TAMPA, Fla. — Hillsborough County Public Schools is looking to hire more bus drivers, as it continues to be affected by a nationwide driver shortage.

What You Need To Know

  • On Monday morning, Hillsborough County Public Schools will host a transportation job fair to recruit more bus drivers and mechanics

  • The district's transportation department says they need to hire at least 200 more bus drivers

  • Last year, the school district increased its starting hourly pay for drivers to help with recruitment and retainment

As one of the largest school districts in the country, more than 90,000 students rely on Hillsborough County school buses every day. But the transportation department says they need at least 200 more bus drivers. 

Last year, the district rasied its starting pay to $16.04 an hour to attrack more candidates and retain the ones they already have. 

“Right now we have around 230 bus drivers covering for routes that we don’t have drivers for," said Juan Estremara with the district's transportation department. "We’re expecting all the people that want to work and try this out, I think it’s a great opportunity for them.”

On Monday morning, the school district is hosting a transportation job fair to help fill some of those openings. Hiring managers will be on site to answer questions and conduct on-the-spot interviews with people interested in becoming a bus driver or mechanic.

Estremara, who helps train new bus drivers, said it's a big responsibility to make sure thousands of kids get to and from school safely every day. 

“It’s all about the safety of the students," he said. "The behavior of the students, how to maneuver that big vehicle, how to use the mirrors and how to position themselves entering and exiting a parking location, and the do’s and don’ts of loading and unloading students on a school bus.”

Estremara said new drivers spend about 50 hours in training, split between time in the classroom and behind the wheel. In order to be a bus driver, you need to have a Commerical Drivers License (CDL). If you don't already have one, the school district will walk you through the process of getting one. 

But Estremara said perhaps the most important qualification is to enjoy working with kids. 

“They remember when they were young and you know they treat them with respect, the same way they want to be treated, and that they take good care of them," he said. "That’s what we need – people that actually care for the students.”

The transportation job fair starts at 9 a.m. on Monday and will wrap up at noon. It's happening at the Instructional Services Center at 2920 N. 40th Street in Tampa. If you're interested in applying for a job, the district recommends submitting an application before the fair so it can be reviewed ahead of time. 

For more information, click here. 

Later in the month, the district will hold another transportation job fair from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 29 in Thonotosassa.