Last updated · Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, school bus drivers (SOC 53-3051)
Side jobs for school bus drivers: midday gigs that fit between routes
Morning route done by 9, afternoon pre-trip around 2. Here are 17 kinds of work that fit that gap, with the official sign-up link, why each one fits, and what to watch out for.
Check these three things first
- Your district's outside-employment policy. Some districts want you to report a second job, and some limit conflicts like driving for a company that bids on district contracts. Ask HR or your transportation supervisor.
- Rest and hours. Don't let a midday gig eat the break you need to drive the PM route rested. If a second job is driving for a motor carrier that follows federal hours-of-service rules, federal rules count paid work for any other employer, including your district route, as on-duty time (49 CFR 395.2). Tell that employer about your bus hours.
- Insurance on your own car. Personal auto policies typically don't cover you while you're logged into a delivery app (NC Department of Insurance; SC Department of Insurance auto page). Ask your agent about a delivery or rideshare endorsement before your first order, and read what coverage the app itself provides.
Delivery apps where you pick your hours
Log on after the morning run, log off in time for your afternoon pre-trip. These all use your own car, so read the insurance note first.
DoorDash
Deliver restaurant, grocery and convenience orders in your own car.
Why it fits the gap: You choose when to go online, and the lunch rush lands right in the middle of your gap.
Watch for: Must be 18+ in most states. Uses your personal car, so check your insurance (see the note below).
Uber Eats
Food and grocery delivery through the Uber driver app.
Why it fits the gap: No set shifts. Go online for a lunch block and stop when you need to head back to the lot.
Watch for: Personal car. Uber's vehicle and age rules vary by city, so check them when you apply.
Instacart
Shop for grocery orders in the store and deliver them.
Why it fits the gap: Late-morning grocery orders are common, and you pick which batches to take.
Watch for: Personal car. Frozen and cold items mean you can't leave a batch half-done when it's time for your PM route.
Amazon Flex
Reserve a delivery block in the app and deliver Amazon packages.
Why it fits the gap: Blocks have a set start and length that you see before you accept, so you can grab only the ones that end before your afternoon run. You can book blocks up to a week ahead.
Watch for: 21+, and a 4-door sedan, SUV, van or covered-bed truck. Amazon says it provides commercial insurance in most states.
Pay: Amazon says most drivers earn $18–25 an hour, and actual earnings vary (Amazon Flex, checked Oct 2026).
Spark Driver (Walmart)
Deliver Walmart grocery and store orders.
Why it fits the gap: Offers come in throughout the day, and you choose which ones to accept.
Watch for: Personal car. Grocery orders can be heavy, with cases of water and big bags.
Courier & driving jobs (part-time, real employer)
Steadier than the apps: an hourly job with a set shift. The catch is finding a shift that fits inside your gap.
Medical & pharmacy courier
Move lab specimens, prescriptions and supplies between hospitals, clinics and labs.
Why it fits the gap: Hospitals run deliveries all day. Some couriers post part-time and midday shifts, so filter for ones that end before about 2 PM.
Watch for: Some roles use a company car or box truck, and some use your own car. Expect a background check and drug screen, which bus drivers are used to.
Auto parts delivery driver
Run parts from the store to repair shops and dealerships in a store vehicle.
Why it fits the gap: Shops order parts all day, and part-time delivery driver jobs are common at the big chains.
Watch for: Usually a store vehicle, so there's no wear on your car. Hours are set by the store manager, so ask for a 9–2 schedule up front.
Dealership porter or shuttle driver
Drive service customers home or to work, move cars around the lot, and run errands for the dealership.
Why it fits the gap: Service departments are busiest dropping customers off in the morning and picking them up in the afternoon, so ask about a midday porter shift.
Watch for: Dealer vehicles and dealer insurance. A clean driving record matters, which you already have to keep for your CDL.
Or walk into the service department at any dealer near your bus lot.
Extra hours in your own district
Same employer, same background check, and often the easiest yes. Ask your transportation office and HR first.
Field trips, athletic & activity runs
Extra trips your district pays you to drive: field trips, games and after-school activities.
Why it fits the gap: Many field trips leave after the morning run and are back before dismissal, so they fit the gap exactly.
Watch for: Usually assigned by seniority or a sign-up list. Ask how your transportation office hands them out.
See what extra hours add to your year with our split-shift calculator.
Cafeteria (child nutrition) shifts
Prep, serve and clean up school breakfast and lunch.
Why it fits the gap: Lunch service falls in your gap. Some districts hire part-time or substitute cafeteria workers.
Watch for: Check whether hours from two district jobs get combined for overtime or benefits. HR can tell you.
Look on your district's job portal under food or nutrition services.
Substitute teacher or aide
Cover classes when teachers are out.
Why it fits the gap: Honest note: a full sub day overlaps your routes. Fort Mill elementary subs, for example, arrive at 7:15 AM and leave at 2:15 PM. This works best on days you're not driving, or if your district offers half-day or midday coverage.
Watch for: Fort Mill requires an online application, 2 references, a background check and a 1-day training, and subs must work at least 3 days a month to stay active.
Pay: Fort Mill School District pays daily subs $110/day, with a monthly attendance bonus (FMSD substitute page, checked Oct 2026).
Neighborhood gigs
Gigs where you set your own availability, close to home.
Dog walking & pet sitting
Midday dog walks, drop-in visits and house sitting through Rover.
Why it fits the gap: Midday walks are exactly what people with 9-to-5 jobs need, and that's your gap.
Watch for: You set your own services, prices and schedule on your profile. Clients book through the app.
Handyman, yard & moving help
Furniture assembly, mounting, yard work, small moves and other odd jobs.
Why it fits the gap: You choose your availability and which jobs to accept, and many customers want weekday daytime help.
Watch for: Some jobs need tools or a truck. Check whether your area requires a license for the type of work.
Retail, mystery shopping & tutoring
Daytime work that fits around store hours, not rush hour.
Retail merchandiser
Restock and set displays for a brand inside stores, like greeting cards, snacks or seasonal items.
Why it fits the gap: Merch visits usually happen on weekday daytime schedules in a set window, and many roles are part-time.
Watch for: You drive your own car between stores. Ask whether mileage is paid.
Mystery shopping
Visit a store or restaurant, follow a checklist, and report on the visit.
Why it fits the gap: Lunch visits and short store checks slide right into the gap.
Watch for: Real shopping companies never charge you to join. The MSPA trade group site helps you find legitimate companies and spot scams.
Tutoring
Online or in-person tutoring in a subject you know.
Why it fits the gap: Daytime students tend to be adults, college students and homeschoolers, so expect fewer bookings than after school.
Watch for: Platforms review your subject knowledge before approving you.
Online & from home
For days you go home during the gap.
Transcription & freelance work
Type up audio, or sell a skill like writing, bookkeeping or design.
Why it fits the gap: You take work when you have time, with nothing to clock into.
Watch for: Pay depends on speed and skill. Never pay a "company" to get hired, and be wary of anyone who sends you a check up front.
Gap-day gear
Things that make a long split-shift day easier, whether you work the gap or rest through it.
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.
Bentgo Deluxe Insulated Lunch Bag
Slim bag that fits Bentgo boxes and an ice pack.
Check price on AmazonSTANLEY Quencher H2.0 FlowState Tumbler, 40 oz
Big insulated tumbler with a handle that fits most cup holders.
Check price on AmazonEcoNour Windshield Sun Shade
Keeps your car cool while you're out on routes all morning.
Check price on AmazonTrtl Travel Neck Pillow
Light neck support for a nap in your car during the mid-day gap.
Check price on AmazonFrequently asked questions
What side jobs can school bus drivers do between routes?
Work that fits a roughly 9-to-2 gap: delivery apps where you pick your hours; courier & driving jobs (part-time, real employer); extra hours in your own district; neighborhood gigs; retail, mystery shopping & tutoring; online & from home. This page lists 17 options with sign-up links and what to watch for.
Do I have to tell my district about a side job?
Some districts want you to report a second job, and some limit conflicts like driving for a company that bids on district contracts. Ask HR or your transportation supervisor.
Does my car insurance cover delivery app driving?
Personal auto policies typically don't cover you while you're logged into a delivery app, per the NC Department of Insurance and SC Department of Insurance. Ask your agent about a delivery or rideshare endorsement first.
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