Harlow's School Bus Service
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1973
- HeadquartersBismarck, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
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.
Harlow's School Bus Service firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Harlow's School Bus Service industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Harlow's School Bus Service is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bismarck
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Harlow's School Bus Service business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | New vehicle sales - price varies by model and specifications |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Pre-owned vehicle sales - varies by year, make, and condition |
| Subscription | Monthly | Financing available through International Finance |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Harlow's School Bus Service product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Harlow's School Bus Service
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Harlow's School Bus Service technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature2 records
Harlow's School Bus Service partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- IC Bus / InternationalcoreAuthorized 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.
- TrailwayscorePart of Trailways motor coach network with fleet of 20 full-size motor coaches. Affiliation provides enhanced business opportunities especially for global scope charters.
- NCAAcoreNCAA Post Season certified carrier, approved to provide transportation for NCAA post-season athletic events.
- U.S. Department of DefensecoreDOD certified carrier providing military transport services including base-to-base transport, airport shuttles, and military family transport.
- American Bus Association (ABA)minorMember of ABA providing networking and business development opportunities in the bus industry.
- Champion Bus Inc.minorRepresented manufacturer of mid-size commercial buses including Crusader, Challenger, Defender, CTS models, and American Coach luxury line.
- BraunAbilityminorWorld leader in mobility products including wheelchair vans and wheelchair lifts, represented at Harlow's for accessibility solutions.
- State of North Dakota, South Dakota, MontanacoreActive on state transit bids in these states for government and institutional vehicle purchases and services.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Harlow's School Bus Service competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
Harlow's School Bus Service social profiles
Digital presenceHarlow's School Bus Service financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Harlow's School Bus Service leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Harlow's School Bus Service subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Harlow's School Bus Service funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Harlow's School Bus Service M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&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
What does Harlow's School Bus Service do?
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.
Is Harlow's School Bus Service a public or private company?
Harlow's School Bus Service is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Harlow's School Bus Service founded?
Harlow's School Bus Service was founded in 1973. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Harlow's School Bus Service based?
Harlow's School Bus Service is headquartered in Bismarck, United States, in the North America region.
How does Harlow's School Bus Service make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. New and Used Vehicle Sales are the primary driver. The others are parts Department, service and Repair, motor Coach Charter Services and school Bus Transportation Services.
Who are Harlow's School Bus Service's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Durham School Services, Cook-Illinois Corporation, Student Transportation of America (STA), Midwest Transit Equipment, RWC International / Rush International, Matthews Bus Alliance, First Student and Midwest Bus Sales. Broad incumbents are National Express LLC and Prevost (Volvo Group).
Does Harlow's School Bus Service have an API?
No public API is recorded for Harlow's School Bus Service.
What industry is Harlow's School Bus Service in?
Harlow's School Bus Service's product category is Commercial Vehicle Dealership & Transportation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAEADAB, Routing, Scheduling & Dispatch Services, with a secondary code of THAIAIAD, School & Youth Group Charters (Non-Route). Its NAICS code is 48541 and its SIC code is 4100.