MOUNT AIRY, N.C. — The bus driver shortage continues across North Carolina and the entire country.

There is a nationwide school bus driver shortage

Bus drivers are driving extra routes to make up for the shortage

It can take people over three months of certifications and training to be able to drive a school bus 

Andrew Draughn has been a school bus driver for 32 years, and he says it's one of the best jobs he's ever had.

"It's the best career and blessing that you can ever see, because you get to see the kids as they go through their educational period of their life,” Draughn said.

It's the kids that make Draughn smile and love his job, so much that Draughn came out of retirement to help these children get to and from school.

"It was my arch desire to be back at school and work with my students again," he emphasized.

Mount Airy City Schools transportation coordinator Jon Doss says it's the worst bus driver shortage he's seen in his 27 years of working for the district.

Right now, the district only has enough drivers to cover about 60% of its routes, forcing drivers like Draughn to drive extra routes.

"I would do like 30, 29 to 31 routes, and now I'm going up to 40, 41, 42 routes," he explained."I would do like 30, 29 to 31 routes, and now I'm going up to 40, 41, 42 routes," he explained.

This is a problem school districts are facing statewide.

Fortunately for Mount Airy school bus drivers, the buses have smart technology that have a navigation system that maps out the routes.

"When I refresh the program it should be in there, and it directs me right to the stop," Draughn said.

Draughn adds it has the student's information, including their bus stop and school, and it has a photo to identify the child, so he says this has made it a lot easier to transition and pick up additional students.

"With our abilities and the knowledge of this area to be able to deal with the driver shortage and still get the kids home at a good time and get them to school at a good time," he emphasized.

Draughn says it is the first school district in the state to implement this technology so other drivers don't have it as easy.

He says it can take more than three months to get a driver in a bus, so it makes it difficult to fill the gap quickly, but despite all of this Draughn is happy he's driving again.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed driving again. I was missing it. It something that gets in your blood," Draughn said.

He hopes others will pursue this job too.

In order to become a school bus driver, you must obtain a school bus commercial driver license, and you can contact your local school district for more information.