How fleet technologies can help you overcome the school bus driver shortage

As districts begin a new school year, many are grappling with the nationwide school bus driver shortage. This labor deficit is more than just an inconvenience; it’s an urgent problem that directly impacts student attendance, academic potential and family life.

According to data from the EPI, the United States experienced a 15.1% decrease in school bus drivers from September 2019 to September 2023. While there’s been slight improvement since, a significant shortage still exists that districts must contend with. To address this gap, student transportation directors need to not only understand its root causes, but also embrace modern solutions. This blog post examines the key factors that contribute to the school bus driver shortage, their deeper consequences and ways to prevent them from affecting your operations with fleet technologies.

The challenges with recruiting and keeping quality school bus drivers

Amid tightening budgets and evolving operations, many school bus drivers today are feeling greater stress during their day-to-day duties. This stress is driving them into different career paths, resulting in higher turnover and a smaller talent pool for districts to recruit from. Several top stressors school bus drivers face are:

• Split-shift schedules: Unpaid gaps between routes limit drivers’ earning potential, causing many to leave for higher-paying private sector jobs after receiving their commercial driver’s license (CDL). Protect your investment in drivers’ CDLs by demonstrating a commitment to their well-being.
• Last-minute route changes: Frequently switching drivers’ routes can disrupt normal routines, leading to burnout and frustration.
• Disruptive student conduct: Unruly student behavior distracts drivers from doing their jobs well and poses safety risks to everyone on the bus.
• Recurrent parent inquiries: Bus drivers may feel unsupported if they’re the primary point of contact for parent complaints, especially those over issues beyond their control.
• Burdensome paperwork: Pre- and post-trip inspection forms completed on paper are time-consuming and can add unnecessary stress to drivers.

With these prevailing stressors, attracting and keeping reliable drivers is becoming increasingly challenging for school districts. And due to the nationwide driver shortage they’re causing, multiple consequences can occur.

The consequences of the school bus driver shortage

The school bus driver shortage causes a ripple effect of problems, originating in the student transportation journey and spreading into other key areas of district operations and community life. These include, but aren’t limited to:

Safety hazards: With more routes to complete, current drivers may be tempted to cut safety corners, such as by speeding or harshly accelerating to get children to school on time. Additionally, fewer drivers means more students on each bus, which can create louder, more distracting environments for drivers to work in.

Transportation hurdles: If a driver is unexpectedly absent, an already-strained operation may lack the resources to function. In extreme cases, this can lead to class cancellations and undermine students’ academic potential.

Greater stress on current drivers: The added responsibility of extra routes (on top of the existing pressure to safely transport students) can wear down your best drivers, making retention even more difficult.

Disappointed parents: Unreliable student transportation affects parents too. Unpredictable drop-off and pick-up times might spark safety concerns and increase complaints. Additionally, delays or route cuts could interfere with pre-planned family or work schedules, leading to further dissatisfaction and damaged public trust.

However, despite these consequences, there is good news: You can limit them from affecting your operations with fleet technologies at your side.

How fleet tools can help you maximize your workforce and keep your best school bus drivers

To combat the school bus driver shortage, it’s critical to get the most out of your current team and give them support that makes them want to stay long-term. Learn how integrated fleet technologies work together to make these goals possible.

Smarter routing: Integrate a fleet management system with your route optimization software to distribute route assignments evenly and find the most efficient paths for drivers to take. In doing so, you’ll decrease driver stress and maximize your team’s productivity at the same time. Plus, route optimization might even reveal that you can reliably operate with fewer drivers, which can ease shortage-related hiring headaches.

Simplified driver experiences: Drivers have a lot to manage. Stop the frustration of juggling multiple apps for route updates, vehicle inspections and student identification with Geotab. Our fleet solution integrates with routing, dispatching and ridership systems, so your drivers can get new routes, view turn-by-turn directions and document student attendance, all from one app. Plus, our digital driver vehicle inspection reports (DVIRs) are faster and easier for drivers to complete than paper forms. Rely on Geotab to reduce hassles and optimize every aspect of the driver experience.

Increased driver support: Help your team handle parent inquiries with confidence through rich fleet insights. Real-time bus tracking provides your staff with data-driven evidence to reassure parents about bus locations and safe driving practices, so you can back up your drivers’ performance with data.

Enhanced school bus driver retention strategies: Attract new talent and make your drivers feel valued by using a coaching and rewards program to recognize their efforts. For example, Geotab Vitality is an all-in-one behavior change solution that allows your school bus drivers to earn rewards like gift cards or coffee for improved performance. The cost of the program is less than $200 per driver annually, and each driver can earn up to $520 a year in incentives! Create a working environment your drivers will want to stay in with a program that keeps them feeling rewarded.

Elevated school bus safety: Give drivers greater peace of mind with integrated safety technologies like AI dash cameras and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). AI dash cameras can warn your drivers of possible collision risks without alarming passengers, while newer buses built with ADAS can temporarily take control to avoid split-second impacts. Tools like these help drivers feel safer and more supported while they diligently transport children to school.

Drivers shielded from liability: While every school bus driver’s number one goal is to avoid collisions, they can still occur. If an incident happens, real-time data and dash camera footage provide irrefutable evidence to protect your drivers from false liability claims. Knowing they have this impartial support to defend their reputation can give your drivers greater confidence behind the wheel and make them feel advocated for.

Make student transportation easier and more efficient with technology that works for your school bus drivers, not against them. Through integrated fleet tools, you can vouch for your drivers, elevate your team and limit the shortage’s effects on your operations.

Take school bus driver appreciation up a notch with Geotab

Even though the school bus driver shortage is disrupting hiring and operational continuity for many districts, it can be navigated with the right approach. Through fleet technologies, you’ll lessen its burden on your district, attract new drivers and show your team that you’re actively committed to making their jobs easier.

Uplift your drivers and help them excel with Geotab. Because when they feel supported, they stay.

Ready to transform your student transportation operations?

Book a Geotab demo today