30 S C H O O L B U S F L E E T N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5

About two-fifths of the school districts surveyed are providing more transportation this year. Meanwhile, starting pay for school bus drivers rises as districts work to mitigate driver shortage.

BY THOMAS MCMAHON, EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Many Districts Increase School Bus Service

2015 SCHOOL DISTRICT SURVEY

Pho

to b

y G

avin

Ber

wal

d

Fewer school bus service cuts

Same

56%Reduced

5%

Increased

39%

Nearly two-fifths (39%) of the districts surveyed increased their level of school bus service for the 2015-16 school year. Only 5% reduced their service. The proportion of districts reducing bus service has declined over the past several years. In our 2011 survey, 21% had made reductions.

Drivers compete insafety competition?

No

62%Yes

38%

Respondents were asked whether any of their school bus drivers compete in an annual school bus safety competition (aka roadeo). Just under two-fifths (38%) said yes.

Blake FarmerText

31N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5 S C H O O L B U S F L E E T

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

$14.0

$14.3

$14.6

$14.9

$15.2

$15.5

Driver shortage still widespread

About one-fourth (26%) of respondents have a severe or desperate shortage of school bus drivers. That’s an improvement from last year’s survey, when 31% fell into those categories. The categories are defined as: none (0% short of drivers), mild (1-5% short), moderate (6-10% short), severe (11-15% short), desperate (at least 16% short).None Mild Moderate Severe Desperate

8%

Bought new buses this year?

Close to three-fourths (74%) of respondents reported that their district purchased some new school buses for the 2015-16 school year.

Yes

74%No

26%

Bought alt-fuel buses?

Among the districts that did purchase new buses for this school year, 11% bought at least some that are powered by alternative fuels. That’s up from 8% in last year’s survey.

Yes

11%No

89%

Starting driver pay rises again

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

$14.03

$14.58$14.32

$14.58

$15.20

This year’s School District Survey found an average school bus driver starting wage of $15.20 per hour, which is 62 cents higher than last year’s average. Some districts have been raising school bus driver pay to miti-gate driver shortage.Year

Star

ting

hour

ly p

ay

30%36%

18%8%

32 S C H O O L B U S F L E E T N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5

2015 SCHOOL DISTRICT SURVEY

Drivers unionized?

At nearly three-fifths (59%) of the districts surveyed, the school bus drivers do not belong to a labor union.

Yes

41%No

59%

Charge a bus fee?

Yes

4%

No

96%Only 4% of the districts surveyed charge families a fee for regular school transportation service. Those districts’ fees range from $166 to $2,200 per student, per year.

Association member?

Yes

79%No

21%

Close to four-fifths (79%) of respondents are members of a state or national pupil transportation association.

Director salary by fleet size

$45,000

$110,000

On average, annual salary increases with fleet size for the transportation directors and managers surveyed.

1-24 25-49 50-99 100-299 300+

$47,372

$63,910$75,549

$91,462

$108,577

Buses in fleet

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Par ts & Ser vice

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2015 SCHOOL DISTRICT SURVEY

Respondents’ fleet size

Respondents represent a variety of fleet sizes. For this survey, a questionnaire was emailed to transportation directors and managers at school districts. We received a total of 258 useable responses.

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

Buses in fleet

Perc

enta

ge o

f res

pond

ents

1-24 25-49 50-99 100-299 300+

19% 14% 10%24%

33%

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