Ocean City Transit System ‘Doing More With Less’
OCEAN CITY— Getting more done with less has been the mantra for the town’s municipal bus system thus far this summer with a driver shortage still acute.
During Tuesday’s Transportation Committee meeting, members got their typical briefing on bus driver recruitment and retention efforts and the message has remained consistent. Finding qualified transportation department employees including bus drivers has been particularly challenging because of the special skill sets needed, including, in most cases, commercial driver’s licenses (CDL), drug screening and other training and qualifications.
At peak times in recent years, the town has employed as many as 150 municipal bus drivers with the seasonal employees, full-timers and part-time school bus drivers that fill out the ranks during the summer season. Currently the number of bus drivers available stands at 56, including 46 seasonal drivers and 10 full-time drivers.
Operations Manager George Peake pointed out other departments in town are facing the same challenges.
“We’re struggling with the same trends as some of our other departments,” he said. “We’re barely putting out as many as we did last year. It’s a function of staffing issues.”
Well there are far less folks in town this season. Im sure that helps too!
Who cares !!!! They treated the Best Bus Drivers like Shhht so they Deserve a Hard Time !!!!!
I recently inquired into getting Salisbury Transit for my transportation as I was desperate was told after you complete application it is a 29 day waiting period that stinks and I hope their business here fails please do not come to the Mac Center again here talking about what you offer, when you have failed one more who needed it for medical appointments after my heart attack. I hope every citizen of Salisbury reads this.