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ALBANY (WENY) – Gov. Kathy Hochul announced state actions to address the school bus driver shortage in New York State.
The multi-agency plan includes both short-term and long-term steps in order to expand the number of bus drivers within the state.
“Our schools and public health officials have moved mountains to ensure our children receive an in-person education this year, and we are leaving no stone unturned to make sure schools have adequate bus service to bring students to school and back,” Gov. Hochul said. “While the shortage of school bus drivers is not unique to New York State, I have directed state agencies to utilize creative approaches and use every tool at their disposal to help districts affected by the bus driver shortage, so we can bring in as many qualified bus drivers as possible as quickly as possible.”
Short-term steps include launching outreach to more than 550,000 Commercial Driver’s License holders statewide, expanding testing opportunities for CDL drivers and enhancing processes designed to get more drivers into school buses.
The long-term steps include broader recruitment processes for the profession, as well as changes in addressing the training and licensing of drivers.
Hochul directed state agencies in using a multi-organizational recruitment effort to persuade CDL drivers to become school bus drivers. The DMV is additionally removing the 14-day waiting period between the permit test and the road tests, enhancing and expediting the process for CDL completion.
If you’re interested in obtaining a Commercial Driver’s License, you can find more information here.
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