Oct. 20—Transportation company First Student is advertising school bus driver openings for several area districts the company serves, including Norwin, Jeannette City and Hempfield Area.

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, and First Student is shy six substitute drivers for Norwin and Jeannette routes it operates from its location in North Huntingdon.

The situation at the North Huntingdon school bus terminal isn't unique.

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

"It would help out a lot to have the substitutes, but we have not missed a route yet," Jim Varner, manager of the North Huntingdon site, said Tuesday. "Myself and two of our dispatchers are driving every day."

The commercial driver's license requirement for driving a school bus should not be a hindrance for applicants, according to Varner. He said the company offers paid training and third-party testing for driver candidates who need to obtain a CDL.

Also, to help attract new drivers, the company has been offering a $3,000 signing bonus, he said.

Still, Varner said, adding new drivers to the roster has been challenging for more than a year.

"We had 10 people apply in August, and we set them up for interviews, but nobody showed up," he said.

He surmises some of those no-shows simply may have submitted applications to fulfill the job search requirement for obtaining unemployment benefits.

"It's the industry right now," he said of recruitment challenges.

Manager Len Coniglio wants to hire at least four or five additional substitute drivers at First Student's Hempfield location to feel comfortable in maintaining routes for the Hempfield Area School District.

For now, he said, "We're holding our own. We have all our routes covered."

The saving grace, Coniglio said, was his ability to carry over a strong complement of drivers from the previous school year.

"There are drivers I've had for 40-plus years," he said, "but getting new drivers is difficult right now."

Coniglio doesn't believe the signing bonus enticed anyone to apply for driver positions at his location. He noted the company last year also increased the hourly starting pay, from $15.75 to $19.

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 Company 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 even 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 fliers and social media posts.

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

Though he didn't provide specific figures for recruitment needs, Roenigk general manager Josh Orris said turnover and sustainability are concerns for its 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."

While Roenigk also provides training for driver candidates, he 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 Tuesday.

Based in Mt. Pleasant Township, DMJ Transportation provides bus service for several Westmoreland County school districts.

"As of now, all routes are covered," CEO Jaimie Barron said on Tuesday. Still, for good measure, "We're trying to get anyone in the door we can, even if they don't have a CDL."

DMJ also offers training to driver candidates.

Barron said DMJ's most fruitful method of gaining new drivers has been through referrals from those already behind the wheel of one of its buses.

"We did have to increase our starting rate to compete," she said. That pay level is at $17 per hour, with allowances for previous experience.

Greensburg Salem School Board this month acknowledged the addition of six bus drivers to the DMJ roster, clearing the way for them to take on routes at the district, if needed.

"We have all of our runs filled this school year," said Greensburg Salem Superintendent Ken Bissell. "However, we know DMJ continues to work hard to find additional drivers for Greensburg Salem and all the districts they serve."

At neighboring Greater Latrobe School District, "DMJ has drivers dedicated to our routes," said transportation liaison and elementary principal Chad Krehlik. "We have not experienced any modifications to runs because of driver shortages. They have done an outstanding job recruiting drivers."

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

Jeff Himler is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jeff by email at jhimler@triblive.com or via Twitter .