Back-to-school shortages: Wake schools need hundreds of new bus drivers

Wake County Schools could start the new school year with a very familiar problem: Not enough bus drivers.

Right now nearly 30% of the positions are vacant – with the start of school only five weeks away.

Thomas Babb, a former school bus driver for Wake County Public Schools, shared a few reasons he left his job after more than a decade on the road.

"There is just no incentive to stay here," he said.

Babb says driver pay is not keeping up with the cost of living. Bus drivers, he says, also have to manage student behavioral issues.

Another major issue: Babb says some buses do not have working air conditioners.

Finally, the driver shortage means people who are on the job are asked to cover more and more routes.

"When there is nobody to drive, you have to double back, triple back, quadruple back," he said.

Wake County has a driver vacancy rate at more than 28% – that is more than 250 open positions. Back in January, when WRAL News reported on the issue, there were around 220.

"There is no driver for the route, and that is going to happen a lot this year," said Babb.

Babb himself covered three routes, so he says those no longer have a driver.

In the past, these stresses in transportation have led to delay and no-show buses. District officials say they are now working through how routes will run in the coming school year.

District officials say they will have more information on their bus situation in the coming weeks.

"I think morale and pay and being respected go a long way," said Babb.