SBF 70 years logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Massachusetts Governor Calls in National Guard as School Bus Drivers

Up to 250 personnel will be available to assist school districts in Chelsea, Lawrence, Lowell, and Lynn.

Sadiah Thompson
Sadiah ThompsonAssistant Editor
September 14, 2021
Massachusetts Governor Calls in National Guard as School Bus Drivers

Up to 250 personnel will be available to assist school districts in Chelsea, Lawrence, Lowell, and Lynn.

File photo

2 min to read


Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker summoned 250 members of the National Guard on Monday to help with busing students to school, as the state deals with an ongoing bus driver shortage.

The Guard troops will be available to drive school transport vans, known as 7D vehicles, in Chelsea, Lawrence, Lowell, and Lynn, according to a news release from Baker's office. As with any school transportation personnel, the troops will be required to complete vehicle training before getting behind the wheel.

Ad Loading...

Lowell Public Schools announced on Monday that 15 Guard members will be transporting students using the district's 10-passenger vans.

Meanwhile, Chelsea Public Schools announced that 15 troops will be driving school vans serviced by its local pupil transportation provider North Reading Transportation.

In a letter to parents, posted on the district’s website, Chelsea Public Schools Superintendent Almi G. Abeyta said that all troops will be in uniform while driving the vans but will not be armed. She also said that the troops will be required to meet state and local health and safety measures and will be accompanied by bus monitors during their routes.

As more troops continue to be deployed across the state, Baker said that the troops mission to provide school transportation will not interfere with their ability to respond to and assist in emergencies within the Commonwealth. Some members of the National Guard reportedly had already held commercial driver’s licenses for professional or Guard-related reasons.

More Management

A red, white, and blue graphic with pictures of Thomas Gray and text reading "Honoring U.S. Veterans: Thomas Gray's Story."
Managementby Elora HaynesMay 4, 2026

What Happens When Battle-Tested Leadership Meets Student Transportation?

See how Thomas Gray brings Marine Corps discipline and logistics expertise to Dayton Public Schools in this article celebrating National Military Appreciation Month.

Read More →
Close-up of fuel pump nozzles at a gas station, representing rising diesel costs and fuel management challenges for school bus fleets.

Diesel Prices Spike: Tips to Cut Fuel Costs with Data and New Geotab Tools

With diesel prices up 46%, new Geotab analysis points to tools that help fleets reduce idling, detect fuel anomalies, and recover hidden fuel costs across operations.

Read More →
School Bus Fleet leadership update graphic featuring Transit Technologies and headshots of Lisa Horkins, Nunu Dueman Yates, Michael Lei, Srithal Bellary, and Cristina Wheless.
Managementby News/Media ReleaseApril 30, 2026

Transit Technologies Announces New Executive Appointments

The Bytecurve and busHive parent company has multiple new faces on its executive team as the company focuses on AI platform growth.

Read More →
photo of a woman seated at a desk talking to a man, looking at a tablet
Managementby News/Media ReleaseApril 29, 2026

IC Bus Introduces ‘My International’ to Connect Fleet Vehicles, Data, and Service

Available on desktop or mobile, the digital ecosystem brings fleet monitoring, service management, vehicle insights, and dealer communication into a single interface.

Read More →
A graphic with an image of a school bus's rear bumper, a Transfinder logo, and text reading "More District Installs Across the U.S."
Managementby StaffApril 29, 2026

More Districts Tap Transfinder for Routing, Tracking, and Communication Tools

See which users in Illinois, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania are adopting Transfinder’s routing, tracking, and parent apps.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Sonim XP5plus 5G rugged mobile radio device on orange background labeled “New Product,” highlighting push-to-talk communication and durability for school bus fleet operations.
ManagementApril 28, 2026

AT&T, Sonim Launch XP5plus 5G LMR Device for School Bus Fleets

The new radio combines durability, push-to-talk, and FirstNet connectivity, offering a cost-effective communication solution for fleets.

Read More →
EverDriven graphic over a mountain landscape highlighting high caregiver trust and Washington State milestone, emphasizing student transportation safety, reliability, and service growth.
Managementby News/Media ReleaseApril 23, 2026

EverDriven Celebrates Milestones in Washington; Caregiver Trust Tops 80%

EverDriven marks 18 years and 17 million miles in the Evergreen state while new data shows 8 in 10 caregivers would recommend its student transportation solution.

Read More →
A woman holds a tablet and waves at children disembarking a school bus.
Managementby StaffApril 21, 2026

Zum Raises $100 Million, Cites ‘Transportation Anxiety Crisis’ in New Research

New funding and national research highlight student transportation challenges as Zum looks to scale its Connected Mobility Experience platform nationwide.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
a line of pro-vision employees stand in front of branded company vans
Managementby News/Media ReleaseApril 21, 2026

Pro-Vision Video Installs Now Backed by MECP-Certified Techs

The certification validates expertise in complex vehicle technology installations, making it the first fleet video solutions provider to achieve the milestone.

Read More →