WORCESTER, Mass. - Wheels are still turning, but Ron Erenwein said its been a bumpy ride for AA transportation.

"Probably the biggest shortage that I have seen in my entire career," Erenwein said. 

He owns AA Transportation and said they are down about 50 drivers and new applications are slowly coming in.

A big part of the hiring process is learning how to drive something as large as a bus. Erenwein said its actually a lot easier than people might think. Just ask Dylan Hanley. A couple of months ago, he never thought he'd be the one in the driver's seat. 

"No, absolutely not. I didn't think I'd be driving a school bus," Hanley said. "Everything happens for a reason."

He typically works as a dispatcher, but now everyone who works for AA Transportation is trained behind the wheel in case they need to fill in.

"You do that enough times and also just kind of studying," Hanley said. "It's not too difficult to get down." 

What You Need To Know

  • AA Transportation is down almost 50 drivers amid the labor shortage
  • To help cover bus routes, employees who typically working in the office are being trained to drive buses
  • Dylan Hanley is usually working in the dispatch department and says driving a vehicle as large as a bus was easier than he thought
  • AA Transportations drives more than 38,000 students in central Massachusetts to and from school each day

Around two months down, Hanley is almost certified to drive a 40-foot and 30,000 pound vehicle. 

"No experience. None whatsoever," Hanely said. "Now I'm close to getting my Class B license and so it's cool to kind of look at where I came in and where I'm at now."

Susan Thomas said she see this happen all the time. People originally intimidated by the size of the bus end up handling it better than expected.

"I'm one of those people," Thomas said. "Believe it or not, I drive this bus better than I drive my own vehicle."

Thomas has been driving buses for 17 years and teaching others how to for nine years. 

"I love it. I absolutely love it," Thomas said.  "I love driving my school bus and I love training."

She said she hopes more people see how rewarding getting behind the wheel can be and the difference it can make. ​