Employment

Requirements for individuals attempting to become a school bus driver

Federal Standards

Every person who is hired to drive a school bus in the United States must:

  • Have a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL): Class B CDL, P/S Endorsements
  • Be at least eighteen years old, and
  • Meet all special physical, mental and moral requirements established by the particular state.

State Standards

South Carolina law mandates that in order to be hired as a public school bus driver, an individual must:

  • Meet all requirements for the commercial driver’s license for transporting students
  • Have no more than 4 current points against his or her driving record at the Department of Motor Vehicles
  • Have had no more than 4 points against his or her driver’s license in the previous twelve months
  • Complete the school bus training program within 180 days of the first day of classroom instruction
  • Pass a current physical examination recorded on a state-approved form prior to initial certification and pass a physical examination every two years thereafter
  • Pass tests designed to identify illegal drug and alcohol use, with one of these tests being given prior to initial certification and the others being unannounced and/or random
  • Have at least twelve months of driving experience; and
  • Have good moral habits; good driving record/history; and able to pass the SDE Physical Performance Test

Local Standards

All school bus drivers must be available Monday through Friday to drive a morning and afternoon route.  You must be available to drive from (Times are approximate):
6:20 a.m. -- 9:10 a.m. 
2:05 p.m. -- 4:45 p.m.

Rock Hill School District Three conducts background checks (Driving History, Previous Employment History, Civil History/Criminal Record) and selects driver candidates in accordance with its employee screening process. Candidates/temporary employees can be released from training/employment at any point during the employment consideration process: from submission of an application to (if successful) the end of a six-month, on-the-job probation/observation period.

Training Observation Six-Month Probation Observation

Benefits for Regular Drivers

All school bus drivers for Rock Hill School District Three must be available Monday through Friday to drive a morning and afternoon route.
These routes run from approximately 6:20 a.m. – 9:10 a.m. and 2:05 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.  You must be available to drive both a morning and an afternoon route to be considered for employment.   
A driver may drive up to 8 hours a day by driving a midday shuttle and/or kindergarten route(s) or working in a school for 2.5 hours each day as a lunchroom monitor, library/office helper, etc.
There may also be after hour routes available that can run up to 9:00 p.m.
We usually have routes during the summer months, but these are not guaranteed.

Benefits are available (health/dental insurance, sick leave) for drivers maintaining at least 30 regular hours each week – this does not include after hours or overtime hours.