The National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) has partnered with consulting firm The Dash Group to create a customized way for employers to assess a school bus driver’s capacity for sound judgement.

The School Bus Driver Safety and Risk Index is designed to measure a current or prospective driver’s decision-making ability.  The assessment is available online and is expected to take most job applicants no more that 10 to 12 minutes to complete.  Afterward, employers receive a confidential, downloadable report.

According to NAPT, the report gives employees a sense of the candidate’s abilities and capacities in such areas as problem solving, dependability, work ethic, dealing with difficult people and situations, concentration, and following directions.

NAPT said that this index can be used as the first-line assessment in hiring.  If a driver scores poorly, the employer can save money by not investing in DMV checks, background checks, or drug screenings.