Don't be fooled by charter bus companies that claim there is any signifigant actual safety benefit to their drivers having a "SPAB"/school pupil activity bus license. UPS trains on the Smith System, which is focused on driver behind the wheel choices. I had a SPAB for Taylor Bus biz to subcontract work from the San Diego City Public Schools in the 1970s. I drove 99 passenger UNCHAPERONED bus and EMR handicapped minibus. Yes, there was lots of class time but mainly the SPAB test is whether you can MEMORIZE 7 FULL PAGES OF A FULL BUS PRE-TRIP INSPECTION, without looking at the 7 pages. Kinda stupid, huh?

This is not behind the wheel behavior betterment, but what did the seldom seen and under paid and under staffed MECHANICs MISS DOUBLE CHECKING.   And a lot of California charter bus companies have "deferred maintenance" agendas to save money and or inadequately trained and funded mechanics.

So from a 40 year industry insider, do not be fooled by the PR hoopla about "our drivers are all SPAB.".

 The Taylor SPAB subcontractor drivers who were so underpaid and no benefits vs school district drivers ,,, often ran railroad tracks.
 And the SouthBay company that brags about SPAB has a long history of driver accidents and drivers falling asleep on the highway with passengers due to charter bus drivers working,,, too many underpaid hours.

If California charter bus companies were really serious about inproving driver BEHIND THE WHEEL SAFETY , then like UPS they would all teach the Smith System.  And pay overtime after 8hrs. It is very easy to ask a charter bus company "Do you pay overtime to your bus drivers? " and "Have your charter bus drivers learned real safe driver improvement with the Smith System that UPS uses?"

Not some 7page memorization farce.