In the face of headlines reporting a national shortage of school bus drivers, the local outlook for Pierce County is far more optimistic. Four new drivers were added to the transportation system of Pierce County Schools prior to the 2024-2025 school year, according to department director Jamie Henderson.
Under the guiding hand of Henderson, a crew of 50 workers, including drivers, monitors, mechanics, office staff and Henderson himself, work together to get students safely to and from school.
Pierce County has escaped the driver shortages that have plagued other areas, such as neighboring Appling County. Earlier this year, Appling’s transportation system advertised for drivers on a huge banner hung from a parked school bus.
“We have been fortunate. I think the last time we weren’t fully staffed was in 2020,” Henderson said.
When there has been a need for drivers in the past, Henderson says he is proactive. “I’ve gotten a lot of help off the school district transportation Facebook page. If there’s an opening, I post it. I don’t wait until we’re 10 drivers down.”
Henderson also notes size disparities between the areas served could account for Pierce’s comparative success.
“We aren’t as large as, say, Ware, so it doesn’t take as much to get the job done.”
Asked about his own history with the transportation department, Henderson explains he went to Okefenokee Technical College for auto body work. Later, he was a deputy for the sheriff’s offices in Ware and Pierce counties. In 2017, he came to the school transportation department as a mechanic, working under former director Jason Long. When Long left to open Smoky J’s Barbecue, Henderson stepped up to the head position and has been working to keep things running smoothly ever since.
“I do my best to answer parents’ calls and address their concerns. Sometimes it is a report of a bus going too fast or something that happened on a bus.”
Luckily the camera and tracking systems on each of Pierce County’s buses help Henderson stay informed on not just who is where and when, but even how fast they were going.
Pointing to a dark metal and plastic box on his desk about the size of a large hardback book, Henderson lays out the many features of the Digital Video Recording (DVR) system installed in each bus.
The DVR’s hard drive can only be removed with a special key, which prevents tampering. Once hooked to a computer, Henderson can review the video captured by four separate cameras in the vehicle, one facing the road and three others monitoring the interior. Additionally, the cameras are equipped with night vision, which allows them to capture video even when the bus is operating during the early morning or late at night.
Of course, Henderson doesn’t have to wait to pull a computer drive from any of the buses under his stewardship to know where they are and how fast they are moving.
By way of example, he logs into the BusWhere GPS tracking system, and pulls up information showing two Pierce County buses on Jekyll Island, and another four parked further north on St. Simons Island, all of them awaiting kids to return from their field trip outings.
“This is all in real time,” Henderson says, “I can find the current location and speed of any bus.”
Henderson gives a lot of credit to his team, starting with secretary Tracy Crawford.
“She is a life saver,” Henderson gushes. “She keeps me reined in.”
Crawford also answers the phones, fields questions, makes appointments and anything else she can to keep the department running smoothly.
The praise doesn’t end with her. Henderson wants the public to know his drivers are the ones who make everything possible.
“Our drivers here are wonderful, a great group of men and women — more women than men actually.”
Henderson does a quick check and confirms there are currently only five male bus drivers working for him, though he is quick to mention there are also a lot of athletic coaches with CDLs pitching in as drivers for sports trips and special events.
Fleet Manager Trent Lee and mechanic Patrick Thompson keep the buses in working order. The bus barn has enough spare vehicles in good condition to prevent interruptions in the established routes while Lee and Thompson fix whatever might go awry with a particular unit.
“You have an ace in your pocket with the trainers, especially Skyler,” Tracy chimes in. Henderson nods in agreement, “Skyler has a memory like an elephant.”
He is referring to Skyler Norman, lead trainer on the team. The team also includes Beau Teston and Sara Turner, who prepare new recruits to become Pierce County bus drivers.
When asked about any future need for more bus drivers, Henderson takes on a thoughtful expression.
“The more people that move here means we have more students. More students means we will need more bus routes,” says Henderson. “We’ll have to see what the future holds.”
Given Pierce County’s current rate of growth with new arrivals attracted by the performance of its school system and athletics programs, future expansion of the school rolls and the schools’ transportation department would seem a foregone conclusion. For any interested in applying for future positions as a bus driver there are some important things to know.
Training time for new drivers varies dependent upon how quickly the candidate learns. Prospective bus drivers have to get a Class B CDL license, essentially a learners permit. They have to be able to identify key parts and components of the vehicle and do a complete walk around inspection to ensure the bus is in good operating order.
Then comes the state and federal online training. Even after a successful test, it is required the prospective driver log a certain number of hours without and then with students, while under the supervision of a trainer or another driver.
If the requirements seem rigorous, it is with good cause.
“I always tell my drivers, don’t get in a hurry,” Henderson says, “We’re carrying precious cargo.”
Pierce County School Transportation fleet mechanic Patrick Thompson has a look at what is going on under the hood of one of the many buses under his care.
