Celebrating Kitsap Transit’s 2024 Drivers of the Year

ACCESS operator Danny Hoyt receives the ACCESS Driver of the Year Award for 2024.

Kitsap Transit honored our top Routed and ACCESS operators with Driver of the Year Awards on Wednesday, March 12, in recognition of their contributions to the public over the past year. 

Danny Hoyt (ACCESS) and Elexi Shipp (Routed) were named Kitsap Transit’s Drivers of the Year at a ceremony held at KT’s Charleston Base. Hans Gehlhaar, our Worker/Driver Driver of the Year, was recognized at a ceremony last month.  

Each Driver of the Month for 2024 was eligible to vote for and win the Driver of the Year award for the service they operate. The key characteristics are a commitment to safety and customer care that reflects our mission to provide reliable public transportation to Kitsap County residents.

Hoyt has worked at Kitsap Transit for five years. In that time, he’s won four Way-to-Go Awards (awards given by peer operators that recognize acts of service), one Driver of the Month award, and a One-Year Safe Driving Award. He started working at Kitsap Transit and driving ACCESS specifically, to help people in his community who can’t get around on their own.

“I was totally shocked and amazed,” Hoyt said. “I know I do a good job, but it means a lot to be recognized for it.”

Two of Hoyt’s supervisors on the ACCESS team, Zeidi Austin and Paula Bayne, praised him for his commitment to safety.

“Danny has consistently gone above and beyond to ensure that all ACCESS passengers have a safe, comfortable, and reliable trip,” Austin said.

ACCESS operator Danny Hoyt.

Added Bayne: “His hard work and kindness have earned his trust with not only the passengers but also with everyone in our department. It is an honor to work with Danny and see him earn this well-deserved award.”

Shipp, another five-year veteran of KT, has been well-decorated since she started in 2020. She’s received 11 Way-to-Go Awards and three Driver of the Month awards, in addition to earning her four-year Safe Driving Award in January 2024.

Shipp was also part of a contingent of Kitsap Transit operators who competed and ultimately won the Grand Champion award at the 2024 Washington State Transit Association Roadeo.

“It feels great, and I appreciate the validation from my fellow coworkers, supervisors and management,” Shipp said. “It feels great to be able to help other operators. I’m 100% willing to help them at any point.”

Gehlhaar started as a passenger on a Worker/Driver bus in the early 2000s. He joined on as a driver in June 2005 and three years later became the lead driver for the Winslow route, which he has continued to drive for the last 17 years.

“The Worker-Drivers are an amazing group of caring folks, completely dedicated to the safety of their passengers, even if it means not driving when weather/road conditions dictate,” Gehlhaar said.

“I am honored to serve with them in supporting this unique, one-of-a-kind program, and honored to be chosen as the Driver of the Year for 2024. The Worker-Driver program’s heart and soul are its drivers.”

Hans Gehlhaar, the Worker/Driver Operator of the Year for 2024.