Don’t risk your CDL - School Bus Driver First Student Employee Review

1.0
24 Mar 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The dispatcher and lead mechanic are keeping the place afloat.

Cons

The management is a liability. First Student of Bozeman is in constant need of drivers, for a reason! Drivers are mistreated and talked down to regularly. The so-called signing bonus is selective. Professional CDL drivers are put in compromising positions due to mismanagement and unreasonable demands by Bozeman School District. Winter parking is an issue. Blizzard conditions & slipping on ice trying to get to your vehicle. It is becoming more and more difficult to justify working for a company that literally ranks and publically posts driver performance in the front office based on inconsistant computerized surveillance that tracks how quickly one accelerates or needs to hit the brakes to avoid accidents. It is inevitable, that drivers will be called out on the carpet for random occurrences with a mini school bus keychain hanging on your route hook. The anxiety is just not worth the headache. If you do decide to work here, do yourself a favor and purchase five days worth of Arctic Tundra attire (consider ice cleats) because First Student’s ‘no idling’ policy requires fellow drivers to “rat out” busses that have steam puffing from the exhaust pipe. So that means you’ll be sitting at your pick-up school with no heat for 15-20 minutes Engine off, and waiting for your students to board a frozen bus. Yeahhhh....

Explore other reviews about First Student

5.0
1 Jan 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good people, Hardworking, supportive towards medical care

Cons

no cons felt in my tenure

3.0
25 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The pay for driving is good, however, "driving is only part of the job description. May be well compensated for contracted substitute driver in other locations

Cons

Although there are rules to establish safe, orderly environments for riders and drivers, they are not enforced, and appear symbolic and subjective. Drivers have to bow to whomever decides how it will be handled instead of what the actual rules dictate, creating unnecessary chaos. There also appears to be a good amount of favoritism at this location and company rules and regulations are rarely enforced across the board, resulting in employees doing as they please with little to no repercussions.

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