I am so happy you have a great bus driver. There are some truely good ones out there. Others just want a part-time job and that's it. I really love most of my kids, but I don't show favoritism. It really is a hard job, because of the undisiplined kids out there. I usually try to meet them on their level, but let them know up front, I AM IN CHARGE. I try to remember too, that most of the time, it's not the kids fault. The parents had no clue in how to raise them!!
I always have mine wait in the house during inclement weather, but I ask that they watch for me and try to meet me when I stop.
For your sake, I hope you get to keep the driver you have. He sounds like one of the good ones.