Director of Transportation 

School Year: 2026-2027

Days of Employment: 240

 

Job Description:

The Director of School Transportation is responsible for the overall leadership, management, safety, and efficient operation of the school district’s transportation program. The Director plans, organizes, supervises, and evaluates transportation services to ensure safe, reliable, efficient, and legally compliant transportation for students.

The Director serves as the primary administrator responsible for transportation operations and works closely with district leadership, school administrators, transportation employees, parents, students, and state regulatory agencies.

Required Qualifications:

• Current and valid Commercial Driver’s License. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Successful prior experience supervising a school district transportation department.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Transportation Operations

• Direct and manage all daily transportation operations.
• Develop and maintain efficient bus routes, schedules, and transportation plans.
• Monitor daily bus operations, including on-time performance, route coverage, and service interruptions.
• Ensure adequate transportation coverage for regular routes, special programs, athletics, field trips, and extracurricular activities.
• Respond promptly to transportation emergencies and operational concerns.
• Establish procedures for substitute drivers and route coverage.

Safety and Compliance

• Maintain a comprehensive transportation safety program.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and school district policies.
• Monitor required driver qualifications, certifications, training, licenses, physical examinations, and background requirements.
• Ensure buses receive required inspections, maintenance, and safety checks.
• Investigate accidents, incidents, complaints, and safety concerns and make recommendations for corrective action.
• Maintain appropriate transportation records and documentation.
• Conduct regular safety inspections and operational reviews.

Personnel Management

• Recruit, interview, recommend, assign, supervise, and evaluate transportation personnel.
• Establish clear expectations and performance standards for transportation employees.
• Address employee performance, attendance, conduct, and operational concerns in accordance with district policies.
• Coordinate employee training and professional development.
• Maintain appropriate staffing levels to meet transportation needs.
• Develop work schedules and assignments for transportation personnel.
• Promote positive employee relations and a professional work environment.

Budget and Fiscal Management

• Develop and manage the Transportation Department budget.
• Monitor expenditures and ensure responsible use of district resources.
• Prepare budget requests and recommendations for transportation equipment, buses, technology, staffing, fuel, maintenance, and other operational needs.
• Monitor fuel usage and transportation-related costs.
• Assist with purchasing and procurement processes.
• Maintain appropriate financial and inventory records.

Fleet Management

• Oversee the district’s school bus fleet and transportation equipment.
• Establish preventive maintenance schedules in coordination with maintenance personnel or contracted providers.
• Monitor bus condition, mileage, repairs, inspections, and replacement needs.
• Make recommendations regarding bus purchases, replacements, surplus, and long-term fleet planning.
• Ensure transportation facilities, equipment, and vehicles are maintained in safe operating condition.

Routing and Technology

• Oversee transportation routing software and related technology.
• Review routes regularly for efficiency, safety, and changing student needs.
• Analyze ridership, mileage, transportation costs, and route performance.
• Use transportation data to improve operational efficiency.

Communication and Customer Service

• Maintain effective communication with principals, district administrators, parents, students, and transportation employees.
• Respond professionally to transportation complaints and concerns.
• Communicate transportation changes, delays, emergencies, and service interruptions.
• Work with school administrators regarding student transportation issues.
• Develop positive relationships with schools and the community.

Emergency Management

• Develop and maintain transportation emergency procedures.
• Coordinate transportation response during severe weather, accidents, evacuations, school closures, and other emergencies.
• Participate in district emergency preparedness planning.
• Ensure transportation personnel understand emergency procedures and communication protocols.

Athletics and Special Transportation

• Coordinate transportation for athletic teams, field trips, extracurricular activities, and special events.
• Establish procedures for requesting and scheduling activity buses.
• Ensure appropriate drivers and vehicles are assigned.
• Monitor transportation costs associated with extracurricular activities.

Student Transportation Responsibilities

• Ensure students are transported safely and appropriately.
• Establish procedures for student loading and unloading.
• Address transportation-related student discipline concerns in coordination with school administrators.
• Ensure transportation services appropriately accommodate students with special transportation needs.
• Work with special education personnel regarding transportation requirements.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The Director should possess:

• Strong knowledge of school transportation operations and safety practices.
• Knowledge of applicable transportation laws, regulations, and district policies.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Effective leadership and personnel-management abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage budgets and analyze operational data.
• Ability to respond effectively to emergencies and high-pressure situations.
• Ability to establish priorities and meet deadlines.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to work collaboratively with district and school administrators.
• Ability to use transportation management software and other technology.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred; equivalent combination of education and experience may be substitutedPrevious supervisory or administrative experience.
• Minimum of 5 years or more of supervisory experience 
• Experience in school transportation or a related transportation operation preferred.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Ability to obtain and maintain any required state transportation certifications.
• Demonstrated experience supervising employees and managing complex operations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience as a school transportation administrator or supervisor.
• Experience with school bus routing software.
• Experience managing a school bus fleet.
• Knowledge of South Carolina school transportation requirements.
• Experience with transportation budgets and state reporting.
• Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with appropriate school bus/passenger endorsements, if required by the district.

Working Conditions

• Work is performed in an office, transportation facility, school, and outdoor environments.
• The position requires frequent interaction with transportation employees, school administrators, students, parents, and community members.
• May require work outside normal business hours, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, athletic events, and emergencies.
• May require travel between schools, transportation facilities, and other district locations.
• Must be able to respond to transportation emergencies as needed.

Performance Expectations

The Director of School Transportation is expected to:

1. Maintain a safe and reliable transportation system.
2. Ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and district policies.
3. Maintain appropriate staffing and driver coverage.
4. Provide effective supervision and accountability of transportation personnel.
5. Maintain accurate transportation records and documentation.
6. Manage the department within the approved budget.
7. Maintain an effective preventive maintenance program.
8. Provide timely and professional communication.
9. Continuously evaluate routes and operations for efficiency.
10. Support the district's overall mission and commitment to student safety.

 

All applicants must have current and valid CDL licensure; excellent driving history and record; a clear drug screening/physical, and a clear background/criminal SLED check. All applicants need to provide 3 professional references.

 

References: Please be sure to provide references that can attest to your ability to perform the duties listed in the job description and for the position in which you are applying. References should include, but are not limited to, previous supervisors/managers, colleagues, current or previous instructors, current principal or assistant principal, etc. When providing references please include a current and valid email address for each reference. All applicants must provide 3 references. Immediately upon your application submission, your references will be emailed a reference request.