Best seat cushions & comfort gear for school bus drivers (and bus aides)
22 picks for the people who run the route: cushions and back support for hours in the seat, glare and grip help for the driver, and a stocked bag for the aide.
Heads up: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We don't show prices because they change. Click through to see today's price on Amazon.
For drivers
Seat cushions & back support
Hours in an air-ride seat between the AM and PM runs add up. These take pressure off the tailbone and lower back.
ComfiLife Gel Enhanced Seat Cushion
Memory foam with a gel layer and a U-shaped tailbone cut-out. Non-slip bottom and washable cover.
Tip: Adds close to 3 in of height. Re-set your mirrors and check pedal reach after adding it.
Check price on AmazonEverlasting Comfort Memory Foam Coccyx Seat Cushion
All memory foam with a coccyx cut-out, aimed at tailbone and sciatica soreness. Washable cover, non-slip base.
Tip: Foam firms up in a cold cab until it warms. Bring it inside overnight in winter.
Check price on AmazonPurple Ultimate Seat Cushion
Large gel-grid cushion that lets air through. A good size for wide bus seats.
Tip: Expensive and heavier than foam. Make sure it doesn't slide when the seat bounces.
Check price on AmazonComfySure Wedge Seat Cushion
Memory-foam wedge (about 15 x 14 x 3 in) with a tailbone-friendly slope and a non-slip bottom. It also gives shorter drivers a little extra height.
Tip: A wedge changes your seating position. Re-adjust the seat, mirrors and belt, and skip it if you're already close to the headliner.
Check price on AmazonEverlasting Comfort Lumbar Support Pillow
Memory-foam lower-back pillow with two straps that hold it on the seat back.
Tip: Try your seat's built-in lumbar first. Don't stack supports so you sit too far forward.
Check price on AmazonHands, eyes & glare
Low sun on the morning run and a wheel that's freezing or slick in the afternoon.
Goodyear 18" Steering Wheel Cover (bus/semi size)
Padded, non-slip faux-leather grip sized for 18 in wheels on buses and big trucks. Car-size covers won't fit a bus wheel.
Tip: Measure your wheel first, and ask your shop. Some districts don't allow aftermarket wheel covers on fleet buses.
Check price on AmazonPolarSpex Polarized Sunglasses
Inexpensive polarized lenses with UV protection for sunrise and sunset routes.
Tip: Polarized lenses can make some LCD screens and tinted windows look dark. Take them off for tunnels and dusk.
Check price on AmazonSAILEAD Polarized Sun Visor Extender
Clips onto a visor to block low sun and glare. Lists a fit for visors under 0.86 in thick.
Tip: Bus visors and roller shades vary. Check the fit, and never let it block your mirrors or view of the danger zone.
Check price on AmazonLegs & feet
Sitting for long stretches, then walking the bus for post-trip checks and standing on bus duty.
Dr. Motion Compression Knee-High Socks, 15–20 mmHg (3 pairs)
Moderate 15–20 mmHg compression for tired legs and ankles after hours in the seat.
Tip: Women's sizing. Ask your doctor first if you have circulation problems or diabetes.
Check price on AmazonDr. Scholl's Work All-Day Superior Comfort Insoles
Gel insoles made for work boots and shoes. Trim to fit.
Tip: You still need to feel the pedals, so don't go so thick your shoes get tight.
Check price on Amazon Women's versionEmergency tool for your own car
Your bus has a district-issued belt cutter. Know exactly where it is. This one is for your personal vehicle and keys.
resqme Car Escape Tool
Keychain seatbelt cutter plus a spring-loaded window breaker.
Tip: Breaks tempered side windows, not laminated windshields. Follow your district's evacuation training on the bus.
Check price on AmazonFor bus aides (and drivers without one)
Sick riders & spills
Every aide and driver has a story. Being ready makes it a two-minute job instead of a ruined route.
PukeBag Emesis Bags (50 pack)
Leak-resistant bags with measuring marks that twist and lock into a notched ring to seal in the mess and the smell.
Tip: Keep a few up front and a few by the back seats. Check your district's cleanup rules.
Check price on AmazonFirst Aid Only Body Fluid Clean-Up Kit (23 pieces)
Spill cleanup powder, biohazard scoop and bags, gloves, a disposable gown, shoe covers, eye shield and mask, and wipes in a reusable case. Made for vomit, blood and urine.
Tip: Your district may issue its own bloodborne-pathogen kit and procedure. Use theirs first and restock this as a backup.
Check price on AmazonMED PRIDE Nitrile Exam Gloves (100, latex-free)
Powder-free, latex-free gloves for cleanups, nosebleeds and helping riders.
Tip: Pick your size on Amazon. Latex-free matters if a rider has an allergy.
Check price on AmazonClorox Disinfecting Wipes To Go (6 packs)
Small packs for wiping seats, rails and buckles between runs.
Tip: Wipe your hands with soap and water after. Wipes aren't for skin.
Check price on AmazonPURELL Advanced Hand Sanitizer, 2 oz (6 pack)
Travel-size bottles for the driver's area, aide bag and lunch box.
Tip: Alcohol-based. Keep it out of reach of young riders and out of hot sun on the dash.
Check price on AmazonThe aide bag: first aid, paperwork & ID
Rosters, IEP notes, transport forms and a way to get attention fast.
First Aid Only 298-Piece First Aid Kit
Soft zippered kit with bandages, antibiotic ointment, antiseptic towelettes, burn cream, gauze, wound closures and a cold pack.
Tip: A personal kit for scrapes. It doesn't replace the bus's required first-aid kit, and follow district rules on giving any medicine.
Check price on AmazonSaunders Cruiser-Mate Storage Clipboard
Aluminum clipboard with storage inside for rosters, seating charts and incident forms. Works as a lap board.
Tip: Keep student info inside the closed compartment, not on the clip where anyone can read it.
Check price on AmazonFox 40 Classic Whistle with Breakaway Lanyard
Loud pealess whistle for loading zones, field trips and evacuation drills.
Tip: Breakaway lanyard so it can't choke you if it catches.
Check price on AmazonSpecialist ID Breakaway Lanyard & Badge Reel
Breakaway lanyard with a retractable reel, so you can scan your badge without taking it off.
Tip: Breakaway matters around kids who grab.
Check price on AmazonWeather at the stop
Aides and drivers help riders on and off in the rain and cold.
FROGG TOGGS Ultra-Lite2 Rain Poncho
Light reusable poncho that packs small enough for the aide bag.
Tip: Loose ponchos can catch in doors and on handrails. Snug it up before you step down.
Check price on AmazonCarhartt Waterproof Insulated Knit-Cuff Gloves
Insulated, waterproof work gloves for cold stops, wheelchair lifts and bus duty.
Tip: Thick gloves cut grip and feel. Take them off for buckles and lift controls if you need to.
Check price on AmazonBefore you add anything to the driver's seat
- Re-adjust the seat, mirrors and seat belt after adding a cushion or back support. You still need full pedal reach and a clear view of every mirror.
- Nothing should sit loose on the dash or floor where it can slide under the pedals or fly in a hard stop.
- No phone mounts or gadgets that pull your eyes off the road. Many states and districts ban phone use while driving a school bus.
- Ask your transportation office before putting anything on a fleet bus. Some districts don't allow aftermarket covers or visors.
Looking for lunch bags, tumblers, ice scrapers and gifts? See our bus driver gear list.
The Bus Lot Weekly
New raises, sign-on bonuses and paid-training offers near you, every week. Free.
Free weekly email. Unsubscribe anytime.