Too much of a good thing - transport operators still lack buses and drivers to keep up with demand

Operators who signed a five-year deal with the government as part of the free school transport scheme have welcomed the increase in work but say better planning was needed. Speaking to the Times of Malta on the condition of anonymity, operators said they had been inundated with orders after signing the deal with the government that will see them providing minibus services to schools. Most said they did not have a single empty seat despite having large fleets of school vans. Others have even resorted to putting notices on their website informing parents they are fully booked and have no vacant seats. Parents say attempting to secure a seat on minibuses has become difficult, with most operators informing them there was little they could do to help because they simply did not have enough minibuses to operate additional routes. One operator said that while he was willing to buy more minibuses, he still struggled to find drivers because few people were willing to take up such a job. “It’s not only a question of vans or buses. We simply cannot find enough drivers. These days, one does not get behind the wheel and get to drive a minibus because training is needed and that alone costs...