Hogan Announces Plan to Tackle School Bus Driver Shortage

Amidst nationwide shortage, Maryland will streamline testing and credentials for school bus drivers.

As school systems across the state grapple with a mounting shortage of school bus drivers, Governor Larry Hogan directed the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) to streamline the necessary testing and credentialing for school bus driver applicants.

MDOT MVA is ramping up Commercial Drivers License (CDL) appointments and recently launched a new function in its Central Scheduling System that allows customers to make same-day appointments based on cancellations.

On Saturday, September 25, MDOT MVA will host “Bus Drivers’ Day at the MVA” at the following branch offices, with appointments scheduled from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.:

  • Glen Burnie, 6601 Ritchie Highway
  • Bel Air, 501 W MacPhail Road,
  • Frederick, 1601 Bowmans Farm Road
  • Easton, 9148 Centreville Road
  • Waldorf, 11 Industrial Park Drive
  • Gaithersburg, 15 Metropolitan Grove Road

According to a press release:

“We are grateful to all of the CDL drivers who are willing to step up and serve as school bus drivers,” said Governor Hogan. “I have directed MVA to take additional steps to address a critical need in the industry, and at the same time assist schools, parents, and students across the state.”

MDOT MVA is encouraging all CDL applicants who are having trouble making an appointment or need immediate assistance to reach out to the administration’s customer service team through their portal: https://mymva.maryland.gov/go/web/ContactMVA

According to a recent joint survey from the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT), the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS), and the National School Transportation Association (NSTA), more than half of student-transportation coordinators described their pandemic-driven school bus driver shortages as “severe” or “desperate.” In addition, 78 percent of all respondents said the shortage is worsening.

Stay tuned to Conduit Street for more information.

Useful Links

Learn more about Maryland’s efforts to recruit and retain school bus drivers.

NAPT, NASDPTS, and NSTA Release Findings of School Bus Driver Shortage Survey