Finding school bus drivers for your district is hard enough right now, with the driver shortage. However, that's only step one in adding drivers to your district. You also need to train them, and be ready to keep up with their continuing training over the years.
Fortunately, training bus drivers is easier than ever with new technological tools. With a little creative application, you can get your drivers up to speed more quickly, and at lower overall costs, without sacrificing quality!
How Is Technology Improving School Bus Driver Training?
1 - Faster route training
Modern bus routing software allows you to quickly generate new routes in seconds, displaying them onscreen - or sending them to a tablet app. In training, this shows drivers how routes are generated, and lets them quickly navigate virtual routes via the mapping software.
2 - Google Streeteview
Google Streetview is one of the more impressive, often overlooked aspects of Google's free software offerings. With virtually every road in America photographed, it's now possible for drivers to view their entire route via pictures, without leaving the office. This is great preparation, and can also alert them to potential hazards along the way, or even places to shelter in case of a weather emergency.
3 - Online training / testing
Programs like our SuccessRoute Training system can simplify and streamline the 'book learning' aspects of driver training. Doing it online allows drivers to learn at their own pace, without the need for extended seminar-style training. Secure login and tracking systems prevent cheating, while your drivers benefit from easy training.
4 - Data-powered feedback
When you're tracking your buses with GPS systems, you get more than an overview of your routes in progress. You also get a powerful data-gathering tool which can analyze your drivers' on-route performance. It can be an excellent way of providing constructive feedback, such as correcting drivers who tend to speed, or brake too hard at stops.
5 - In the future: Virtual Reality
VR may not have made a big splash in consumer circles, but it continues to grow in educational and training markets. For some districts, the day is coming where your drivers will be able to drive virtual routes within VR, allowing them to safely train with zero risk of actual harm or damage if something goes wrong.
BusBoss can improve your school bus drivers' training! We have over 25 years' experience helping districts streamline and improve their transportation systems, including better training systems.
Contact us to learn more!
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PRESIDENT
Sonia has been involved with BusBoss since the late 1990’s, and has personally overseen many projects for various customers ranging from large urban and suburban districts to smaller rural school districts from all over the country.