Friendly employees, very under staffed/funded - Bus Driver First Student Employee Review

3.0
15 Mar 2018
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Like most school bus operations, they will train you to get your CDL in about a month. You will earn near minimum wage during training and they pay your DMV fees. Training staff is often pulled from Belvidere, and seems first rate. There are a couple trainers in Rockton who are just terrible, and this is from a certified trainer’s perspective. Most of the routes have well behaved students, and most coworkers are nice, so it’s not a bad place to work for a part time/split shift job.

Cons

The Rockton, IL location operates as a satellite branch of the much larger Belvidere, IL First Student bus operation. The Rockton location handles bus transport for all public schools in Roscoe, Rockton, Shirland, and South Beloit, as well as for hire charter trips. The great majority of folks here are extremely pleasant. It is very much a shoe string operation, always undermanned and underfunded. The building and outdoor bus lot really shows its age and lack if upkeep. Office employees (all employees have their CDL) frequently are pulled off their desk to drive unfilled routes. Pay is just $13.00/hour (20 hour min week guaranteed) and it seems they have a rough time keeping staff.

Explore other reviews about First Student

5.0
13 Dec 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great part-time job for retired people.

Cons

Sometimes noisy and misbehaving children.

4.0
14 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Largest employer in the industry. Positive structural changes Investment in infrastructure

Cons

Frequently behind the wheel of a bus which limits value at position Very long hours due to need to complete work while spending significant portion of the day filling in on open routes

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