Avantages
It's a job. Love the kids, but it isn't a good enough paying job to really make a living. This is supplemental income at best, so be prepared to have other income. They did outfit their bus fleet with cameras, and this helps protect driver's from false allegations. It's also easy when making a necessary report about about incidents between children, to have them pull the video instead of having to spend hours writing one report. I would never drive a school bus without the video systems installed and well maintained, for obvious reasons. Video must capture everything that ocurrs on the bus, so all interactions with children are fully monitored. Do NOT put yourself and your family at risk, that way, to work for anyone without proper camera systems. Your life and future are on the line, and in this day and age you must take it seriously. There can be a false allegation anytime. The staff was easy to work with, and never had any issues with management. They paid on time and accurately, almost all the time. They are desperate for good drivers, and so some can get bonus' if they negotiate those upfront.
Inconvénients
This is for all Alaska CDL positions and companies who need drivers in Alaska: offer great training and a higher hourly rate of pay for new drivers, and even higher pay to retain the best seasoned drivers. If you care about your people and safety, and your own bottom line, you'll realize your people are your greatest asset! Without them, you cannot serve the clients and you have no business. Pay enough that CDL drivers can make a good to great living, not just slide by if having 2 jobs or working the maximum hours allowed per the Alaska CDL licensing allowances. Alaska driving requires additional sharpness on the road than in the lower 48. The pay does not adequately compensate for cost of living, hours necessary to work and get by financially, or the added stress to driving in Alaska with so many people on the road that are high and driving erratically or dealing with the inclement weather conditions. You'll retain the better drivers if you pay well and you train well, regardless if someone is new or been driving for decades. Do not operate outside the union. I will not return to a low paying job, let alone to a school bus driving position in Alaska if it is not a Union job. Many of the drivers who left after the Wasilla District contract was taken over this year, and First Student had to leave, have told me the same. They are not going back to a new company who will not pay decent and is not Union. This job doesn't pay well enough given the high numbers of unruly children and inclement weather conditions driving in Alaska, and then having to work split-shifts and not getting enough hours. You cannot make it decently in Alaska on the pay, and the hours are not conducive to working another job, as well. The benefits are not affordable for what's available. It is what it is, and that is more of a supplemental income. Drivers may be highly appreciated at heart by management (and I always have been driving a school bus anywhere). Yet, without being compensated well enough there is extremely high turnover and that is not good for the kids. The kids always begged me to stay, and then management pretty much did too. It is nice to b appreciated, but appreciation does not pay the bills.