The new school year is right around the corner, and many school districts come to the same realization every year: they don’t have enough bus drivers. It probably seems like you’re constantly interviewing, hiring, and trying to attract people to the job, but to no avail. In fact, this has been a nationwide problem plaguing the school bus industry for many years now.
So, what can you do to boost your recruiting efforts and help alleviate your driver shortage? We’ve got a few recommendations!
1) Offer Competitive Pay and Benefits
If you want to attract candidates already interested in a bus driver position, offering competitive pay and benefits is important. Even if it means stretching your budget if a neighboring school district is offering a dollar more an hour, you might not stand a chance if you don’t match their offer.
Try increasing your hourly pay rate, even if it’s just a little, and offering other bonuses for new drivers. Consider awarding sign-on bonuses, good attendance or safe driving bonuses, and enhanced health and retirement benefits.
2) Advertise in Different Ways
The best marketing approach for school bus driver jobs is combining tried and true methods with other modern, innovative tactics. For example, you can’t go wrong with direct-to-mail campaigns or posters in businesses around town. You’ll also want to concentrate on your online advertising—job sites, social media, maybe even paid ads on relevant websites.
Another smart way to get the word out? On the buses themselves! Invest in a custom paint job or attach a sign the length of the vehicle promoting your available positions. This will quickly catch some eyes and give you a lot of free exposure as the buses drive around and even when they’re parked.
3) Ask Current Drivers to Help
Don’t underestimate the power word-of-mouth can have in your recruitment efforts. The drivers already working for you can influence interested parties by giving a firsthand account of the advantages of the job and your organization. Plus, they’re likely to know other drivers who already have some experience and might be looking for a better gig.
To attract as many applicants as possible, try offering a referral bonus to current staff and anyone they recruit.
4) Target Specific Groups
A good way to make your new and existing recruiting efforts more efficient is to spend your time and money targeting the people most likely to be interested in the job. Think about who a school bus driver position might appeal to.
Commercial truckers, for instance, might be a good place to start. Many are probably tired of the long hours and being away from home. Retirees looking to supplement their income or for something productive to take up their time are also likely to be interested in this type of part-time work. You might even send a recruiter to speak with PTAs at your schools, as stay-at-home parents could also be looking for a part-time position, especially if their children are older now.
5) Promote Perks of the Schedule
A school bus driver’s schedule can be pretty convenient for parents whose children are currently in school. Highlight the fact that they’ll be on the same schedule as their children, so they won’t have to worry about childcare. Don’t forget to mention that, for the most part, they get nights, weekends, and school vacations off, too!
Once you’ve implemented these recruitment ideas, you’ll need enough school buses for all your new employees to drive. Luckily, Northwest Bus Sales has an extensive selection of new and used school buses that can be delivered throughout the country (and even to Mexico and Canada).
Browse our available vehicles online and contact our team today about purchasing the school buses you’ll need for the upcoming year.