Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / The Chilliwack School District says it has hired eight more bus drivers over the summer and is still looking to hire at least five more. Wayne Williams, manager of transportation for SD33, told Fraser Valley Today in an email that the district added eight more bus drivers to its roster over the summer and will be starting them on a training program later this month. 

By Mike Vanden Bosch

SD33 bus drivers

Chilliwack School District hires 8 bus drivers over the summer, looks to hire even more drivers

Sep 6, 2023 | 5:15 AM

CHILLIWACK — The Chilliwack School District says it has hired eight more bus drivers over the summer and is still looking to hire at least five more.

Wayne Williams, manager of transportation for SD33, told Fraser Valley Today in an email that the district added eight more bus drivers to its roster over the summer and will be starting them on a training program later this month.

“We just hired 8 new drivers at the end of June for the 2023-2024 school year and will be starting them on our driver training course [at the] end of September 2023,” said Williams.

In addition to a basic class 2 bus drivers license with air brake endorsement provided by ICBC, Chilliwack School District runs a 5-week, in-house driving training program to new candidates. This is being done to ensure SD33 is producing top-quality drivers for its students and their safety, Williams said.

“Our training staff will have to get through bus evacuation training in early September to elementary students first, to ensure our students are safe. This will help prepare them, if needed in future,” Williams said in an email.

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Williams added that the school district plans to hire at least five more bus drivers.

Driving a school bus can be ideal for retirees who have flexibility in their schedules.

The SD33 transportation department is located at 44877 Yale Road in Chilliwack. The transportation staff can be reached Monday-Friday from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at 604-792-1255.