Transportation Director Smith outlines options to address driver shortage and possible route consolidation
March 06, 2026 | Joliet Elem, School Districts, Montana
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Transportation Director Smith told the committee on March 1 that the district has not experienced mid-route breakdowns this school year but is facing a mounting driver-recruitment challenge that could require operational changes.
"We've had a great year of performance...they care about their kids. They care about their bus," Smith said, praising the current drivers and substitutes while warning that obtaining and maintaining a commercial driver's license (CDL) is becoming more difficult and that private employers are offering higher pay.
Smith presented a set of options for next school year if recruitment does not produce enough drivers. His scenarios include consolidating routes to as few as three route drivers, establishing central pickup points similar to the district's snow-route plan, or using parent/individual contracts for very remote families. Smith noted a state guideline that districts are not required to transport students who live within a three-mile radius of school and said that rule would reduce the number of required route miles.
Committee members pushed back on the equity and public-relations consequences of eliminating stops, saying consolidation would be unpopular for families who currently ride the bus. Staff said some buses are already running near capacity and that changes would disproportionately affect certain routes (Smith cited one route as likely to require the largest consolidation).
As short-term alternatives, Smith and members discussed recruiting local hires, incentivizing staff to obtain CDLs (the district currently pays training fees and testing), contracting with neighboring districts for occasional drivers, and using smaller passenger vehicles or teacher/parent drivers for limited needs. Committee members asked staff to model three-route and other permutations (for example, three morning routes with full afternoon service) and to return cost and service-impact projections.
No formal motion or vote occurred; the committee directed staff to research the scenarios and report back at a follow-up committee meeting.
"We've had a great year of performance...they care about their kids. They care about their bus," Smith said, praising the current drivers and substitutes while warning that obtaining and maintaining a commercial driver's license (CDL) is becoming more difficult and that private employers are offering higher pay.
Smith presented a set of options for next school year if recruitment does not produce enough drivers. His scenarios include consolidating routes to as few as three route drivers, establishing central pickup points similar to the district's snow-route plan, or using parent/individual contracts for very remote families. Smith noted a state guideline that districts are not required to transport students who live within a three-mile radius of school and said that rule would reduce the number of required route miles.
Committee members pushed back on the equity and public-relations consequences of eliminating stops, saying consolidation would be unpopular for families who currently ride the bus. Staff said some buses are already running near capacity and that changes would disproportionately affect certain routes (Smith cited one route as likely to require the largest consolidation).
As short-term alternatives, Smith and members discussed recruiting local hires, incentivizing staff to obtain CDLs (the district currently pays training fees and testing), contracting with neighboring districts for occasional drivers, and using smaller passenger vehicles or teacher/parent drivers for limited needs. Committee members asked staff to model three-route and other permutations (for example, three morning routes with full afternoon service) and to return cost and service-impact projections.
No formal motion or vote occurred; the committee directed staff to research the scenarios and report back at a follow-up committee meeting.
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