Behind the Wheel: A look at local school bus drivers

For students, it’s a ride to school, but for bus drivers, it’s their job.

“I have been a big fan of buses since I was little, I rode the bus throughout the whole school years,”

Fernando Carillo is one of the school bus drivers working for the Yuma Schools Transportation. A career he decided to do since he was a child.

“I used to take pictures of the buses every year, sit next to the driver, talk to them, and hear the engine. That’s what makes me come here.”

As early as four in the morning, five days a week, every shift begins with an empty bus. Veronica Duarte, a school bus driver for children with special needs, conducts a safety inspection before making her first stop.

“I start doing my pre-check for my bus, making sure everything is right, functioning right, so I can start my route.”

For Fernando, it’s the same routine but a different route every year.

“For seven years I drove 83 elementary kids, and 54 high schoolers.This year with my different route, I’m up to 30 elementary students and 40 high schoolers-everyday, morning and afternoon.”

Veronica and Fernando are only two of the school bus drivers working in Yuma County. Their responsibilities include endless routes, safety procedures, and even their passengers’ names.

“In my own opinion, it’s amazing because knowing that you can handle that many kids, it’s really fun to drive a bus,” said Fernando. “To see them happy and enjoying the ride, whether they’re listening to music or reading-it’s a lot of fun.”

However, Veronica handles different tasks, like catering to children with special needs and making sure each child has a seatbelt on before driving.

“I drive a special needs a bus,a smaller bus. Some students need to be transferred to a wheelchair and it also has seatbelts, so all of my kids wear seatbelts.”

It’s not only greeting children with a smile every morning, but there’s also a story behind the wheel.

“I have to work two jobs due to the wage we have as a bus driver,” said Veronica. “I don’t make enough money so I have to rely on a second job. From four in the morning, then I’m out of here at five in the evening, and then I go to my second job at 5:15 til 9:30 or 10.”

It was only a few months ago where the state of Arizona went through an education crisis. With educators and school staff demanding higher pay and more resources. For bus drivers, it was a different story.

“I wasn’t aware of what it was,” said Fernando. ” At the moment I was a little stress because we didn’t have work or had unpaid work, and I think that why most people don’t apply because it’s not enough salary and they know all the responsibilities we have because we have a lot of responsibility.”

According to Salary.com, the average pay for a school bus driver in Yuma is a little over 34,000 a year. An income Veronica couldn’t have alone to support her family.

“My daughter is in her senior year in high school and she’s planning to go to a university, and I know that it’s going to be very expensive. That’s the reason why I have a second job, so I can save that money because it’s going to be a needed.”

It’s the responsibility of driving a large vehicle with thirty plus children. A career that Veronica and Fernando say that not everyone can do.

“It could be challenging but not hard,” said Fernando. “I have learned a lot of patience and love because sometimes the students show you more than you can show them.”

As much as Veronica loves her job and the relationships she has with her students, she sometimes feels left out.

“Most of the credit we give is to our teachers, which is awesome because they provide the future for our kids, but we’re the ones who take them [students] to them.”

In the State of Arizona, there is currently a shortage on school bus drivers including in Yuma County. If you would like to learn more about being a school bus driver and how you can apply, click here.