13-03-2025
Tennessee bill looks to lower minimum school bus driving age to 21
UNICOI Co., Tenn. (WJHL) – Those hoping to drive school buses in Tennessee can begin the process at age 25. However, some Tennessee lawmakers want to lower the age requirement by four years.
House Bill 0084 and Senate Bill 1042 would bring the minimum age for school bus drivers down to 21. In Unicoi County, the school system continues to look for staff to drive buses.
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'There's just such a demand for it,' Transportation Supervisor Drew Rice said. 'And the demand for it succeeds the supply for it, and I don't think that's a problem that's unique to us.'
Rice said a lower age requirement would help grow the list of potential drivers, something current drivers have commented on.
'We've had a couple of our younger drivers go out there and get their [commercial driver's license] at 25,' Rice said. 'And they would have gotten it two or three years earlier if they could. So it just widens the pool of applicants and maybe people potentially interested in it.'
James Tilson drives a bus for the school system and has been a driver for 43 years, having been certified when he was only 22 years old.
'I had to go through my certifications, testing,' Tilson said. 'I rode with a certified driver, then he rode with me on it.'
Tilson said he supports the bill as long as the new drivers receive the proper training.
'You get them trained and turn them loose,' Tilson said. 'Ride with them, see how they're going to do before we turn them loose.'
Rice said that's exactly what the school system plans to do.
'We would probably let them go with some training wheels, per se,' Rice said. 'To kind of get them used to it and ease them into it and maybe start with driving a ball team somewhere.'
If the bill is passed, the law would go into effect on July 1.
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