Regional shortage leaves Hampton with 14 open bus driver positions
As schools reopen across Hampton Roads, the Hampton school division is contending with a shortage of school bus drivers that mirrors staffing challenges across the region. School officials report 14 open driver positions in Hampton, while neighboring divisions also list significant vacancies.
Districts confirmed they are actively recruiting to fill vacancies, and some have adjusted routing to manage coverage where drivers are lacking. The issue is not unique to Hampton; the nearby cities of Virginia Beach, Portsmouth and Newport News also reported openings.
| School Division | Driver openings |
|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | 34 |
| Hampton | 14 |
| Portsmouth | 10 |
| Newport News | about 70 |
Newport News reported the largest gap, with roughly 70 driver vacancies. That number is an improvement from about 100 vacancies a year earlier, but school transportation leaders there said filling the remaining positions remains difficult.
"We've been short for quite a while. Since COVID, we kind of haven't recovered," said Shay Coates, executive director of transportation for Newport News Schools.
Coates described the work as demanding and not easily replaced, noting the responsibility of operating large vehicles carrying dozens of children. To cope with shortages last year, Newport News officials reduced the number of stops on some routes so buses could transport more students per trip.
How districts are responding
- Active recruitment: School divisions report ongoing hiring efforts and year-round training programs to bring new drivers on board.
- Route adjustments: Some routes have been consolidated or reconfigured to reduce the number of drivers needed, which can increase ride time for some students.
- Dedicated training staff: Newport News employs staff members solely for driver training to speed certification and onboarding.
Officials emphasized that recruiting remains a continuous process. Newport News, for example, said it employs a team specifically dedicated to training new drivers and conducts recruitment throughout the year.
For Hampton families, the immediate effect can include changes to pickup and drop-off times or locations, and longer travel times for students on consolidated routes. School divisions typically say they will make adjustments intended to start the school year on schedule while working to expand driver ranks.
Local context and consequences
School transportation is a critical service for many Hampton households. Reliable bus service affects student attendance, punctuality and access to school programs. When driver shortages force route changes or delays, families must adjust work and childcare arrangements to accommodate new schedules.
Although vacancies in Hampton are smaller than in some neighboring divisions, the regional nature of the shortage means that localized problems can be exacerbated if surrounding districts compete for the same pool of qualified drivers. Training and retaining drivers — including offering certifications and ongoing support — will be essential to stabilizing services.
School divisions have not released new timelines for when all vacancies will be filled, but officials say recruitment and training are continuing and that they are prioritizing student safety in any operational changes.
Families with concerns about transportation for the coming school year are encouraged to contact their child’s school division for the latest route information and updates.
Reporting for WE NEWS continues to track developments in school transportation and will provide updates as districts release more details about driver hiring and route plans for Hampton Roads.
