Bullitt County Public Schools in Kentucky is warning families to prepare for possible school bus route disruptions as the district continues recruiting staff amid a driver shortage ahead of the 2026-2027 school year reported, WDRB News.

In a letter sent to families last week, the district said canceled routes remain a possibility if substitute bus drivers are unavailable. The district reminded parents that they are responsible for ensuring students get to school if a route is canceled.

“Families are responsible for student transportation and attendance,” the district said. “If a bus route is canceled, absences will not be excused.”

To help minimize disruptions, the district reportedly said elementary and middle school students may be dropped off as early as 6 a.m. through its Right at School before-school program and remain until 6 p.m. High school students will also have access to designated community pickup locations, where buses will provide transportation to campus.

The district reportedly noted that parents have up to six excused absences for their children each school year to use for unexpected emergencies.

District Short on Sub Drivers

Superintendent Jesse Bacon said the district expects to have enough full-time drivers to cover all regular routes when school begins but continues to face a shortage of substitute bus drivers. “Our problem is that there are not enough people who want to drive a bus,” Bacon said in a statement. “We have raised pay considerably over the last five years.”

According to Bacon, the average bus driver reportedly earns $25.44 per hour over a 179-day work year and receives benefits including health insurance, retirement, paid sick leave, personal leave and emergency leave. He added that the district’s most experienced drivers earn $30.20 per hour.

Some parents say canceled routes have already affected student attendance. Parent Chelsea Stanley said her first-grade daughter missed multiple days of school last year after repeated route cancellations. “It’s actually been a nightmare,” Stanley said, adding that without reliable transportation, her family was left with few safe alternatives for getting her daughter to school.

Written with the assistance of AI.

Related: (STN Podcast E313) Put People First: School Bus Driver Shortages & Retention Advice
Related: Retirements Spur Summer Hiring Push to Address School Bus Driver Shortages
Related: Florida School District to Host Transportation Hiring Event
Related: Pasco County Schools Rolls Out New Cash Incentives to Tackle School Bus Driver Shortage

The post Driver Shortage Could Lead to Bus Route Disruptions, District Warns appeared first on School Transportation News.

RENO, Nev. – At the 2026 STN EXPO West Conference, a Zonar “CEO Talk” brought together industry leaders to confront the realities of preparing for the 2026-2027 school year.

Led by Zonar CEO Charles Kriete, who has guided the company for over a year and a half, the session spotlighted Zonar’s enduring role as an innovator in school transportation technology and its deep partnerships with organizations like school bus contractor Student Transportation of America, whose lead electric vehicle performance analyst, Cameron Wood, was named STN’s Innovator of the Year this month, and electric bus manufacturer Ride. Zonar’s active presence at STN EXPO included fresh coffee sponsorships, the Ride and Drive experience, engaging trade show activations, and a welcoming booth offering hands-on product trials.

Kriete’s address, infused with Zonar’s “mile for mile” support and “where the rubber meets the road” philosophy, revealed sobering survey data: only 15 percent of districts feel fully ready for back-to-school, while 85 percent acknowledge moderate or significant gaps. Budget pressures are acute. Sixty percent of districts report flat budgets, 19 percent face outright cuts, and 10 percent have no dedicated technology budget at all in 2026. These constraints are exacerbated by a 57 percent surge in fuel costs, yet 36 percent of districts are not investing in new technology. The top areas for tech investment — routing software, ridership solutions, and driver coaching — are critical, with Kriete emphasizing that technology is the main way to bridge the education access gap.

Central to his talk was what Kriete termed “one picture of readiness,” advocating for integrated platforms that unify data and streamline operations, directly addressing the challenge of “data scattered all over the place.” He illustrated this with stories from the field, including a Pittsburgh district’s struggles and a California transportation director unaware of Zonar’s remote emissions testing. He urged districts to “sweat what you already own,” audit current providers for untapped features, and recognize that the Zonar Bus Suite’s flexibility supports both rural and urban environments. Attendees were invited to “try it for free” via a QR code at the STN EXPO Trade Show booth.

Driver shortage remains student transporters’ top concern, with 77 percent of districts affected, but Kriete highlighted that technology investments can more than double driver retention rates, offering “career progression” and addressing root causes rather than just symptoms.

“It does a lot to make them feel more engaged, more safe, more efficient in their job,” he said. “It increases retention levels extraordinarily, dramatically.”

He reframed the school bus industry’s mission, saying, “we’re not actually in the student transportation business, we’re in the access to education business,” underscoring the imperative to deliver “every kid to school.” Kriete closed by urging attendees to maximize partnerships, audit and leverage existing resources, and embrace innovation.

Written with assistance of AI from a session transcript.

Related: Zonar CEO Kriete Talks Tech Solutions for School Bus Safety, Efficiency
Related: Zonar CEO Kriete Reminds Student Transporters of the Business They’re In
Related: Zonar Acquisition Results in Launch of Routing Software

The post CEO Talk with Zonar: The State of Back-to-School Readiness appeared first on School Transportation News.

The student transportation driver shortage is not news, and the 2026 data confirms it is still top of mind for fleet managers. 75% of transportation professionals rank driver availability as their top concern heading into fall, holding across every fleet size and operation type.

On July 30, Zonar and School Transportation News bring together a panel of experts for a live look at where the industry stands and how purpose-built technology supports teams running short-staffed. Walk away with data, context and practical steps your operation takes into the 2026-27 school year.

What we’ll cover:

• Why 75% of transportation professionals rank driver availability as their top concern, and what the long-term data says about where this is headed
• Why only 15% of districts say all systems are confirmed for fall, and what the preparation gap costs on day one
• How flat budgets buy less in 2026 than they did in 2025, and where the 64% of districts investing in technology are putting their money
• How fleet tech can be an ally in this fight: one unified system, end-to-end safety, proven hardware and everything included at no extra cost
• Practical steps for transportation leaders on where to focus technology investment heading into the 2026-27 school year

Brought to you by Zonar

REGISTER BELOW:

Featured speakers:

Malinda Sandhu
Director, Strategic Accounts
Zonar

Malinda Sandhu leads strategic account relationships at Zonar, working directly with transportation directors to translate operational challenges into technology solutions. With more than 20 years in transportation, she has watched safety technology, automated enforcement and fleet electrification reshape the industry across North America. Her work connects vendors, operators, regulators and industry partners, turning innovation into revenue, partnerships and scalable market growth. She also founded Malinda Sandhu Innovation Partners, advising transportation, mobility and K-12 pupil transportation organizations on strategy, partnerships and growth.

Valeria Rios
Product Marketing Manager
Zonar

With seven years in the industry across support and marketing, Valeria translates product capabilities into real-world value for fleet operators. She built her foundation leading customer support teams through complex technical and operational issues, gaining first-hand insight into how fleets actually use Zonar products day to day. Now she works across product, engineering and regional leadership teams to guide platform initiatives, drive adoption and keep operations aligned.

The post (Free Webinar) Short-Staffed and on Schedule: Tackling the Student Transportation Driver Shortage appeared first on School Transportation News.

An educational session coming up at the STN EXPO West conference will dive into the behind-the-scenes reality of mental fatigue and its impact on school bus drivers.

This session brings together 2025 Transportation Director of the Year Keba Baldwin and school bus driver and influencer Cor’Darius Jones, known as “Mr. Bus Driver,” on Facebook and TikTok for an insightful and candid discussion on the mental fatigue that many school bus drivers experience.

School bus drivers face high levels of stress as they tirelessly work to keep students safe on their routes while balancing covering routes, split shifts, early morning and long hours, and insufficient recovery time. Many drivers have been pushed to their limits and end up leaving the job entirely, as evidenced by the driver shortage that many districts face. Baldwin and Jones will discuss the factors involved that contribute to this fatigue on drivers and what it looks like on both sides of the transportation operations, from behind the wheel to district leadership.

Chronic exhaustion, lack of support from district administration, and lack of assistance with student behavior are all driving turnover. So, of course, can low pay or lack of benefits. But there are solutions to build a healthy workplace culture that ensures school bus drivers feel supported and equipped to do their job well. The speakers will also discuss how to address the mental and physical toll by creating an environment where drivers can work schedules that will not harm their mental or physical health and where wellness is treated as a safety issue.

Transportation department leadership, school bus driver advocates and anyone who works within the student transportation industry will leave the session with practical strategies to implement that will positively benefit not only school bus drivers but the entire operational structure of student transportation.

STN EXPO West will be held July 9-15 at the Peppermill Resort in Reno, Nevada. Attendees will have access to a week of educational sessions based on the challenges facing the industry, training classes to improve operations, networking events to bring peers together for problem-solving and innovative experiences such as the Ride and Drive/Live Product Demo, the STN EXPO Trade Show and the Transportation Director Summit. Register at stnexpo.com/west.

Related: Scientific Approach to Illegal Passing Issue Coming to STN EXPO West
Related: Safety Impact of School Bus Seatbelts Topic at STN EXPO West
Related: School Bus Fuel Innovation, Technology Education Meet at STN EXPO West

The post Mr. School Bus Driver to Discuss Mental Fatigue Discussion at STN EXPO West appeared first on School Transportation News.

Transfinder announced its annual Top Transportation Teams award winners, the industry is concerned about autonomous vehicles ignoring school bus stop arms, and two federal grants provide opportunities for school transportation emergency training.

Veteran transportation leader Jim Schiffler draws on his personal and family experience in the school bus industry to offer thoughtful advice on building stronger teams and healthier workplace cultures, from company values and unions to recruitment and promotions. He’ll share more at STN EXPO West in July.

Read more about leadership.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

Message from School Radio.

Stream, subscribe and download the School Transportation Nation podcast on Apple Podcasts, Deezer, iHeartRadio, Spotify and YouTube.

The post (STN Podcast E313) Put People First: School Bus Driver Shortages & Retention Advice appeared first on School Transportation News.

Polk County Public Schools is working to fill about 70 bus driver positions before students return to class this fall, as the district continues to face a nationwide shortage of qualified drivers, reported Spectrum News.

Transportation Operations Director George Millar said recruiting additional drivers is a top priority ahead of the upcoming school year.

Millar, who has worked in public school transportation for more than 30 years, began his career as a school bus driver before moving into a leadership role. He said driving a school bus offers an opportunity to make a lasting impact on students throughout their academic careers. “It’s very rewarding and you could be a very large success,” Millar told local news reporters.

He said drivers often build relationships with students over many years, from their first days of school through graduation. “All the way from when they’re 5-years-old or even younger sometimes, all the way through seeing them walk across that stage at graduation. It is so rewarding,” he said.

Millar said some prospective applicants may be discouraged by the commercial driver’s license, or CDL, testing process. However, he said via the report that the district provides training materials and support to help candidates prepare for and pass the required written exam.

“For the individuals applying with us, we’ll help them get through that process,” Millar told reporters. “We will give them the training materials to help them study for that test and to be successful.” After completing the exam, new hires continue receiving hands-on training before driving routes independently, he said.

Increasing Pay to Fill Bus Driver Positions

To attract more applicants to fill the 70 bus driver positions, the district recently increased base pay for bus drivers by 2 percent, bringing hourly wages to just over $19. Drivers are also eligible to work seven-hour shifts with opportunities for additional earnings.

Millar said some drivers may have the option to park their buses at home, depending on where they live, reducing commute times and adding convenience. “In some areas you might even be able to park your school bus at home just to make it more convenient for you,” he said.

Millar said the district remains focused on supporting employees while ensuring reliable transportation for students. Applications for bus driver and bus attendant intern positions are available through the Polk County Public Schools website.

Written with the assistance of AI.

Related: Retirements Spur Summer Hiring Push to Address School Bus Driver Shortages 
Related: Pasco County Schools Rolls Out New Cash Incentives to Tackle School Bus Driver Shortage
Related: Pennsylvania School Bus Transportation Company Hosts Hiring Event
Related: Updated Iowa School Bus Driver Hiring Law Adds Optional Refresher Course

The post 70 Bus Drivers Needed in Florida District Ahead of New School Year appeared first on School Transportation News.

Student transportation fleets have a new take on an age-old problem: driver shortages. Millions of CDL holders are out there, so filling seats isn’t as big of an issue as filling seats with safe, reliable drivers who meet performance expectations. Retaining them isn’t easy, either.

How can a school fleet navigate this new world of driver shortage and retention problems? As you read this Driver Shortage Playbook, you’ll learn why traditional school bus driver recruitment strategies are no longer effective and how today’s fleets are adapting.

• Understand why financial incentives and fast hiring practices fail.
• Find out why a focus on quality over quantity benefits you both.
• Take away practical strategies for expanding your talent pool.
• Why career pathing for school fleet drivers is so important.
• And other ways to improve retention, safety, reliability and compliance.

Fill out the form below and then check your email to get the report.

The post (Free White Paper) The Driver Shortage Playbook appeared first on School Transportation News.

School districts across the country are preparing for a wave of summer retirements of school bus drivers, adding pressure to an already strained student transportation workforce.

To address the growing shortage, school districts are ramping up recruitment efforts through hiring events, sign-on bonuses, paid training programs, referral incentives, and retention initiatives aimed at attracting and keeping qualified drivers.

One district taking a hands-on approach is Branson Public Schools in Missouri. The district’s transportation department hosted its first annual “Take the Wheel” Driving Event on June 13, giving community members the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a school bus, meet transportation staff and learn more about available career opportunities.

The event was designed to provide prospective applicants with a firsthand summer-time look at what it is like to serve as a school bus driver while highlighting the benefits of the profession, including flexible schedules and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on students’ daily lives. Participants visited multiple event locations throughout the community, while bus test drives were available at Buchanan Elementary. Branson’s initiative reflects a growing trend among school districts looking beyond traditional job postings to recruit new drivers, especially to address retirements.

In Alabama, Tuscaloosa City Schools recently hosted a Bus Driver Hiring Fair, where prospective applicants could receive assistance with the application process, schedule fingerprinting appointments and participate in on-the-spot interviews. The school district is also offering a $2,000 signing bonus for new drivers, starting pay of $23.80 per hour, and paid commercial driver’s license (CDL) training, helping remove barriers for individuals interested in entering the profession.

Retirements Spur Need for More School Bus Driver Hiring

The urgency behind these recruitment efforts is driven not only by ongoing nationwide school bus driver shortages, but also by the retirements of a number of longtime drivers retiring this summer who have spent decades serving their communities.

In Georgia, Fayette County school bus driver Diane Vaughn recently retired at age 82 after an extraordinary 50-year career. According to local news reports, Vaughn began driving in 1976 to secure health insurance for her child’s cancer treatment and quickly developed a passion for the profession. Over the past five decades, she safely transported thousands of students and became a familiar face to generations of families. The Fayette County School Board honored her service with a specially made 50-year service pin and a standing ovation, recognizing a career that exemplifies the dedication many veteran drivers have brought to student transportation.

In Tennessee, retiring Wilson County Schools bus driver Frances Theiring is also marking the end of a remarkable career. According to local news reports, Theiring, who spent nearly 50 years driving a special education bus and teaching in a special education classroom in Mt. Juliet, will become the first woman from Wilson County inducted into the Tennessee School Bus Driver Hall of Fame. Honored recently by fellow drivers and district staff at the transportation department’s year-end cookout, Theiring said she felt “overwhelmed but grateful” as she reflected on a career dedicated to serving students and families.

Theiring’s induction recognizes not only her longevity but also her commitment to safe and reliable transportation. According to the Tennessee School Bus Driver Hall of Fame, inductees must have at least 45 years of uninterrupted service as a daily route driver and demonstrate exceptional dedication, integrity and service to students. Wilson County Schools officials praised Theiring’s impact on the community, with school board chair Joe Padilla noting that her influence on generations of students and families cannot be measured.

Retirements like those of Vaughn and Theiring underscore the challenge facing school transportation departments nationwide. According to recent reports, Tuscaloosa City Schools continues to seek hiring additional drivers this summer for the upcoming school year, while school systems across the country are investing in recruitment and training programs to strengthen their transportation workforce.

From interactive experiences like Branson’s “Take the Wheel” event to hiring fairs, signing bonuses, competitive wages, and paid CDL training, districts are employing a variety of strategies to attract new drivers before students return to classrooms this fall. As veteran drivers leave the workforce after decades of service, transportation leaders are increasingly focused on finding innovative ways to ensure students have safe and reliable transportation for the school year ahead.

Related: Wisconsin School Bus Driver Retires After 54 Years Behind the Wheel
Related: Survey: Driver Shortages, Underutilized Buses and Community Pressures Top Challenges to School Transportation Efficiency
Related: Pasco County Schools Rolls Out New Cash Incentives to Tackle School Bus Driver Shortage
Related: Retired Man Now Drives a School Bus and Sings to Children

The post Retirements Spur Summer Hiring Push to Address School Bus Driver Shortages appeared first on School Transportation News.

For most student transportation teams, the day-to-day reality is a short-staffed operation managing complex logistics that families depend on. The 2026 State of Student Transportation Report captures exactly that.

In February 2026, Zonar and School Transportation News surveyed 118 transportation professionals across the U.S. The results confirmed what many already know from experience: staffing is stretched, budgets are tight, and the technology teams have isn’t always translating into action.

Join Zonar and a panel of experts for a live walkthrough of the report’s findings. We’ll dig into what the data shows, where the industry is heading, and what it means for your operation this year. Get direct insights from the perspective of providers, districts and consultants.

What we’ll cover:

• Why 75% of transportation professionals still rank driver hiring and retention as their top challenge and what the long-term data tells us about where this is headed
• How safety expectations have evolved: parent communication gaps alongside driver behavior compliance tied as the top student safety challenges at 45% each
• Where technology adoption stands today and why student ridership verification shows the largest gap between current use (41%) and 2026 investment intent
• Why the data problem is a people and process problem: 48% of respondents cite limited staff as their primary data challenge, not technology gaps
• Practical recommendations for transportation leaders on where to focus technology investments for the strongest operational return

Brought to you by Zonar

REGISTER BELOW:

Featured speakers:

Tony Harris
Director of Transportation
Monongalia County Schools

Tony Harris brings more than two decades of firsthand experience to his role as Transportation Director at Monongalia County Schools in Morgantown, West Virginia. He spent 18 years as a school bus driver in Preston County before moving into administration, navigating mountain roads, narrow lanes, and harsh winter conditions before transitioning to overseeing the operation. Today he manages more than130 drivers across over 100 routes, providing daily transportation for roughly 9,500 students across both urban Morgantown and the rural reaches of the county.
Harris has been an active champion of new transportation technology, including piloting electric buses in the district and developing driver recruitment and training programs to address workforce challenges.

Rachel Trindade
Chief Marketing Officer
Zonar

With more than 25 years in marketing and 15+ years in logistics, Rachel has helped companies drive significant growth faster than industry norms. At Zonar, she leads marketing and demand generation.
Before joining Zonar, Rachel served as CMO at FlavorCloud and Extensiv, and led global marketing at Teletrac Navman (Vontier) across four continents. She holds a BBA from the University of Texas at Austin and has been recognized as a leading Woman in Supply Chain by Supply & Demand Chain Executive and named California’s Most Visionary Tech CMO by CEO Monthly.

Tim Ammon
Owner
Ammon Consulting Group, LLC

Tim Ammon has spent more than 25 years supporting transportation and fleet operations, working with more than 500 organizations across three countries. His work focuses on identifying opportunities to improve operational performance through process improvements, technology adoption, and personnel practices, consistently helping organizations bridge the gap between desired and actual performance.
Tim has also provided extensive professional development services in leadership and management, decision-making, organizational resilience, and cost and technical analysis. He holds a Master of Public Administration from American University and certifications in School Risk Management, Operational Risk Management, and Change Management.

The post (Free Webinar) 2026 State of Student Transportation appeared first on School Transportation News.

In February 2026, Zonar and School Transportation News surveyed transportation professionals across the United States to document the pressures shaping fleets today and where leaders are investing next. The result is the most comprehensive look at student transportation challenges, safety priorities and 2026 technology plans available today.

Inside the report:

• Understand why driver shortages aren’t going away and what leading districts are doing about it.
• Identify where your safety program may have gaps in communication and driver compliance.
• Know which technologies are worth prioritizing in 2026 before you finalize your budget.
• See how fleets your size are investing and where adoption is lagging across the industry.
• Find out which KPIs your peers are tracking and how to measure what actually matters.

Download the complimentary report to see how your fleet compares.

Fill out the form below and then check your email to get the report.

The post 2026 State of Student Transportation Report appeared first on School Transportation News.