Driver Trainer
Location: Ottawa, ON
Schedule: Full Time
Salary: $54,787.20 annually
Position Summary
First Student is seeking an experienced, safety-focused Driver Trainer to join our Ottawa location.
This position is designed for a highly skilled and respected driver who takes pride in developing others. We are looking for a valued team member who demonstrates leadership, flexibility, and a strong commitment to building the next generation of safe school bus drivers.
In this role, you will deliver classroom and behind-the-wheel training to both new and existing drivers, support the driver candidate pipeline, enhance the overall driver experience, and contribute to a culture of safety, professionalism, and continuous improvement.
This opportunity is ideal for an experienced school bus driver who enjoys mentoring others, sharing knowledge, and playing a key role in strengthening the team.
Availability Expectations
The Driver Trainer must demonstrate flexibility and availability based on operational and training demands, which includes:
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Availability Monday through Friday, minimum 40 hours per week
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Potential availability on weekends based on operational and training needs.
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Availability during peak periods, including summer and the Christmas season.
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Flexibility to support urgent or time-sensitive training requirements.
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Must be able to travel throughout assigned region as needed
Flexibility to adhere to travel schedule adjustments directed by the AGM or ATM.
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Key Responsibilities
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Deliver classroom, skills and on the road training for new school bus drivers.
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Provide refresher, remedial, and upgrade training to existing drivers as required.
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Support the driver candidate pipeline through onboarding and training activities.
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Contribute to a positive, professional, and engaging candidate and driver experience.
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Coach and mentor drivers with a focus on safe driving practices, regulatory compliance, and confidence-building.
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Take pride in developing driver skills and fostering long-term success.
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Evaluate driver performance to ensure required skill levels and certifications are achieved and maintained.
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Maintain accurate training records in accordance with provincial, First Student, and contract requirements.
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Identify performance gaps and collaborate with local leadership to develop targeted training plans.
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Support overall safety initiatives at the location.
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Participate in meetings and training sessions as required.
Perform other safety and training-related duties as assigned.
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Qualifications & Experience
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Valid Class B (or higher) with appropriate endorsements
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Minimum 3 years of school bus or commercial driving experience
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Clean driver abstract with no preventable collisions or moving violations in past three (3) years dated within the past 30 days
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Strong communication, mentoring, and coaching abilities
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Professional, dependable, and respected by peers
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Ability to work independently with limited supervision
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Demonstrated commitment to safety excellence
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Attendance: No more than one (1) unexcused absence in the previous 12 months
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Warning Record: No More than one (1) written warning in the previous 12 months
How We Recognize your Value:
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Opportunity to serve as a valued and respected leader within the location
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Meaningful impact on driver development and community safety
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Great health benefits
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Supportive, team-focused work environment
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Opportunities for growth and advancement
Apply now and help train and develop the next generation of safe school bus drivers at First Student.
We aspire to create a culture where all people are First. We encourage applications from women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, and members of visible minorities. Reasonable accommodation is available throughout the hiring process.
First for a reason:
At First Student, we are a family of 60,000+ employees who take pride in safely transporting more than 5 million students and passengers to and from their destinations each day! Our family of brands include Transco, Total Transportation, Maggies Paratransit, and GVC II. Our employees are at the forefront of safety and innovation; they create and implement the most advanced training and technology the transportation industry has to offer.
