Residents in Thunder Bay, Ontario, are facing frequent bus cancellations this month because the city does not have enough drivers to run all the routes. As of March 16, 2026, many people who use the bus to get to work or school are reporting long wait times and unreliable service.
The City of Thunder Bay is trying to hire more drivers, but it takes up to 15 weeks to complete the required training. This long wait means that new hires cannot start driving for several months after they are first brought on board.
To make the schedule more dependable, the City of Thunder Bay Council has started using temporary service reductions. This plan is meant to prevent last-minute cancellations that have previously left some riders waiting at stops for 45 minutes or more.
The driver shortage has also caused problems for student transportation, with Student Transportation Services of Thunder Bay cancelling several bus routes on March 13, 2026. Local transit users continue to express concern as the city works through the training backlog.
