CINCINNATI — First Student, the leading provider of student transportation to schools across North America, is growing its operations in Eastern Canada. The company has acquired Whitteker Bus Lines, a longtime provider of school bus and charter bus services in Ontario.
“We look forward to working alongside the experienced and trusted team at Whitteker Bus Lines,” said First Student CEO and President John Kenning. “We both care deeply about the students we transport. We want them to achieve their full potential by providing an exceptional experience on their ride to and from school. We are proud to have Whitteker Bus Lines join our team and are excited to partner together to enhance transportation services with our industry-leading safety record, rigorous driver training programs and innovative technologies.”
Whitteker Bus Lines is based in Iroquois, Ontario. The company was founded in 1965 and has grown to a team of more than 50 employees. They manage and operate 50 school bus routes for a local transportation consortium.
“Blending family values with the technology of tomorrow is something we have been passionate about for decades,” said Whitteker Bus Lines Owner Kevin Whitteker. “Combined with our invaluable staff, we know that First Student will continue to provide extraordinary service to our passengers and customers. We thank them for the support.”
Terms and conditions of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition is subject to applicable contractual and regulatory approvals.
About First Student
As a leading school transportation solutions provider in North America, First Student strives to provide the best start and finish to every school day. With a team of highly trained drivers and the industry’s strongest safety record, First Student delivers reliable, quality services, including full-service transportation and management, special-needs transportation, fleet electrification, route optimization, and scheduling, maintenance, and charter services with a fleet of more than 46,000 buses.