That finding and others in SBF's new Driver Training Survey suggest that the industry's commitment to thorough instruction of school bus drivers remains strong — even in a time of widespread budget shortfalls.

The full survey appears in our forthcoming April/May issue, but here I'll share a few other interesting findings that don't appear in the print edition.

In the questionnaire, I asked school transportation managers and trainers whether they cover certain topics in their operation's training program. In most cases, more than 90 percent of respondents answered in the affirmative.

Question: Do your school bus drivers receive training on these topics?

• Avoiding distracted driving — Yes: 96 percent; No: 4 percent

• How to instruct passengers on bus safety procedures — Yes: 95 percent; No: 5 percent

• Student behavior management — Yes: 98 percent; No: 2 percent

• Dealing with parents — Yes: 83 percent; No: 17 percent

• Performing post-trip bus inspections — Yes: 97 percent; No: 3 percent

A similarly positive finding came from a question on transporting students with disabilities.

Question: If your operation transports any special-needs students, do the bus drivers who transport them receive any specific special-needs training?

Among the operations that do transport special-needs students, 93 percent answered yes, while 7 percent answered no.

I also asked a few open-ended questions that I didn't end up including in the survey feature. Here are some notable responses to one of them.

Question: What is the most important factor to look for when selecting driver trainers?

• "Excellent driving and people skills"

• "Leadership skills, organizational skills, people skills"

• "You want someone who cares about the job, not just the money."

• "Integrity"

• "Knowledge of laws, regulations and vehicle operation"

• "Driving record"

• "Are they currently practicing all current procedures and safety rules on their own route with students and themselves?"

• "Attention to detail"

• "Experience"

• "Knowledge and the ability to convey information clearly. Need someone well liked by other drivers and must have a good sense of humor."

Be sure to check out our April/May print issue for the full results of the new Driver Training Survey. Premium members can also download it and other research on our website here.

— Thomas McMahon, executive editor