As the bus driver shortage continues, so does the issue of drivers retiring or resigning.
Some drivers just don’t want to get sick while caring for kids that could take their mask off.
Another reason some drivers quit, according to the head of Rochester City School District transportation, is because they were mandated to get the vaccine and didn’t want it.
Low wages were also mentioned as a reason.
First Student, a local bus company, has increased their starting rate from $17 to $20 per hour to try and recruit new drivers.
Over the weekend they received 100 applications.
Bill Harvey, Honeoye Falls-Lima School District’s transportation and security director, said that with the licensing required to drive a bus, people can use the same licensing to make much higher wages driving for a trucking company.
Representative Joe Morelle has been pushing for the transportation secretary to no longer require a commercial driver’s license to drive bus.
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