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BusBoy
Top Member
USA
2042 Posts |
 Posted - 12/06/2001 : 07:07:51 AM
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Indianapolis Public Schools just had a huge room built for training new drivers! They had the Blue Bird dealer take the rear end of one bus and the rear end of another, and built them together! This bus can be used in many areas to help train a driver. It has about 10 seats in it and they show how to fasten seat belts, vests, and car seats! It is also used for roof hatch evacuations.
They are also having a few more buses builts down for other training purpoise. This is really a good idea and all in the same room! Do any of you out there have anything like this?
Edited by - busboy on 12/06/2001 07:10:31 AM |
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BusBoy
Top Member
USA
2042 Posts |
Posted - 12/09/2001 : 4:09:15 PM
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So no one has a training room?
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mr.dave
Advanced Member
USA
414 Posts |
Posted - 12/09/2001 : 6:55:08 PM
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My dear child you are asking if other disticts wish to spend money wisely. Of course not if not spending money foolishly is an option. your training is going well grasshopper -love dave
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Phil4747
Top Member
USA
695 Posts |
Posted - 12/10/2001 : 09:48:26 AM
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I get the feeling Indianapolis is a big fleet, since it's a major city, so they may have a little extra money. It's a nice idea, although if they can afford another bus body, why not put it on a chassis and get it out on the road?
—Phil
"It's the same way some people are obsessed with cars. I'm just weird." |
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John Farr
Top Member
USA
642 Posts |
Posted - 12/10/2001 : 10:26:11 AM
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We always had to use school district conference rooms for our monthly safety meetings. Sometimes we could not even find a vacant room.
Because we have so many out-of-town routes, therapies, etc., we could never have a meeting where everyone could attend, so several years ago we offered the same material on a staggered schedule so everyone could attend - and have others cover their conflicting assignments. Typically we would have Monday 9:15-10:15, Tuesday 9:15-10:15, and Wednesday 3:15-4:15 (we have an early schedule on Wednesdays). Drivers would sign up in advance so we could accommodate 35-40 at each meeting. The room in the district office that we used to use could not fit more, anyway. The smaller group size permitted better interaction and our indtructors felt it was more effective than the larger group.
Last year one of the high schools wanted to get rid of their 10' X 65' trailer that housed their driver education simulators. We gutted the thing and had a contractor recover the floor and walls, and paint the exterior. We purchased 44 chairs and those small 18" tables hotels use at conferences. The trailer is a bit narrow, but still makes for a great driver training setup, holding 30 with tables and 44 theater-style. Our TV/VCR now has a home there, and recently we've installed white boards, a projector screen and other training aids.
Having our own space really makes training much more convenient.
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BusBoy
Top Member
USA
2042 Posts |
Posted - 12/10/2001 : 11:01:49 AM
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Mr. Dave
You should stick with the banking if you can't give a good answer! I only asked if you had the money to train people wrong from right! It seems you should have the opportunity to be train with better means!
And I don't think you should call other people in our business child!!
Phil,
Your comment was uncalled for! Since you don't even have a license to drive a bus!
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wagonmaster
Top Member
USA
2298 Posts |
Posted - 12/10/2001 : 2:28:15 PM
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We have a training/classroom that we use for our needs. Our new facility being built now also has a training room outfitted with computers, and all the audio/visual stuff. It'll be great to have access to that!
Joe
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BusBoy
Top Member
USA
2042 Posts |
Posted - 12/10/2001 : 4:18:18 PM
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Joe,
How many can your class room hold?
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Phil4747
Top Member
USA
695 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2001 : 06:23:42 AM
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I beg your pardon? I was simply saying that if they can afford to build something like that, why not spend the money somewhere else in the transportation department, like to buy another bus to reduce crowding, or maybe give the drivers a raise.
—Phil
"It's the same way some people are obsessed with cars. I'm just weird." |
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BusBoy
Top Member
USA
2042 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2001 : 09:29:19 AM
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Phil,
I may have not mentioned, but these were old used buses! Money to train drivers is the best way to spend money! Yes, I think salary is important for the drivers, but training them with better means is just as important too! When you go to get you licence to drive a bus you'll see what I'm talking about!
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wagonmaster
Top Member
USA
2298 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2001 : 10:15:00 AM
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BusBoy,
It will hold approx.50, each with a CRT.
Phil,
Sometimes a training area is MORE help than 1 extra bus. Everyone benefits from training, not just a few, and the room will be there forever, not just a few years and then retirement. Further, we plan to build up a bus floor with a working wheelchair lift complete with door, etc to train our ESE staff. It will have the floor and wall tracks and will be used to secure the chairs as in the real thing! Looking forward to it!
Joe
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JK
Top Member
USA
7307 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2001 : 10:29:25 AM
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quote:
BusBoy,
It will hold approx.50, each with a CRT.
Phil,
Sometimes a training area is MORE help than 1 extra bus. Everyone benefits from training, not just a few, and the room will be there forever, not just a few years and then retirement. Further, we plan to build up a bus floor with a working wheelchair lift complete with door, etc to train our ESE staff. It will have the floor and wall tracks and will be used to secure the chairs as in the real thing! Looking forward to it!
Joe
I agree with Wagonmaster and others here that agree ongoing training is important to maintaining a safe operation. Effective training is a must, especially these days. Buses no longer used on the routes are great for all sorts of training. Some districts have a safety bus they put together to teach kids bus safety -- (Schoolbusfleet had an article on that a year or two ago.) A permanent training room for bus drivers is a big plus. (jk)
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Phil4747
Top Member
USA
695 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2001 : 12:29:18 PM
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My mistake, it sounded like they bought portions of the bodies of new buses, which I think is a waste of money. But if they were inexpensive, used buses, then yes, it's definitely a valuable training tool.
—Phil
"It's the same way some people are obsessed with cars. I'm just weird." |
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BusBoy
Top Member
USA
2042 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2001 : 2:11:47 PM
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Phil,
I would like to know what school would buy a new bus and then cut it up! I figured everyone knew that if you use a bus as a training tool, you would buy an old bus to use to teach with.
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BusDiva
Top Member
USA
609 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2001 : 4:38:05 PM
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Okay
After reading some of the responses I was tore up.
First and formost, driver training is the birth of a new bus driver. Everythign in his/ her hands is everything from the trainers position.
Okay, moving on to some points to make understandment clear. Also, please realize that the following is my own opinion and if it offends your opinion or is not within justification of your thinking, then let it be.
I work obviously as we all know for a private contractor who remains annonomous- although some know for who. We run a bus fleet of 43 buses, which run 24 hours a day. We have 28 routes- which consist of regualr ed and special needs- transporting students with a trach, students that are and not limited to: speech and learning impaired, emotional and mentally impaired, mentally impaired, autistic, etc...
My training grounds consist of the following:
An office for paperwork- desk, tv/ vcr, book shelves galoore, file drawers everywhere for state laws, federal laws and personnel.
A classroom: large classroom style whiteboard with magnets. All safety equipment one would find on a bus. A bulletin board for displays, honories, and safety posters. I have room for about 60 some plus drivers and any school staff members that wish to ever attend monthly inserves or cdl/ bus driving classes. I have access to a computer, and the internet. I have a phone line. Most of all, I have room to move around and do demonstrations.
For whatever reason would anyone ever say no to a training room. When you are putting someone behind the wheel of a school bus for the first time, tell mne one valid reaosn there should not be a special room for training. Destructions from driver's, mechanics and everyone else needs to be left alone because a new driver needs concentration and time to learn the job.
The mind has to focus on the responsibility that we are going to give to a new driver.
Not only does training need to be done behind the wheel, but there needs to be plenty of hours of classroom instruction before anything.
I am hoping that no one has ever been taught to just drive a bus because that is neglect to a new employee about work conditions.
New drivers need to be in a sit down environment where group discussions can be done about student behavior, defensive driving, maintenance issues, what's what and the history of school buses.
If you are ina district where the training grounds are poor or there are none, then speak up. The future of bus driver's is all in how we train them. We cannot just show and do. We must put much of the mind, thought and dedication to a new driver because this is a hard driver with much fear.
Investing in the new driver will: prevent lawsuits, prevent tragedies, prevent head aches, prevent parents from calling in consequetively with complaints and most importantly, investing ina new driver will often ensure a new driver will stay on the TEAM. Together Everyone Achieves More.
It's the little things that count |
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mr.dave
Advanced Member
USA
414 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2001 : 6:21:46 PM
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Sorry if I offended you. What I was saying is that the administators I have worked with hate to spend money period. What is spent is often waisted. The training area you mention would be a big step in the direction of better training. A third bus carcus should be added for wheelchair training. A radio lab would also be very helpful. The truth is our training area has used student desks.Not even a chalkboard is added.All you ask for plus what I would like to see added would cost less than one non-injury accident.To say what I said more clearly my district would rather foolishly not spend,than to wisely spend. As for the child comment again I appologise I mistook you for someone younger. -love dave
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thomasvista2012
Top Member
USA
747 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2001 : 6:41:05 PM
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Mr. Dave,
I know how you feel. My districts hates spending money yet loves to waste it. In fact, they had to trim $80 million from our school district. They want to take back the raises they gave our teachers, yet they are wasting extravagant money to buy 150 brand new Bluebird All-Americans, all of them with AIR CONDITIONING. First of all, we really don't need the buses. Second of all, putting a/c in all of our buses when none have it already is stupid and wasteful. I was stronly against that vote, but hey I'm only a high school student, what do I know!
Our district is a mess, especially transportation. I will never come back and work for our district.
If it's big and yellow, then it's a school bus!
http://www.geocities.com/jasonsbuspage |
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wagonmaster
Top Member
USA
2298 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2001 : 08:31:48 AM
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2012,
Your district is rethinking the A/C deal on the new Bluebirds. As of last week the A/C is still on, but they may yet cancel them out. When I was at Bluebird doing our pilot inspection last week, they were waiting to hear the final word. We'll see.
Joe
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BusBoy
Top Member
USA
2042 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2001 : 12:48:42 PM
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Mr. Dave,
Apology excepted!
Kevin
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Brad Barker
Administrator
USA
874 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2001 : 2:54:03 PM
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BOY! I'm sure glad we got through that topic.
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BusDiva
Top Member
USA
609 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2001 : 3:01:31 PM
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We really haven't. Not many wrote what their training room consists of. I think that is what BusBoy wanted or was requesting information on.
Happy Holidays all
It's the little things that count |
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BusBoy
Top Member
USA
2042 Posts |
Posted - 12/13/2001 : 10:18:44 AM
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Brad!
Reading your profile, it looks like you should know that training is a great tool not just for the drivers, but the mechanics as well! I'm sure you had to have alot of that to get where you are now!
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largebus
Advanced Member
USA
468 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2001 : 3:01:14 PM
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We have a training room and conference room at our facility but I've never seen them.
"If it's long, wide and high with wheels it's a bus. If it's yellow with black stripes it's a school bus" |
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kd4jfd
Top Member
USA
1170 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2001 : 3:33:30 PM
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Training room? Oh, you mean when we put chairs in the maintenance bay, or when we rent the local civic center....
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BusBoy
Top Member
USA
2042 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2001 : 04:06:35 AM
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kd4jfd,
Did you not get trained to drive a School Bus from the school system you drive for? The value of being updated on laws both from your state and fedral, is very important. Being trained in event of an emergency if God for bid it ever happens? This is a very serious matter in our filed and we should treat it that way! I'm sorry if I sound harsh, but when it comes to our childrens safty, I feel this is a very important issue!
Edited by - busboy on 12/21/2001 04:07:43 AM |
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Captain Larz
Senior Member
USA
78 Posts |
Posted - 12/28/2001 : 2:31:25 PM
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I would love nothing more than to have a dedicated training room! Sometimes I have to do all the hiring paperwork on a coach!
Larz |
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Topic |
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Training Room
