Suzie’s 50 Years with Student Transit

In the beginning, Suzie came to Student Transit hoping to earn a decent wage as a bus driver after spending time in other industries such as food service and retail. And, very quickly after starting, she fell in love with the job and the people.

Initially, it was a bit intimidating since the training protocol for learning how to drive the bus was quite different from today's.

"Training was basically done on your own. The first time out was with a shop foreman to see if you knew how to drive a stick shift. You were told the basics of when to use red lights, how to drop off students, how to use a stick shift when stopped in the middle of a hill, and how not to roll backward before the clutch engages. There were no trainers after that. Just come in, take a bus, and go practice."

Once she got the hang of things, Suzie enjoyed being a bus driver. After a while, she transitioned into the role of a substitute driver to help cover for when other drivers were sick or overslept. And when she did not have a route, she learned how to do other essential tasks back at the office.

"Eventually, I was shadowing Clarice Campbell (she was amazing) by answering the phone, checking in drivers, and subbing in the AM."

Today, Suzie continues to work in dispatch and assist with routes. She says the best parts about her job are:

• Working with awesome people who make you feel like family
• Having holidays, weekends, and summers off
• Getting to drive a school bus!

Since she has been with the company for nearly half of its existence, Suzie has seen some significant changes throughout the history of Student Transit. (Besides now having paid, on-site training that's a bit more guided.)

"To begin with, the bus numbers started from 100 and are now entering the 500s. Over time, we got Suburbans, Sprinters, and coach buses. Also, before, every route was hand-drawn on a map. That was it. Special needs routes might have consisted of students' names and addresses. The drivers had to figure out which side of the street to pick up and drop off students. We now have computers that do all the routes with turn-by-turn directions. We now have a two-way radio system instead of using CB radios. With CBs, we had to use 'call letters' before and after every transmission, such as saying 'KPF3912, Unit 141 to base' before talking to base, then repeating 'KPF3912 Unit 141 clear' when finished talking to base."

Additionally, she also has many fond personal memories from throughout her employment. One of the most heartwarming moments on the job for her was a morning mishap followed by a sweet gesture.

"On a noon route, I was going to help a mom corral one of her children that took off running down the street. I had the monitor make sure the sibling of the runner was safe on the bus. The sibling took off down the steps and started running the opposite way. So I turned around, slipped on the ice, and fell. Before I could get up, the sibling came back and reached out their hand to help me up."

Suzie has also learned that bus drivers have no idea how their students see them from their own eyes. She recalls that one of her funniest memories came from a surprising student perception.

"I almost always have my sunglasses on. One dark and dismal afternoon, I just had on my normal glasses. A kindergarten student came up the steps, saw me standing there to greet them, and said in astonishment, 'You have eyes!'"

After driving school buses for many years, Suzie is proud to have received several safe driving awards. However, she once had a nerve-wracking experience during a trickier competition.

"Participating in a School Bus Rodeo is truly humbling. I was so nervous I was laughing uncontrollably through the whole course. I am pretty sure I destroyed all the cones. Not a proud moment for sure."

Suzie thinks her coworkers would probably describe her as absent-minded, entertaining, and a little like Judge Judy. She also says she has come back every day for so long because she appreciates the people she works with and the people she works for.

Between the camaraderie and how everyone is treated, Suzie says she is glad to have stayed with the company throughout her career. She knows that bus drivers do make a difference, and after all...

"Not too many people can say 'I LOVE MY JOB!'"

Suzie celebrates her 50th anniversary with Student Transit on October 4, 2023; we couldn't be more thankful for her.

If becoming a bus driver and joining an incredible team that treats you like family sounds like an intriguing career choice, check out our employment page.