Sumner County transportation reports 185 buses on routes, 1,100 daily runs; department seeks drivers

Sumner County’s transportation department told the school board Feb. 4 that the district runs 185 buses daily, operates 1,100 route runs per day and transports roughly 18,930 students, and that staffing shortages remain the department’s biggest challenge.

Transportation Director Tracy (last name not provided) and frontline supervisors presented fleet and operations data to the Sumner County Board of Education. The department reported a fleet of 233 buses including spares, with 185 buses in daily service, 28 of which are assigned to special-needs routes. Staff said the buses and routes combine for about 9,171 miles daily and about 1,650,780 miles per school year (regular-year routes only).

The department said it performs annual state inspections on all buses; buses older than 15 years get two inspections per year. State troopers conduct technical inspections that include exterior lighting, the stop arm and cross-arm, reflective tape, emergency exits, seats, windows and undercarriage components including brakes and tie rods. The department said a school bus is stripped for parts after about 18 years or 200,000 miles in service.

Driver training and certification were a major focus. The presenters said the district meets Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) entry-level driver training (ELDT) standards implemented in February 2022 and that Sumner County Schools is listed on the FMCSA training-provider registry for drivers who will work for the district. Training is performed in-house and includes classroom material, 24 hours behind-the-wheel, supervised area driving, CDL skills testing with a certified tester at the district shop, annual DOT physicals, mandatory state “Infinity” video training and yearly CPR/first-aid certification.

The department described outreach and community programs: “Buster the Bus,” a remote-control vehicle used for kindergarten bus-safety lessons; “Buster’s Closet,” a converted out-of-service bus used to distribute donated coats; and an “activity bus” stocked with supplies that rotates among schools.

Board members asked about technology and scheduling tools. Staff said they are working with a third-party bus-tracking app to resolve multi-address issues for divorced parents and that staffing shortfalls are addressed largely by existing drivers and a small substitute pool; the department said it does not cancel routes and covers students when possible.

On recruitment, the department said it has about 20 open driver positions and encourages applicants, offering training, CDL testing in-house and benefits. Directors said several drivers have decades of service and that supervisors interview and train drivers because supervisors work with recruits in the field.

No vote or formal action was recorded on the presentation; the board thanked transportation staff for the overview.