School Bus Driver Resume Sample

Follow these guidelines when writing your resume and you’re sure to make a strong impression.

1. Develop a Strong Resume Objective

A standout resume objective is a simple way for you to ensure your resume gets sent straight to the top of any hiring manager’s stack. Lay out your personal attributes, what qualifications you bring to the table, and how you line up perfectly with the requirements of this position.

An applicant for a school bus driver position will want to focus on a slightly different skill set than other professional driving jobs.

Because your primary duties involve transporting our future generation across town, you’ll want to emphasize your A+ driving and safety record.

Highlight your friendliness and any previous occupations that would demonstrate you have experience being around children in a professional capacity.

Specify your Commercial Driver’s License classification as well as any additional certifications you might possess. Many hiring managers will help you with training and acquiring a CDL with the S endorsement, which is required by federal law.

Any first aid or emergency medical training will also be an invaluable asset when applying.

2. Professional Experience: Emphasize Your Dedication to Safety and Reliability

You’ve more than likely had previous professional driving experience if you’re applying for a position as a school bus driver. So, when drafting your resume, you’ll want to write in reverse-chronological format to show how you’ve worked your way up the ranks as a CDL-carrying professional.

When recounting the various driver duties of your past jobs, quantify your achievements. Showcase how you increased on-time performance for a city bus route or lay out how many passengers you’ve transported before.

This gives a potential employer a better understanding of actionable results you produced in your previous positions.

Additionally, the safety and well-being of the communities’ children is your ultimate responsibility as a school bus driver, and hiring managers want applicants that are committed to that fact.

When writing your resume and filling out the professional experience section, point out prior knowledge of:

Visual Vehicle Inspections

• Administer routine vehicle safety inspections before and after every trip

This is an important first step in any commercial motor vehicle driver’s daily routine; inspecting defects with the bus frame, observing wear and tear on tires, and evaluating the operational safety of the school bus.

Realizing this is a critical component in the transportation of young children will show any hiring manager that you recognize safety is key.

Operating Systems Checklists

• Check operating systems daily (brakes, horn, wipers, lights, stop arms, emergency flasher, and door-opening devices)

As with vehicle inspections, this is another crucial aspect of the mass transit field. Before you begin any bus route, you’ll need to run down an operating systems checklist – inspecting and logging any problems you find with the basic systems of the school bus.

It’s illegal to operate a commercial motor vehicle without functioning windshield wipers, emergency lights, or…brakes, and it’s also highly unsafe!

Demonstrate that you’re familiar with systems reports for school buses and let your prospective employer understand that you know what is expected of you.

Emergency Situations Planning

• Implement emergency/accident plan (first aid, evacuation, and 911 notification)

Not everything is going to go according to plan during your route. Perhaps a kid slips and scratches up his or her knee while attempting to board the school bus; you’ll need to know how to administer first aid.

Other days, you might be presented with a real emergency and a hiring manager will want to know if you can take charge, stay calm, and guarantee the safety of the kids on your school bus.

3. Licenses, Certificates, and Additional Skills

School Bus Driver qualifications have an extra level of scrutiny attached to them due to the precious cargo they transport on a daily basis.

They must currently possess, at minimum, a Class B Commercial Driver’s License and, in order to earn the specialized S (School) endorsement, they must already have earned the P (Passenger) endorsement.

In addition to the federal regulations set forth by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), every state has its own standards and regulations. Check your local DMV for details on what is required to legally operate a school bus.

You’ll also want to use this section of your resume to emphasize any certifications you may have acquired over the years. Certificates that will put you at the top of the class include:

1. CPR Training
2. Defibrillator Training
3. First Aid Administration

In addition to any relevant medical certifications, also highlight any knowledge of basic bus maintenance or specialized equipment for disabled persons.

This will demonstrate to your employer that you have the potential to solve a mechanical problem in case of a breakdown, as well as increase your availability as a possible school bus driver on routes with children that require an extra level of care and attention.

So, are you ready to begin your career driving that famous yellow bus? Personalize your own resume with our free resume builder and pull out all the stops.