Fox 4 is dedicated to helping you rebound from this pandemic, so we're starting a new "Help Wanted" segment, during which we show you the ins and outs of different job opportunities available in Southwest Florida.
If you have a driver's license, and a clear background check and driving record, you can be a School Bus Driver with National Express and A&S Transportation. They are hiring in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Manatee, and Sarasota Counties.
"We would like to have you sit behind this wheel while we train you to be a School Bus Driver," Ron Schoonover, the certified Trainer and Instructor for the company, told Fox 4.
The company drives Charter and Private School children. To join what Schoonover calls their brother and sisterhood of school bus drivers, you'll have to be an early riser.
"First of all, you're going to have to get up every morning at four o'clock," he said.
Schoonover said he'll then take you through an extensive training process, starting with a video course.
"Covering every facet of school bus transportation, and especially safety. It’s probably about a two-week course, and then we take them behind the wheel, go out and drive," he said.
Once you pass the driving part of the training course, you're ready to start your new career. Schoonover said each day begins at their bus yard.
"You'll do an extremely safe pre-trip and air brake test to make sure the bus is safe to take on your trip," he said.
Next, you'll pick up the kids on your assigned routes, take them to school, then have a break in the middle of the day. In the afternoon, you'll pick the kids up from school on your assigned routes, and drop them back off at their bus stops.
"Our promise to all of our students is that we're going to pick you up, and take you to school every day safely. We're going to take you home every day safely,” Schoonover said.
He also said the company is taking COVID-19 safety guidelines seriously.
"All the drivers have to wear {masks}. All the students, when they board the bus, they have to wear {masks}. We sanitize the buses twice a day after each run, just to make sure they're germ free. And so far, we haven't had any COVID cases,” Schoonover told Fox 4.
Applicants don’t need to have a CDL with class B P&S endorsement license to start working at National Express and A&S Transportation -- they offer paid training for applicants to get their CDL with P&S endorsements.
The company said it offers:
- Guaranteed 25 hours per week
- Competitive pay based on market of school bus route
- Medical, dental, vision, and supplemental insurances to all drivers
- Weekly pay roll
You can apply for a job with National Express and A&S Transportation here. Make sure you enter in Job Req# 211075.
You can also apply in person by going to A&S Transportation's site in Lehigh Acres:
217 Wallace Ave
Lehigh Acres, FL 33971
Monday-Friday 8 AM-6 PM
Route times Southwest Florida (based on individual schools' bell times):
- High School routes start between 5:30-6:30 AM, and PM routes start between 1-2 PM.
- Middle School Routes start between 7-8 AM, and PM routes start between 2:30-3:30 PM.
- Elementary School routes start between 6-7 AM, and PM routes start between 2-3 PM.
The company is hiring in several locations across Florida:
- Lee County
- Collier County
- Charlotte County
- Sarasota County
- Manatee County
- Hillsborough County
- Osceola County
- Broward County
- West Palm Beach County
- Seminole County
