Shuttle Buddy, a Fayetteville-based transportation company dedicated to connecting the community with reliable transportation services, just marked two years in business.
“As a Veteran and former Army aviator, building Shuttle Buddy has been about more than starting a business; it’s been about creating jobs, solving transportation challenges and investing in the community that I proudly call home,” shared Owner and CEO of Shuttle Buddy Tauheed (Ty) Wood.
The business grew out of Wood’s own frustrating experience returning from a family trip to Disneyland and being hit with a hefty airport parking bill. Determined to find a better way, he spent three days straight building the foundations of Shuttle Buddy. Just a few months later, he secured his first vehicle and launched operations.
Over the past year, Shuttle Buddy has grown from a startup operation into a company providing scheduled airport transportation between Fayetteville and Raleigh-Durham International Airport, university transportation services, athletic and event transportation and charter services for organizations throughout the region.
“We have a lot of good people that believe in us and that work here, and a lot of the people that support us that don’t work here that are regular customers – we're talking like traveling two or three times a month – and they only want to ride with us because they believe in what we're doing. They see the growth, they see the process. So, the things that I've enjoyed the most are my employees and my customers,” shared Wood.
Shuttle Buddy has expanded to a fleet of 11 vehicles and is now approaching 20 employees. The company operates out of 5419 Raeford Road in Fayetteville, though Wood shared they’re looking for a new location as the company has pretty much outgrown their current space. Customers can park at the Shuttle Buddy lot and ride to the airport, with up to two weeks of free parking included when they purchase a round-trip ticket.
Shuttle Buddy currently runs 14 trips to the airport and 14 trips back each day, for a total of 28 trips daily. Vans depart about every hour and 45 minutes, offering frequent options for travelers. Capacity varies by vehicle, with some shuttles seating 11, others 12 or 14 passengers, plus a 36-passenger bus equipped with a wheelchair lift and rear luggage space.
In addition to locating a new headquarters, Wood shared that he hopes to add service to Lumberton, Fuquay, Sanford and areas around Linden Oaks, broadening access for travelers across the region.
For details on tickets and pricing, visit https://www.goshuttlebuddy.com/.
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