Corry, PA — A longtime local transportation company is stepping up to help address the ongoing school bus driver shortage by offering free training to new and returning drivers.
 
D&R Transportation LLC., which has served the Corry area for 35 years, is covering the full cost of certification and re-certification classes for school bus drivers. The move comes as many school districts across the region continue to struggle to fill routes with qualified drivers.
 
Company owners say the decision to offer the training at no cost is rooted in safety and community responsibility.
 
“We are short drivers, and I believe almost every other contractor in the area is short too," stated Robin Taydus, Owner of D&R Transportation Inc. "These jobs really are so important, it's more than just taking children to and from school."
 
Pennsylvania law requires school bus drivers to complete state-mandated training, including classroom instruction, behind-the-wheel practice, and passing required exams. The cost of those programs can often be a barrier to entry for new applicants. D&R hopes that by eliminating that cost, more people will consider taking on the role.
 
"At this time, we are offering classes to prospective school bus drivers, and drivers who need to re-certify, at no charge," Robin said. "We also offer training to other transportation companies who may not have the space to host classes for their drivers."
 
"We are fortunate though," added D&R Transportation co-owner David Taydus. "We have a very low turn-over on drivers once they come on board with us, they seem to really like what we have to offer and how we work with them."
 
While the company acknowledges that the shortage won’t be fixed overnight, they believe that local solutions like this can make a real difference—especially when student safety is at stake.
 
D&R Transportation will be holding their next training session in July, ahead of the school year.
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