Aggie Shuttle alters routes amid staff shortage
On Sept. 12, residents at Oakridge, an off-campus apartment complex, received an announcement that the 8th East bus route will end earlier than normal.
According to the announcement from USU Parking and Transportation, the 8th East bus will now only run from 7-10 a.m., and the Orange Innovation bus will stop at the Oakridge stop from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The announcement stated the reason for the change had to do with being short-staffed.
“If you or anyone you know would be interested in driving for us, please contact the Parking office. We apologize for the inconvenience,” the announcement said.
Rachel Bolton, a USU student who rides the 8th East bus, described how the change has affected her day-to-day life.
“It puts me behind. I usually get here right as it’s leaving for the last route, so I have to wait for the next one,” Bolton said. “It’s a little bit of an inconvenience.”
When asked about the staff shortage, director of USU Parking and Transportation Tracy Hulse said there were other factors but couldn’t identify the main reason.
“I wish I had an answer. It’s not just with our shuttle drivers — I think if you go campus-wide, everyone is struggling a little bit more this year,” Hulse said.
In past years, the Parking and Transportation office has hired up to 30 bus drivers. Currently, they have 20, with six new hires in training.
“When we hire a shuttle driver, it takes a month to get them on and driving solo, unless they have a commercial driver’s license already,” Hulse explained.
Oakridge residents and other students who take the 8th East and Orange Innovation buses can expect the routes to be online and full-time again in a month or less.
Hulse said while the new hires are being trained and are in the process of obtaining their CDL, they are having other full-time employees drive other routes.
For now, Hulse encouraged any student seeking a job to fill out an application.
Along with job openings for bus drivers, the Parking and Transportation office is also looking for enforcement officers, shuttle drivers, booth attendants, mechanics, car detailers and event workers. Applications can be found on Aggie Handshake.
-Alivia.Hadfield@usu.edu
Featured photo by Kate Smith
Editor’s note: The original text of this article said the Orange Innovation bus route of the Aggie Shuttle will end earlier than normal. The article has been updated and is now accurate.
I feel like it’s relevant to the story that the Aggie Shuttle drivers are paid a flat $11/hour while the CVTD (valley-wide) bus drivers start at $20/hour and get bathroom breaks.
Drivers now start at $13.50 and receive raises based on their experience and time with Aggie Shuttle. Drivers can take bathroom breaks as needed. We have tried to increase our pay further but there are other factors that prevent Parking and Trans from doing so.
If it is paying better (and I hope so, the bus drivers are pretty great), Parking and Trans may want to update the position on Aggie Handshake, it still says $11.
And what other issues?
” the 8th East and Orange Innovation bus routes will end earlier than normal” This statement is incorrect. The Orange bus is not terminating early. It is maintaining its normal 7am-5:30pm schedule.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. The article has been updated and is now accurate.