GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – Northeast Wisconsin is facing a school bus driver shortage, with multiple local companies searching for solutions.
Daniel Rouse is a bus dispatcher for Lamers Bus Lines, Inc., where he helps plan over a hundred school bus routes a year.
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But, because there is a need for drivers, he sometimes has to fill in behind the wheel.
“If we are not driving here, then we are driving in terminals in West De Pere, East De Pere, Howard, just filling in,” said Rouse.
Dan Kobussen, President of Kobussen Buses, says the pandemic played a major role in this shortage.
“COVID, I believe, pulled a lot of those folks out of the market,” said Kobussen.
In July, Wisconsin legislators proposed a bill seeking to address Wisconsin’s school bus driver shortage. This bill could lessen how often drivers over the age of 70 would have to take their Commercial Driver’s License test.
“Over 20% of our drivers are over the age of 70; it’s a hassle for them to get tested so often, so that legislation should help us,” said Kobussen.
Rouse echoed this sentiment.
“We have in the next year or two, some people in their 70s have already said they don’t want to go through this again,” said Rouse. “So, they are taking their retirement, whereas if they had their license, they would probably still be working.”
Because of this, local companies are looking for new drivers.
“We could always use more,” said Rouse.
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The process of becoming a bus driver takes about six weeks.
Those interested in becoming a bus driver can learn more by going to the Kobussen Buses or Lamer Bus Lines, Inc. websites.
