Eve – School Bus Driver

AWIC interviewed different local professionals for an inside look into their work. You can learn more about Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators (NOC 7512 ) through a detailed Career Profile.

Eve Webb is a School Bus Driver for AJ Bus Lines in East Algoma.

What does a typical day look like for you?

Typical is early morning to do a circle check of the bus, bus run, sweep bus usually about 2 hours of time. On my own time until mid day when head back to the school to get the bus in line for students, bus run, sweep bus for a total of about 1.5 hours.

What was the education and training needed for your job? Any additional training for your current position?

Within the company I currently work for we are lucky enough to be trained and licensed by our company. We take refreshers/courses every year.

Why and when did you choose this career? What have you learned since you started?

I’ve been licensed coming up on 7 years. It suited our family very well and my mom has been driving well over 20 years.

What skills do you have that make you great at your job?

Good driver, on time, and a mama bear 🙂

What is the biggest thing you have learned on the job?

Same route every day…but every day is different.

What is the best part of your job?

the “good morning” and “have a good night” from my kids.

What is something challenging about your job?

Weather and depending on other people to be on time but that is very rare.

What advice would you give to someone interested in pursuing the career?

For a retiree or stay at home mom…best job ever!

How would you say COVID-19 has affected your day-today-work? (Job duties, commute, check-in process, etc.)

We are self regulated as we start from home…most of us. We wear a mask, “check in” when we start our run basically saying self covid check is good and ready to go, spray down every inch of the inside of the bus after every run, ensure kids are wearing their masks.

What has it been like to be an essential worker during a world-wide pandemic?

Like everyone else, be as safe as possible for the ones that can’t get vaccinated.

Have you experienced loss or personal struggles since the beginning of the pandemic? How have you and your co-workers coped with working through the shut-down?

Schools shut down, we shut down.

Could you share how being an essential worker during the pandemic has made this more personally fulfilling career?

I miss the little things…I miss my kids getting on the bus with a big toothless smile with excitement to tell me they lost a tooth.