Loophole allows would-be school bus drivers to get free training, leave for higher-paying jobs

Some would-be school bus drivers are taking advantage of a loophole that allows them to get a Commercial Drivers License (CDL) for free – and then they're leaving for higher-paying jobs.

Unlike some CDL courses that cost around $1,500, the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles offers a class that is free to participants identified as school bus driver applicants by districts statewide. The DMV, funded by taxpayer money, picks up the tab. DMV officials say some of those applicants are taking the free training, and never becoming school bus drivers.

"There is that loophole," acknowledged John Fink, who teaches the training courses for the DMV. "I tell the school systems they have to guard the hen house, so to speak."

It's a phenomenon Jason Kennedy, Director of Talent Acquisition at Wake County Public Schools, has also noticed.

"It is not as prevalent as it once was," Kennedy said. "It was a frustrating thing ... Because you’ve used the time, the resources, the money to get someone trained, and then when it doesn’t turn out into a bus driver, yes, it can be a little frustrating."

Bus drivers in Wake County make about $17 an hour, whereas some commercial-driving jobs pay an annual salary in the six-figure range.

Vicki Bynum, who spent more than 20 years driving buses for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, says ultimately, the better pay caused her to leave her job for a dispatch position at Amazon instead. She told WRAL Investigates she makes 20% more money, and the job is a lot less stressful.

"We have to eat today," she said. "We have to be able to take care of our kids today. We have to be able to provide and not live paycheck to paycheck."

In addition to losing school bus drivers to other driving positions, WRAL Investigates learned the majority of prospective bus drivers who sign up for the DMV training course do not complete it.

DMV data shows the course, statewide, has a 46% completion rate.

Wake County Public Schools has among the lowest completion rate. Only about one-quarter of people who signed up for the course this year completed it.

Kennedy explained the district has low numbers because it aims to give applicants second and even third chances to show up for class.

"We want to give people adequate access to applying, being considered, and actually being hired for that position," he said.

A North Carolina Department of Transportation spokesperson said there are roughly 11,000 public school bus routes statewide, and about 30,000 drivers with active school bus driver certifications, so the lack of school bus drivers is not because of a shortage of people eligible.

Despite the temptation of higher-paying jobs, Eric Rowell is very happy in his position driving for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools.

"Seeing kids' faces just makes my day," he said.

Plus, he enjoys the schedule.

"It's probably the only job where you automatically get a summer break," Rowell said.

As of late August, more than one-third of school bus driver positions in Wake County Public Schools are vacant, as the district is seeking more than 300 drivers to operate at an optimal level.

In Cumberland County Schools, they are in much better shape. District leaders say they need 17 more drivers.