Field Supervisor

Salary Range: 45 to 47 (Currency: USD) (Pay period: per-hour-wage)

About Zūm:

What Makes You Successful in This Role

You're a safety-minded leader who loves being out in the field rather than behind a desk. You're naturally observant, catching safety issues before they become problems, and you know how to coach drivers in a way that's direct but respectful. You stay calm under pressure—whether you're responding to an accident scene, helping a new driver navigate a tricky route, or addressing a parent’s concern. You genuinely care about driver success and student safety, and you're not afraid to have tough conversations when needed. You're comfortable juggling route observations, incident investigations, documentation, and training support—all in the same day. You bring a steady, approachable presence that earns respect from drivers and builds confidence with schools and families.

Responsibilities

Route Oversight & Safety Compliance

• Conduct daily ride-alongs, route observations, and stop audits (AM/PM) to ensure safe and compliant operations while monitoring on-time performance and identifying operational inefficiencies

• Verify drivers follow proper student loading/unloading procedures in adherence to federal, state, and school district transportation regulations

• Perform random DOT compliance checks, verify documentation, inspect pre-trip/post-trip procedures and vehicle cleanliness, and monitor proper use of seat belts, student management procedures, and emergency evacuation readiness

Driver Support, Coaching & Training

• Provide on-the-spot coaching and immediate written feedback when safety violations or procedural concerns arise, and follow up on performance metrics or operational issues

• Support new drivers with route-specific training, shadowing, and monitored practice drives while serving as first point of contact for guidance, conflict resolution, and real-time operational support

• Conduct informal reviews of safe-driving techniques and behavior-management strategies, and support or facilitate safety meetings, refresher trainings, annual recertifications, and track employee compliance for required certifications

Incident Response & Operational Support

• Respond immediately to road calls, breakdowns, and accidents to ensure student safety, assist drivers, and conduct post-incident checks

• Complete initial incident reports, gather necessary information for Safety and Operations teams, and ensure timely communication to school districts and company leadership during safety-related events

• Document observations, coaching notes, and performance issues in required systems, and monitor yard operations to ensure buses are ready, fueled, and staged properly for routes

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• Possession of a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Class A or B with Passenger (P) and School Bus Driver (S) endorsements and current DOT Medical Certificate

• Minimum of two (2) years of relevant industry experience in Safety Department operations, school bus operations, or dispatch

• Knowledge of local and state laws and regulations pertaining to the school bus industry and District policies (or learn within 60 days)

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated knowledge of school bus safety regulations and best practices

• CHP-certified School Bus Driver Instructor credential preferred (or ability to attain within 6 months)

• Basic computer proficiency with Google Workspace-Suite applications (Sheets, Docs, Slides)

• Proven record of leading teams and implementing new safety programs and initiatives

• Proficiency with reporting and safety tools including incident reports, Gatekeeper, Netradyne, and camera systems, etc.

• Experience investigating accidents and incidents with completion of all required documentation and reporting

• Familiarity with accident reporting

I read "language" as the English proficiency requirement plus the bilingual preference. That matters more than usual right now because FMCSA is enforcing English proficiency as an out-of-service violation for CDL holders. The 50-lb lift is a placeholder, so match it to whatever your driver JD uses.

Essential Functions & Working Conditions

The essential functions of this role include the physical and environmental demands below. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

Physical Demands

• Safely operate a school bus during ride-alongs, route coverage, and training drives, and meet FMCSA physical qualification standards for commercial drivers (49 CFR 391.41)

• Board and exit buses repeatedly throughout the shift, climb steps, and kneel, crouch, or crawl to inspect under seats and beneath vehicles

• Lift, carry, or assist with up to 50 pounds, including helping students during emergency evacuations and evacuation drills

• Sit for long periods in a moving vehicle, and stand or walk for long periods in the yard and at bus stops

Work Environment & Schedule

• Respond on short notice to breakdowns and accident scenes, including roadside locations near active traffic

• Work outdoors in all weather conditions, including heat, cold, rain, and low light

• Work a split shift with early morning starts (as early as [5:00 a.m.]) and afternoon routes, plus on-call coverage for road calls as scheduled

• Use mobile devices, camera systems, and Zūm's CMX platform to monitor routes and document observations in the field

Language Requirements

• Read and speak English well enough to talk with the public, understand highway traffic signs and signals, respond to official questions from law enforcement and inspectors, and complete reports and records, as required of all commercial drivers under 49 CFR 391.11(b)(2)

• Communicate clearly and calmly with students, parents, school staff, and emergency responders, including during active incidents

• Write clear, factual incident reports, coaching notes, and observation records

Safety-Sensitive Position

This is a safety-sensitive position under U.S. Department of Transportation and FMCSA regulations (49 CFR Part 382). As a condition of hire and continued employment, the Field Supervisor must:

• Pass a pre-employment drug test and take part in random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return-to-duty, and follow-up drug and alcohol testing

• Consent to a full pre-employment query and annual queries of the FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse

• Keep a valid CDL with required endorsements, a current DOT Medical Certificate, and the state school bus certification for their assigned yard (California School Bus Driver Certificate or Washington OSPI School Bus Driver Authorization)

• Clear a criminal background check, including fingerprint clearance required for working with students, and keep a motor vehicle record that meets Zūm's standards, reviewed before hire and at least once a year

• Report any license suspension, citation, or change in medical status to the company right away, as required by federal and state regulations