Bus driving Facts in Jeff Davis Parish

You must be 21 years of age.

Have 20/40 vision or better.

Fill out an Application for Substitute Work form at the School Board office in Jennings at 203 East Plaquemine Street. The phone number is 337-824-2003.

Fill out an Authorization to Disclose Criminal History Records Information form at the School Board Office.

30 hours of Pre-service training in Rules Regulations, Defensive Driving, and First Aid/CPR can be taken in Calcasieu or Jeff Davis Parish. Classes are held each fall, spring and summer and run Monday thru Thursday for two to three weeks. Call this office to find out the dates 824-2003.

Take your completion certificates and receipts to Ms. Lelia Arceneaux who is transportation secretary. Her office is in the School Board Office in Jennings 824-2003.

Get a CDL physical examination from Yvonne Kreilow or Dr. Kang in Welsh and Dr. Lilly in Iowa. The School Board will pay for it. We will only pay for the exam if you go to one of these doctors.

Get your CDL Learner’s Permit from the Office of Motor Vehicles in Lake Charles 951 Main Street or in Jennings. You will take the general knowledge, passenger and school bus portions of the CDL test to receive your learners permit. The School Board will reimburse you the $15.00 for the learner permit registration fee. Keep your receipt. Before they will give you the Learner’s Permit, you must show them a copy of the long form CDL Physical Examination that you passed. You have 6 months from this date to complete the CDL license process.

Get with a certified bus driver in Jeff Davis Parish after you have your learner’s permit and begin learning how to do a pre-trip inspection, and how to handle a bus. Complete your requirements for On the Bus Training with this certified bus driver. You will observe the bus driver while on a route. You will drive the bus empty under the supervision of the certified driver. Finally you will drive the bus loaded under the certified driver’s supervision. The driver will keep a record of your 10 to 20 hour of training, and will sign the form upon your completion. You will take the signed form to Ms. Arceneaux.

Make arrangements with Calcasieu Parish Transportation Dept to take a 3 part driving skills test. They will quiz you on pre-trip inspections and test your skill in handling a bus on a closed course and on the road. Make arrangements with a certified parish driver to take you and their bus to the driving test in Lake Charles. Make sure the bus you test in is a Class “B” bus with a GVWR of 26,001 lbs or more. Jeff Davis Parish will not interview potential drivers who hold less than Class “B” CDL or drivers with no “S” School Bus Endorsement or “P” Passenger Endorsement.

Return to the Louisiana State Office of Motor Vehicles with your skills certificate from the Calcasieu Parish Transportation Dept. for completing your Driving Skills Test, and get your Class “B” CDL license with a “S” endorsement. It will cost you $55.00 for the CDL plus $5.00 per endorsement. We do not pay for this.

Update you application with Jeff Davis Parish School Board by indicating on the application that you are a certified bus driver. See Lelia and give her a copy of your CDL and physical examination.

With a CDL license you are not guaranteed a bus driver’s job in Jeff Davis Parish. Most often you will have the opportunity to substitute drive within Jeff Davis Parish before you apply for a full-time driver’s position. Positions are filled after a formal interview and a recommendation from the Superintendent. New bus drivers positions are advertised in the Jennings Daily News.

After you are certified, you will be required to attend a bus driver’s in-service every year to remain current.

Starting salary (2016-2017) for a full-time driver in Jeff Davis Parish is approximately $16,460 plus retirement and medical benefits. The School Board pays for all fuel and bus expenses.

If you have any questions you can call me at 337-824-2003, CDL help desk at 225-925-4195, Nancy at the OMV in Lake Charles 337-491-2533, or contact www.dps.state.la.us/omv/home.html

Thanks for your interest,

Ben Oustalet, Supervisor of Transportation