If you cross paths with a school bus driver today, be prepared to give a nice big wave, perhaps a small honk or have your kids ready to deliver a big high five when they climb up those bus steps on this School Bus Driver Appreciation Day.

One driver knows the routine all too well, and wouldn't trade it for the world.

Dennis Fisher is celebrating 40 years behind the wheel of the school bus this year; he explains what's kept him going all these years.

“I do enjoy it, and I enjoy the people and the kids, they are kind of like family, I think when you are around kids, it keeps you a little bit younger”.

Fisher says its felt only like 10 or 20 years since he first started driving bus, and he’s had the pleasure to watch many families grow up.

“You realize how old you’re getting because some of the kids we took, my wife and I, they grew up and they still live out there and their kids are riding so.”

Fisher's wife Maryanne also drove school bus for around 20 years.

Dennis started driving bus around the age of 19 or 20 as a way to get some extra income for his small farming operation.

Transportation Manager John Blood says Dennis is a model employee.

“Dennis is a very calm individual, he’s funny, he’s a pleasant guy, he loves the kids, the kids love him, there’s no drama with Dennis. It doesn’t matter whether it’s sunny, raining or snowing, Dennis always shows up”.

Blood says their drivers play a vital role in each kid’s day.

“They’re the first person they see, and the last person they see before they go home, and those drivers make those students lives better. They get to know the kids over the years, they know if there are in a good mood or a bad mood, they buy them treats at Easter or Christmas, all sorts of things and they have a huge impact on that student’s life”.

While at first thought it may look easy to drive a bus, Blood says there's a great deal of stress as a bus driver, dealing with the kids, the public and other motorists, with road rage not uncommon.
 
On average Wolf Creek Public Schools Drivers travel over 130,000 kilometers a month transporting almost 4 thousand students to over 30 schools.