Finding and keeping good school bus drivers is one of the biggest challenges facing school transportation today. 90% of fleets reported a driver shortage in School Bus Fleet Magazine’s 2017 annual survey of school district fleets. And driver retention strategies are always a hot topic at every industry conference.
But what can you do to keep great employees in times of budget constraints? How do you encourage loyalty, reward good driving habits, and appreciate those displaying positive behaviors on a shoestring budget?
Research shows that praise and recognition are a simple but effective way to reward people. Driver actions can positively impact safety records, accident rates, job satisfaction, and retention rates.
It’s a fine balancing act to help drivers be their best through in-service training and annual performance reviews. We often forget that in between all these meetings, that it’s important to include acts of appreciation.
Here are five low-cost ideas (plus a few bonus freebies) you can use to show your appreciation and recognition for school bus drivers.
1. Show them some love on social media
Are you sharing school updates to your Facebook, Twitter or other social network profiles? Why not include short stories and photos of drivers, highlighting who they are and recognizing what great deed they did?
2. Create a Traveling Trophy
Do you have a stuffed animal version of your school mascot, a figure or a fun trophy? As an alternative to buying a new trophies, try taking one figurine that can be passed around the office.
Start off by handing it to one of the drivers that demonstrated a positive habit, and have them decide on which peer to hand it off to next in the next week or month.
3. Give Thanks with Student Notes
Work with teachers or school administration to engage students to practice their handwriting by writing notes of gratitude for drivers who have gone above and beyond.
Personalized notes and hand-drawn artwork are some of the most precious gifts and a great way to connect your appreciation for drivers with the students riding on their buses every day.
4. Draw for Lunches or Prizes
Use a twist on the “suggestion” or “comment card” and have students, staff and other drivers drop notes of appreciation. On a monthly or quarterly basis, have a short meeting to draw winners and announce positive comments.
5. DIY Snack Gifts
Surprise your bus drivers with these snacks with a fun, yet inspirational note attached:
A box of tea or some tea with a mug
Download PDF to Cut out and Print >
Packs of Gum
Download PDF to Cut out and Print >
Token of senti-MINTs
Download PDF to Cut out and Print >
6. Share Heroic Moments Caught on Tape
Use your on-board surveillance cameras to capture a heroic moment, highlight a positive driving habit or great interaction with a parent. Share those examples in pre-shift or in-service meetings to recognize your best drivers and display best practices.
Bonus: Three Free ‘Tokens’ of Appreciation
Be Authentically Sincere
- Do your best to show appreciation and recognition for your drivers in a sincere way
- Add a personal touch, like hand-writing their name, or including other references to their favorite sports team or things they care about
Show Spontaneous Kindness
- The most memorable acts of gratitude are given and shared as a surprise.
- Try to mix up the frequency and types of recognition so your team doesn’t expect them (ie: ruining the surprise and gesture)
- Extend the sentiment of recognition beyond the driver by sending a short note of appreciation to their families
Ask for Feedback Often
- Don’t forget to ask your team for feedback:
- Do they have other ideas that will resonate most with them?
- Regular check-in’s with all of your department, especially your drivers, is key to showing that they’re being appreciated and you care about them
How do you show appreciation for your school bus drivers?
Share in the comments below.
