The application is the first paper in a driver's file, and for a school bus driver it does more work than most job applications. It tells you whether they hold the right license today, whether they can get the S and P endorsements, what their driving record looks like, and who to call about them. A good form saves you from a road test with someone who was never going to pass the background check.
Here's what a school bus driver job application form should ask, what to leave off, and what to do with it once it's signed.
What to ask
| Section | What to ask | Why |
|---|---|---|
| About them | Name, phone, email, mailing address, the position (driver, aide, sub) | To reach them and to file the application |
| License | License state, number, class, expiry date, endorsements (P, S, air brakes), restrictions | Whether they can drive a bus now, or need training first |
| Driving record | Moving violations and crashes in the past 3 years; any license suspension or revocation | Your insurer and your state set limits |
| Past employers | The past 3 years of jobs (10 years for any CDL driving), with dates, duties and a contact | To check their record and fill gaps |
| Availability | Mornings, afternoons, midday runs, trips, summer | Split shifts don't suit everyone |
| References | Two or three people who saw them work | Ideally a past supervisor |
| Consent and signature | That the answers are true, and consent for the checks your state requires | Without consent you can't run the checks |
Tip: Ask where they heard about the job. After a few months you'll know which ads, sites and referral bonuses actually bring drivers in.
What not to ask
Leave off anything an employer may not use to decide who to hire: age or date of birth (beyond confirming the minimum age), race, religion, national origin, marital status, pregnancy or plans for children, disability or health questions before an offer, and arrest records that didn't lead to a conviction. Many states and cities also limit when you can ask about criminal history or pay history.
Good to know: Hiring rules differ by state and city, and school bus drivers have extra checks set by state law (fingerprints, child abuse clearances, the state's own school bus certificate). School bus operations are exempt from most federal motor carrier rules, but many states copy their application and driving record requirements. Have an HR or employment adviser check your form.
After the application comes in
- A phone screen: confirm the license, availability and the job's hours and pay.
- An interview: how they'd handle students, a breakdown, a parent at the stop.
- A road test in one of your buses, with a pre-trip.
- The checks your state requires: background and fingerprints, driving record, drug and alcohol testing, a medical exam.
- An offer, then onboarding and training before their first route.
Doing it in FleetCommander
The board. HR › Hiring is a board with a column for each stage: Applied, Phone screen, Interview, Road test, Background check, Offer, then Hired and Not hired. Press Manage › Add applicant, choose Applying to be (a driver, an aide or staff), and enter what the application says: First name, Last name, Phone, Email, Where they heard of you, Applied on, and for a driver the CDL class and CDL endorsements. Choose Move to … on their card as they go through each stage. You can rename the stages or add your own under Stages.
The papers. On the applicant's page, Add file keeps the signed application, a copy of their license and their resume, and Add note keeps what each call and interview said, with every move between stages written there too. Once they're Hired, Add as a driver fills in their driver record from what you already typed. See the HR guide.
Ava (Beta), the assistant in the app, answers List the applicants when you have HR access. More on her page.
Related reading
Questions people ask
- What should a school bus driver application include?
- Contact details, the license (state, number, class, endorsements, expiry), the driving record for recent years, past employers with contacts, availability, references, and a signed statement and consent for the checks your state requires.
- What endorsements does a school bus driver need?
- Usually a Class B CDL with the P (passenger) and S (school bus) endorsements, and no air brake restriction if your buses have air brakes. Check your state's rules.
- What questions should not be on a job application?
- Questions about age, race, religion, national origin, marital status, pregnancy, disability or health before an offer, and arrests that didn't lead to a conviction. State and city laws may add more.
- How long should you keep driver applications?
- Keep a hired driver's application in their file for as long as they work for you and as long after as your state requires. Ask an employment adviser about applicants you didn't hire.