MINOT, ND (KXNET) — You can't predict the weather — those are the words of Barry Brooks, the Director of Transportation for Minot Public Schools. Brooks oversees the school district's 42 bus drivers who cover multiple routes every day. The routes include going to and from school as well as extracurricular activities across the district. Brooks says that one of the most challenging parts of being a bus driver during the winter occurs well before any driving. "Our diesel vehicles freeze up, so sometimes we're looking to at the last minute get a spare bus and we try to prevent some of that stuff by putting our buses inside but the facility can't house all my buses," said Brooks. While Brooks says that icy road conditions and snow can cause problems for any drivers, low visibility can impact drivers who make the trip to the Minot Air Force Base every day. "The first thing I do is head out to Minot Air Force base on Highway 83 because that's usually one of the worst places because it's an open area and visibility is an issue. There's not usually snow but it's visibility you can't see and if the visibility is poor then that's when we're gonna start issuing a delay targeted at the base because in town it's not that bad," said Brooks. Minot Area Chamber EDC Cookie Drive looks to bring holiday cheer to airmen However, Brooks says that in instances of high winds, large vehicles can bring a variety of challenges, even for experienced drivers. "You got slippery roads and it's windy, you have high profile vehicle like a school bus, it can move you and those are all issues we try to prepare but mother nature wins out every time," said Brooks. Brooks says that even some of Minot Public Schools' newest drivers that come from out of state learn how to drive in the elements pretty fast but there are other challenges, too. "We've had drivers this year, we had one come from California a few years ago, I had another one come from California, they learned how to drive in the winter pretty quick, in town probably the issues in town is constrictions of the roads because of snowfall or people parking that becomes an issue,e especially with a big bus because you got the tail of the bus swinging and you try to hopefully avoid clipping a parked car," said Brooks. But Brooks says the most important thing for winter drivers is getting everyone home safely. "They'll try to release people at Minot Air Force Base, we have three schools on Minot Air Force Base, release them home early because we have to bring our staff back. We got to think about staff and try to bring them back before the roads get really bad and if it gets real bad all around, you're looking at releasing everybody but the problem is you can't predict the weather," said Brooks. Minot Public Schools will be getting two buses that can accommodate wheelchairs next July. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Today's Top Stories SIGN UP NOW