Discover Chester County – Featuring Gary Krapf

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As the story goes, in 1942, George Krapf, Jr. was a businessman in a small rural community in Chester County.

George was well respected and known for his ability to fix anything and his willingness to help his neighbors.

Krapf Rover service serves seniors across the county. (Image via Handi-crafters)

So, when the local school officials approached George for a solution to transport students from the outlying areas to the high school in town, it was natural for George to find a way to “make it happen”. 

Little did George Krapf know that the exceptional work ethics and family values he lived by would eventually become the very foundation for one of the largest privately-owned transportation companies in the United States, and that 75 years after he “helped out” the local school district, the third generation of his family would be running that company.

A Deviation from Yellow

By the late 1980’s, George’s eldest son, Dale, saw the need to expand the company’s transportation services beyond school bus. In 1984, Krapf was awarded a contract to provide paratransit service for Chester County and continues to operate that service today as Rover Community Transportation.

Around that same time, Dale was also successful in coercing George into expanding into the motor coach segment of transportation. 

With a growing fleet, Krapf’s built a new facility in West Chester, PA in 1990 and around that time Dale’s son, Gary, who just graduated  from college, entered the motor coach arena and subsequently became President of Krapf Coaches.

Krapf operates shuttle service for the Philadelphia Navy Yard with five full size transit buses looping across the 1,200 acre business campus and connecting to Center City.

Under Gary’s direction, Krapf Transit was formed, following the purchase of the local privately-owned fixed-route transit service connecting major points in the area. This service has been in continuous operation since 1992.

In 1994, Krapf Coaches became the first private contractor to be awarded a contract with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) – a partnership which still exists today. 

Along with a variety of corporate, college and commercial shuttles, Krapf Transit operates eight state-of-the-art midi’s for the Philadelphia Phlash, a hop on and off service with 22 stops at key Philadelphia destinations.

Additionally, Krapf operates shuttle service for the Philadelphia Navy Yard with five full size transit buses looping across the 1,200 acre business campus and connecting to Center City.

Looking Ahead

In 2017, the Krapf Group celebrated its 75th anniversary of being a family company dedicated to its core values and the growing community it serves.

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