Now Hiring Part Time School Bus Drivers for Elwood City PA

First Student is hiring part-time school bus drivers in Elwood City, Pennsylvania, to address staffing shortages ahead of the 2026–2027 school year, according to a job posting verified by the company’s careers portal. The role, listed under First Student’s regional hiring initiatives, requires candidates to have a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL) with a passenger (P) endorsement, a clean driving record, and, in some cases, prior experience operating school buses. Pay rates and benefits vary by route, with full details available through First Student’s application portal.

First Student, the largest school transportation provider in North America, has expanded its hiring efforts in Pennsylvania following reports of widespread bus driver shortages across the state. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, school districts statewide have struggled to fill over 1,200 bus driver positions as of May 2026, with rural areas like Lawrence County—where Elwood City is located—seeing the most acute gaps. First Student’s regional manager for Pennsylvania, Lisa Carter, confirmed in a statement that the company is prioritizing hires in underserved communities to ensure all students have reliable transportation.

Why is First Student hiring in Elwood City?
The push to fill positions in Elwood City comes as school districts in Lawrence County face a 22% increase in unfilled bus driver roles compared to 2025, per data from the Pennsylvania School Bus Association. First Student’s hiring drive targets both experienced drivers and those transitioning from other transportation or service industries. The company offers on-the-job training for candidates with a CDL but no prior school bus experience, though routes requiring specialized endorsements (such as for students with disabilities) may require additional certification.

What are the requirements and pay details?
Applicants must meet federal and state safety regulations, including passing a background check and a physical examination. First Student’s job listing does not specify exact hourly wages but notes that pay ranges align with industry standards for part-time school bus drivers in Pennsylvania, typically between $18 and $24 per hour depending on route complexity. Benefits may include health insurance subsidies for full-time equivalents, though part-time roles often exclude them. The company’s website directs candidates to apply through its careers portal, where they can select Elwood City as their preferred location.

How does this compare to other Pennsylvania school bus hiring trends?
First Student’s hiring surge in Elwood City mirrors broader efforts by school districts and transportation companies across Pennsylvania. In neighboring Butler County, for example, the Beaver Area School District recently offered signing bonuses of up to $1,000 to new bus drivers after failing to fill 15% of its routes last year. Meanwhile, the state legislature is considering a bill to provide tax incentives for school bus drivers, a measure supported by the Pennsylvania School Bus Association but opposed by some labor groups citing potential undercutting of union-negotiated wages.

What happens next for applicants?
First Student’s hiring process for Elwood City includes a skills assessment and a supervised driving test for final candidates. The company has stated it aims to onboard new drivers by late July 2026 in time for the start of the school year. Interested applicants are advised to submit their materials through First Student’s careers portal, where they can also explore training programs for those seeking to obtain a CDL. For questions about eligibility or route assignments, the company directs inquiries to its regional office in Pittsburgh.

Resources for prospective drivers:

• First Student careers portal: firststudent.com/careers
• Pennsylvania CDL training programs: pennsylvaniadmv.com
• School bus driver shortage data: paschoolbus.org