By Annabelle Berry, contributor
Bus delays have become a daily reality for Rockingham County Public Schools, where a shortage of drivers has forced schools to combine routes, adjust pickup times and, on some days, leave routes uncovered.
“Routes are delayed or doubled up on a daily occurrence,” transportation supervisor Travis Weeks said.
Doubling up requires existing drivers to make multiple trips to bring students to or back home from the same school.
“The staff’s got to stay at school with the students ’til their bus makes a run and comes back to get them,” said Broadway High School bus driver Millie Dellinger.
Rockingham County’s challenges are part of a broader problem, in which districts across the country and Virginia have faced shortages of bus drivers over the last six years. Such shortages have disruped routines for students, families and schools.
Weeks says he regularly hears from parents when delays happen.
Rockingham County Public Schools employs 165 drivers across 175 bus routes and 25 schools. The county is the third-largest in Virginia, covering nearly 850 square miles.
“We’re still short,” said the district’s transportation director, Chris Sours. “In a perfect world, 10 drivers would walk in the door tomorrow ready to drive.”
The shortage is most acutely felt when any current driver is unavailable.
When drivers call out sick or take a day off, the transportation department steps in. Sours said he’s spent years driving routes across the county, including months at a time covering special education routes.
“We try our best to ensure that one of us is in the office at all times while buses are on the road transporting students, but oftentimes the other person may be driving a route,” Sours said, referring to himself and Weeks.
School officials trace the shortage back to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The bus driver position is probably the second oldest of the workforce when you look at age,” Weeks said. “COVID kept most of the older population out of the work industry especially with bus driving.”
National data shows schools employ 9.5% fewer bus drivers now than before 2019, as many who left during the pandemic haven’t returned. Virginia school divisions describe similar obstacles and continue to compete with other jobs by raising incentives.
School districts have responded by combining routes, altering ride times and allowing those with fewer than 4,500 students to use alternative transportation. While these efforts keep buses running, they lengthen commutes and disrupt the school day.
State and school leaders have sought additional solutions. Virginia lawmakers approved new policies that allow some retired drivers to return to work without losing benefits.
Low pay remains a key factor, both locally and nationwide.
Virginia schools have raised wages and offer bonuses to attract new drivers. Fairfax County Public Schools increased pay to $27.60 an hour in 2025 and streamlined hiring but still reports a shortage of 40 drivers.
“The economy is always a big piece of it,” said Michele Phillips, assistant director of transportation services for Fairfax County Public Schools.
Henrico County Public Schools also raised pay to attract interest, with an hourly rate of $22.98, which is a 20.6% increase. But the division still faces shortages while transporting more than 28,000 students each day.
In Rockingham County, a bus driver’s annual pay starts at $13,079 and goes up to $21,770 — based on a three-and-a-half-hour workday. Weeks said the school board provides an annual increase in pay of 2-3%.
“Drivers leave, especially the newer ones, because if they have health insurance, that takes about all their money every month,” said Dellinger, the bus driver from Broadway.
Work opportunities also expand beyond driving duties. Rockingham drivers can substitute teach between routes, increasing their income and building a rapport with students.
But officials also say money isn’t the only issue.
“Currently what we’re hearing from bus drivers are student behaviors,” Weeks said. Drivers must operate a large vehicle while supervising dozens of students.
“The simple act of driving a school bus can be a challenge by itself when the bus is empty,” Sours said. “When you add 50-plus students behind you, things can get hectic.”
The district implemented a division-wide bus discipline policy that officials hope will curb behavior issues and increase applicants.
“If there’s a student action at Turner Ashby, it gets the same consequence as East Rock,” Weeks said, referring to two of the county’s high schools. “There are no inconsistencies.”
Community members also have stepped in to help. Jackie Lohr, a Rockingham County School Board member, earned a commercial driver’s license and volunteers as a bus driver when needed.
“I’ve seen firsthand how much our students count on us every single day,” Lohr wrote in a recent Facebook post encouraging others to apply.
She said the job offers flexibility and benefits, but the district needs more drivers. “If you’ve ever thought about it, now is the time,” she added.
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