their bus and enforce school safety standards by allowing only students to board.
Bus drivers' days are run by the clock, as they must adhere to strict time schedules. Drivers must operate vehicles safely, especially when traffic is heavier than normal. However, they cannot let light traffic put them ahead of schedule so that they miss passengers.
Bus drivers must be alert to prevent accidents, especially in heavy traffic or in bad weather, and to avoid sudden stops or swerves that jar passengers.
School bus drivers must exercise particular caution when children are getting on or off the bus. They must know and reinforce the same set of rules used elsewhere in the school system.
Bus routes vary. Local transit bus drivers may make several trips each day over the same city and suburban streets, stopping as frequently as every few blocks.
School bus drivers also drive the same routes each day, stopping to pick up pupils in the morning and return them to their homes in the afternoon. School bus drivers may also transport students and teachers on field trips or to sporting events.
Intercity bus drivers may make only a single one-way trip to a distant city or a round trip each day, stopping at towns just a few miles apart or only at large cities hundreds of miles apart.
Motor coach drivers transport passengers on charter trips and sightseeing tours. Drivers routinely interact with customers and tour guides to make the trip as comfortable and informative as possible. They are directly responsible for keeping to strict schedules, adhering to the guidelines of the tours' itinerary, and the overall success of the trip. Trips frequently last more than one day, and if they are assigned to an extended tour, they may be away for a week or more.
Local transit bus drivers submit daily trip reports with a record of tickets and fares received, trips made, and significant delays in schedule. They also report mechanical problems. All bus drivers must be able to fill out accident reports when necessary.
Intercity drivers who drive across state or national boundaries must comply with U.S. Department of Transportation regulations. These include completing vehicle inspection reports and recording distances traveled and the periods of time they spend driving or off duty and performing other duties.
Driving a bus through heavy traffic while dealing with passengers is not physically strenuous, but it can be stressful and fatiguing. On the other hand, many drivers enjoy the opportunity to work without direct supervision, with full responsibility for the bus and passengers.
Intercity bus drivers may work nights, weekends, and holidays and often spend nights away from home, where they stay at hotels at company expense. Senior drivers with regular routes have regular weekly work schedules, but others do not have regular schedules and must be prepared to report for work on short notice. They report for work only when called for a charter assignment or to drive extra buses on a regular route.
Intercity bus travel and charter work tend to be seasonal. From May through August, drivers may work the maximum number of hours per week that regulations allow. During winter, junior drivers may work infrequently, except for busy holiday travel periods, and may be furloughed for periods of time.
School bus drivers work only when school is in session. Many work twenty hours a week or less, driving one or two routes in the morning and afternoon. Drivers taking field or athletic trips or who also have midday kindergarten routes may work more hours a week.
Regular local transit bus drivers usually have a five-day workweek Saturdays and Sundays are considered regular workdays. Some drivers work evenings and after midnight. To accommodate commuters, many work "split shifts," for example, 6:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M., with time off in between.
Tour and charter bus drivers may work any day and all hours of the day, including weekends and holidays. Their hours are dictated by the charter trips booked and the schedule and the prearranged itinerary of tours. However, like all bus drivers, their weekly hours must be consistent with the Department of Transportation's rules and regulations concerning hours of service.
