KBL takes great pride in the fact that all drivers receive the necessary education and training in order to be labelled Professional Drivers and to provide a safe and efficient service to the schools as well as the school children.

Each person who is hired as a School Bus Driver receives all the necessary training prior to completing the MTO road test. The training program consists of many components which adds up to at least 40 hours hands-on training. The training consists of: learning the walk around inspection, learning to manoeuvre a large vehicle outside of town, backing up, tail-swing, cornering, fuelling procedures, completing all MTO and Company required paperwork, learning major and minor defects and how to report to the Service Department, picking up and dropping off students, what to do at railway crossings, wheel chair bus training, securing wheel chairs, bus evacuation, loading zones at schools and winter driving techniques.

Along with an extensive driver training program for new drivers, KBL also has a thorough retraining program should anyone be involved in an accident, incident or require additional coaching following a driver evaluation. This program includes the following: cornering, backing, driving speed in and out of town, defensive driving skills, safe following distances, safe turnarounds, student management, proper mirror positioning, walk around inspection, MTO and Company required paperwork, pick ups and drop offs and any additional topics that are deemed appropriate based on the situation.

The training program that is in place is very thorough and when a driver has completed the course, KBL is confident in his/her ability to transport students to school safely. Our efforts have been validated by the fact that of the individuals who have been trained and tested based on our training curriculum, all have passed the MTO road test.

The majority of the training is completed in Hanover, Ontario at the KBL main facility however, to master the technique of driving a school bus one needs to drive in town and put the practice into reality. When teaching drivers the different driving techniques KBL utilizes several public locations in order to enhance the Driver Training Program. When learning loading zones we go through the schools throughout Grey and Bruce counties to allow the drivers to become familiar with the facilities.

KBL hosts two safety meetings throughout the school year. All KBL drivers are required to attend these safety meetings. It is in these meetings that the drivers are updated with any new information pertaining to their role as a bus driver.

Once a driver has completed the training course and has passed the MTO road test, he/she is required to complete a Defensive Driving course as well as First Aid/CPR. The Defensive Driving course is facilitated by the Transportation Health and Safety Association of Ontario and is approved by the MTO as the required course. The First Aid/CPR course is facilitated by St. John Ambulance and has been approved by the Bluewater District School Board, the Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board and the Conseil Scholaire de District des Ecoles Catholiques as a course that provides the required components. Each driver completes each of these courses every three years.