Harlow's School Bus Service

What Harlow's School Bus Service does

Harlow's School Bus Service is a family-owned, vertically integrated transportation business headquartered in Bismarck, North Dakota, operating across North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Washington. Founded by Harlow H. Hageness in 1966 and formally established in 1973 after acquiring Lashman's Bus Service, the company is now led by the founder's three sons in its second generation of ownership. Its business model combines three interconnected revenue streams: (1) a multi-brand commercial vehicle dealership offering new and pre-owned buses (IC Bus, Bluebird, Collins, Endera, Champion, TransTech, Ford), trucks (International LT Series, International 4300), and ADA-compliant mobility vans (BraunAbility, Vantage Mobility), including the new Electric CE Series and eMV; (2) school bus contract transportation operating a fleet of over 400 buses serving K-12 districts and private schools, ranking it among the top 30 contractors in the United States; and (3) Harlow's Trailways luxury motor coach charter services using a 20-coach Prevost fleet for NCAA, military, corporate, casino, and group travel events.

The company's technical and operational capabilities include the adoption of International's S13 Integrated Powertrain featuring a 13-liter diesel engine with dual-stage aftertreatment and a 14-speed overdrive transmission, electric vehicle offerings with EV bus grants assistance, and connected fleet services through OnCommand Connection and International 360 partnerships. Aftersales support is delivered through a parts department with over $1.2 million in on-hand inventory distributed across locations and accessible via RepairLink online ordering, supplemented by full-service maintenance and repair facilities offering preventive maintenance, diagnostics, engine rebuilds, DOT inspections, and specialty equipment installation.

Distribution is anchored by four dealership locations (Bismarck, Missoula, Rolette, Webster) plus operations support in McCall, Idaho, supported by direct field sales reps covering North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana/Idaho territories, and active participation in state transit bids in three states. Customers include the University of Mary, Montana State University, the U.S. Department of Defense (certified carrier), Prairie Knights Casino, and various K-12 school districts. The company holds NCAA Post-Season Carrier certification, Department of Defense carrier certification, Trailways authorized contractor status, and five consecutive ND Motor Carriers Association Fleet Safety Awards. Pricing is primarily quote-based across vehicle sales, with financing facilitated through International Finance and Navistar Financial, and recurring managed-services pricing for school bus contracting and charter work.

Name

Harlow's School Bus Service

Legal name

Harlow's School Bus, Inc.

Website

https://goharlows.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Harlow's School Bus Service is a family-owned, vertically integrated transportation business in the upper Midwest, combining a multi-brand commercial vehicle dealership, a 400+ bus school transportation contractor (top 30 in the US), and a 20-coach luxury motor coach charter operation serving schools, military, and event customers across ND, SD, MT, and WA.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Vehicle Dealership & Transportation Services

NAICS

School and Employee Bus Transportation (48541), Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation (485), School and Employee Bus Transportation (485410)

SIC

Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100), Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Routing, Scheduling & Dispatch Services (EDAEADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

School & Youth Group Charters (Non-Route) (THAIAIAD), Driver Staffing, Training & Compliance (CDL, Background Checks) (EDAEADAE)

Keywords

• School bus transportation
• Commercial bus dealership
• Motor coach charter
• Fleet maintenance services
• Commercial vehicle sales

Headquarters

HQ city

Bismarck

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. New and Used Vehicle Sales: Sales of new and pre-owned buses, trucks, and mobility vans through dealership showrooms in Bismarck, Missoula, Rolette, and Webster locations.
2. Parts Department: Parts sales and distribution with over $1.2 million in on-hand inventory across locations, supported by OEM distribution centers. Parts available through RepairLink online ordering system.
3. Service and Repair: Full-service maintenance and repair including preventive maintenance, diagnostics, engine rebuilds, transmission replacement, and specialty equipment installation at three full-service locations.
4. Motor Coach Charter Services: Luxury motor coach charter services under Harlow's Trailways brand, operating a fleet of 20 full-size motor coaches for charters across the U.S. and Canada.
5. School Bus Transportation Services: School bus contractor services providing home-to-school routes, after-school activities, and sports transportation to school districts and private schools.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Harlow's School Bus Service is a multi-generational family-owned transportation and commercial vehicle dealership company. It provides student transportation via school bus routes, sells new and pre-owned buses and trucks (including IC Bus, International, and Bluebird brands), operates Harlow's Trailways motor coach charter services, and delivers parts, maintenance, and fleet service from locations in Bismarck and Rolette, ND; Missoula, MT; Webster, SD; and McCall, ID.

Product overview

Harlow's Bus and Truck Sales is a full-service transportation provider and multi-brand commercial vehicle dealer operating across North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio organized around three core pillars: (1) Vehicle Sales spanning new and pre-owned buses (IC Bus, Bluebird, Collins, Endera, Champion, TransTech), trucks (International LT Series, International 4300), mobility/ADA-compliant vans (BraunAbility, Vantage Mobility, Element Embassy), and electric vehicles (IC Bus Electric CE Series and eMV); (2) Transportation Services including Harlow's Trailways luxury motor coach charters with Prevost fleet, school bus routing and contracting services with a fleet exceeding 400 school buses, and charter/shuttle services; and (3) Aftersales Support comprising a parts department with over $1.2M in inventory and RepairLink online ordering, and full-service maintenance/repair at three locations with DOT inspection capabilities. The company was established in 1973 and maintains four physical locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• School Bus Route Transportation
• Harlow's Trailways Motor Coach Charter
• New and Pre-Owned Bus & Truck Sales
• Parts, Service, and Fleet Maintenance

Quantifiable outcome

• Fleet of over 400 school buses serving multiple states
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IC Bus / InternationalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized IC Bus and International truck dealer providing sales, parts, and service for IC Bus school and commercial buses and International trucks. Jason Hageness serves on IC School Bus Dealer Advisory Board.
• TrailwayscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPart of Trailways motor coach network with fleet of 20 full-size motor coaches. Affiliation provides enhanced business opportunities especially for global scope charters.
• NCAAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCAA Post Season certified carrier, approved to provide transportation for NCAA post-season athletic events.
• U.S. Department of DefensecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOD certified carrier providing military transport services including base-to-base transport, airport shuttles, and military family transport.
• American Bus Association (ABA)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMember of ABA providing networking and business development opportunities in the bus industry.
• Champion Bus Inc.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRepresented manufacturer of mid-size commercial buses including Crusader, Challenger, Defender, CTS models, and American Coach luxury line.
• BraunAbilityminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWorld leader in mobility products including wheelchair vans and wheelchair lifts, represented at Harlow's for accessibility solutions.
• State of North Dakota, South Dakota, MontanacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorActive on state transit bids in these states for government and institutional vehicle purchases and services.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Durham School Services: A leading North American school bus contractor owned by National Express, providing student transportation to school districts nationwide. Direct competitor for the same contracted student transport work as Harlow's.
• Cook-Illinois Corporation: A multi-state school bus and motor coach operator based in the Midwest. Comparable operating model combining school district contracting with charter coach services.
• Student Transportation of America (STA): A top-three U.S. school bus contractor operating a large fleet of school buses and motor coaches. Comparable business mix including contracted pupil transport and charter services.
• Midwest Transit Equipment: A commercial bus dealer and service provider in the Midwest offering sales, parts, and service for school buses, shuttle buses, and commercial vehicles. Comparable dealership and aftersales mix.
• RWC International / Rush International: An International truck and IC Bus dealer with multiple locations across the Midwest and South. Comparable OEM-franchised truck and bus dealership model.
• Matthews Bus Alliance: An IC Bus dealer network operating multiple locations. Comparable IC Bus franchise dealership model with parts and service operations.
• First Student: The largest school bus contractor in North America, operating across the U.S. and Canada. Directly comparable to Harlow's as a scaled school transportation services provider competing for the same district contracts.
• Midwest Bus Sales: A regional commercial bus and school bus dealer serving the upper Midwest. Directly comparable dealership and service operations to Harlow's.

Broad incumbents

• National Express LLC: The U.K.-listed parent of Durham School Services and other North American student transport operations. Operates school and transit transportation at much larger global scale.
• Prevost (Volvo Group): Manufacturer of luxury motor coaches operated in Harlow's Trailways fleet and a broader supplier to the North American charter coach industry. Compares as an incumbent equipment partner rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCys5oiuk3bqyBAx6y5K3l3A
• Facebookfacebook.com/Harlowstruckandbussales
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/harlow-s-bus-sales-and-truck-center
• Instagraminstagram.com/harlowstruckandbus
• Xx.com/Harlows_Bus

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Harlow's School Bus Service