School bus driver shortage continues in western Pennsylvania

PITTSBURGH — There is still a school bus driver shortage in western Pennsylvania, but bus companies Channel 11 talked to say it doesn’t need to be this way because there are more opportunities when it comes to working for them than driving a big, yellow school bus.

“I have the vehicles, I have the equipment, I just don’t have the drivers,” said Cori Skelli, Chief Operations Officer at A1 Van Service.

More than half of her buses and vans at A1 Transit in Lawrenceville will sit empty this fall. She has close to 90, but only 40 drivers.

“I have a few new drivers this year, so hopefully that will be helpful to everyone,” said Skelli.

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Her company takes Pittsburgh Public Schools kids to school. She says the back and forth with start dates has been rough, but she’s hoping the seat shortage works itself out.

“Hopefully after a few weeks and we see what children are riding and aren’t riding, that will probably open up seats for other students who don’t have a ride when we start,” said Skelli.

What is causing the school bus driver shortage?

Ryan Dellinger with the PA School Bus Association told us, “It’s quite a bit of training and people who think that they’re coming in for a part time job, may not realize that there’s quite a bit more to it.”

Both A1 and W.L. Roenigk say if you think working for a school bus company means driving a big bus, think again. W.L. Roenigk actually has more van runs than big school bus runs.

“You can drive a caravan,” said J.B. Orris, General Manager of W.L. Roenigk. “We have a huge need for van drivers. We have a huge need for aides which are bus monitors.”

While they go through the same training as bus drivers, van drivers don’t need to get a CDL license.

Orris feels certain they’ll be able to make all contracted school bus runs this year, but he might not have drivers for the extracurricular routes.

He has 600 drivers to cover districts in Allegheny, Butler and Westmoreland counties. They hired several of them over the summer.

“Going to unconventional places we haven’t gone before. We’ve set up at carnivals, we’ve set up at food truck rallies, we were up at the Big Butler Fair, and we marched in the new Kensington parade,” said Orris.

What happens if a driver calls off?

Orris says everyone at W.L. Roenigk is certified to drive a bus, from front office staff to mechanics.

With A1 being a smaller company, Skelli says it’s just her and a couple more people who step in to drive.

“Be patient with us. Be patient with the schools,” said Skelli.

The bus companies say good candidates for school bus drivers are retirees, single or stay at home parents, or people who used to drive trucks and want a change.

School bus drivers do have to go through extensive background checks, so extensive that bus companies say it sometimes prevents them from hiring someone that would be a good fit. If the candidate has something on their record from years ago, that could keep them from getting the job.

Butler, Baldwin-Whitehall schools plan to get students back to normal, anticipate changes along the way Butler, Baldwin-Whitehall schools plan to get students back to normal, anticipate changes along the way

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