Bristol Twp. Schools, Transportation Contractor Struggle With Lack Of Drivers

Parents in the Bristol Township School District know all too well that there’s a shortage of bus drivers. Since school started just weeks ago, the district has had to cancel bus runs and others have been late due to the shortage.

Dan Fiorilli, the area general manager for STA of Pennsylvania Inc., the district’s busing contractor, said this week that the Bristol Township School District is actually doing better than some places, but he agrees that more drivers are needed.

“We understand it is not perfect right now,” said Fiorilli.

STA runs about half the district’s busing, while the district runs the other half. Between the two, there are 61 drivers and 29 van drivers to cover 100 routes.

The district and STA are linked through a $22.8 million contract that runs from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2025.

Fiorilli said STA and the district have been working hard to get drivers to fill open driver jobs, but it is tough.

A recent survey by school ride service provider HopSkipDrive found that 88 percent of schools are experiencing a bus driver shortage.

PennDOT, the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and the Pennsylvania School Bus Association have been working together since last year to get more bus drivers on the road. They have reached out to 375,000 people with CDL certifications and launched a recruitment campaign.

“As we work to ensure that students in all areas—rural, urban, and suburban alike—have access to a high-quality education, we must also provide access to safe, reliable transportation to and from school,” said Acting Secretary of Education Eric Hagarty. “School bus drivers are critical in that mission, and PDE is committed to supporting this industry as it works to recruit individuals to the workforce.”

The HopSkipDrive survey found getting people to drive has been a larger program than pay, retirements, and COVID-19 amid the tight labor market that has seen low unemployment.

In Bristol Township, Fiorilli said STA and the district has seen that problem.

“This is everywhere. Everyone has the same issue,” Fiorilli said.

“We just don’t have enough folks who are interested in driving,” he added.

For example, in March, 118 people applied for open bus driver jobs, six confirmed for training, four showed up to classes, and one obtained the necessary training and the CDL license needed to operate buses. In May, five of 119 applicants showed up for class and none completed.

Some of those who obtain a CDL, with training paid for by STA, quickly hop to drive trash trucks or other driving jobs, Fiorilli said.

He noted that the nature of the job being part-time can make it hard to keep drivers when there are plenty of full-time jobs for CDL drivers.

STA is paying nearly $20 per hour and a $2,500 signing bonus to new drivers, which is comparable to other busing operations.

The STA official said the company has had clauses in contract to stop people from leaving right after they get their CDL but it became costly to enforce and didn’t work.

Fiorilli said drivers don’t just need to get their CDL, which scares off some applicants. Drivers also need to pass background criminal and abuse checks, a driver history review, and drug screening. They also need a doctor’s visit, hours of training, state required permits, and 40 hours of behind-the-wheel lessons.

Due to the lack of drivers, the district and STA has been doubling up runs and combining routes, while also working around schedules for taking students to sporting events.

Fiorilli said transportation office staff and dispatchers have had to hop behind the wheel to pick up routes often.

“How do you jam 10 pounds of bologna in a five pound bag?” he asked.

STA has invested $32,227 so far this school year in promoting open driver jobs.

“We’re doing what we can do,” he said. “We apologize to the parents.”

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