Rick Swanson was born into the bus business. His grandfather, Lloyd H. Swanson, started D&F Transit Inc. in 1962, running line-service routes across Western New York in partnership with Greyhound. Rick’s father, Jack Swanson, started as a line run driver and, for a time, the two worked side by side.
Jack later purchased D&F as Lloyd moved into retirement, expanding to 20+ coaches and building a thriving tour and charter business — until soaring interest rates and the loss of a huge contract pushed the family to sell to a local competitor.
Now, 40 years after launching his own company in the wake of that sale, Rick Swanson finds himself repeating the family pattern — this time as the seasoned business owner working alongside his son.
“This business is in the blood,” says Swanson, founder and president of D&F Travel Inc., which is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2025. “I started working for my dad as a teenager. Now, my son RJ is taking on more leadership, just like I did at his age.”
Founded in 1985 in Dunkirk, New York, D&F Travel has grown into a full-service transportation company with a fleet of 14 motorcoaches, 20 (19-A) certified drivers, and a reputation for safe, reliable service. Based in Amherst, a suburb of Buffalo, the company provides charter transportation and group tours across the U.S. and Canada.
Building gradually
Swanson started D&F as a broker, working with companies in New York City and beyond before purchasing his first motorcoach in the early 1990s. “I tried to get money from the bank and finally got a loan. From there, we built one bus at a time,” he recalls.
His father, who had a passion for senior group tours, came to work with him. Later, Swanson’s sister, Elizabeth McCulloch, joined the company to work with her dad, learning the tour planning side of the business, and today serves as vice president. She has led D&F’s tour operations for more than 30 years, creating custom travel packages that include themed trips to national parks such as Glacier, Yellowstone, and the Grand Canyon.
“She learned the tour business from our dad and has really run with it,” Rick says.
In a full-circle moment, Swanson’s son RJ joined the company 10 years ago and now is stepping into a higher executive role. When he joined the business, he was the same age his father was when he incorporated D&F Travel.
“He’s more patient than I am and great with technology,” Rick says. “It’s good to see him stepping in. I still enjoy coming in every day, but I don’t handle as much of the day-to-day anymore.”
The company is celebrating its anniversary year with the addition of two new 2025 MCI J-4500 coaches and plans to expand the fleet further. Each coach is equipped with restrooms, USB ports, electrical outlets, and entertainment systems.
D&F maintains a “satisfactory” safety rating with the U.S. Department of Transportation and is a transportation partner for college athletic teams, senior groups, and international tour operators.
Anniversary activities
As part of its 40th year, D&F is launching a passenger loyalty program, hosting special anniversary trips, and collecting non-perishable food donations in partnership with FeedMore WNY at its Amherst office.
A longtime member of the United Motorcoach Association, Swanson credits the organization with helping the industry survive COVID-19.
“They’ve always been very informative,” he says. “During the pandemic, they did a lot to advocate for our industry.”
Four decades since that first motorcoach purchase, Swanson says the company’s success comes down to strong relationships – with other owner operators, industry partners, employees, family, and the community.
“We wouldn’t have made it this far without a lot of good people,” he says. “Drivers, office staff, mechanics — it takes a team. And I’ve been lucky to have family right there beside me.”
For more information, visit dfbuses.com or contact info@dfbuses.com.
