bus driver

driver

diesel mechanic

dispatcher

payroll administrator

Zum Services, Inc

It was a slow start getting driving with Zum though I'd already been background checked and years of home daycare experience.. I understand having to redo the fingerprints but it was one thing or another. I was finally approved, then my Dad passed away so I couldn't take rides for a couple weeks.

I was finally ready and even though I'd completed the availability it kept asking me to do it. This went on a couple weeks. I was always offered last minute rides 15 miles from my home or so.. didn't work with getting my own kids home. I didn't realize how it worked until after the first couple weeks I was finally assigned rides.. maybe it just takes them that long to give newbies assigned rides instead of last minute ones. The rides were still 15-20 miles away in bay area traffic for $18 each.. I finally took one just to get one.. to make $18 it took 20 min to get there and 30 to get home plus gas and the 10 min wait time since I arrived early and 10 min drive.. I don't like to leave my own kids alone more than 3o min after school so add in the FastTrak cost to get home and I actually lost money. I won't take those rides again.

Finally got regular rides and kids that said I was their "favorite" and their "regular" but went on vacay for a week in Hawaii with my family and now I can't get a ride.

I used the service for my own kids one time to see the other side. Driver was prompt and onetime but the company never responded before my kids got picked up with a text from the driver saying he was going to be in a different car. From training this is a big no no due to inspections and such and no text back and no human to talk to made me upset as a parent. The still arrived but it makes me lack trust in the company as well as the last child I picked up before our vacay apparently had been cancelled. He child wasn't notified nor was I so took her home as usual only to sit and wait 30 min so someone else could come get her because of this.. again.. not paid time but I wasn't going to leave a child even in middle school just sitting on her front step. I understand bad reviews from parents as many drivers with other rides lined up would likely drive away.

Seniority really delegates work/ route availability, especially during summer. Work not guaranteed during summer break if seniority is low, plan ahead for this with taking trips during midday and weekends the rest of the school year. EDD/unemployment might not cover all living expenses in the school breaks. 
Training department could improve by providing regularly scheduled, varied classes to assist with drivers keeping on top of required training hours. I recommend using an online training portal/ platform to share with drivers so they may work from home on their hours, and to provide compensation for that time. This portal could also be used for storing drivers documentation so that drivers may update files when necessary. 
Management could provide and require mass driver meetings at the end of school year (before summer break) to have drivers sign back-to-work agreements that also inform the drivers of exactly when their start date is. If the start date is prior to the first day of school, due to dry run and other trainings, this information would be provided in person with signed agreement prior to break. This could also be done when we are all returning our keys, tablets and other items on the last day of school during the item return process.
The ratio of management to worker makes it difficult to receive adequate communication to the worker and puts a much heavier workload on the small management staff comparatively. 

A typical day at work: A typical day at work includes pre-trip inspections on the vehicle you were driving, loading and unloading of special-needs students and reporting any issues to dispatch and via app creating a report. I like the fact that it’s a split shift and I can get done what I need to do in my personal time every day. 

What I learned: I learned a lot, they have a great program to help you get your class B with your endorsements with paid training. The only frustrating thing is that you only get paid for the training that they want to pay you for, which was 25 hours and a lot of people needed more than that, so if you go over that 25 hours you’re donating your time basically.

Management: When I first started with the company, Management was great! With the new school year starting things took a turn for the worst. They are making way too many changes and expecting too much with little pay and hours.

Workplace culture: everybody at the yard is amazing and kind. I will miss them all!

The hardest part of the job: dealing with special needs students with different Personalities and not knowing what to expect from them each day. Not being able to choose which city you want to drive in.

The most enjoyable part of the job: The kids, the people I worked with, their training program.

A typical day at Zum 5:30 AM to 6 AM arrival sign-in.
Next, inspect your bus by doing a pre-trip, check lights, mirrors, brakes, and Outside damages, and cleanliness. Start your ride drive bus to pick up special needs students from door-to-door then drop them at their individual schools.

I believe I learned how to interact with all types of personalities and work as a team. I have also learned how to work successfully with special needs children.

Management is fair to some degree. However, it is difficult for them to access the truth between that bus driver and the attendant, because a lot of driver lie or embellished the truth of an incident.

Workplace culture is real good because management goes above and beyond to give incentives to their employees. Plus they pay you if you attend meetings and feed their employees when they have meetings.

The hardest part of working as a Zum bus attendant is dealing with the personality and ego of the bus driver that you be assigned to work with. Attendants don’t get to choose their bus driver.

I Feel the most enjoyable part of working as a Zum bus attendant is traveling around the city and seeing beautiful scenic views. 
Plus, You get to meet some parents and love up on the children.


My opinion about:

- A typical day at work: Show up on time, drive your bus the best you can (minimizing radio noise for other people), do something while waiting for the afternoon route, drive your bus on time again.

- What you believe you learned: Free training

- Management: Yeah, there is some. . . .

- Workplace culture: There are 3 types/categories of employees: 1) Show up and interact with other people as little as possible (get your necessary stuff from Dispatch and go drive a bus; 2) Appear and see what notices are around in the breakroom, get your stuff from Dispatch, and go drive a bus; 3) Show up and hang around in the break room, get your stuff from Dispatch as/when needed, drive, return and hang around all day in the breakroom and keep caught up on all the goings on, drive some more.

- The hardest part of the job: Route tablet may or may not be functional or useful; You might find it difficult to find the things necessary to clean your bus

- The most enjoyable part of the job: The bests part is driving around and picking up and dropping off students.  If everything else worked right/consistently things would be perfect.

Working for any school system at this point isn't worth it. Day to day is pretty chill, you get on your bus clock in do your route and clock out and go home. If you really want to see a decent check you have to be doing midday routes and sports route. But just doing your regular route specially if you're under 8 hrs. isn't really worth it. They raised our payrate but cut our hours and now you have to do extra work to even see a decent check. For some people working extra hours doesn't always work for everyone. The company changed how they are giving our sign on bonus because 20 of the new drivers they hired quit on the 1st week of school after they got their cdl and their $2000 bonus up front. So now the rest of the drivers have been penalized and you will only receive a $500 bonus a month if you don't miss any days of work (unless you have an excused note to turn in). Don't get paid when school is closed (they do offer some holidays pay) but when we go on Christmas break, we don't get paid at all. If the county wants to stop losing drivers everyone needs to be getting paid a minimum of 8hrs a day just based off the economy.

Working at Ridezum has been transformative, primarily due to its leadership's unparalleled transparency. The company routinely shares plans, metrics, and board decks in weekly All Hands meetings, marking the highest level of openness I've seen throughout my career. Unique initiatives like the monthly "collective mind" series, where we delve deep into topics such as effective feedback, are both educational and enjoyable. The sessions, led energetically by the CEO and leadership, are a testament to the company's commitment to its employees. Moreover, the swift transition to remote work not only established a transparent culture but also made the team feel more cohesive. It genuinely feels like a collaborative effort in building the company. My teammates are an added bonus, always eager to share and collaborate, making the experience even more enriching.

It is a place where every individual is given the chance to excel and reach their peak potential. One of the most commendable practices is the leadership's commitment to transparency, evident from our weekly meetings where important aspects of the job are shared openly. This not only fosters trust but also makes everyone feel included in the bigger picture. Beyond work, there are numerous opportunities for us to bond and help one another, strengthening our camaraderie. We tackle challenges with a collective mindset, which significantly eases our day-to-day operations. The icing on the cake is the competitive compensation, coupled with paid training, ensuring we are rewarded aptly for our dedication and hard work.

The team operates in a fast-paced environment, yet it remains highly supportive, allowing each individual to thrive and reach their full potential. The company recognizes the importance of providing sufficient resources to support our personal and professional growth and advancement. Communication within the organization is effective, with clear guidance and a shared vision from top down. Working collaboratively as a team to achieve goals and leveraging the strengths of each individual remains the norm. One of our cultural values is to understand the whole context before implementing any solution, which ensures thoughtful decision-making and comprehensive problem-solving.

The company's approach not only builds trust but also encourages active participation from all team members, leading to a collaborative and inclusive work environment. Through continuous training opportunities and career development initiatives, the company demonstrates its commitment to helping employees reach their full potential and fulfill their career ambitions. Effective communication channels and clear leadership direction foster a shared vision that unites us as a cohesive team. This unity and purpose motivate us to work towards common goals and consistently deliver exceptional results.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Bus driver 64 salaries reported	$31.33 per hour
Driver 6 salaries reported	$20.92 per hour
Diesel mechanic 4 salaries reported	$39.17 per hour
Dispatcher 5 salaries reported	$30.60 per hour
Payroll administrator 2 salaries reported	$30.50 per hour

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