Bus Company Unveils Solutions To Route Delays In Wallingford

WALLINGFORD, CT — In response to growing frustration from parents and school officials over recent bus route consolidation issues, representatives from Durham School Services unveiled plans to resolve the issue. Wallingford Superintendent of Schools Salvatore Menzo recently drew a proverbial line in the sand and gave the bus company until the end of the week to find solutions.

On Wednesday night, the Board of Education approved Durham School Services subcontracting to cover field trips and athletic runs to mitigate the need to combine bus routes, according to Menzo.

Durham School Services also shared the following plans to resolve the issue of combining routes:

• Durham is instituting a $2 an hour raise for all CDL and Van Drivers as of Feb. 1, 2020 to stabilize the current work force and to attract additional drivers to Wallingford.
• Current CDL average paid wage is $18.43 per hour.
• Feb. 1 CDL average paid wage will be $20.43 per hour.
• Presently, Durham has staffing at 87 active drivers for 87 routes as of Jan. 29, 2020. (Target 110 percent staffing = addition of 9 drivers to be hired or licensed.)
• Two new drivers scheduled to start on Feb. 10, 2020.
• There are currently 19 trainees in various stages of the recruiting process.
• Durham transferred in drivers from surrounding locations within the State of Connecticut. They have brought in five drivers for daily support.
• Durham increased driver sign on bonus to $2,500 for fully credentialed CDL licensed drivers.
• Durham implemented a new employee referral bonus of $2,000 for internal employees to incentivize them to recruit fully credentialed, licensed CDL drivers.
• Durham implemented a new $2,000 van driver and monitor internal incentive promotion program to incentivize current non-CDL employees to pursue a CDL license.
• Durham is hiring subcontractors to cover Athletics and Field Trips, allowing drivers to stay on their Home to School routes for consistency. Multiple arrangements have been made from vendors in the state of Connecticut to provide resource or coverage for afternoon conflicting athletic trips.
• Durham is hiring a new Operations Supervisor to oversee daily dispatch and route operations support.
• Customer service training for all local management and Durham office staff through certified third-party certification program, LinkedIn Learning.
• Durham area safety manager for the state of Connecticut is working in Wallingford daily. She will be onsite to increase efficiency in internal training processes along with assisting in the application and hiring processes.
• Durham Regional Driver Recruiter is increasing online advertising presence, to include promoting new wages and bonus offerings. Durham will be holding an open house hiring event in Wallingford at the customer service center on Friday, Jan. 31 with additional dates to be added. Durham is also currently organizing a hiring event to be held on Saturday, Feb. 8 at the Hilton Garden Inn. Durham will promote these events through the local media to increase awareness and attendance.

“We will continue to monitor this situation to ensure the above commitments have been implemented,” Menzo said in an email to parents.