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

1.0
Mar 24, 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
Dec 13, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great part-time job for retired people.

Cons

Sometimes noisy and misbehaving children.

4.0
Jun 14, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Largest employer in the industry. Positive structural changes Investment in infrastructure

Cons

Frequently behind the wheel of a bus which limits value at position Very long hours due to need to complete work while spending significant portion of the day filling in on open routes

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