Framingham Public schools dealing with bus driver shortage ahead of upcoming school year

FRAMINGHAM, Mass — It’s an annual problem that preceded the pandemic -- but only got worse after Covid: a nationwide shortage of school bus drivers.

“It’s not as bad as it has been in previous years,” said Tom Hamilton, executive director of the School Transportation Association of Massachusetts, which represents 45 bus companies. “Most of the (bus company) owners have taken a year-long approach to it.”

And yet, three weeks before a new academic year begins, some communities in Massachusetts are scrambling to find drivers. Case in point: Framingham. Lincoln Lynch, Executive Director of Finance and Operations for the city’s public schools, said the district needs to hire 25 percent more drivers before school opens -- which does not seem likely.

“We need 77 bus drivers to efficiently run our transportation operation and accommodate our student’s busing needs, but, at this point, our vendor has committed to only 57 drivers to start the school year,” Lynch said. “We are working hard to accommodate as many students that requested transportation, but with 57 drivers we will be unable to accommodate every student that needs a bus.”

Lynch said a message has gone out to Framingham parents, alerting them of the driver situation -- so that they can make alternate arrangements for transportation.

Framingham is hardly alone. In Hopkinton, the Michael J. Connolly company has once again parked a school bus in front of the high school, advertising its need for more drivers. Hamilton’s organization posts an online job board (schoolbus.org). It shows dozens of bus companies looking for applications.

“For the suburbs, there’s probably a ten to twelve percent shortage,” Hamilton said. “And in some cities it’s 20 percent short. Some, it’s up to 30 percent.”

But the state’s largest school district reports it is fully staffed with bus drivers this school year -- even though last year Boston was down drivers, too.

“Boston Public Schools has 733 drivers on staff, with another 35 in training as we speak,” said Press Secretary Max Baker. “These 733 drivers are covering 631 active routes.”

Baker said that since May of last year, the district has hired more than 200 drivers -- the bulk of them taking advantage of a new city program that pays for Commercial Drivers License training. That saves new recruits, on average, about $5,000.

Incentives like that are one way to hire new drivers. Hamilton said the industry is also advertising on social media more -- and targeting their appeals.

“Some of the companies are hiring Moms who have younger kids in school,” he said. Or veterans who may have done a career serving the country.”

Now the country needs them to get our future leaders to school.

If you are interested in becoming a bus driver, visit the School Transportation Association of Massachusetts’ website, schoolbus.org, and select ‘Become A School Bus Driver.’ It lists, by county, the companies looking for help.

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