School bus delays anticipated for Hamilton-Wentworth students this fall

Hamilton-Wentworth Student Transportation Services (HWSTS) is expecting a sector-wide driver shortage this fall.

In a Friday press release, HWSTS said the delays will not be as bad as previous years, but students should prepare for delays as new drivers get used to their routes.

HWSTS said they are currently 25 drivers short for the region, not including substitute drivers. The press release said the number is "subject to change" over the season.

HWSTS covers both the public and Catholic school boards, has almost 500 routes throughout the county, and delivers almost 30 thousand students to school.

The press release said that school bus driver shortages are not new and HWSTS has struggled with "large-scale recruitment and retention challenges for years".

HWSTS said, "Every delay matters to a student trying to get to school on time."

Parents of students who take HWSTS buses can visit this website to receive delay and cancellation notifications.