The rise of ride sharing and food delivery apps during the pandemic has seen many drivers make the switch to those platforms. That made sense as schools were in a state of flux in 2020, and food delivery apps became even more popular during the pandemic.

However, as schools slowly started to go back to normal, it became clear that the benefits of bus driving vastly outweigh those of ride sharing and food delivery services. For one, the wear and tear on your personal vehicle from delivering or ride sharing can start to add up and can be costly for drivers. That’s not a factor for school bus drivers. Secondly, high fuel prices can make a huge dent in the potential income for gig economy drivers. Again, this is not a factor when driving a bus. Lastly—and arguably most importantly, many school bus drivers are provided with health care plans. School district employees and other government employees tend to enjoy generous benefit packages, and school bus driver positions are no exception. These three factors show that bus driving can be a legitimate, stable and enjoyable career, while ride sharing or food delivery services tend to be a short-term income solution.