TRANSPORTATION: School Bus Driver for the 2023/24 School Year

Position Classification: Traverse City Transportation Association (TCTA)

• TCTA Master Agreement & Contract Extension
• General Employee Benefits
• TCTA Employee Benefits 

Why drive a school bus for TCAPS? 

• Paid training!
• New Hire Initial Licensing Bonus paid at the end of probationary period.
• Attendance Incentive Bonus
• Sign on Bonus:  A new employee without credentials (e.g. CDL, etc.) will receive a $800 bonus.  1/2 paid at end of probationary period and remaining 1/2 paid at the completion of the school year.  A new employee with credentials shall receive $1,000 paid at the same time increments as above.
• Employee Referral Bonus of $1,000 paid to the referring employee if new bus driver has not applied previously and is hired and works a minimum of 90 working days.
• Wages starting at $21.21 per hour (up to $22.98 per hour with prior public school bus driving experience); annual increases.
• Flexible schedule! AM and PM routes are available. Opportunity for extra work driving special trips.
• Medical insurance benefit eligibility at 22 hours/week with regular AM and PM runs.
• Paid Life Insurance Policy
• Paid sick, personal business, holiday, and bereavement time.
• Retirement plan through the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System.
• Tuition reimbursement program (up to 50% tuition charges paid by the district upon successfully completion of college courses).
• Discounts from area businesses extended to all TCAPS employees-Gordon Foods, MEEMIC Insurance, etc.
• The opportunity to work with some great folks! 

Benefits

Health Insurance Eligibility

Bus drivers MUST work both an A.M. and a P.M. run and a minimum of 4.4 hours per day to be eligible for health insurance.  Should a driver have both A.M. and P.M. runs, but average fewer than the 4.4. hours per day required for health insurance, scheduled hours worked in other TCAPS positions will count toward the 4.4 hours requirement. An employee who qualifies for the health insurance benefit will be eligible for either insurance, or cash in lieu of insurance, the first of the month following the date of hire.    

Miscellaneous

• All TCAPS school busses are equipped with cameras. 
• Special trips are sometimes available and currently paid at $16.25 per hour.  These are awarded by trip hours unless posted as an emergency, in which case they are awarded by seniority.
• Extra work is defined as work performed outside a driver’s assigned classification, and may include duties such as shoveling sidewalks, State Police Inspection prep, bus washing, etc.  To be eligible to pick up extra work, a driver must have completed the 90 day probationary period.

Physical and Mental Requirements:

1. Must be able to report on a regular and consistent basis to the assigned worksite. 
2. Maintain consistent and punctual attendance.
3. Duties include sitting and driving, as well as frequent walking and physical activity.
4. The ability to move about the facility and/or vehicle/bus, including bending, pushing/pulling, lifting, twisting, climbing, stooping, or crouching to complete work-related tasks. 
5. Must possess skills to safely operate a school bus, including passing a DOT physical and obtaining commercial driver’s license (CDL) with school bus endorsement and passenger endorsements. 
6. Basic technology skills required to utilize computer and/or other office equipment (printer/copy machine, etc.) consistent with work-related tasks. 
7. The ability to provide effective supervision of students while driving the bus. 
8. The ability to listen and effectively communicate information and ideas to a diverse population.
9. The ability to effectively discern information and formulate appropriate action(s).
10. The ability to critically think and provide appropriate solutions. 
11. The ability to work independently and in a team environment.  
12. The ability to maintain effective time management. 
13. The ability to work effectively and efficiently in high stress or conflict situations. 
14. The ability to concentrate is a requirement to be able to drive safely, despite distractions including conversations or questions, two-way radio, traffic, etc. 
15. The ability to concentrate on multiple tasks with frequent interruptions. 

Visual Requirements:
Must be able to read and comprehend written material and distinguish material using close-up vision. Depth perception, peripheral vision, distance vision, and color perception are required for driving. Ability to see well during various times of the day and in a variety of weather conditions while driving is required. Must be able to pass the vision portion of DOT medical exam.

Environmental Conditions:

Incumbents work in an indoor, school bus, and outdoor environment with moderate to loud noise levels. Work may be completed in controlled temperature conditions when indoors; however, duties may be completed in cold and hot temperatures. Duties include pre- and post-trip bus inspections, as well as walking throughout the bus during shifts. Duties may include exposure to chemicals and mechanical and electrical hazards. 

Work Schedules:

Full-time work includes the ability to work a split shift on the days and hours provided by the bid/routing protocol and school year calendar. 

Background Checks:

The individual selected for this position will be required to pass a criminal history background check, as well as random drug screening tests.