BILLINGS — A shortage of bus drivers in Montana led the Billings school district to cancel a handful of junior varsity sporting events last week.
The Bozeman School District had to temporarily cancel four bus routes earlier this month and Great Falls is using a van to transport some students because a commercial driver’s license is not required.
The Billings Gazette reports the Billings school district last week was unable to find buses and drivers with any of the several private coach companies they contract with. No drivers were available through the district’s bus contractor, First Student, or from surrounding public school districts.
In Shepherd, Superintendent Scott Carter says they’re offering to pay a driver while they train to get their commercial driver’s license.
Carter says one of the issues is drivers are only paid for three or four hours of work per day.