City bus driver shortage forces route cancellations

A perfect storm has come together to put the Wichita Falls bus system, Falls Ride, in a predicament that will cancel service this Saturday.

"We're just not going to be able to provide service. We just don't have enough drivers," said John Burrus, Director of Aviation, Traffic and Transportation.

Burrus attributes the shortage to several factors.

"The state has made it more difficult to get a commercial driver's license (CDL)," Burrus said. "It's getting harder and harder and harder."

Pay is another factor. The starting pay for a driver is $11.67 per hour.

"It takes us several months to get someone trained and get them their CDL and we end up losing them to Durham, the school bus folks," he said.

Burrus said the COVID-19 virus is a big factor.

"Have we had some difficulties before the pandemic? Yes, but not to this extent - not anywhere close to this extent," he said.

He said drivers also may be stressed by COVID-19 mask requirements on public transportation mandated by the the federal government. Drivers and passengers must wear masks.

"You'll have passengers who will say, Gov. Abbott said this and I don't have to do it. We actually had to not let people ride the bus," Burrus said.

The city has 16 full-time drivers, but uses part-time drivers on weekends and to fill in. That's what Burrus needs right now.

"We'll train them to get their CDL and we've got drivers who will work with them to mentor them through the whole process," Burrus said.

He said part time drivers are first in line when fulltime openings become available.

"It has been a challenge but we hope it's one that will start working itself out here in the next two or three months," he said.

Prospective drivers can apply at https://munisweb.wichitafallstx.gov/MSS/employmentopportunities