TARC drivers making final preps to get behind the wheel of JCPS buses

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Former TARC drivers who will soon be driving JCPS buses underwent additional testing Tuesday before getting acquainted with their routes.

Even though TARC drivers are accustomed to navigating an oversized vehicle full of people, becoming a JCPS driver is not as simple as going from behind the wheel of a TARC bus to driving out of Nichols Bus Compound for JCPS.

That's why officials are making certain drivers receive in-depth training to make sure students are safe on school buses.

As part of that process, on Tuesday, 38 of the 70 additional drivers slated to drive for JCPS took written and vision exams.

They'll take the road test in two weeks.

The written exam is an additional certification, on top of their Commercial Driver's License. It contains questions specific to school buses that a passenger bus driver for TARC wouldn't have to worry about.

JCPS officials said they're doing everything they can to make sure they don't repeat last year's chaotic first day, when some students didn't get home until 10 p.m., and two days of classes were canceled to resolve the issues.

JCPS Chief Operating Officer Dr. Rob Fulk said the district has been carefully planning for the first day of classes.

"Our entire focus in operations has been for, since the beginning of last year and moving forward that we have a successful first day of school this year," Fulk said. "We have put in several measures, quality check routes this year, our drivers are running routes today. They have the opportunity to run their routes everyday this week. They did last week, so those routes are locked in for the first day of school."

Right now, about a dozen TARC drivers are expected to be ready by the first day of school. The rest should start in mid-September.

District leaders are expecting all current bus drivers to be ready by the time classes resume on Aug. 8.

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