Waterloo, IA – A major transportation employer in northeast Iowa is preparing to reduce its workforce this summer, with more than 100 employees expected to lose their jobs in Waterloo.
First Student plans to lay off 120 workers at its facility located at 1601 Black Hawk St., according to a workforce notice filed with the state. The job cuts are scheduled to take effect June 30, 2026, potentially impacting drivers, operations staff and other employees tied to the company’s local transportation services.
According to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filing submitted to Iowa Workforce Development, the layoffs will occur at the company’s Waterloo transportation site as part of operational changes affecting the location. The WARN Act requires employers with large workforces to notify state officials in advance of significant job reductions.
First Student is one of the largest student transportation providers in North America and operates school bus routes for school districts across the country. The company commonly contracts with districts to provide drivers, buses and fleet management services.
The filing indicates the layoffs are expected to occur on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, though WARN notices can sometimes change depending on business conditions, contract decisions or operational restructuring.
Waterloo, located in Black Hawk County, has a long history of transportation and manufacturing employment. Large-scale layoffs can have ripple effects across the local economy, particularly when they affect transportation and logistics operations that support regional school systems.
Officials have not publicly released detailed information about whether the layoffs are tied to a contract change, restructuring, or a shift in service providers. In similar situations, workforce agencies often coordinate with employers to provide job placement services, training resources, and unemployment assistance for displaced workers.
Workers affected by the layoffs may be eligible for unemployment benefits and workforce assistance programs through the state.
Local workforce agencies typically begin outreach to impacted employees in advance of layoffs to help connect them with other employers and retraining opportunities in the region.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
Follow us on Instagram & Facebook for more relevant news stories and SUPPORT LOCAL INDEPENDENT NEWS! Have a tip? Message us!
