Classes begin soon and bus drivers around the area participated in training this week in St. Joseph.

According to Apple Bus Area Regional Manager Kim Green, 120 bus drivers from around the area participated in the back-to-school training Monday and Tuesday at Hillyard Technical Center. 

Linda McDowell with Apple Bus Company said the training covered a variety of everyday and emergency situations. 

“(We) make sure they’re doing their backing right, their back tail swings, we’re doing emergency evacuations, we’re doing the school bus stops,” McDowell said. “It’s to make the drivers aware of the oncoming year, just a little bit of what we’re working with on an everyday basis.” 

McDowell said the training drills cover situations such as emergency evacuations.

“We show them emergency exits, we show them exits on top, we show them the radio, how to use it, all the emergency windows, just show them how to get on and off so we know how to do it so we can tell our students,” McDowell said.

McDowell said classroom training over the two days included new driver orientation, refresher courses, information on insurance and more.

According to Green, drivers must complete eight hours of safety training per year to keep their Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).

Classes for the St. Joseph School District begin August 16th.