Polk County Public Schools is in a full-on sprint to staff its buses before kids head back to class, with district officials warning that a driver shortage could mean double routes and long waits at bus stops. The district estimates it needs roughly 70 full-time drivers on the road by the time classes begin Aug. 11 and says it plans to ramp up recruitment through July to keep the first-day chaos to a minimum.
Right now, Polk County has about 440 full-time bus drivers on the payroll and needs roughly 70 more to cover every route, according to FOX 13 Tampa Bay. Open positions start at $19.46 an hour with full benefits, and district officials say the biggest staffing gaps are in the Davenport, Haines City and Lakeland corridors. The transportation team is also looking for bus attendants and monitors to help support students with special needs.
How Big the System Is
Polk County Public Schools’ Transportation Operations moves about 50,000 students every school day, using more than 500 buses to run roughly 2,600 routes and nearly 5,900 stops, according to Polk County Public Schools. District officials caution that even a modest shortfall of drivers can quickly ripple into longer ride times and late arrivals for families across the county. The transportation department steers would-be drivers to its training team and online careers portal, where applicants can learn about paid CDL training and how onboarding works.
What the Hiring Package Looks Like
In a district release republished by local outlets, Polk County spells out the perks: paid CDL training, health insurance, Florida Retirement System benefits and a guaranteed seven-hour workday for drivers. The notice also invites walk-in applicants and lists a transportation office contact who can guide candidates through certification and testing. DailyRidge ran the district’s hiring announcement in early June as the push kicked into gear.
“A lot of people retire. Some people relocate to other areas of the country or state, while others find what they feel is a better opportunity,” Director of Transportation Operations George Millar told FOX 13 Tampa Bay. The district has warned that many buses now run “double backs,” dropping off one group of students, then looping back for another, a workaround hiring managers hope to phase out once more drivers are in the fold. Driver Kiara Rivera told reporters the job offers a steady schedule and the chance to build long-term relationships with students.
Why It Matters
Polk’s scramble is part of a wider national driver shortage that has districts from Florida to the Midwest sweetening the pot with higher pay, expanded training and sign-on bonuses. Industry outlet School Transportation News notes that similar hiring drives are underway across the state and beyond. Polk officials say a mix of retirements, rapid local population growth and stiff competition in the job market has made hanging on to experienced drivers and attracting new ones especially urgent.
Prospective drivers can find job listings, application steps and training details through the district’s online careers portal or by calling the Transportation training department at 863-534-7298. Polk County Public Schools says it will keep recruiting through the summer in an effort to keep buses on schedule and disruptions low when students roll back to class in August.
