With the first day of school just around the corner, districts across Wisconsin are struggling to find enough bus drivers to cover routes, raising concerns for families who rely on daily transportation.
Dan Kobussen, president of Kobussen Buses, says the shortage is real and continues to be one of the toughest challenges districts face each year. “It’s a tough position to fill. A lot of folks are afraid of the bus, afraid of a big vehicle, or the students on the bus,” Kobussen explained.
Despite those concerns, Kobussen notes that driving a school bus offers plenty of benefits. Drivers typically work split shifts covering morning and afternoon routes, with opportunities for additional extracurricular trips. The job also provides flexibility, independence, and the chance to build connections with students.
“Lots of folks like the position because they get to spend time with the kids, spend time on the road, and not have a boss looking over their shoulder,” Kobussen said. “A lot of folks love to drive bus.”
He also emphasized that safety remains strong, with student incidents on buses declining in recent years.
School districts continue to recruit drivers as the start of the school year looms, hoping enough people will step up to keep the “wheels on the bus” turning this fall.
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