Category: Massachusetts
Massachusetts district modernizes fleet by going electric
School bus driver recruitment bouncing back after pandemic shortage
Push to recruit bus drivers in MA before first day of school
LAWRENCE, Mass. — Students in Massachusetts will be heading back to school in a few weeks and transportation companies are making a late push to recruit more bus drivers.
Beacon Mobility, which provides transportation for children in more than 60 school districts across the state, said it is facing a driver shortage of about 10%.
The company opened a storefront in Lawrence on Wednesday for a recruiting event and a number of people stopped by to apply for jobs.
“I’m a very safe driver. I’m punctual, responsible and I love kids,” said applicant Maritza Negron. “That’s all I can say. It’s good to help kids.”
Beacon Mobility said that starting pay for bus drivers is between $25 and $30 an hour.
“We’re hiring drivers — van drivers, bus drivers — and monitors,” said Melanie Castillo, of Beacon Mobility.
The company said that the current shortage is not as severe as it was last year, when Gov. Charlie Baker activated up to 250 members of the Massachusetts National Guard to help communities across the state with school transportation.
“We’re going through the process of identifying where our roots are going to be, and then any areas that we anticipate that we might have some shortages,” said Peter Delani, of Beacon Mobility.
Castillo said Beacon Mobility is looking to hire about 200 new employees.
Help wanted at the wheel
Proposed school bus cameras would capture driver violations
Salter driver once again helps Boston Marathon runners to start
HAMILTON (CBS) — For the last 22 years, Linda Heitz has been helping runners get to the starting line of the Boston Marathon.
“We all have a job to do here. And my job is to get you to the start line. Your job is to get to the finish. And I’m wishing you the very best of luck,” said Heitz.
The Hamilton woman says during the nearly hour long trip from Boston to Hopkinton, she gets to know her passengers.
“It’s a long ride. You get a chance to talk to a lot of the people, especially the ones that are right behind you,” said Heitz.
In over two decades of working the marathon, she’s seen a wide range of runners. Some are running it for the first time, while others are coming back year after year.
“They’re wonderful. They’re nervous some of them. Some are raring to go. You hear all different stories. I actually had one person get on one year that said, ‘I remember you from a few years ago,’” said Heitz.
The bus driver for Salter Transportation begins at 5:30 in the morning on race day, operating one of 400 buses for the company.
“It’s a part of Massachusetts history. And we get to be a little piece of it,” said Heitz.
For Linda, that history has included working the year of the marathon bombing, and the uneasy year that followed.
“There was definitely a different feel to everybody that got on board,” said Heitz.
In a few short days, when the seats of her bus are filled with people, she’s looking forward to one thing in particular.
“Normalcy. I want to see everybody and wish everybody luck. I think it’s going to be a good year,” said Heitz.