Free CDL Training is Affecting the School Bus Driver Shortage; Low pay means tough decisions
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- Опубліковано 20 вер 2024
- Some would-be school bus drivers are taking advantage of a loophole that allows them to get a Commercial Drivers License (CDL) for free - and then they're leaving for higher-paying jobs. Unlike some CDL courses that cost around $1,500, the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles offers a class that is free to participants identified as school bus driver applicants by districts statewide. The DMV, funded by taxpayer money, picks up the tab. DMV officials say some of those applicants are taking the free training, and never becoming school bus drivers. Bus drivers in Wake County make about $17 an hour, whereas some commercial-driving jobs pay an annual salary in the six-figure range.
Vicki Bynum, who spent more than 20 years driving buses for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, says ultimately, the better pay caused her to leave her job for a dispatch position at Amazon instead. She told WRAL Investigates she makes 20% more money, and the job is a lot less stressful. In addition to losing school bus drivers to other driving positions, WRAL Investigates learned the majority of prospective bus drivers who sign up for the DMV training course do not complete it. DMV data shows the course, statewide, has a 46% completion rate.
Wake County Public Schools has among the lowest completion rate. Only about one-quarter of people who signed up for the course this year completed it. Kennedy explained the district has low numbers because it aims to give applicants second and even third chances to show up for class. A North Carolina Department of Transportation spokesperson said there are roughly 11,000 public school bus routes statewide, and about 30,000 drivers with active school bus driver certifications, so the lack of school bus drivers is not because of a shortage of people eligible. As of late August, more than one-third of school bus driver positions in Wake County Public Schools are vacant, as the district is seeking more than 300 drivers to operate at an optimal level.
In Cumberland County Schools, they are in much better shape. District leaders say they need 17 more drivers.
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#northcarolina #cdl #scam
I did the exact thing... Took training, got my license and moved on right after I passed my test. Now I'm making the most money I've ever made.
Calling this a scam is misleading and unfair to drivers who are just trying to provide for their families. If school districts need more drivers then they need to set competitive wages to attract new drivers.
Fixed!
The district should be honest about the job and let current and past driver comment on the job
Current bus driver and not happy with the pay, admin changes your hours as they please, you don’t have steady hours, kids don’t get disciplined, you mean nothing
I bet you the administration that’s setting these lower wages wouldn’t drive them unruly kids around for such low pay.
Nobody has your back, kids are horrible, disrespectful, the parents are horrible and the admin at some of these schools are the worst. This isn't a scam its people who want to come home to their family without feeling like they're the villain or not doing their jobs right. Why not go for the better pay and a peace of mind?! You guys are rude for calling this a scam in the beginning. It's humans doing what's best for them and their well being. I'm sure those higher ups in their office not getting on busses driving bad kids around
I drive school buses for a few months, the annual pay was a whopping 17k, now I drive coach buses which requires the same amount of licensing (technically, even less because you don’t have to have a school bus endorsement) and make around $60k. It’s no wonder you can’t keep school bus drivers 😂.
Yep I’ve seen it happen at my district as soon as a candidate received their CDL with school bus and passengers endorsement they bounce. They pay for the items total cost 45 bucks but the training cost thousands.
I drove school bus they don’t pay enough
😂😂😂 no nope not even for free, it's a dangerous job, those kids are so unruly. Let the parents deal with those wild animals
😂😅😅😂
The school bus driver is under low poor salary $19k for homeless, retired police/fireman/teacher/veteran military and employees have 2nd job.
Easily making 6 figures? I highly doubt that.
School bus driving pays crap even though you're responsible for kids. I'll get my cdl and then leave for higher paying job haha
Hi, good jobs guys keep it up, I will love to work with you guys but I am in Haiti now, no visa yet, what can i do please? Thank you for your understanding God bless you all.
The CDL regulations are rediculous. It's impossible to obey them all. Some are even dangerous causing the driver to take their eyes off the road, wanting them to constantly look at the mirrors, the gauges. So much responsibility for so little pay. The pre trip inspection they want you to do is rediculous also. Bus drivers are not mechanics. They don't want you to get a second job along with it because they want you to always be available for field trips. Some don't want to do anything to any kid that causes trouble on the bus like they would if that kid was causing trouble in the classroom.
most school bus company send drivers home without pay and they find other jobs and never return
What’s the name of the course????
Whats the Name of The App
I call nonsense, I have a CDL Class-A , CDL Class-B is what bus drivers have! Kinda right, but more test needed to become a Truck Driver! Ijs