Columbia receiving few applications for vacant bus driver positions

A Columbia transit commission learned new details on Tuesday evening about the city’s bus driver shortage.

The city is currently down 11 full-time and seven part-time drivers, representing nearly 40 percent of their operator staff. The city is attempting to help improve the shortage by providing CDL training.

Public Works spokesman John Ogan tells 939 the Eagle that the main issue is that they don’t receive many applicants, and that many of those who do apply either don’t qualify or can’t wait through the duration of the hiring process, which can take several weeks.