Top Bus Driver sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers & results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
What to include in your Bus Driver resume experience section
Checklist: Ways to Make Your Experience Section Stand Out
- Find balance: use 4-6 bullet points per position;
- Include positions that are relevant to the job you’re applying for;
- Use action verbs when describing your responsibilities and results;
- Highlight your achievements by adding numbers to them (e.g. instead of saying “achieved a steady increase in…”, say “achieved an X% increase in…”);
- Prove that you’re willing to work hard, both individually and in a team.
Looking for real-life examples of what a strong experience section looks like? Check out our suggestions below!
- Decreased average student pick-up time by 10% by redesigning pick-up routes and stops
- Developed and implemented training program for new drivers, resulting in a 20% reduction in accidents within the first six months
- Conducted daily vehicle inspections and reported any issues promptly to maintenance department, resulting in 100% vehicle availability for daily routes
- Maintained an accident-free driving record over 5 years with over 20,000 miles driven annually
- Ensured compliance with all federal and state regulations, including proper use of child safety restraint systems
- Implemented behavior management techniques to maintain a safe and respectful environment for all students onboard
- Maintained 100% on-time performance record for daily routes, resulting in high customer satisfaction
- Demonstrated exceptional customer service skills, earning multiple commendations from passengers
- Performed daily pre-trip and post-trip inspections, reporting any issues to maintenance department immediately
- Maintained a clean and well-maintained bus, resulting in zero safety incidents or accidents over the last two years.
- Developed a strong rapport with residents and their families, resulting in a 95% satisfaction rating for transportation services.
- Collaborated with the Maintenance Director to develop a preventative maintenance plan for the bus fleet, resulting in a 30% reduction in maintenance costs.
- Tracked and maintained accurate records of parts ordered and services provided, resulting in a 98% inventory accuracy rating.
- Demonstrated strong adherence to safety procedures and policies, resulting in a 100% compliance rating for safety protocols.
- Delivered an average of 100 packages per day, resulting in a 99% on-time delivery rate.
- Collaborated with dispatchers and other drivers to optimize delivery routes, resulting in a 15% reduction in travel time.
- Maintained a clean and organized delivery vehicle, resulting in a 100% compliance rating for safety and cleanliness protocols.
- Demonstrated excellent customer service skills, resulting in a 97% customer satisfaction rating.
- Trained new drivers on company policies and procedures, resulting in a 25% reduction in training time for new hires.
- Maintained a perfect safety record, resulting in zero accidents or safety incidents over two years.
- Developed positive relationships with students and parents, resulting in a 95% satisfaction rating for transportation services.
- Collaborated with school administrators to plan and execute safe and efficient routes, resulting in a 20% reduction in transportation costs.
- Tracked and maintained accurate records of routes and schedules, resulting in a 98% on-time arrival rate.
- Demonstrated strong adherence to safety procedures and policies, resulting in a 100% compliance rating for safety protocols.
- Followed traffic laws and safety procedures to ensure the safety of all passengers
- Communicated effectively with students, parents, and school staff
- Maintained accurate records of daily routes and mileage
- Performed regular vehicle maintenance and cleanliness checks
- Navigated busy city streets and highways with ease and confidence
- Provided knowledgeable commentary about local landmarks and attractions
- Ensured timely arrival and departure for all scheduled stops
- Assisted with loading and unloading luggage and equipment
- Maintained a clean and orderly bus, ensuring a comfortable and safe ride for students
- Developed positive relationships with students and parents through effective communication
- Coordinated with school staff to ensure timely pick-up and drop-off
- Adhered to all state and federal regulations regarding school bus transportation
PRO TIP
Don't make the same mistake everyone else does. What we mean is, don't list your Bus Driver job responsibilities instead of your achievements. Recruiters know what you do. They want to know what kind of difference you can bring to their company. Focus on what you've accomplished.
Action Verbs for your Bus Driver Resume
Recommended reads:
Taking Control of Your Bus Driver Resume’s Skills Section
Writing a skills section that stands out:
- Check the job advert for keywords that you can use: this will help you pass ATS;
- Focus on relevant and valuable skills that will support your application;
- Make sure to include both hard and technical skills, leaving soft skills for other sections of your Bus Driver resume;
- Don’t list skills you don’t have.
Top skills for your bus driver resume
driving large vehicles
maintaining vehicle safety
managing time schedules
following traffic rules
handling passenger payments
basic vehicle maintenance
reading maps and directions
solving minor vehicle problems
maintaining cleanliness of vehicle
maintaining proper records and reports
effective communication with passengers
patience and calmness
conflict resolution
problem-solving
customer service
time management
ability to work under pressure
attention to detail
flexibility and adaptability
teamwork and collaboration
PRO TIP
When describing your experience, don’t go too far from its terminology. Recruiters use ATS systems to filter resumes based on them having certain keywords, so make sure you use at least a few keywords mentioned in the job description.
Bus Driver resume header: tips, red flags, and best practices
Bus Driver resume summary checklist:
- Your total years of experience
- The industry you’re coming from
- One or two most remarkable accomplishments that have helped you - turn into a great professional
- Short sentences that add value – avoid filler words and phrases
Resume summary formula:
PRO TIP
You’re not going to get hired simply because of a good summary or objective. However, your recruiter can bump you up in front of similarly experienced candidates who didn’t demonstrate such passion and drive.
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The Right Format for Your Bus Driver Resume
When it comes to formatting your Bus Driver resume, there are certain things you need to keep in mind. These include your level of expertise, your total years of experience, and the position and company you’re applying for, to name a few.
You can choose between three basic resume formats:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional skills-based resume format;
- Combination (or Hybrid) resume format.
The reverse-chronological format is just that – all your experience listed in a reverse-chronological way. It’s great for experienced professionals who have been in the industry for many years and have no career gaps.
The functional skills-based resume, on the other hand, focuses on skills, education, and personality traits, rather than experience. This makes it great for graduates, people with less experience, or bigger career gaps. The idea is to show you’re the perfect match without putting too much emphasis on your lack of relevant experience.
If none of these sound suitable, go for a hybrid (or combination) resume. It’s a mix of experience, skills, and personality traits. It’s also considered modern and innovative because of its non-traditional structure and sections. Here, you can add details about what your typical day looks like or what your life philosophy is. In short, the hybrid resume format shows who you are, both as a professional and as an individual.
Here’s our resume format and style checklist:
- Choose a traditional resume font sized 12p;
- Go for standard 1-inch resume margins;
- Match the length of your Bus Driver resume with your experience – choose a one-page template if you have less than 10 years of experience, and be careful with two-page templates;
- Send your resume in PDF – in this way, you’ll avoid formatting issues and potential editing from third parties.
And in case you want to go the extra mile, check out our guide for crafting a resume that stands out.