Even during the summer, the nationwide bus driver shortage is apparent in Montana communities.

The Frenchtown School District noted that they need to make up 50 percent of their current drivers to be fully staffed. Relying heavily on sub drivers the past year.

When I started here, we had 17 full-time drivers, and we are currently at six full-time drivers, so you can see a big dip there," said Frenchtown Transportation Director Jime’ Benitez. "We are still transporting as many students."

The district is working to compete with other jobs in the area by offering many benefits, including sick time, vacation, and more.

To bring in new drivers, we have been sending letters out into the community to make sure the awareness is there," Benitez. said. "We are constantly working on increasing benefits, but the benefits I like to highlight. I came into bus driving as a mom. I was still able to have summers off. I got paid to take my kids off for school."

Current drivers said they were surprised by the benefits package, too. Mark Richardson is among them.

The pay is really good and the benefits -- other companies don't offer the same with sick time and vacation time that accrued, so that was nice and something I didn't realize I was going to get when I first decided to come here,” said Richardson.

The training process takes time. Officials said if someone were to be hired now, it may take up until the school year begins to be fully trained.

“It probably takes probably about 80 hours of training to get them fully trained," said Benitez. "Plus, everyone knows the lines at the DMV are fun. We have to get through the DMV process of the testing facility."

Despite the training time, current bus drivers said it's worth it for the other benefits that are not listed.

One thing that I didn't realize was when you greet the kids up the steps and I try to say something positive, like, 'Oh, I like that shirt. That yellow looks good,' and that might be the only good thing they hear all day, and so you have an opportunity to impact the kids you drive,” said Richardson. “I just saw a boy in Walmart that I drive and he came up to me and said, 'Hey, Mr. Mark,' and said, 'Mom, that's my bus driver,' and it makes you feel good that they recognize you.”

For more information on how to apply, visit FTSDf.org.