District's school bus driver shortage leads to delays
A shortage of nearly 150 school bus drivers is expected to impact about a quarter of the bus routes at Metro Nashville (Tenn.) Public Schools.

Metro Nashville (Tenn.) Public Schools is working to recruit nearly 150 school bus drivers.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A shortage of nearly 150 school bus drivers is expected to impact about a quarter of the bus routes at Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS).
The district operates a fleet of more than 600 school buses. Officials said that an unusually high number of driver resignations this year has created close to 150 openings.
"We weren’t expecting to have this many driver vacancies at the beginning of school," the district said in a blog post on Monday. "So we want you, our MNPS families, to know that some of you may experience delays as your students are picked up and dropped off."
MNPS officials estimated that about 25% of bus routes will be affected by delays.
Meanwhile, the district is taking steps to mitigate late buses, including consolidating routes, using all available substitute drivers, and recruiting and training new drivers. Also, some buses will begin running two routes per school — dropping off one load of students and then going back to pick up more.
MNPS isn't the only school bus operation in the area that's working to recruit drivers. One of the challenges in dealing with the driver shortage, according to MNPS officials, is the "intense competition for drivers that has built up in and around Nashville, including from other school districts and private bus companies."
School Bus Fleet's 2015 School District Survey, which will appear in the upcoming November issue of the magazine, found that only 8% of the districts surveyed have no shortage of school bus drivers.
MNPS held a school bus driver job fair on Wednesday. Another one is scheduled for Oct. 29.
Also, MNPS has assembled a multi-departmental group to develop a long-term strategy for school bus driver retention. This week, the district is conducting focus groups with drivers and is analyzing exit interview data from drivers who have left.
"This information will be used as the district evaluates compensation for bus drivers," MNPS said.
The district's current starting pay rate for school bus drivers is $13.09 per hour.
More Management

BusRight Honors Texas Driver With Inaugural Behind The Wheel Award
Selected from more than 300 nominations, Lawson Crook earned BusRight’s inaugural award for his dedication to students and safety.
Read More →Craig Beaver’s Final Stop: Lessons from 43 Years in Transportation
After more than four decades in transportation, retiring Beaverton School District director Craig Beaver reflects on leadership, alternative fuels, AI, staffing, and what’s coming next. The Route is sponsored by IC Bus.
Read More →What 43 Years in Transportation Taught Craig Beaver About Leadership
After more than four decades in transportation, retiring Beaverton School District admin Craig Beaver reflects on leadership, alternative fuels, AI, staffing, and what’s coming next.
Read More →
ASTP's Tod Eskra Named an Entrepreneur of the Year
The award from Ernst & Young honors visionary leadership behind one of America's fastest-growing student transportation contracting companies.
Read More →
Drivers and Technicians: Help Benchmark Today's School Bus Manufacturers
If you've spent time behind the wheel or under the hood, we want to hear your perspective on the buses you know best.
Read More →13 Industry Leaders Describe School Transportation in One Word
What word best describes the school bus industry today? We posed that question to over a dozen manufacturers, resulting in a revealing mix of perspectives on the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Read More →
Tyler Technologies Adds New AI, Transactions Leadership Roles
Two company executives are promoted to newly created C-suite positions to accelerate the company's long-term growth in both artificial intelligence and payments.
Read More →
Pro-Vision Acquires Convoy Technologies
The deal aims to broaden customer relationships and adds specialized vehicle video capabilities for commercial fleets.
Read More →
Durham School Services Maintenance Teams Earn Missouri Fleet Excellence Awards
Eight of the contractor’s school bus fleets achieved a distinction few maintenance teams earn during the state’s rigorous annual inspection program.
Read More →How Incentives, AI, and Energy Markets Are Reshaping School Transportation
Sit down with Joe Annotti of TRC Companies to talk district grant funding, utility challenges, AI, and why school buses are evolving from transportation assets into energy assets.
Read More →



