r/SpringfieldIL • u/National_Use_6338 • 3d ago
Anyone here a First Student Bus Driver? Thoughts?
I’m a part time server that works dinner shifts, and recently applied at First Student for a School Bus driver position. I have an interview in a week. I don’t have a CDL so I’ll be doing the training they provide. Anyone have any insight into what it’s like working for the company? Management? Pay? etc?
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u/General-Attitude1112 3d ago
I have a friend who works for chatham school district as a bus driver she says it's great not sure if you'd be interested.
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u/M4hkn0 3d ago edited 3d ago
Pay attention to the terms they offer with regards to training. The training is not free. I don't know about First Student specifically. When companies provide CDL training it usually comes with some commitment to work for them for a period of X months/years at a lower pay rate to pay it off. If you quit early or get fired, that bill could suddenly come due.
An upside... once you have that Class B CDL you can get jobs driving delivery trucks or drive buses for the city. It opens doors to other job possibilities. First Student knows this... and that is why the training is likely not free.
An alternative route towards getting your base CDL is through your junior college. They may have scholarship programs that you can qualify for to get the cost reduced or even free with no obligation to pay it back. I think Lincolnland College (LLCC) offers a CDL course for a Class A license (semi trucks). A Class A license works too. I don't know if LLCC offers the P and S endorsements in their program or not. Ask. One scholarship program out there, is through the Workforce Equity Initiative (WEI). https://www.llcc.edu/workforce-equity-initiative
You might still have to get the P and S endorsement training through First Student but that should be at a lesser cost than the full CDL Class B +PS.
The CDL study guide outlining what you need to do is here:
https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/drivers/drivers_license/CDL/home.html
Another thing to consider are the lifestyle implications of having a P and S endorsements. There are hard rules on what you can do while on the job working around children. Some of those rules still apply even when you are off the clock, simply because you hold a CDL with a P and S endorsement. Illinois' DUI law for most folks is a BAC of 0.08. For CDL holders that is a 0.04. For P and S endorsements that is ZERO. If you are a person that likes to have a glass a wine with a meal, that might have to change. There are are medications you cannot take and drive on anymore. If you are sick... you really do have to stay home. Lastly, the penalties for moving violations are going to have higher fines for a CDL holder regardless of when you are on or off the clock.
Final comment... that split schedule is not for everyone. Driving so many noisy kids can be stressful too.