School bus driver count drops 21,000 nationwide

The number of people employed as school bus drivers in the United States dropped by 21,176 between August 2019 and August 2025. The total fell from 223,252 to 202,076, a decrease of nearly 10% over six years. This contraction has led to frequent route delays and cancellations across the country.

Parents report that these disruptions are becoming routine. In Fort Wayne, Indiana, thousands of students stayed home for remote learning over three days in April 2026 due to a lack of available drivers. In South Carolina, the state’s largest school district sent more than 7,000 delay notifications to parents during the first 10 weeks of the 2025-2026 school year.

Victoria Encarnacion in Waterbury, Connecticut, said her daughter missed her bus pickup about once a month. Encarnacion described a recent instance where her daughter waited outside and eventually walked to North Main. After an hour of trying multiple stops, the girl went home. Encarnacion said her daughter told her, “Mom, I quit.” The parent said the uncertainty causes daily stress, noting that it is difficult not knowing if the bus will arrive.

Mark Medina, a regional director with the National Association for Pupil Transportation, said drivers often feel stuck in a difficult position. He noted that a commercial driver’s license allows workers to switch to industries with higher pay. Medina stated that driving a bus with 50 children is complex and requires attention. He added that the association is working to secure retirement cap waivers and tax relief to improve compensation. Medina said, “They’re doing the best that they can.”

Lawmakers introduced the Driving Forward Act in 2025 to address one barrier to hiring. The bill would remove a requirement for school bus drivers to identify engine parts and explain how they work. Currently, all commercial driver’s license holders must pass this test. Lawmakers argue the requirement is tailored for long-haul trucking and can add three or four days of training. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration says the exemption would not affect safety.

Medina said split shifts and health risks for older workers during the pandemic made it harder to return to pre-pandemic staffing levels. He described the industry mindset as persistent. Medina said, “There’s a figure it out attitude in the school transportation world.”