Every morning, sophomore Emily Yelnicker bides her time, shivering at her bus stop, gripped by familiar uncertainty. Will the bus pick her up today?
The country at large is experiencing a bus driver shortage. With more than 1,100 routes, FCPS is left with a deficit of 100 drivers. Not only are students’ schedules affected by delays, cancellations and overcrowding, but community members are left to make do with the resources available to transport students.
“My bus never showed up, so my dad came to get me,” said Yelnicker. “We just drove to school, and we were so late.”
Community members are being forced to step up, often altering their own routines to ensure students arrive at school in a timely manner.

“When my child’s bus is late, it completely impacts me,” said mother and Hayfield teacher Terry Collins. “I feel rushed and cannot get to work on time. I can’t prepare for my day.”
To steer the situation in the right direction, FCPS has placed more benefits on the table, hoping to attract potential drivers to take the wheel. Despite efforts, the response has proven to be underwhelming. Principal Michael Mukai sheds light on the challenge of hiring bus drivers.
“They’re offering $1,000 bonuses if you work for six months just to find people. The problem is people don’t want the job,” said Mukai. “If you don’t have school-aged kids, why would you want that schedule?”
The shortage is a problem that’s not only about money, but also about matching the job to the lifestyle of recruits. Even after the dangling of financial carrots, in comparison to many other jobs one can find in FCPS, bus drivers aren’t necessarily at the top of the list of employment options.
“It’s a split shift job. Instead of working an eight hour nine to five, you work in the mornings and afternoons with a huge break in between,” said Mukai.
Due to the driver deficit, buses must cover additional routes, significantly delaying arrival and causing prolonged waits for many students.
“WS has a double-back,” said Mukai. “The bus has to do one route and pick up the other route simply in the morning. After picking up the initial route, the bus picks up more kids.”
The county’s ability to resolve the issue appears limited and the driver shortage persists with a strict vetting process eliminating many potential applicants from an already shallow pool.
“Drivers are licensed by federal regulations and hold a commercial drivers license. Their driving records are monitored and they must pass a background check along with an annual physical and random drug testing,” said representatives from Fairfax County’s Office of Transportation, making it clear that safety is their first priority.
Satisfaction appears to vary. Freshman Hayley Johnson recounts her experience as a student using the bus as a form of transportation.
“[My driver] pulls up to our stop at 7:34 every morning. We arrive at nearly the same time, about 7:55,” said Johnson.
While numerous students await action, FCPS debates whether or not there are any immediate steps they can take besides the strategies already being implemented.
The shortage is a crisis that extends beyond FCPS, signaling the need for innovative solutions.