Last updated · Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, school bus drivers (SOC 53-3051)
What can you do with a CDL B? Jobs for school bus drivers
Your Class B with P and S endorsements covers a lot more than the school route. Here's what it already qualifies you for, what needs another endorsement, what a Class A adds, and which jobs fit summer break or part-time hours.
Class B vs. Class A, and what P and S mean
- Class B: any single vehicle of 26,001 lbs or more, towing no more than 10,000 lbs. Most full-size school buses, transit buses, dump trucks and straight delivery trucks fall here.
- Class A: combinations of 26,001 lbs or more where the towed unit is over 10,000 lbs. That means tractor-trailers and heavy trailers.
- P (passenger) lets you drive buses for anyone. S (school bus) is the extra one just for school buses. Freight jobs need neither. Hauling hazmat takes H, tankers take N (H and N together are X), and doubles or triples take T.
- Check your restrictions. If you tested in a bus without full air brakes, your license may carry an L or Z restriction (no full air brakes). An automatic-only test adds E. Motorcoaches, transit buses and many trucks have air brakes, so you may need to retest to remove it.
Passenger jobs that use your P endorsement
Your P (passenger) endorsement is what most bus jobs outside of school need. Your S only covers school buses.
Transit / city bus operator
Drive fixed routes for a city or regional transit system. Around here that means CATS in Charlotte, run by Transit Management of Charlotte.
License: Class A or B with P. CATS also takes a CDL permit with P.
Summer / part-time: Mostly full-time, with schedules based on seniority. Some systems have part-time operators.
Pay: The CATS posting lists a starting wage of $26.02/hr after 8 weeks of paid training (Transit Management of Charlotte posting, checked Oct 2026).
Paratransit driver
Door-to-door rides for riders with disabilities, often in lift-equipped buses or vans.
License: Depends on the vehicle. Larger paratransit buses need a CDL with P, and some vans need no CDL.
Summer / part-time: There are part-time and split shifts, and the helping-riders side of the job will feel familiar if you've worked special-needs routes.
Charter / motorcoach driver
Drive groups to games, tours, weddings and events.
License: Class A or B with P. Motorcoaches usually have air brakes (see the restriction tip below).
Summer / part-time: Weekends and summer are busy, so it's a common part-time job for school drivers. Some trips are overnight.
Also check local charter companies near Charlotte and Rock Hill.
Airport, hotel & university shuttles
Loop routes between terminals, parking lots, hotels and campuses.
License: Depends on the size. Shuttles built for 16+ people including the driver need a CDL with P, and smaller vans may not.
Summer / part-time: Shifts often run early and late, so midday or weekend shifts can fit around your routes. University shuttles slow down in summer.
Church, camp & activity buses
Drive for a church, summer camp, YMCA or senior center.
License: A CDL with P for 16+ passenger buses. Ask whether the organization's own insurance needs you on its driver list.
Summer / part-time: Weekends and summer, which fits school break.
Local route delivery (home every night)
Same truck, same customers, home at night. Many of these trucks are Class B, but some companies want Class A, so read the posting.
Beverage delivery
Deliver and stock soda, water and snacks at stores and restaurants.
License: Class B or A, depending on the truck. Many of Coca-Cola Consolidated's Charlotte delivery roles list Class A (required or preferred), and some train you for it.
Summer / part-time: Mostly full-time with early starts. Ask about route-relief or summer helper roles.
Uniform & linen route (Cintas, UniFirst, Vestis)
Deliver clean uniforms, mats and towels to businesses on a weekly route, and pick up the dirty ones.
License: Not always a CDL. UniFirst's route rep postings ask for a regular license and a DOT physical. Your CDL and clean record still help.
Summer / part-time: UniFirst describes its routes as Monday–Friday daytime with no nights or weekends. It's mostly full-time.
Bakery & food routes
Deliver bread and snacks to grocery stores early in the morning.
License: Depends on the truck size.
Summer / part-time: Very early starts. Some bakery brands use independent distributors who own their routes instead of employees, so read the posting carefully.
Propane delivery
Fill home and business propane tanks from a bobtail truck.
License: Class A or B plus H (hazmat) and N (tank) endorsements. Together those are the X endorsement. Hazmat also needs a TSA background check and first-time ELDT.
Summer / part-time: Winter is the busy season, and AmeriGas posts seasonal roles. Summer is slow, so this pairs better with a school-year job in reverse.
Construction trucks
Single-axle and tandem dump trucks and most ready-mix trucks are single vehicles, so a Class B can cover them. Check each posting.
Dump truck & ready-mix concrete driver
Haul stone, sand and asphalt, or deliver concrete to job sites.
License: Class B for most single-unit trucks (no P needed). Pulling a trailer over 10,000 lbs takes Class A.
Summer / part-time: Spring through fall is the busy season, so summer break lines up well. Days start early.
What a Class A upgrade unlocks
- Tractor-trailer driving: local, regional or long-haul freight, including jobs that are home daily.
- Class A route jobs, like many beverage delivery routes in the Charlotte area, which list Class A as required or preferred.
- Tanker, fuel and flatbed work once you add N, X or other endorsements. Doubles and triples need T.
- Everything Class B covers still applies, since a Class A lets you drive Class B and C vehicles. Keep your P and S endorsements on it.
Need the ELDT theory part for an upgrade or new endorsement? One option is DLA Academy's online theory courses (promo code ANDREW). Check that any provider is on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry first. Affiliate link: School Bus Pay may earn a commission if you sign up through it. Listing it isn't an endorsement of any school.
Pay context: The national median for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers was $58,640/yr ($28.19/hr) in May 2025. For comparison, it was $47,920/yr for school bus drivers and $59,050/yr for transit and intercity bus drivers. Light truck (delivery) drivers made $44,860/yr. Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, truck drivers, bus drivers and delivery drivers (May 2025 data, checked 2026-10-30). These are national figures, and local pay varies.
Upgrading? The ELDT rule applies
Under FMCSA's Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) rule, upgrading a Class B to a Class A, or getting a P, S or H endorsement for the first time, means finishing training with a provider on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry before the skills test (or, for H, the knowledge test). Some employers pay for the training, so ask before you pay for a school.
One option for the ELDT theory part: DLA Academy offers online ELDT theory courses for Class A, Class B, Passenger (P) and School Bus (S). Promo code: ANDREW.
Theory is only half of ELDT. You still need behind-the-wheel training, and it doesn't replace your state's school bus certification course. Whatever provider you use, confirm it's listed on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry. If your district or employer pays for training, start there.
Affiliate link: School Bus Pay may earn a commission if you sign up through it. Listing it isn't an endorsement of any school.
Best fits for summer break or part-time
| Job | Summer break | Part-time during the school year |
|---|---|---|
| Charter / motorcoach | Strong. Summer and weekends are busy. | Yes, trip by trip. |
| Camp & church buses | Strong. Camp season is summer. | Weekends. |
| Dump truck / ready-mix | Strong. Construction peaks in warm months. | Some. Days start early. |
| Shuttles (airport, hotel) | Good. | Yes, with split and weekend shifts. |
| Paratransit | Good. | Yes, with part-time and split shifts. |
| Transit bus (CATS) | Possible, but it's mostly full-time. | Less common. |
| Beverage / uniform routes | Ask about summer relief or helper roles. | Mostly full-time. |
| Propane | Weak. Winter is the peak. | Seasonal winter roles exist. |
These are general patterns based on how these jobs are scheduled, not guarantees. Ask the employer about seasonal or part-time openings.
Before you take a second CDL job
- Under federal hours-of-service rules, paid work for any other employer, including your district, counts as on-duty time (49 CFR 395.2). Passenger drivers get up to 10 hours of driving and 15 hours on duty before 8 hours off, and property drivers get 11 and 14 before 10 off (BLS, BLS).
- Check your district's outside-employment rules, and remember that a violation in any CMV counts against your one CDL.
Gear for any CDL job
Basics that work on a school bus, a delivery route or a job site.
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Pocket flashlight for dark pre-trip inspections and checking under seats on post-trip.
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Gel insoles made for work boots and shoes. Trim to fit.
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Insulated, waterproof work gloves for cold stops, wheelchair lifts and bus duty.
Check price on AmazonFrequently asked questions
What can you do with a CDL B?
A Class B covers any single vehicle of 26,001 lbs or more towing no more than 10,000 lbs: most full-size school buses, transit buses, dump trucks and straight delivery trucks. With the P endorsement you can drive buses for any employer, such as transit, paratransit, charter and shuttles. Freight jobs need neither P nor S, though hauling hazmat takes H and tankers take N (FMCSA).
Do I need a Class A to drive a tractor-trailer?
Yes. Combinations of 26,001 lbs or more where the towed unit is over 10,000 lbs need a Class A. Upgrading from B to A means finishing ELDT with a provider on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry before the skills test.
Can I work a second CDL job while driving a school bus?
Often, but under federal hours-of-service rules, paid work for any other employer, including your district, counts as on-duty time (49 CFR 395.2). Check your district's outside-employment rules too.
How much do truck and bus drivers make compared with school bus drivers?
Nationally in May 2025, the BLS median was $47,920/yr for school bus drivers, $59,050/yr for transit and intercity bus drivers, $58,640/yr for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers and $44,860/yr for light truck (delivery) drivers. Local pay varies.
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