Horry County Schools highlights in-house CDL training as it seeks more bus drivers

Horry County Schools is stepping up recruitment for school bus drivers, saying its buses transport more than 30,000 students every day and promoting the district’s in-house commercial driver’s license (CDL) training program.

A Horry County Schools presenter said the district “transports more than 30,000 students every day,” and added that the job of a school bus driver is one of the district’s most important roles. The presenter said the district needs more drivers and directed applicants to horrycountyschools.net for more information.

The district highlighted its CDL training program during the event. A training coordinator said, “We train over 40 people a year to get their CDL,” and said the district is committed to recruiting and supporting new drivers. The coordinator also asserted that Horry County Schools trains the most CDL drivers in South Carolina; that statement was presented as a claim by the training coordinator in the program.

A trainer working with candidates sought to reassure potential applicants, saying, “There’s nothing to be afraid of, okay? This is something that anybody can do,” and explaining that the district’s training is designed to teach candidates to drive school buses safely. The trainer added that the role is also a fit for people who do not want to work year-round and described reassessments for experienced drivers.

A Horry County Schools staff member said Superintendent Cliff Jones took part in driver training exercises and that having the superintendent test-drive a bus can make a personal connection with candidates at job fairs and with current drivers.

Applicants and drivers emphasized patience and care as key qualities. A school bus driver said, “The sweetness of the kids... you just have to have the patience and know how to... talk to them and treat them with respect.” The training coordinator noted that drivers are often unseen and unthanked, and framed the event as both recognition and recruitment.

To apply, the presenter said applicants need a valid driver’s license and can enroll in the district’s driver training program; interested people were directed to horrycountyschools.net for applications and further details.

The program’s organizers provided program-level claims and recruitment information but did not provide independent verification for numerical claims cited during the presentation (for example, the district’s claim about training the most CDL drivers in the state).