With school bus drivers quitting or retiring from their roles at a faster rate, many school districts are now reporting diverse difficulties in recruiting and retaining drivers.
They handle many responsibilities including ensuring the safety of children getting on and off the bus, following traffic rules and road signs.
Driver shortage increases headache to school districts
School bus driver shortage is a rising concern amongst school districts, leading to longer waits for a ride to school as well as crowded buses for students.
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Shortage is getting so severe that even bonuses are offered for these drivers who sign up for the job. People in role of Mechanics are now driving kids from and to school. Shortages are also leading to route cancellations in many districts.
School Bus Fleet Magazine’s survey highlights that 90% of respondents have some degree of school bus driver shortage. Key factors that are reported to be causing these shortages include delay in getting a commercial driver’s license (CDL) which may take even up to 6 months, rate of pay, reduced work hours and more.
As there is lack of qualified applicants, many public schools are now moving to more proficient systems, where each driver will be required to take more pick-up times at different schools.
However, there are complaints arising from drivers who have to do a double-run that they are not getting enough notice, which hinders their scheduled breaks.
Here are some key reasons for why these drivers leave their jobs
1. Low wages
Low payment rates are also forcing drivers to leave their job, even if they are interested in this profession. For drivers, payment will be low, often till they have their commercial license.
The salary provided also depends on their driving experience, work history as well as location of work and the hours they worked.
2. Lack of benefits
Earlier most school districts considered driving a school bus as a part-time work, especially in summer. So the drivers were allowed only part-time payments, and limited benefits, preventing them from receiving and full time employment benefits like health insurance.
Splitting their shifts in to morning and afternoon also restricts these transportation staff from earning any additional income. Even if they work regular hours, reports prove that they receive benefits that are much lesser than what most full-time employees in the school district receive.
3. Health issues
Driving for long hours can lead to health issues in drivers. Health issues that school bus drivers often face includes stress, insomnia, muscular pains, obesity, respiratory and infectious diseases due to exposure to pollutants, gastric disorders due to irregular food habits and more.
It is highly recommended for drivers to take regular medical checkups, eat right based on a nutritionist’s instructions, take enough rest, exercise regularly to avoid weight gain and improve body strength.
4. Lack of Administrative Support
Lack of support from school management is also a key reason for drivers to quit their job.
Some common complaints from drivers in many school communities include: no authority given to make children follow rules on their buses, no support from management when parents complain, implementation of policies that don’t support driving staff, paying a deaf ear to driver’s report on children’s unsafe behavior on the bus.
5. Bad Hours
Another major issue for bus drivers is the hours they have to work. Split shifts and irregular working hours can make it extremely difficult for them to get another part-time job.
However extra runs they get during summer vacation can help them get paid and improve earnings. To meet driver shortages, Stock Transportation is now coming up with new agreements that offer more paid hours.
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One such recent agreement for Toronto school bus drivers includes an 8.1% increase to the base driving salary and a minimum of four hours pay is guaranteed.
6. Start-up expenses
You need to become a certified bus driver, before being eligible to transport students in school bus. Also before being appointed, they will be recommended to a pre-employment background check, drug test as well as physical test, which also cost them.
They should also go through formal training classes conducted by the state office of pupil transportation (OPT). By successfully completing this training, they can pass the two-part bus driver examination.
7. Unpleasant Student Behavior
Children can be very troublesome at times especially children who are studying in smaller grades. And you don’t need to get surprised if they behave viciously inside a moving bus where there ain’t anyone who can legally convince them to shut up.
Most involved school bus drivers can easily tell that younger children can take you to your breaking point. Children will mentally, emotionally and sometimes even physically abuse the drivers weakening their morale and worsening their life, leaving them no choice but to leave this profession for some sanity.
8. Health Insurance
Believe it or not many school bus drivers quit due to the unaffordable health care that swallow up their monthly earnings. School bus drivers who are offered health insurance by the school authorities won’t get much after their premium deductions are made.
9. Summer
The summer vacations are important reasons why school bus drivers leave their jobs. If they have to be unemployed for about three months then there is no reason for them to return next fall.
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Mainly finding summer only Jobs is not easy and if they get any, then due to the better pay they will choose the job over driving. The school bus drivers won’t be able to split their checks for 12 months chances are they will take the new job over school bus driving.
10. Hideous Bus Routes and Unpleasant Weather
Extreme weather conditions and troublesome bus routes are yet other reasons why school bus drivers quit especially drivers above the age of 50.
Driving long hours on edgy and blusterous routes on heavy cold and unbearable heat is never easy. These can cause extreme health issues for the drivers forcing them to step down from their jobs.
Watch what fellow drivers have to say about this
