Graduation Year

2023

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

D.B.A.

Degree Granting Department

Business Administration

Major Professor

Matthew Mullarkey, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Hemant Merchant, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Richard Tarpey, DBA

Keywords

COVID-19, Employee Retention Theories, Employee Turnover Theories, Great Resignation, School Bus Driver Shortages, The National School Transportation Association

Abstract

Leading school transportation providers have been turning toward data-driven incentive programs to engage, motivate, and get the best out of their school bus drivers, but the nationwide school bus driver shortage has emerged as a pressing issue of critical importance affecting the education system, transportation infrastructure, and safety of students across the United States. School bus driving is one of the most challenging driving jobs, and low wages, demanding schedules, stringent licensing requirements, and the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated the shortage of drivers. Identification of strategies to improve school bus driver retention was the objective of this qualitative phenomenological study. Analysis of semi structured interviews of current and former school bus drivers led to identification of motivations for drivers to quit. Job satisfaction, work–life balance, and career goals were among the factors identified that could be driving bus driver attrition in school districts across the country. Other contributing factors identified include economic challenges, job-related stressors, and the impact of the pandemic. The nationwide school bus driver shortage is a multifaceted challenge that demands urgent attention. The findings of this study provide a glimpse of the broader issue and underscore the need for comprehensive solutions to ensure the safe and reliable transportation of students and preservation of the integrity of the education system.

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