School Bus Drivers
Job description
These individuals drive a bus to transport children and teenagers to school or home or during an outing. They ensure the safety of passengers when they get on and off the bus. They respect the itineraries and schedules set. They ensure the safe operation and cleanliness of the vehicle. They work for:
- School transportation companies
- School service centres
- Private schools
Environment
- Climatic conditions
- Vehicle or passenger compartment
- Uncontrolled ambient temperature
- Noise
- Vibration
Main tasks
- Drive the vehicle while respecting traffic regulations and traffic signs.
- Ensure discipline on board the vehicle.
- Ensure the safety of the children when they cross the street at a bus stop.
- Carry out security inspections of the vehicle.
- Carry out some maintenance and troubleshooting tasks, as required.
- Fill the vehicle with fuel at the end of the day.
- Draft reports.
Advancement and mobility
- Experience leads to supervisory, inspection, or training positions.
Training and requirements
Formation
Most training programs are offered in French only.
Secondary
Also required
- Have held a valid class 5 driver's licence for at least two years.
- Have a driver's licence that has not been suspended or revoked within the last two years.
- Have fewer than four demerit points entered on the driving record from the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ).
- Hold a certificate of competence to drive a bus or minibus used for the transportation of schoolchildren issued by the ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable du Québec.
- Have no criminal record.
Sometimes required
- A secondary school diploma is usually required.
- Mention of knowledge of air brake systems, issued by the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ), is sometimes required.
- Training in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) may be required.
Main skills and characteristics
Skills
- Data collection
- Operations and control
- Monitoring operations
- Quality control analysis
- Information processing
- Coordination
- Time management
- Equipment maintenance
- Critical thought
- Service oriented
- Result evaluation
- System analysis
- Judgment and decision-making
- Social perception
- Oral expression
- Solving complex problems
- Systems evaluation
Abilities
- Distance vision
- Near vision
- Peripheral vision
- Control accuracy
- Speed control
- Reaction time
- Response orientation
- Limb coordination
- Depth perception
- Information processing speed
- Perception speed
- Spatial orientation
- Information organization
- Deductive reasoning
- Selective attention
- Awareness of issues
- Hand-arm stability
- Endurance
- Time sharing
- Auditory attention
- Tolerance to bright light
- Memorization
- Sound origin identification
- Night vision
- Verbal skills
- Oral comprehension
- Hearing sensitivity
- Speech clarity
Knowledge and attributes
- Autonomy
- Sense of responsibility
- Tolerance to stress
- Respect standards and regulations
- Friendliness
- Assiduity and punctuality
- Sense of observation
- Availability
- Tolerance to frequent temperature variations
- Knowledge of mechanics
Interests
- Direct, organize, and manage
- Work in transportation and maintenance
- Assist or care for people
Personality profiles (RIASEC)
- Realistic
- People with this profile prefer carrying out concrete tasks and being physically involved in what they do.
- Social
- People with this profile prefer to be in contact with others, in particular to entertain, help or teach them.
- Enterprising
- People with this profile prefer having responsibilities, influencing others and responding to challenges.
Appellation d’emploi liée (à traduire)
Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators (CNP 73301)
Skill type
Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations
Last update: January 29, 2026
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