The Growing Crisis of School Bus Driver Shortages
School districts across the United States are grappling with a severe shortage of school bus drivers, causing delays and cancellations during the first week back to class. The shortage is attributed to a changing workforce, licensing issues, student behavior problems, and low pay and scheduling obstacles. The industry is transitioning from part-time drivers to young minority males, who often use school bus driving as a stepping stone to better-paying full-time jobs. The average school bus driver earns just over $40,000 per year, and recruiting new drivers has become a significant challenge for school districts. The pandemic provided temporary solutions by utilizing bus drivers for food delivery and remote learning support, but now the competition from companies like Amazon, which offer higher wages, has exacerbated the problem.