If you ask the average school transportation director if this was the career he or she prepared for in high school or college, most will say no.

Of course, we’ve all read the occasional human-interest story about, say, a 13-year-old student who collects model buses and has a sincere interest in the business and, yes, that person may be destined for a career in transportation. But those cases are rare.

For most of us, our school preparation was not focused on transportation. In my case, after college I was waiting to be called from a civil service list for a full-time firefighter position. In the meantime, I sold cars, dabbled in broadcasting and took a job as a substitute school bus driver to make extra cash.

School transportation can be a captivating business, though, and before you know it, you are hooked for life! Many people I have spoken to in our industry entered school transportation as substitutes and remained for their entire careers.

The downside to school transportation operations is that, unlike the private sector, the opportunities for advancement are few and far between. If you look at the average banking or insurance operation, for instance, it is not uncommon for an individual who joins the business as a part-time customer service representative to move through the ranks. There are often many assistant managers who answer to multiple managers, who answer to various vice presidents and on up the line.

By comparison, a school transportation operation with a driver team of around 100 employees may answer to a transportation clerk or head bus driver, who answers directly to the transportation director. That’s it! Transportation operations can be a giant pyramid that could take years to climb to the top. Since you’re reading this article, chances are good that the title grabbed your attention and that you aspire to climb that pyramid.

Getting hired as a head bus driver, driver trainer or director can be a very competitive process, with many people vying for the same position. Here are some suggestions to help you navigate the slow-moving process called promotion.

1. Commit to lifelong learning.

If you spend enough time working in the school transportation business, it is easy to develop a confident “been there, done that” feeling. And why not? Ours is a business that prides itself on the ability to do the same thing day in and day out with great accuracy.

Keep in mind, though, that if you are thinking about promotion, you are thinking about the future. Your experience counts for something, but if you want to be viewed as a professional, you should take advantage of every opportunity to become better educated. If you have a high school diploma, work towards your associate’s degree. If you have your associates, go for your bachelor’s. This business isn’t spark plugs, file cards, and typewriters anymore. You will need skills in budgeting, purchasing, insurance, legal language and a bit of psychology as you seek to move up.

2. Pay attention to your clock.

Arriving on time is a basic in any work environment. However, transportation operations are completely time based. Make sure you are on time to work, your bus stops and, most importantly, to submit your application for promotion and for your interview. People who are late on a regular basis stand out. Even worse, candidates who are late for job interviews almost never make the final cut. Do your best to be on time and fly under the radar until it is your time to shine.

3. Practice your communications skills.

Communication, both written and spoken, is a very important part of our business. You should work hard to make sure you can express yourself clearly and completely. If promoted, you will have to communicate with staff, parents, union officials and other district personnel, and how well you do this is important. Practice writing letters and directives, and have a friend look them over and give you some honest feedback. Make sure your listening skills are active as well. You need to be able to tell people what you want them to understand, but you also need to be able to listen to people without jumping in or cutting them off.

4. Don’t focus solely on salary and benefits.

Money makes the world go ‘round. Time is money. We’ve heard all the slogans before. However, when you are granted an interview, keep discussions of money in perspective within the overall process of seeking promotion. Try to find out in advance the salary range that is being offered, and if it is not in your range, you might want to pass on the position before the hiring process gets too far along. If it is in your desired range, there will be a time and place for the financial discussion. Usually, that is when you are actually offered the position.

5. Driving history counts.

In a business that revolves around vehicle and traffic law, a clean driving record is a key to promotion. When you become a supervisor, you may be required to obtain additional state certifications. Having a driving history that disqualifies you for these certifications can jeopardize your new position. Also, driving history is not just what is contained on your motor vehicles abstract. If you are a driver or mechanic who hopes to become boss, make sure you set a proper example on the road. Even if you’ve never gotten a ticket, that doesn’t mean you’re a perfect driver. The coworkers you may someday lead and the people selecting the next supervisor know this.

6. Positions are not stepping stones.

Think carefully about the position you are seeking and your long-term goals. Unless you are a hired troubleshooter who moves from town to town, you may not want to develop a stepping-stone resume.

For the most part, transportation operations are hometown organizations. The employees may spend their entire lives residing a few miles from the terminal and driving their children and then their grandchildren to and from school.

If you aspire to run a large operation or to relocate to another state in the future, there is nothing wrong with that. But do some good while you are at the smaller district. Don’t just absorb space, air and payroll and make people miserable for two years while you wait for the “dream job.”

7. Maturity is important.

If you are looking for a position in which you can clock out and let your hair down after work, transportation management is not for you. This job is a 24-hour-per-day commitment. Even when you are on vacation, you are not truly on vacation. You routinely must be a cell phone call or BlackBerry e-mail away.

Your conduct at holiday parties or happy hours can factor into your ability to be promoted. It is one thing to be social; it is another thing to wear a lampshade over your head and dance on the tabletop. Even during the interview process, maturity may be tested. Questions may be formulated to see how you handle pressure, employee relations and team building. This is where your maturity and responsibility (or lack of) shows through.

8. Develop solid organizational skills.

As a driver, your route sheets and student data should always be accurate. As a head bus driver or assistant supervisor, runs and shifts should be covered properly and employee records should always appear neat and clearly written. Your licenses and certifications should be maintained and available for immediate review at work and during your interview. If you are a candidate for promotion but you have not finished certifications or have allowed them to lapse, that can call your organizational skills and your ability to follow through into question. Have an accurate explanation as to why certifications are unavailable and be honest.

9. Play nice with others.

If you aspire to be a department head, how you work with others on the way up can be a direct factor in getting the top job. As a driver, driver trainer, head bus driver, mechanic or union representative, if you have an “in your face” attitude, this may hurt you in the long run. If you hang with cliques, gossip about staff or district administrators or play favorites, the only person you are hurting is yourself. Your ability to lead others will be undermined. Being a union steward can be very good for your career or send it careening into a black hole. On one hand, you can develop good working relationships with senior management. On the other hand, if you take up the cause of every employee who complains that he or she was not personally catered to, you can be viewed as part of the problem and not part of the solution. Ultimately, this will end your future career hopes and potential opportunities.

10. Be at work and follow directions.

Attendance and the ability to follow directions are very important for your longevity and future promotion. Earlier, I discussed the commitments that come with our job. If you are often absent due to family or personal matters, illness or reasons other than using your hard-earned vacation time, you may be passed over for promotion. Evaluate how often you are absent from work. Decide whether you can provide the stability that the position you seek requires before the interview committee decides for you.

The same goes for following directions. If you fail to follow directions, make jokes about memos in the drivers room or do as you please when on the road, how can you expect to follow your new boss’ directives and ultimately get a hundred employees to follow your lead?

The perpetual interview

I hope this article has given you insights that will help in moving up the transportation department pyramid. Remember that you never get a second chance to make a first impression at work or at interviews.

Make sure your positive image and work history speak for you long before your official interview ever starts, because if you are currently an employee of the department you hope to lead someday, your interview has already begun.