School busing is essential to Alberta’s education system. Students from both urban and rural areas rely on school buses to take them safely to and from school every day. School buses also transport students and other people to events on an as-needed basis.

Drivers in this sector operate school buses through a bus company or, sometimes, through a school board. They work with children, follow strict safety regulations, and are the first and last point of contact many students have with their school system every day.

  • Seasonality

    School busing is nonseasonal, but work during the summer break will differ when school is not in session.

  • Method of Pay

    In this sector, drivers may be paid by the route or by the hour.

Equipment and Tasks

School bus drivers will operate the specific types of buses needed to legally transport students; however, there’s some variety in the equipment they use and the tasks they’re expected to perform.

  • Equipment

    Drivers can expect to see school buses of different lengths; 40-foot-long buses are the most common. There are also shuttles and smaller buses for shorter runs or special trips. Drivers may work with accessibility equipment for school buses, such as wheelchair ramps.

  • Tasks

    Drivers can expect to perform common driving-specific tasks: city and highway driving and pre-and post-trip vehicle inspections. Logbooks are often not required, but the company employing the driver must still track and comply with legal work shift limit requirements. Drivers will also have to work with children, perform child checks, and assist students with limited mobility.

Lifestyle in the Industry

School bus driving offers a terrific lifestyle for those wishing to be close to home.

  • Work Shifts

    Home-school runs are roughly four hours per day and are split between a morning shift and an afternoon shift. There may be longer shifts if the bus is booked for special events, like field trips.

  • Physical Demands

    Work in this sector is not very physically demanding. However, drivers will have to open heavy vehicle hoods when performing inspections, and they may have to assist students with mobility issues.

  • Work/Life Balance

    School bus drivers enjoy an excellent work/life balance. They’re generally home every night and often between home-school runs in the middle of the day.

  • Predictability

    School busing can be quite predictable, as drivers are dedicated to certain routes. However, driver shortages have made this work less predictable; drivers often have to fill in for absent coworkers or perform extra work to compensate for lower staff levels.

  • On-Call

    In this sector, there are some on-call positions, where drivers are called into work should there be a driver shortage that day.

  • Unionization

    Unions are common with drivers working for school boards but less common for drivers working for private bus companies.

Getting Started

Beginning a career as a school bus driver is generally straightforward. Many employers have online applications and may even train new hires who don’t have the necessary licence and endorsements. It’s a specific and systematic process. Training is often extensive in the transit industry; some companies may even train drivers to get a Class 2 licence.

  • Mandatory
    Requirements

    A Class 2 licence with S endorsement is needed to drive any school bus in Alberta. Smaller buses may be driven with lower licence classes. School bus safety regulations require applicants to provide a criminal record check that includes the vulnerable sector. Drug and alcohol testing may also be needed.

  • Preferred Skills &
    Previous Experience

    Previous commercial driving experience is an asset, especially if someone has a Class 1 licence. Familiarity with working with children is also an asset, as working with children can be both the most challenging and rewarding part of this career.

Red Flags

While school bus driving doesn’t expose drivers to the hazards found in many other driving positions, there are still numerous risks to be aware of. These include frequent stops on highways and being responsible for the physical safety of students from kindergarten through to grade 12. Red flags of questionable employers include:

  • Equipment and vehicles that are in poor condition.
  • Being pressured to become an owner-operator early into one’s career or any other signs of employee misclassification.
  • Reported defects not being repaired in a timely manner.
  • A lack of positive safety culture, lack of safety training, and being rushed to drive before feeling ready.
  • A lack of concern for student safety.
Quick Facts:
  • School bus driving gives a driver the ability to positively impact the lives of dozens of students each day.
  • Drivers in this sector enjoy some of the best work/life balance seen in commercial driving.
  • Home-school bus runs offer excellent flexibility for people looking for a part-time job.
  • While the flexibility is a positive, pay for school bus drivers is generally not as high as other types of commercial driving.

More Help

Are you interested in learning more about working safely in transportation? Check out our Resources page for insights from industry experts and organizations. We’ve taken great care to present information relevant to those interested in truck and bus driving careers, those already employed in trucking or busing, and employers navigating labour challenges.

Our Resources

Contact Information

If you have questions or want to learn more about the content of this website, please contact the Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA). AMTA employs experts in trucking and busing across Alberta. We would be happy to help you further.

Contact Us