School Bus Driver Training Manual

This instructor's manual was designed to help graduates of the California Bus Driver Instructor Course provide effective instruction to school bus driver trainees. It contains enough material for 20-30 hours of classroom training. The information is organized in 12 instructional units that cover the following topics: introduction to the course; driver's license and special certificate requirements; bus operation, use, laws, and regulations; vehicle components; general defensive driving techniques; specialized defensive driving techniques; passenger loading and unloading; emergency procedures; passenger management; activity trips; the special needs passenger; and public and community relations. Each unit includes an outline of the lesson plans in it, notes to the instructor, content information, handouts, and pretests and unit test. A final unit of the guide provides additional information for the instructor on teaching the course, such as materials needed to conduct classes, classroom arrangement, lesson planning and teaching techniques, and tests and answer keys. (KC)

Intended to help produce safe, competent California school bus drivers, this document contains instructor's materials for a bus driver education course with eight sequential skill levels, including a final appraisal. The first section contains the curriculum's purpose and objectives, the California standards for a state-certified bus driver instructor, the California standards for a delegated behind-the-wheel trainer, and general guidelines for selection of training sites. In addition, information is provided on vehicle inspection training, brake system inspection training, and undercarriage training. Copies of a driver's inspection report and a driver's performance review also appear. Each of the next eight sections contain materials for one of the following skill levels: (1) basic vehicle familiarization; (2) precision training in vehicle movement and driving fundamentals; (3) transmission control and shifting procedures; (4) general defensive driving techniques; (5) specialized defensive driving techniques; (6) passenger loading and unloading procedures; (7) emergency procedures; and (8) final appraisal. The first seven sections each contain a table of contents, purpose and objectives, a note to the instructor, a glossary of terms, an outline of content to be taught, and a sheet on which the instructor can record the trainee's demonstrated competence at each task covered. The final appraisal section includes the purpose and objectives of the appraisal, advice to instructors on being tough but fair, final appraisal procedures, and a form on which to document the final appraisal. (CML)

After I arrived in Warsaw, my niece Danielle Gamble was instrumental in getting me a job in the transportation department of the school district as a bus driver. Driving a school bus full of kids of all ages and surviving all the situations deemed this manual "necessary." Kids will be kids, and they all are when they ride the school bus.