Abilene ISD bus routes affected by driver shortage

ABILENE, Texas ( KTAB/KRBC ) – Abilene ISD bus routes are being affected by a statewide driver shortage, leaving parents scrambling to get their children to school.

The past week, at least a couple of bus routes have been canceled last minute at multiple campuses both before and after school.

Parents are receiving messages from Abilene ISD about the cancellations asking them to find alternative ways to get their kids to and from class.

“[Abilene ISD] will try to pick up some of those students, but if you can, please make arrangements to bring your child to class today,” a message after a morning bus route cancellations reads.

Another message sent after an afternoon bus route at an elementary school was cancelled states that administrators “know this is stressful and. . . apologize for the inconvenience”.

Abilene ISD told KTAB and KRBC the cancellations are due to a statewide shortage of bus drivers, which has only been made worse due to strict training requirements.

“We have a handful of new driver candidates in the training pipeline currently. We’re hopeful that we’ll be able to get these new drivers on routes very soon,” a press release from Abilene ISD explains. “We also have CDL holders working in the transportation office and on our campuses who fill in as needed when a driver calls in sick.”

The current pay for bus drivers in Abilene ISD starts at $21.75 per hour, and anyone interested in driving for the district is encouraged to call the Abilene ISD transportation office at (325)698-1628.

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