St. Cloud Area School Bus Companies Looking For Drivers

(KNSI) – Bus companies are again looking for a few more drivers as the start of school is less than a week away. Bus companies had the same problem last year.

Tami Spanier, Owner of Spanier Bus Service in St. Cloud, says it may take a little longer to get kids to and from school, but area companies will work together to ensure it happens.

“Might there be some delays, maybe, but the contractors in the St. Cloud area work together. If they’ve got an extra driver, I may borrow a driver. If they need one, I may loan them a driver. We do things to make it work. We get our kids to school.

Tami says her company could use another five drivers. In the meantime, they’re coming up with creative ways to fill in the gaps.

“We are doing job sharing with some of our retired folks that may spend the winter down in the warmer climates. We’re doing multiple things to bring people in because we need good people who want to work with kids.”

Spanier Bus is giving people a chance to test drive a bus.

“If you’ve got any interest, come on in. We let you test drive around our parking lot with our driver trainer, but you must be interested in driving a school bus.”

Tami says the bus is easier to drive than people think. It takes three to four weeks to complete training to drive a bus. She says all her staff, including herself, will drive school buses if needed.

Spanier Bus is responsible for around 40 routes for District 742 and transports about 3,000 kids a day during the school year. Other bus companies for the St. Cloud Area School District include Palmer Bus Service and Voigt’s Bus Service.

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