Zum Solves Longstanding Driver Shortage, Covers 100% of Bus Routes for Saint Louis Public Schools

Zūm today launched the 2025-26 school year for Saint Louis Public Schools (SLPS) with a surplus of bus drivers and 100% of bus routes covered, solving a longstanding shortage in the district.

This is the first year of Zum’s partnership with SLPS, which serves thousands of students in more than 60 schools. To prepare for the start of school, Zum hired more than enough drivers to cover all 220 routes and account for any last-minute callouts, quickly transforming a persistent local driver deficit into a surplus and outperforming previous SLPS transportation providers that struggled for years with staffing and recruitment.

“We are honored to serve the families of SLPS,” said Richard Lindell, Regional Manager at Zum. “We are proud that for the first time in years, 100% of SLPS’s 220 routes were covered this morning — solving a longstanding driver shortage that has historically plagued the community. This is a huge win.”

Lindell added that Zum expects any delays to be resolved quickly.

“Student transportation is night and day from where it was this time last year. We will continue to work around the clock to ensure superior service,” Lindell said. “As a result, parents will experience continued improvements. We encourage all families to download the Zum Parent App so that they can stay apprised of progress in real time.”  

Zum also launched its technology platform, enabling SLPS families, schools, and district staff access to track their students and buses; communicate effectively; and make faster data-driven iterations to improve the overall transportation experience.

Zum is a national leader in modern student transportation, serving school districts with a focus on technology and customer service. The company’s model integrates state-of-the-art school buses with data-driven routing, driver tracking, and enhanced safety measures, offering families real-time updates through a mobile app.

Zum manages and operates student transportation in over 4,000 schools across 14 states nationwide.