Maine Schools Face Bus Driver Shortage Ahead of New Year

With the first day of school now only about a month away, districts across Maine are once again struggling to find enough bus drivers to transport students.

According to WGME 13, more than two dozen school districts in southern Maine currently have openings for school bus drivers. Some districts remain short by four, five or even six employees.

The shortage has become a familiar late-summer problem for Maine schools. Districts have increased wages and offered hiring and retention bonuses, but transportation departments say finding qualified applicants remains difficult.

Saco and Kennebunk are each looking to hire six full-time drivers before the new school year begins.

Saco Schools Transportation Director Jeanne Anderson told WGME 13 that the district is currently training one prospective driver who is getting close to receiving her license. However, Anderson said she may not be ready to begin driving until early fall.

RSU 21, which serves the Kennebunk area, also has several potential drivers going through the onboarding and licensing process. Transportation Director Chris Pasciuto noted that training and licensing new drivers takes time.

In addition to having a clean driving record, Pasciuto told WGME 13 that districts need applicants who work well with children and want to make a positive difference for students.

When there are not enough drivers available, school departments are often forced to combine routes and place more students on each bus. Some drivers may also need to begin their routes earlier in the morning to ensure students arrive at school on time.

Saco officials say they could be forced to combine additional routes unless more drivers are hired before classes begin.

RSU 21 expects to have enough employees to cover its regular routes at the beginning of the year. However, Pasciuto told WGME 13 that unexpected absences, sick calls or other transportation issues could be difficult to manage without additional drivers.

Despite the continuing vacancies, he said the district is still in a better position than it was two years ago.

Anyone interested in becoming a school bus driver should contact their local school district for information about available positions, licensing assistance, training and potential hiring incentives.