Ask drivers how long their pre-trip takes and you'll hear anything from "two minutes" to "half an hour". The honest answer for a full school bus pre-trip, done properly by a driver who knows the bus, is about 10 to 20 minutes. Much less, and things are being skipped. Much more, and the checklist or the bus needs looking at.
What changes the time
| Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| The driver's experience | A new driver may take 20 to 30 minutes at first |
| The bus | A lift bus, air brakes or a larger bus add steps |
| The weather | Snow, ice and dark mornings slow every check |
| The checklist | Long, repeated lists slow drivers down without catching more |
| Paper or phone | Writing out a sheet takes longer than tapping through one |
For comparison, the pre-trip part of the CDL skills test is often given about 30 minutes, because the driver has to name and explain every item. A daily pre-trip doesn't need the explaining, but it does need every safety item checked.
Tip: Time a few of your best drivers doing a careful pre-trip on your own buses. That's your realistic number, and a fair one to plan the morning around.
Why rushing is a problem
- Missed defects: a worn tire, a stop arm that doesn't swing out, a broken emergency exit buzzer.
- No real record: a sheet ticked in thirty seconds won't hold up after an accident.
- Unpaid time: if the schedule leaves no time, drivers either rush or do it unpaid.
Making the time count
- Build the time into the start of the day, before the first pick-up, and pay for it.
- Use a checklist made for your buses, in the order a driver walks around the bus.
- Mark the safety-critical items so they're never skipped.
- Spot-check some pre-trips each week, and coach drivers who rush.
Good to know: Your state sets what the daily pre-trip must cover, and wage law decides whether its time is paid work. Check both.
Doing it in FleetCommander
On the phone. Drivers do the pre-trip from My Day, item by item, with a photo where it helps, and send it. The template under Inspections › Templates is yours to set in the order drivers walk the bus, with Safety-critical items marked. A failed critical item gives a box to take the bus out of service and opens a defect for the shop. See the Inspections guide.
The time on the clock. With driver attendance on, sending the pre-trip clocks the driver in if they haven't already, so the pre-trip is on paid time. The Driver shifts report shows each Clock in with In by Pre-trip. See our free pre-trip inspection checklist.
Ava (Beta), the assistant in the app, answers Any inspections overdue? or Who hasn't done a pre-trip today?. More on her page.
Related reading
Questions people ask
- How long does a school bus pre-trip inspection take?
- About 10 to 20 minutes done properly by a driver who knows the bus. New drivers, lift buses and bad weather take longer.
- Is a 5-minute pre-trip inspection enough?
- Usually not for a full school bus pre-trip. Rushing is the main reason defects are missed.
- Are school bus drivers paid for the pre-trip inspection?
- Usually yes, since it's required work, but wage law and contracts decide. Build the time into the start of the shift.
- How long is the pre-trip on the CDL test?
- Often about 30 minutes, because the driver must name and explain each item. The daily pre-trip doesn't need the explaining.