Driver Shortage Lessens Over Last Year: Top School Bus Contractors in 2024
Respondents also indicated that, on average, driver pay in contractor fleet operations across the United States went up by more than $2 per hour.
The top five largest school bus contractors this year include First Student, National Express, Student Transportation of America, Beacon Mobility in Massachusetts, and North America Central School Bus in Chicago.
Photo: SBF Canva
The results are in from this year’s annual contractor fleet operations survey! With no further ado, they are …
Top 5 School Bus Contractors
| Rank | Company | Fleet 2024 | Fleet 2023 | Loss/Gain | District Contracts | Students Transported |
| 1 | First Student (Cincinnati) | 45,000 | 43,000 | +2,000 | 1,250 | 2,700,000 |
| 2 | National Express (Lisle, Ill.) | 20,000 | 20,500 | -500 | 400 | 1,200,000* |
| 3 | Student Transportation of America (Wall, N.J.) | 16,000* | 16,000 | N/A | 300* | 1,250,000* |
| 4 | Beacon Mobility (North Reading, Mass.) | 7,000* | 7,000 | N/A | 500* | 400,000* |
| 5 | North America Central School Bus (Chicago) | 5,700 | 5,402 | 298 | 100 | 400,000 |
* Latest data available.
This year’s results mimic the same top five compared to those of 2023.
Average Contractor School Bus Fleet Size: 214
Average Number of School District Contracts: 33
Average Number of Students Transported Daily: 48,363
Average Annual Salary for Terminal Managers: $62765
The driver shortage was marked as largely mild to moderate this year:
None: 11%
Mild: 28%
Moderate: 44%
Severe: 11%
Desperate: 6%
Additionally, there was a decent spike in driver pay this year:
2022: $20.55
2023: $22.37
2024: $24.49
Find the full results in our June/July 2024 issue!
Did you miss the bus on participating in this year’s contractor fleet survey? Be sure to come along for the ride in 2025. Watch for emails and announcements on our website to make sure your voice is represented! Your insights are invaluable when it comes to understanding the challenges, successes, and innovations within the industry. Your input helps identify areas for improvement, highlights best practices, and fosters collaboration among fellow contractors. Whether your fleet is small or large, your perspective is crucial.
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