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Laidlaw104
New Member
USA
1 Posts |
 Posted - 03/01/2003 : 8:58:50 PM
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About 2 months ago, I was dispatching and there was a discrepency between the updated route sheet we had on file in the office and the one the school gave the driver for a late run. The driver called in to inform me that he didn't know where to drop the student, so I pulled the route sheet. I instructed the driver to take the student to 'such and such' stop (I had also talked to the mother earlier). The driver refused because the school told him a different place. But in our district, the transportation director has final say, not individual school principals. And the stop on MY updated sheet was the correct stop. I got into a debate on the radio with the driver (which I feel I handled professionally by staying calm and repeating my request-broken record on adults works too!) and then the driver got back to the lot and wanted to argue with me! I stayed calm and explained to him that I'm not in this office for show, and I do have the authority to instruct him on where to drop a student. And also that I have to take responsibility for anything that goes wrong, not him, while I'm dispatching (in that particular case). I feel I was treated badly by this driver because he is old enough to be my grandfather, and doesn't really take me seriously!
Caring People Serving Communities! |
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Bus#18
New Member
2 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2003 : 9:38:42 PM
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That driver should have follow your instruction since you are the dispatcher. School should not have they say and they only pay for the service to have students transportation.
Edited by - Bus#18 on 03/01/2003 9:42:17 PM |
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John Farr
Top Member
USA
642 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2003 : 8:08:11 PM
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In Oceanside, all school administrators have the same authority over school bus drivers as I, the TD have. When a school administrator asks a driver to do something, they are to comply, unless illegal or immoral. If the driver feels the directive is not appropriate, they are to get the administrator aside, out of earshot of the kids if possible, and give reasons why the directive may not be the best way to go. Administrators rarely give directives, other than to take this child home on a different bus.
That said, the driver arguing with a dispatcher sounded like insubordination to me. Unless there are missing facts, that driver should be reprimanded.
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PHW
Top Member
USA
1345 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2003 : 2:01:36 PM
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Definitely need to sit down with the driver and explain what there role is. Then the driver needs to decide if they're able and willing to follow there role.
PHW
Child Check For Life |
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rltinkey
Senior Member
USA
140 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2003 : 8:41:44 PM
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I like how you remain calm, that way you remain in control. The driver had concerns because why shouldn't the school by right.
Still the driver needs to realize that he works for you not the school, the school is who you provide service to. All you should have had to say was the you had a corrected copy and that you spoke with the parent earlier, end of story.
The driver needs to respect your authority and follow your instructions.
Ray The Bus Driver...
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Debusguy
Senior Member
USA
114 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2003 : 08:12:04 AM
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You were totally correct in your stance, and were wise not to react to the attitude implied in that driver's challenge. The outcome of this incident will surely be fuel for gossip in the driver's room of your garage. In my opinion, that driver should be given a letter explaining how the chain of command works, and what his role is to be regarding a direct order.
Being a young person in a position of authority is hard; having success in a highly visible incident like this, however, should go a long way towards counteracting your youth in the eyes of your staff. Good luck, and congrats on keeping your cool. I haven't always been that successful. LM
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Skewl Bus Boi
Advanced Member
USA
323 Posts |
Posted - 03/05/2003 : 12:55:17 PM
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Try being 18 years old and having to write up a driver for cheating on their time sheet. 
I feel your pain, but if you were hired to do a job, you have every right to do it. If a driver has a problem, it's their problem not yours. I just hope your supervisor stands behind you the way mine does...
—Phil
Double A Transportation — "The People Movers" |
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BPS_Driver
Advanced Member
USA
259 Posts |
Posted - 03/10/2003 : 5:57:52 PM
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I think on this topic it would depend on many thoughts.
1. State law and regulations
2. Company contract and policies and procedures
3. Steps of command
If a principal or person in charge of a school told a driver to take a student here or there, I would request he call me ASAP for a verbal consent and make him aware that liability will be in his control if the stop is unsafe and that the driver is responsible for the safe transportation. I would not give details or debate anything over the 2 way radio because it opens a can of worms for other driver's to jump in to a conversation that does not include them.
Always remember the CYA rule and the court of law- we want to be safe and cover our butts every way possbile.
Check on your local policy about route sheet updates. We stay on top of them and constantly enforce updating.
23 Million safe deliveries a day by all of us |
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Problems faced by younger management
