Low Retention Rates Lead To Continuing Bus Driver Shortage For Knox County Schools

Image Credit: Knox County Schools

The Tennessee Conservative Staff –

Although the school bus driver shortage has become less of an issue for Knox County Schools in recent years, the district is still finding itself in need of drivers for the upcoming school year.

In 2022, the district had 50 fewer drivers than needed. That number dropped to 31 in 2023 and 20 in 2024. This year, the district is still facing a shortage of 15 drivers.

Nearly a third of KCS students ride a bus to and from school each day. The system currently has about 460 drivers who run these routes. Some of these routes are being served by smaller busses as the district seeks the additional drivers needed to run larger ones.

According to Ryan Dillingham, KCS’ Director of Transportation, hiring new bus drivers has not been a problem. Instead, it is keeping them on staff that is a struggle for the system.

Last year, 64 new drivers were hired, but the district also lost 48.

“Our turnover rate is much higher than we would like,” Dillingham said, “We’ve done a good job finding people, attracting people, teaching them what they need to know, now we’re working with our contractors, shifting our focus a little bit, trying to see what we can do to retain those bus drivers.” 

Sims Bus Lines, which is contracted by KCS, is currently offering to cover the costs of a commercial driver’s license for newly hired drivers.