It's a national trend that's also hitting close to home with the start of school just around the corner. A shortage of school bus drivers.
The problem according to the Minnesota School Bus Operators Association?
A cumbersome, time-consuming, state-mandated certification process that most people aren't interested in going through. Garrett Regan is on the association's executive board and says they’re looking for certain qualities in drivers.
“Good potential, and potentially really safe drives with really good experience,” Regan says. “You know, law enforcement, or new retirees that love kids, loves going to athletic events or that sort of thing, they’re just not willing to jump into those extra hoops. So we actually are losing some really good employees in the process.”
Regan says it remains to be seen how the driver shortage will impact the start of school, but he says its likely buses may not always be available to districts for things like sporting events and field trips.
“No bus operation wants to tell a school district they can’t run on a certain day,” explained Regan. “That’s what a lot of districts are faced with unfortunately.”
Many districts in the state are having to get creative according to Regan. He does say they're hopeful more people will apply for driver positions, a job he says is rewarding, flexible, and pays a competitive wage.