SPECIAL REPORT


average maximum pay. Steen said drivers should be paid


on par with local transit operators, as school bus drivers transport young students who prove to be far more distracting than other commuters. She added that in her location, transportation drivers formed a union and are now compensated well at about $15 an hour plus supplemental pay based on any hours worked above 20 a week. She noted they are now paid from when the bus first starts running to when it’s parked at the end of day, instead of a standard rate that only accounted for four hours of work. The West Coast driver shared


a different perspective. She said the pay she and her cowork- ers receive is in the bottom 25 percent statewide, while the superintendent’s salary is in the upper 25 percent. She added that her job feels expendable, and drivers should be paid more for the amount of training required and the process of obtaining a commercial driver’s license. She noted that drivers must pay


out of pocket for first aid certifica- tion, which is required by law, as well as other professional devel- opment opportunities.


The Effects of the School Bus Driver Shortage The West Coast driver add-


ed that the district has several routes not covered. Mechanics, dispatchers and even supervisors have to pick those up. She noted that there are not enough drivers to cover when other drivers call out sick.


She said the driver shortage


causes drivers to double up on routes, which leaves insufficient time to get from stop to stop, leaving drivers feeling like they have to rush. This, she added,


20 School Transportation News • APRIL 2021


Much-Needed School Bus Technology In the school bus driver survey,


16 drivers cited stop-arm cameras, routing software, GPS, student


53% of drivers said they receive overtime at their


school district/bus company (Out of 19 school bus drivers responding to an School Transportation News survey)


47% said they receive professional development


opportunities at work (Out of 17 school bus driver responses to an STN survey)


59% said their school district/company is currently


experiencing a school bus driver shortage (Out of 17 school bus drivers)


88% The average number of


students who are observed wearing their masks correctly while riding on the school bus (Out of 15 school bus drivers)


60% of school bus drivers said they would take


the COVID-19 vaccine if it was offered to them (Out of 15 school bus drivers)


causes stress and anxiety as they worry about the student’s safety. “We have to double load our buses if we are shorthanded,” she explained. “We run late to stops to pick up and drop off. It is a never-ending cycle, which in the district’s mindset can be worked out if other drivers just step up. Well, this is a huge safety risk for any and all of us, let alone the stress and anxiety we feel trying our best and still not accomplishing what we need to in ‘a timely manner.’” She added that in addition to


the driver shortage, she believes the district decision-making is based on politics and whatever the parents want, without car- ing about the safety of the staff. “Personally, I don’t feel that our district cares about or values any classified staff, let alone bus drivers,” she told School Trans- portation News. “I am not alone in feeling we are expendable to the district.” The southeastern driver, mean-


while, said she also feels that the district does not value school bus drivers. The current driver shortage at her district adds more pressure. In addition, she noted, it’s hard to find drivers, and the district leadership as a whole doesn’t understand routing, which complicates the system even more. Meanwhile, Steen said her On-


tario operation also experiences a bus driver shortage, but her im- mediate supervisor understands the intricacies of transportation operations. She added her super- visor is very diplomatic and never raises her voice.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52