#Bus operator shortage drivers#

Our employees carry a lot of responsibility.”Īlthough the shortage of qualified bus operators is particularly dire in Blacksburg, it’s not a problem unique to the New River Valley. We require the ability to pass a background check, random drug testing and it’s a skilled position. Our pool gets even smaller when you consider that in order to hire someone as a bus driver we have very high standards. “There’s a surplus of jobs, and a very limited pool of folks to pull from.

#Bus operator shortage drivers#

“We’re facing a larger shortage of drivers than we ever have in the past,” Sklar said. A commercial driver’s license, an immaculate driving record, and a proclivity towards public-facing positions are just a few of the requirements of the role. However, public transportation faces higher hurdles than most other industries in recruiting and retaining new talent. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are being felt across the entire economy as the country’s remaining workers realize their bargaining power. “This year we’re putting out fewer buses and less frequency than two years ago to compensate for the lack of drivers, but we’re still seeing ridership comparable to before the pandemic.” “We went from carrying 4.6 million riders annually to last year carrying just 25 percent of our normal ridership,” said Lincoln Sklar, a spokeswoman for Blacksburg Transit.

The bad news is that it has 20% fewer drivers than they need to reliably run their full schedule of service. The good news for Blacksburg Transit is that demand for bus service has bounced back to pre-pandemic levels. This article was first published in the Virginia Mercury. A Blacksburg Transit bus rolls through downtown Blacksburg.