Caring for Students
Behind Every Letter Is a Deeper Story
When a child shares a handwritten note with a bus driver, it may seem like a simple gesture. But there’s something deeper behind every drawing, thank you, and gift … trust. And trust begins before the child and driver ever meet. At First Student, everything our team implements, from routing and maintenance to driver training, has caring at its core.
How we show caring in action
- We diligently train our drivers and ensure our equipment exceeds safety laws and standards
- We implement innovative technologies, including the FirstView® bus-tracking app and the behavior communication tool FirstACTS®, that assure students their buses will arrive on time and they’ll be protected during every ride
- We leverage routing experts who design the most efficient routes that get students to school on time
- We hire ASE-certified mechanics who perform proactive maintenance on buses and attend continuous trainings to establish the safest practices for all passengers
- We carefully select the most professional drivers for your district through a stringent hiring process that includes background checks, drug tests, and dexterity tests
We thoroughly equip drivers through extensive training
Industry-leading Training
Competency based training is optimized for adult learning and includes 40 hours of classroom and behind-the-wheel training
Liability Training
Drivers stay up to date on laws and regulations, including Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
Equipment Training
Drivers learn how to load, unload, and care for students with disabilities and their equipment
Emergency Training
Drivers become experts at evacuating the bus quickly, safely, and without injury in the case of an emergency
Inclusion, Behavior, & Sensitivity Training
Drivers develop an understanding of various learning abilities, learn how to facilitate positive peer interactions, and gain skills in managing extreme behaviors
