Bus Driver Shortage Has School Districts Scrambling To Fill Positions

SACRAMENTO COUNTY (CBS13) — School districts are scrambling to hire and fill gaps left by a bus driver shortage.

After 15 years behind the wheel of San Juan Unified School District buses, Better Loscutoff still loves her job.

"It's an easy job; I got an air conditioned bus," she said. "All i do is drive."

But districts need more people like her as they struggle to keep enough drivers behind the wheel. Drivers are either retiring or leaving for other jobs as the economy improves.

"We only have two instructors and right now we're so short-handed, they're driving," said operations supervisor Debra Kennedy.

Kennedy says the 20 hours of class time and 20 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction—both unpaid—might be keeping people away.

But the training qualifies drivers to get other driving jobs, even if they don't land full-time work with the district. Pay starts at $14.51 an hour.

"Once you become permanent, you have all your benefits; your vacation, your sick leave," Kennedy said. "It's really a good opportunity for someone who's looking for a career change or a new career."