As school districts across the country adapt to growth and increasing academic demands, School Bus Fleet’s latest survey of district transportation services reveals that many are navigating the effects of the ongoing nationwide shortage of qualified transportation professionals. 

Among those feeling the strain is Stafford County Public Schools in Virginia, where transportation leaders are finding both challenges and triumphs amid the shortage.

"Stafford County Public Schools continues to experience the effects from the nationwide school transportation professional shortage," said Karim Johnson, executive director for transportation services and a former SBF Administrator of the Year. "This includes not just bus drivers, but also the essential bus attendants needed to meet the requirements of students’ Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and Head Start needs. Without this critical member of the team, the bus route cannot roll safely."

Stafford County is one of the fastest-growing school systems in Virginia, adding pressure to an already stretched transportation network. Johnson and his team have implemented several innovations to maintain safety and efficiency despite these hurdles. One involves transitioning from identifying buses by fleet numbers to using route numbers. Additionally, the district introduced a new transfer bus model to support its High School Specialty Centers, enabling transportation for system-wide open enrollment programs.

"We were able to deploy this system despite the challenges from the nationwide shortage," Johnson explains. Stafford County has also expanded its office staff, adding specialists and coordinators to help support students, families, and bus drivers alike.

As districts like Stafford County grapple with growth and staffing shortfalls, the SBF survey underscores the ongoing importance of innovation and adaptation in school transportation services.

5 Takeaways from the SBF Top District Fleets Survey Data

1. Increased Starting Pay for Bus Drivers: A significant 69% of districts reported an increase in starting hourly pay for drivers compared to the previous year. The average hourly wage increased by $1.12, reaching $22.96, reflecting efforts to improve recruitment and retention amid the driver shortage.

2. Slight Improvement in Driver Shortage: While driver shortages remain a significant challenge, the percentage of districts reporting moderate to severe shortages has dropped from 63% to 51%. Also, 15% of districts reported no shortage, up from last year, indicating some progress in addressing this issue.

3. Growing Interest in Electric Buses: Purchases of all-electric buses increased by 7% between 2023 and 2024. Districts also expanded their use of electric buses in fleets, growing from 8% to 13%. While diesel remains dominant, the shift toward electrification signals a growing focus on sustainability.

4. Minimal Bell Schedule Changes Due to Shortages: Despite the persistent driver shortage, 83% of districts reported no changes to their bell schedules, suggesting that most districts are managing their transportation needs without significantly altering school start times.

5. Awareness of Clean School Bus Funding, but Limited Application: While 90% of districts are aware of the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program, only 38% of districts applied for funding. Notably, 50% of those aware of the program chose not to apply, indicating potential barriers or hesitancy in pursuing available resources.

Top 5 Districts Based on Route Buses 

Top 5 Districts Based on Student Ridership

Top 25 School District Fleets Overall

*based on districts that participated in the survey; data as submitted by Aug. 12, 2024.

Average No. of Buses Per District

107

A significant drop from last year’s count of 292, but likely due to missing data from non-responders.

Average Student Passengers Per District

5,969

Down 8,611 from last year – possibly due to missing data but may indicate anecdotal trends of lowered ridership.

Total Annual Route Miles Driven by Responding Districts

185,186,773

Average Annual Route Miles Driven by Responding Districts

1,122,344

Average No. of Bus Drivers Per Responding District

83. Down slightly from 97 last year.

Average Bus Driver Hourly Wage

$22.96

The average hourly wage rose $1.12 from last year’s $21.84.

Labor Union Membership

• Yes: 47%

• No: 53%

Just over half (53%) of responding school districts reported that their employees are not unionized, but those that have organized are up from 33% in 2023.

Pupil Transportation Director Average Salary

$79,789

Compared to Last Year, Starting Hourly Pay for Drivers

• Higher: 69%

• Same: 30%

• Lower: 1%

Planned Service Level Changes for 2024-25

• Increased: 34%

• Same: 58%

• Lower: 8%

Driver Shortage Pain Per Responding District

• No Shortage: 15%

• Mild (1-5% short): 34%

• Moderate (6-10% short): 28%

• Severe (11-15%): 16%

• Desperate (16%+ short): 7%

The percentage of responding districts reporting moderate to desperate levels of driver shortage fell compared to last year (51% rather than 63%). The percentage of districts indicating no pain from driver shortages rose to 15%.

Altered Bell Schedules Due to Driver Shortage

• Yes: 14%

• No: 83%

• Not Sure: 3%

Most responding school districts didn’t change their bell schedules to accommodate routes due to the ongoing nationwide school bus driver shortage.

Purchased New Buses for 2024-25 School Year?

• Yes: 57%

• No: 43%

Fuel Types of New Purchased Buses

2023

• Diesel: 71%

• Gasoline: 19%

• Propane: 12%

• CNG: 4%

• All-electric: 9%

• Other: 12%

2024

• Diesel: 76%

• Gasoline: 19%

• Propane: 12%

• CNG: 3%

• All-electric: 16%

• Other: 11%

Fuels Used in District Fleets

2023

• Diesel: 91%

• Gasoline: 52%

• Propane: 21%

• CNG: 4%

• All-Electric: 8%

• Other: 1%

2024

• Diesel: 92%

• Gasoline: 55%

• Propane: 10%

• CNG: 6%

• All-electric: 13%

• Other: 2%

Diesel, gasoline, and all-electric buses gained prominence in school district fleets during the past year. Propane lost ground.

Use Rider/Bus Status Tracking Apps?

• Yes: 48%

• No: 50%

• Not Sure: 2%

Almost half (48%) of responding school districts use smartphone applications, up from 39% last year.

Aware of EPA’s Clean School Bus Program?

• Yes: 90%

• No: 6%

• Not Sure: 4%

Most responding school districts (90%) indicated they knew about the program — up slightly from last year.

Applying for Clean School Bus Funds?

• Yes: 38%

• No: 50%

• Not Sure: 12%

Half the respondents (50%) who knew about EPA funding said they wouldn’t apply, a drop from last year.

Did You Apply for Clean School Bus Funding as a Prioritized School District?

• Yes: 48%

• No: 24%

• Not Sure: 28%

Of responding districts applying for funds, almost half (48%) classified themselves as prioritized for funding.