While the school bus driver shortage may no longer be a daily headline, the issue remains critical and continues to worsen. Across Wisconsin, the number of licensed school bus drivers has dropped by 18% over the last 20 years, and according to the Wisconsin DMV, there were 588 fewer licensed drivers in 2024 compared to 2022. This ongoing decline is putting student transportation—and access to educational opportunities—at risk.
“Though you may not have heard much about it since COVID, the school bus driver shortage is an ongoing concern,” said Chris Angell, Regional Safety Manager for Kobussen Buses in the Sun Prairie region. “The problem hasn’t gone away—in fact, it’s getting worse. If we don’t develop more drivers, this trend will continue.”
Impact on Students and Communities
School bus transportation is essential to the daily routines of thousands of Wisconsin families. Each day, school buses safely transport students to and from school, field trips, sporting events, and extracurricular activities. However, as the number of available drivers continues to decline, schools are facing route consolidations, longer bus rides, and even cancellations of trips and programs.
“If the rate of attrition continues, the inevitable will occur,” Angell continued. “There won’t be enough drivers to take our children to and from school. Field trips, outside educational opportunities, and extracurricular activities will become unavailable to students.”
Recruiting the Next Generation of Drivers
Historically, school bus drivers have been an older workforce, with many experienced drivers retiring in recent years. Without a steady pipeline of new drivers, the shortage is expected to deepen. The challenge isn’t just about filling positions—it’s about changing perceptions and encouraging more people to see school bus driving as a valuable and rewarding career.
Kobussen Buses is working to bridge this gap by offering:
- Flexible part-time and full-time positions
- Paid training and assistance in obtaining a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)
- Competitive pay with sign-on bonuses for new drivers
- Referral bonuses for current employees who bring in new recruits
“School buses have long been a vehicle for educational opportunities,” Angell said. “But if there isn’t anyone to drive them, they become a roadblock.”
Kobussen Buses urges community members to consider joining their team and helping to ensure that students continue to have safe, reliable transportation.
To learn more about available opportunities and how you can make a difference, visit Kobussen.com.