3 Ways to Save Money


Item 1 : Items Left on the Bus

Periodically a student will leave a lunch, backpack or some other item on the bus. When this happens in the morning, the driver wanting to be helpful may offer to return it to the student's school. This is more costly than one might think. The costs vary, but as an example if the driver travels 5 miles extra and adds 30 minutes to their timecard

30 minutes @ $16.00/hr = $8.00
5 miles @ $2.00/mile= $10.00

There are other options.

Whenever possible a bus should be walked before leaving the school and items taken to the office. If that is not possible than forgot lunches could be dropped of by a kindergarden driver, or else the school will credit a lunch to the student. Other items could be held until pm run or returned by kindergarden driver.

 

 

 

 
Item 2 : "Extra Work."

If a greater effort would be applyed to assigning extra work I believe a reduction in labor costs could be achieved.

First off it should be relized that a 'Spare Driver' is the most expensive driver. Any work they do (in a normal 5 day week) outside of their assigned hours is overtime. Your least expensive driver is the driver who is between 30 and 40 hours. This driver has his benifits met and is not in overtime.

It has been the practice to have spare drivers do any non-route work assigned to a sick driver. This practice costs the district 1/3 more per hour. Inaddition when an "all call" goes out over the radio, spares and 40 hour plus drivers are not discouraged from responding. As much time as possible should be allowed to cover unassigned work before going to the spares and 40 hour plus drivers.

Besides the reduction in labor costs by approximately 1/3, Driver retention may be improved. There are a few drivers with under 30 hours not meeting their benifit threshold. It is not realistic to expect them to remain with us. The same could be said of the 30-40hr drivers. Most routes that do not have a kindy are between 6 and 7 hours a day. If a regular route driver wants to get 40 hours he/she needs to get about two extra work assignments a week. It would be a shame if we loose a driver who oouldn't make his/her 40 hour goal while others are getting 8-12 (or more??)hours overtime a week.

 

 


Item 3 : 30 Minute Rule

As it stands now a driver is required to return to base and go off the clock if he/she can for 30 minutes. With the rising cost of fuel and bus maintance perhaps it is time to re-think the 30 minute rule maybe a 45 minute rule would be more in tune with rising costs. No consideration is given to how many miles a driver needs to travel to return; In some cases the rule seems impractical. For instance a kindy driver at Jacob Wismer stationed at 5th Street Station returns to base only to travel back out to Westview 90 minutes later. If this driver stayed out and took a 30 minute lunch some savings might be seen.