• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Subscribe
Program Guide
Watch Live

CCX Media

Skip NavigationMenu
  • News
    • Close
        • CCX News
          • CCX News Home
          • News Stories
            • CCX Daily Newscast
          • CCX Media Schools
        • Feature Segments

          • Business Matters
          • School Spotlight
          • Standout Student
          • Weekend Showcase
          • Newsmakers
        • News Tip

          Send us a story idea or news tip!
          Facebook Instagram Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
        • Apple News
    • Close
  • Sports
    • Close
        • CCX Sports
          • CCX Sports Home
          • Sports Tips
          • Hall of Fame
          • Upcoming Event Coverage
          • Play of the Week
        • Sports Coverage

          Adapted SportsAdditional SportsBaseballBasketballFootball
          GymnasticsHockeyLacrosseSoccerSoftball
          Swimming & DivingTennisTrack & FieldVolleyballWrestling
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
          Shop/Order
    • Close
  • Cities
    • Close
        • CCX Cities
          • CCX Cities Home
          • Cities Stories
          • In The Community
          • Our Town’s Story
          • Community Resources
          • CCX Media Schools
          • City Meetings
        • Your City

          Brooklyn Center Local News and Events
          Brooklyn Park MN Local News and Events
          Crystal
          Golden Valley
          Maple Grove
          New Hope
          Osseo
          Plymouth
          Robbinsdale
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Create
    • Close
        • CCX Create
          • CCX Create Home
          • Channels
          • Resources
          • Meet The Create Team
          • CCX Create Virtual Tour
        • Get Creative

          • Launch Your Creative Vision with CCX Create
          • Free Classes
          • Contact Us
          • Polka Spotlight
          • Diversity Minute
        • RueShare

          • Member Login
          • Member Guide
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Subscribe
  • Program guide
  • Watch Live

“Worst Shortage Ever”: Bus Drivers needed for Osseo Schools

5:30 PM | Tuesday, August 28, 2018

The first day of school is only a week away for many local schools and local bus companies are scrambling to find enough drivers. The shortage could cause delays in kids getting picked up. 

“We have about 163 routes. We transport about 12,000 children to and from school every single day for Osseo,” says Jenifer Doyle with First Student bus company.

For First Student, the driver shortage is nothing new. But this year’s shortage is worse than ever before. The company is still looking for about 30 drivers.

 “This is probably about the third really challenging year in a row we’ve had,” said Doyle.  “I have been a safety professional for about the last 15 years, and this is the worse shortage we have been through in quite some time.”

“All Routes Will Have Drivers”

Luckily First Student bus company is big enough to make sure all routes are covered. Ultimately it’s their responsibility to make sure they have enough buses for all the routes.

“We work very closely with the district,” said Doyle.  “It is ultimately our responsibility to make sure there is a driver on every bus. I don’t want parents to panic, we absolutely have the drivers available. There will be a bus for every route. There will be a driver on every bus.”

Doyle says First Student, the nation’s largest provider of school transportation, brings in drivers from other communities. However, all the shuffling around can cause some issues. 

“Some of the drawbacks is that you don’t have a regular driver every single day,” added Doyle. “It’s going to be a different person. Which then, they don’t build the relationship with the students like we would want them to. Some of the drivers aren’t familiar with the area because they are from other communities. So, there will be some delays and some hiccups and we do appreciate the patience of parents through those times.”

The company hopes parents can overlook minor bumps in the road. It also hope potential employees won’t overlook school bus driver as a potential job.

“Part of the reason we are lacking drivers is because it’s a part-time job,” says Doyle. “Another part of it, is because it takes a lot to get your commercial driver’s license.  It takes a lot to get your permit and to get your commercial license. There are so many jobs available that it’s frequently overlooked as an option.”

Another reason the company faces challenges specifically in Minnesota is because of the unemployment rate.

“Minnesota is definitely our most challenging as market for First Student as a company,” added Doyle. “There is such a low unemployment rate, which is great for the economy. However, it makes it difficult to find commercial drivers.”

How You Can Apply 

If you want to become a school bus driver you must be 21 years of age or older and be able to pass a criminal background check. You can apply online with First Student by clicking here, or you can give the company a call at 763-421-2219. 

Sponsored

Related Stories

Osseo School District Approves New Attendance Boundaries:  About 2,000 students in the Osseo Area… Read More
Rush Creek Elementary Fourth-Grader Takes First in Statewide Fire Poster Contest:  Rush Creek… Read More
Minnesota High School Grad Rates Reach Record High: How Local Districts Fared:  Osseo Area Schools has… Read More
Crest View Elementary Repurposing Plan Shifts to New Construction:  Enrollment at Crest View… Read More
Unified Art Class Builds Friendships at Maple Grove Senior High School:  Art is all about what what… Read More
Osseo School District Breaks Ground on New Maple Grove Elementary School:  Leaders of Osseo Area… Read More

Footer

NAVIGATE

  • CCX Media
  • NEWS
  • SPORTS
  • CITIES
  • CREATE
  • Job Opportunities
  • Meet the CCX Media Team
  • ABOUT CCX MEDIA
  • Annual Programming Reports
  • CABLE COMMISSION

SUBSCRIBE

Get email updates for daily story previews. “Week in Review” video links, and programming previews.

Subscribe Today

CONNECT

HAVE A NEWS TIP? CALL OUR TIPLINE AT:  763-533-1710
Send us story ideas and comments!
Get in touch with us
  CCX MEDIA     SPORTS
 NEWS                SPORTS
SPORTS.           SHOP/ORDER

LOCATION

CCX Media
6900 Winnetka Avenue North
Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

Main Phone:  763-533-8196

CCX Media serves the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota, including Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo, Plymouth and Robbinsdale.
Copyright © 2025 CCXMedia | All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement
Web Design and Development by CEL Marketing PR Design and BizzyWeb | Log in