Bus driver recruitment continues to challenge school district transportation contractors in Alle-Kiski Valley

School bus companies serving Alle-Kiski Valley school districts are advertising for bus driver openings.

But applicants have not been flocking to replenish the ranks at area school bus terminals.

Driver shortages have been an issue for many districts in recent years.

In early September, state officials reported a shortfall of between 2,000 and 3,000 drivers at schools across Pennsylvania.

Kiski Area School District has juggled routes between two transportation contractors to keep buses rolling when drivers are in short supply. In addition to Smith Bus Co. in Blairsville, the district uses Byers in Vandergrift, normally for runs to private schools.

Last November, the district had to adjust some pickup and dismissal drop-off times and combined some routes to cope with a perfect storm of challenges, including two routes without permanent drivers and several drivers who were on medical leaves.

The contractors “have been very creative with adjusting routes and adjusting times,” said John Tedorski, director of student information, transportation, safety and security services at Kiski Area. “Maybe they will use a driver who has a short route to cover another route as soon as they get done with the shorter route.

“Thankfully, we have been able to always provide transportation, and our contractors do a wonderful job of making that happen every day.”

But as of Wednesday, Tedorski said, “There is a shortfall. We still could use more drivers. It’s just that there’s a labor shortage in every industry.”

He said the district has supplemented the bus companies’ recruitment efforts by including pleas for drivers in weekly flyers and social media posts.

Based in Buffalo Township, W.L. Roenigk operates school bus routes for several districts in the Alle-Kiski Valley, Burrell and Leechburg Area among them.

Though he didn’t provide specific figures for recruitment needs, Roenigk general manager Josh Orris said turnover and sustainability are concerns for the company’s force of drivers.

“As fast as we’re getting them in, they’re going out,” he said. “We advertise as much as we possibly can. We have an older workforce, and we’re trying to get some younger people.”

Orris noted the company has more van routes than bus routes to maintain.

For now, the company is able to cover its routes.

“We’re getting by, but we’re on thin ice,” Orris said.

The Pennsylvania School Bus Association has developed a website, YouBehindTheWheel.com, and a job portal, SchoolBusHero.com, in an effort to attract drivers.