Non-Exempt

General Description of Work

Performs semiskilled work operating a school bus, transporting students to and from school, activities or events, and related work as or assigned. Lead Drivers function as a liaison for Transportation Planners with Drivers and School Bus Supervisors.  Lead Drivers assist in conveying directions from the Planner and work coordination for other school bus drivers based on directives from the Transportation Department.  Assists in student safety training; maintains transportation records; and assists in ensuring buses are in a safe operating condition. Work is performed under the moderate supervision of the Transportation Planner.

Education and Experience

High school diploma or GED preferred and minimal experience of 1 year of North Carolina school bus driving experience as a licensed school bus driver.

Salary
 Pay Grade NC06

Reports to
School Bus Supervisor/Transportation Planner

Essential Job Functions

• Drives any route necessary in the absence of a permanent or substitute driver. Collaborates with Transportation Planner for bus coverage during driver absences.
• Monitors AM and PM runs to ensure that each assigned bus is covered; notifying the Transportation Planner if a driver does not show or reports tardy.
• Knows the routes of the assigned drivers and ensures that each bus has a copy of the most recent route always.
• Trains substitute bus drivers on bus routes and required documents (TD-25, TD-28, count sheets) and conducts re-training as requested.
• Inform Transportation Planner of drivers not adhering to the TIMS-approved route and conducts follow-up to ensure route compliance.
• Conducts fire extinguishers inspections every other week.
• Maintains files of bus routes, seating charts and any other documents concerning students and/or drivers as requested.
• Collects and distributes paperwork as directed by the Transportation Planner for the purpose of new route sheets, yearly ridership counts, stop arm violation reports and 20-day count sheets. The TD-28 Bus Maintenance log is to be submitted daily to Bus Garage by 9:30 a.m.
• Assists in bus safety training (evacuations) may be asked to assist the Transportation Planner in developing and presenting training, safety meetings and related operational instruction to enhance the assigned drivers’ professional development and customer service skills. Should function as mentor to assigned substitute drivers.
• Monitors the assigned drivers’ pre- and post-trip inspections and bus cleaning.
• Reports violations of “no trash cans on the bus”, non-compliance of parking procedures and DPI regulations of chemicals on the bus or the covering of safety markings.
• Limited assistance to the mechanics in performing 30-day inspections.
• Delivers buses to the Bus Garage for mechanical maintenance.
• Other duties as deemed necessary by the Transportation Department.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Must be able to physically drive and evacuate a wide variety of bus types and models.
• Must have extensive knowledge of and skill in operating a school bus.
• Must have the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with school officials, drivers and Transportation staff.
• Must have extensive knowledge of the geography of the assigned area and the location of streets.
• Must have leadership abilities and the ability to display professionalism by functioning in a respectful and respectable manner.
• Must have the ability to organize, manage and train people. Must have strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Must have recordkeeping skills.
• Must have basic computer and email skills.
• One (1) year of driving experience as a school bus driver

Physical Requirements

• This work requires occasional exertion of up to 10 pounds of force.
• Work regularly requires sitting, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and repetitive motions and occasionally requires standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, reaching with hands and arms, pushing or pulling and lifting.
• Work has standard vision requirements; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels.
• Work requires visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities.
• Work regularly requires working near moving mechanical parts, exposure to outdoor weather conditions and exposure to vibration and occasionally requires exposure to fumes or airborne particles, exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals and exposure to bloodborne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment.
• Work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).

Special Requirements

• Must be 18 years of age.
• Register in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Clearinghouse
• Must hold a valid Commercial Driver's License with Passenger and School Bus endorsement in the State of North Carolina. (1 year driving experience driving a NC School Bus).
• Physical Standards Test and all legal requirements of the NC DMV and Cabarrus County Schools
• Depending on the school/site you must hold or be eligible for a NC Dept. of Health and Human Services – Child Care Criminal Background Check and approval letter.

Disclaimer

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to this job.