Bus route supervisor
Also known as: bus route manager, bus dispatcher, coach route manager, transit supervisor, coach route supervisor, supervisor of bus routes
About this occupation
Bus route supervisors coordinate vehicle movements, routes and drivers, and may supervise loading, unloading, and checking of baggage or express shipped by bus.
Essential skills and knowledge
- analyse work-related written reports
- give instructions to staff
- manage assignment of bus routes
- keep task records
- road transport legislation
- have computer literacy
- match vehicles with routes
- monitor drivers
- investigate road accidents
- condition of local roads
- communicate verbal instructions
- road traffic laws
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile School Bus Monitors (O*NET 33-9094.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Buckle seatbelts or fasten wheelchair tie-down straps to secure passengers for transportation.
- Escort young children across roads or highways.
- Assist children with disabilities or children with psychological, emotional, or behavioral issues with boarding and exiting the school bus.
- Monitor the conduct of students to maintain discipline and safety.
- Evacuate students from the school bus in emergency situations.
- Direct students boarding and exiting the school bus.
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Social, Conventional, Realistic
Top skills: Monitoring, Speaking, Social Perceptiveness, Active Listening, Service Orientation, Critical Thinking
US median pay: US$35,100 a year (2025), 78,420 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageImportant (3.5)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity
- Passenger Attendants
- Subway and Streetcar Operators
- Taxi Drivers
- Crossing Guards and Flaggers
- Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance
- Flight Attendants
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.