Is your child missing school because the bus never shows up? Or are they missing dinner because the bus can’t drop them off on time? The school bus driver shortage is real and impacting schools across North America.
So, what are some ways to overcome this problem?
Money Makes the World Go Round
The economic circumstances could have been better, as inflation hit everyone hard. Money is always wanted and appreciated, and it keeps employees happy.
- Increase in wages: Higher pay can motivate current staff to stay and make the position more appealing to new drivers. ZipRecruiter reports the average hourly wage for a School Bus Driver in the United States is $21.06 an hour. Although hourly wages can go up to as high as $30.29, suggesting there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay based on skill level, location and years of experience. If you’re wondering how to incorporate increased wages in your budget, then keep reading for an answer!
- Reward system: Show appreciation for your school drivers by rewarding them for perfect attendance, positive attitude and great work ethic. A system that will keep them motivated and satisfied. This reward can be in the form of monetary bonuses, promotions or paid vacation days. Data from Socialcast shows that 69 percent of workers would work harder if they felt appropriately recognized.
Create Opportunities
- Hybrid roles: Offering work in other positions such as grounds-keeping or custodial work, can provide them with more working hours and a better wage. It would also provide job security by offering more diverse employment opportunities.
- Lower emphasis on soft skills: New drivers should be evaluated based on effectively communicating in English to provide the safest transportation environment. As long as they can sufficiently speak and read English, it can allow a more diverse group of individuals to apply for the job and expand the candidate pool.
Invest in an Efficient Routing System
- Cover more area with fewer buses: Implementing school bus routing software such as that specializes in optimizing routes can help in making the existing fleet more efficient. It may also eliminate the need for adding more buses or even hiring more drivers.
- Save costs with less overheads: By saving money on making the existing systems more efficient, removing redundant resources it will also be beneficial for the school overall. The school would have more budget to spend in other areas such as expansion and updating teaching resources.
Conclusion
There are multiple reasons for the bus driver shortage and while combating the problem may seem challenging, there are ways to work around it. By investing in school bus routing and optimization software. you can find streamline operations and eliminate routes with efficient optimization. Book a demo today and learn more about how BusPlanner can help!
