ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Orange County Public Schools is gearing up for the first day of class amid a continuing shortage of bus drivers.

District officials told News 6 they are currently short about 100 drivers, roughly the same as last year.

With approximately 550 drivers on the team, the district employs tactics such as “double backs,” where a driver completes two trips for the same school, ensuring that all students in need of transportation receive it.

Evelyn Bell, a veteran bus driver and trainer for new drivers, shared what she would say to people considering joining her team.

“You definitely need to have patience and dedication. It requires a lot of patience and consistency,” Bell stated. “We offer training programs, and we can teach you how to be a safe driver.”

The training is paid and includes about two weeks of classroom instruction before new drivers get behind the wheel.

The starting pay is $17.29 per hour. The district is currently negotiating with the union to introduce more incentives, such as an $8,000 bonus distributed in $2,000 quarterly payments, along with other rewards for perfect attendance, safe driving, and taking on additional routes.

The district is also currently hiring bus mechanics. For more information on the benefits and how to apply, click here.