The companies don't offer enough money to hire drivers. And, according to Militarydotcom, the government is paying. Anytime the guard is called up, they get paid - the guys may be volunteering to take the duty, but are paid their military salary, based on rank.

@Beowulfsfriend they are paid sitting around or on trumped-up "manuevers", At least this is giving back to Their communities.

@AnneWimsey They only get paid when called up for actions, or on their one weekend a month training. The Guard is not a monthly check.

@Beowulfsfriend doesn't this last post directly contradict your first one? What am I not getting here?

@AnneWimsey The government is calling them up for duty, payying them by their rank and time. The bus companies still get paid by the schools and don't have to pay for drivers, thus avoiding raising wages to get people to work for them.

@Beowulfsfriend I see your reasoning, thanks, but aren't the bus companies going to be billed/have the costs passed on to them? Why not?

@AnneWimsey According to military.com, the government is paying, and no mention of the costs being defrayed. That would be up to the state.