RE:RE:Driver shortage as many fear for their safetyAs a school bus driver, perhaps I can provide some real world insight into the shortages.
Most bus drivers are elderly....65 is NOT a retirement age. In many areas, 65 is a sterting age.
In Canada, it takes several weeks of training, and a pretty intense practical inspection/driving exam in order to get your School Bus drivers endorsement. You also must qualify to be a class 2 driver as well in order to do it.
Here in rural Manitoba, the school boards pay for the training, and hire you prior to training, as there is a severe labour shortage around here that goes back a decade. I actually got paid $18/hour many years ago just to take my course, lol!
Only about half of the people actually pass the course, it really isn;t for everyone....After that, about half last longer than a year. It is one thing to drive a bus, but a whole other to do it while simultaneously running a daycare. Some of us are cut out for it, but some really just aren't.
In other jurisdictions, the driver's must get trained and tested and licensed on their own dime. This costs thousands.
Many "new" bus drivers are "retired" long-haul class 1 truck drivers.
A lot of different school district's have the bus driver's in a union, but not all.
On a side note, my kids today(they have been learning about investing, and studying GSI with me a bit), noticed that their old camera system in their schoolbus is made by gatekeeper!
Cheers!
KNOWLEDGEWINS wrote: The "good thing " is that once the covid-19 payments to everyone ends up ending ( as we all know it will ) .... and there will be a lot of people looking for jobs as a lot of the people will not have jobs to go back to ... .... then I doubt that there will be any shortages of drivers as people will be pushing others out of the way in order for a job . A heck of a world the new "covid world " is going to be !!! I feel so sorry for young families whom have just bought a house in the past few years and lose their jobs and possibly their houses also .
GLTA. Dunworkin2 - (9/11/2020 7:26:16 PM) Driver shortage as many fear for their safety I think GSI technology would assist, I bet this is a wide spread problem across the country/continent.
School buses cancelled for more than 2,300 students due to driver shortage
More than 2,300 Ottawa students won’t be taking their regular school buses on Monday due to a “severe driver shortage.”
https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/school-buses-cancelled-for-more-than-2-300-students-due-to-driver-shortage-1.5100143