SBF 70 years logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Is It Safe to Fast-Track Driver Trainees?

A dire need of drivers, both substitute and regular, has prompted some school districts and contractors to “fast-track” recruits through the pre-servi...

February 1, 2002
2 min to read


A dire need of drivers, both substitute and regular, has prompted some school districts and contractors to “fast-track” recruits through the pre-service training program. The question, however, is whether these new drivers are fully prepared for their responsibilities. Driver trainers have a range of opinions on the subject. “I often try to put trainees on the fast track because they can sometimes draw out the training process by not making training a priority,” says Jason Sherman, contract manager for First Student Inc. in Bloomington, Ill. “Often there are other jobs, school, etc., to work around and before you know it the training either drags on and on or just fizzles out.” He adds, however, that trainees are tested only when the trainer is confident that they are ready. “There should not be time limits,” says Tonya, a driver trainer in Ohio. “Each individual is different and may take longer than someone else to train. I feel our jobs as bus drivers should not be taken lightly and increased time for a new driver to learn is to our benefit.” “I agree that putting a green recruit on the road should not be the norm,” says Larry Morris, transportation director at Northwestern Lehigh School District in Tripoli, Pa. Morris says that his pre-service training program spans 28 hours, eight beyond state requirements. But he adds that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation allows certification at the mid-point of training due to the need for drivers. Morris points out that a shortage of drivers creates its own concerns. “There is a danger to safety when assignments and schedules are stretched to compensate for a lack of drivers,” he explains.

Topics:Management
Subscribe to Our Newsletter

More Management

School transportation employees wearing high-visibility safety jackets pose in offices and near school buses as part of a driver safety recognition program.
Managementby News/Media ReleaseMay 7, 2026

Wrapped in Appreciation: Contractor Awards Custom Jackets for Commitment to Safety

Summit School Services recognized more than 5,500 drivers and monitors with safety awards after meeting accident- and injury-free performance standards over the past three years.

Read More →
A bus lot of Leander ISD school buses.
Managementby News/Media ReleaseMay 5, 2026

Leander ISD Saves $1M Through Route Optimization

Leander ISD identified more than $1 million in projected annual savings after using AlphaRoute to optimize bus routes without changing schedules or stops.

Read More →
A red, white, and blue graphic with pictures of Thomas Gray and text reading "Honoring U.S. Veterans: Thomas Gray's Story."
Managementby Elora HaynesMay 4, 2026

What Happens When Battle-Tested Leadership Meets Student Transportation?

See how Thomas Gray brings Marine Corps discipline and logistics expertise to Dayton Public Schools in this article celebrating National Military Appreciation Month.

Read More →
Close-up of fuel pump nozzles at a gas station, representing rising diesel costs and fuel management challenges for school bus fleets.

Diesel Prices Spike: Tips to Cut Fuel Costs with Data and New Geotab Tools

With diesel prices up 46%, new Geotab analysis points to tools that help fleets reduce idling, detect fuel anomalies, and recover hidden fuel costs across operations.

Read More →
zonar system image
SponsoredMay 1, 2026

What Data Shows About Student Transportation in 2026

Driver shortages, safety expectations, and staffing limits define student transportation in 2026. New survey data shows how fleet leaders are responding.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
School Bus Fleet leadership update graphic featuring Transit Technologies and headshots of Lisa Horkins, Nunu Dueman Yates, Michael Lei, Srithal Bellary, and Cristina Wheless.
Managementby News/Media ReleaseApril 30, 2026

Transit Technologies Announces New Executive Appointments

The Bytecurve and busHive parent company has multiple new faces on its executive team as the company focuses on AI platform growth.

Read More →
photo of a woman seated at a desk talking to a man, looking at a tablet
Managementby News/Media ReleaseApril 29, 2026

IC Bus Introduces ‘My International’ to Connect Fleet Vehicles, Data, and Service

Available on desktop or mobile, the digital ecosystem brings fleet monitoring, service management, vehicle insights, and dealer communication into a single interface.

Read More →
A graphic with an image of a school bus's rear bumper, a Transfinder logo, and text reading "More District Installs Across the U.S."
Managementby StaffApril 29, 2026

More Districts Tap Transfinder for Routing, Tracking, and Communication Tools

See which users in Illinois, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania are adopting Transfinder’s routing, tracking, and parent apps.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Sonim XP5plus 5G rugged mobile radio device on orange background labeled “New Product,” highlighting push-to-talk communication and durability for school bus fleet operations.
ManagementApril 28, 2026

AT&T, Sonim Launch XP5plus 5G LMR Device for School Bus Fleets

The new radio combines durability, push-to-talk, and FirstNet connectivity, offering a cost-effective communication solution for fleets.

Read More →