Crankshaft by Tom Batiuk and Dan Davis for February 26, 2025

“Pushing them onto the bus, instead of UNDER it, where I can smash their helpless bodies into mailboxes! AHHH-HAHAHA!” Ed takes another big swallow from his handleless antigravity mug of Everclear. The others do not speak—not after the many times has Ed bragged about his hallucinations about the ghost of Pop Clutch, the bus driver he murdered for the lulz, and the reason for the driver shortage. Tom collects paycheck; reaches for his own floating mug.

Decent joke, sloppily handled. Can’t Batiuk think of another way to get his theme across without a character mentioning “bus driver shortage” every day this week?

Pushing the kids back on? What parents, most parents are probably at work.

There is actually a real school bus driver shortage in a lot of school districts in the US. It’s mostly because this is a part-time job with few or no benefits, so mostly retired people do it. And more and more of them are retiring from it THAT job…

I know in my town, the different levels of school (elementary, junior high, high school, etc…) all have different start/end times. That way the drivers can work multiple schools. Of course, this means I see some kids getting dropped off at 6pm.

Since the main purpose of public schools is child care and warehousing this will be a complete nonstarter.

Yeah, this makes sense. We’ll cut the school day in half and eliminate half the curriculum.

Ed has a point.

Ed has the solution….just ask him!!!!!

Out of the mouths of cranky old bus drivers.

well its bowling night thursday chili dogs half price at margo lane and the bathrooms will be locked

All of them will come home to empty homes. This isn’t the 60’s anymore!

The kids will have to GET UP earlier to justify letting them out at midday.They can change the time clock but not the hours required

If the parent’s will be pushing kids back onto the bus Ed Crankshaft drives, it means the kids do not like riding with him.

Returning after COVID, they were restricted to every other seat, staggered, with only siblings sitting together. So we had rotating in person HS Days, 1, 2, 3, with Wednesday virtual for all, and staggered start times so each bus did 2 elementary runs. Staggered start times would still work, but cost more for labor.

How many times has Batuik done the bus driver shortage storyline now and when will he realize the Pulitzer committee isn’t calling?

Wouldn’t that just lead to more bus driving if they have to take the kids back in the afternoon?

If one follow the storyline. Decades ago is was established that Crankshaft fought in WW 2. If we follow that logic Ed would today be in his 90’s or being even older than that. If Crankshaft is in his 70’s that means he fought in the first Gulf War….1991