OATS Transit
OATS Transit is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit rural transportation provider operating across all 87 Missouri counties with a 600+ bus fleet and 575+ employees. It serves seniors, individuals with disabilities, Veterans, and the rural general public through demand-response and deviated fixed-route services, completing 1-1.5 million trips annually.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1971
- HeadquartersColumbia, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What OATS Transit does
OATS Transit is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit rural public transportation provider operating across all 87 counties in Missouri and self-described as the largest rural transportation provider in the United States. Founded in 1971 as Cooperative Transportation Service by Missouri volunteers who attended the White House Conference on Aging, the organization rebranded to Older Adults Transportation Service (OATS) in 1973, shortened to OATS, Inc. in 1980, and adopted the OATS Transit name in 2018. OATS Transit provides demand-response and deviated fixed-route bus services serving seniors, individuals with disabilities (including those served through sheltered workshops), Veterans accessing VA facilities, and the rural general public, completing 1-1.5 million trips and traveling 10-15.6 million miles annually with a fleet of 600+ buses.
The operational model centers on a Columbia, Missouri headquarters and six regional offices (St. Joseph, Macon, Springfield, Bridgeton/Union, Harrisonville) that coordinate dispatch and route planning. Technology infrastructure is conventional: a tablet-based scheduling/routing system deployed in 2019, a mobile app (iOS and Android) for rider bookings, and phone-based central scheduling (1-888-875-6287). The organization does not disclose proprietary technology development, and there are no patents, AI capabilities, or software products in its portfolio.
Revenue is composed of four streams: (1) Federal Transit Administration grants that subsidize most routes serving the rural general public, seniors, and individuals with disabilities; (2) contract fees from agency partners such as the Productive Living Board of St. Louis County ($1.7M-$1.87M annually) and Developmental Disability Advocates ($1.28M) for sheltered workshop transportation; (3) passenger fares of $2 per one-way ride (general public), $4 for deviated fixed-route, and structured passes ($20 ten-ride, $40 monthly unlimited, $80 student semester); and (4) foundation grants and donations from entities including Jefferson Foundation, Veterans United Foundation, Boone Electric Community Trust, and dozens of additional community foundations across Missouri. GTM is sales-led via direct contracts with government agencies, healthcare providers (DaVita, Mosaic Life Care), VA facilities, sheltered workshops, and Area Agencies on Aging, with regional directors managing local relationships.
OATS Transit firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- OATS Transit
- Legal name
- OATS, Inc.
- Website
- https://oatstransit.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1971
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- OATS Transit is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit rural transportation provider operating across all 87 Missouri counties with a 600+ bus fleet and 575+ employees. It serves seniors, individuals with disabilities, Veterans, and the rural general public through demand-response and deviated fixed-route services, completing 1-1.5 million trips annually.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
OATS Transit industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Rural Public Transportation Services
- NAICS
- Special Needs Transportation (485991), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113), Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation (485210)
- SIC
- Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100), Transportation Services (4700), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community & Senior Transportation Shuttles (Dial-a-Ride, Non-ADA) (TLAFAJAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Senior & Assisted-Living Demand-Responsive Transport (THAIAHAE), Community / Nonprofit Public Transit Bus Operators (TLAFAGAJ), Transportation-Integrated Adult Day Programs (Day Program + Non-Emergency Transport) (HLADAIAK), On-Demand Ride Coordination & Assisted Rides (TNC/Taxi Brokerage) (HSABAOAJ)
Keywords
Where OATS Transit is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Columbia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices8 records
Markets served
OATS Transit business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Federal Transit Administration Grants: OATS Transit applies for and receives federal grants to transport individuals with disabilities, senior citizens, Veterans, low-income individuals and the rural general public. Most routes are subsidized partially by federal grants.
- Contract Transportation Services: Partners with agencies like Productive Living Board (PLB) and Developmental Disability Advocates (DDA) to provide contract transportation solutions for sheltered workshops and disability services.
- Passenger Fares: General public riders pay standardized fares of $2.00 per one-way ride. Additional revenue from passes including 10-ride passes ($20), monthly unlimited ($40), and student semester passes ($80).
- Foundation Grants and Donations: Receives grants from community foundations (Jefferson Foundation, Boone County Community Trust, Veterans United Foundation, etc.) for vehicle purchases and service support.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Bus Fare |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Deviated Fixed Route |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | 10 Ride Pass |
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly Unlimited Pass |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Student Semester Unlimited Pass |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
OATS Transit product offering
Product offeringCore offering
OATS Transit provides demand-response and deviated fixed-route public transportation services to senior citizens, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and the rural general public across 87 Missouri counties. The organization also delivers contracted transportation solutions to partner agencies serving specialized populations, including healthcare facilities, sheltered workshops, and VA facilities. Services are delivered through a fleet of more than 600 buses coordinated via six regional offices, a centralized phone scheduling line, and a mobile app.
Product overview
OATS Transit is a nonprofit rural transportation provider offering a portfolio of transit services across 87 Missouri counties. The core offering consists of rural accessible public transportation for people of all ages and abilities, supplemented by contract transportation solutions for agency partners serving individuals with disabilities, seniors, and veterans. Supporting the main transit services are the OATS Transit Mobile App for rider convenience, Deviated Fixed Route Service providing flexible route options, InterCity Express for longer-distance regional travel, and The Wheel newsletter for customer communication. The company operates as a unified transportation ecosystem rather than a platform-with-modules architecture.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Rural Demand-Response Public Transportation Door-to-door and curb-to-curb bus transportation service scheduled on demand for senior citizens, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and rural residents across 87 Missouri counties. Riders book trips via the central scheduling line, regional offices, or the OATS Transit mobile app. Fares are $2.00 per one-way trip for the general public, with seniors aged 60+ and individuals with disabilities riding under AAA contracts asked to contribute a minimum amount.
- Contract Transportation Solutions Partnership-based transportation services contracted with agencies to provide specialized transit for specific populations including individuals with developmental disabilities, seniors, veterans, and dialysis patients. Contracts include multi-year agreements with the Productive Living Board (PLB) and Developmental Disability Advocates (DDA) for transportation to sheltered workshops and day programs in St. Louis County and Jefferson County.
- Deviated Fixed-Route Service
Quantifiable outcome
- Provided more than 1 million trips annually across Missouri
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use OATS Transit
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
OATS Transit technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
OATS Transit partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Productive Living Board (PLB)coreOATS Transit has partnered with PLB for more than two decades to provide rides to individuals with developmental disabilities in St. Louis County. PLB provided $1.7 million (2024) to serve 180+ riders and $1.87 million (2025) to transport clients to sheltered workshops including Canterbury Enterprises, Heartland Industries, Valley Industries, Project CU, and Lafayette Industries. PLB also provides bus match dollars for vehicle purchases.
- Developmental Disability Advocates (DDA)coreOATS Transit partnered with DDA for over two decades to provide rides to individuals with developmental disabilities in Jefferson County. DDA provided $1.28 million to serve 150 riders daily, transporting them to work at Jeffco Subcontracting Inc. and Next Steps for Life. DDA also provides bus match dollars for vehicle purchases.
- City of Lee's SummitcoreIn partnership with City of Lee's Summit and Kansas City Area Transit Authority, OATS Transit operates Ride KC buses in Lee's Summit.
- Mosaic Life CareminorStepped forward during government shutdown to pay for St. Joseph service until the end of the shutdown so that seniors could continue getting to medical appointments.
- City of MaconminorPartnership with City of Macon and Macon Chamber of Commerce for daily service in the City of Macon.
- Macon Chamber of CommerceminorPartnership with City of Macon and OATS Transit for daily service in the City of Macon.
- Missouri Propane Education and Research CouncilminorPartnered with OATS Transit to evaluate performance of propane-powered 12-passenger Ford Cutaway bus in Columbia market.
- Central States Bus SalesminorInvited OATS Transit to test a propane-powered bus, partnering with Missouri Propane Education and Research Council for the demo.
Scale indicators17 records
Recent moves13 records
Expansion highlights6 records
OATS Transit competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Hopelink: Hopelink is a Washington-state nonprofit that combines social services with transportation programs serving low-income, senior, and disabled populations. It mirrors OATS's hybrid model of community social services plus accessible transit in a defined multi-county region.
- Ride Connection: Ride Connection is a Portland, Oregon-based nonprofit providing accessible transportation for seniors and people with disabilities across a multi-county service area, funded through contracts, grants, and donations. Comparable as a community-based, contract-funded accessible transit nonprofit.
- ITN America: ITN America is a nonprofit providing dignified, door-through-door transportation for seniors and people with visual impairment across multiple U.S. affiliates. It is the closest conceptual peer to OATS — a mission-driven, community-based senior transportation nonprofit operating through local affiliate networks.
Broad incumbents
- MTM Transit: MTM Transit manages NEMT, public transit, and paratransit programs for state Medicaid agencies and transit authorities nationwide. It is comparable as a large-scale contract transportation manager for government and healthcare partners, similar to OATS's PLB/DDA model but at multi-state scale.
- Transdev (formerly Veolia Transport / First Transit): Transdev is a global public transit operator that contracts with transit agencies to manage fixed-route and paratransit service. It is comparable to OATS in the contract transportation space but operates at a vastly larger scale and broader service mix including urban transit.
- Modivcare (formerly LogistiCare): Modivcare is the largest U.S. broker of non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT), managing Medicaid and Medicare ride benefits at national scale. It competes with OATS in the disability/senior transit space but as a tech-enabled brokerage rather than a fleet operator.
Others
- Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA): CTAA is the national industry association for community and public transportation, of which OATS Transit is a recognized member and award recipient. Comparable as the trade body that defines standards, advocacy, and funding frameworks that OATS operates within.
- National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC): NADTC is a federally funded national resource center promoting transportation access for older adults and people with disabilities. Comparable as the ecosystem/thematic enabler for OATS's mission, providing grants, technical assistance, and federal coordination.
Emerging players
- Uber Health: Uber Health provides ride-hailing logistics for healthcare appointments and is increasingly adopted by Medicaid managed care plans. It is an emerging alternative for senior and NEMT riders who can self-board, potentially eroding demand for traditional demand-response operators like OATS.
- Lyft Healthcare: Lyft Healthcare partners with Medicare Advantage plans, hospitals, and ACOs to provide NEMT through the Lyft app. It is comparable to OATS as a senior/healthcare transportation provider but uses gig drivers rather than dedicated accessible vehicles.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
OATS Transit social profiles
Digital presenceOATS Transit financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
OATS Transit leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
OATS Transit funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
OATS Transit 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 OATS Transit
What does OATS Transit do?
OATS Transit provides demand-response and deviated fixed-route public transportation services to senior citizens, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and the rural general public across 87 Missouri counties. The organization also delivers contracted transportation solutions to partner agencies serving specialized populations, including healthcare facilities, sheltered workshops, and VA facilities. Services are delivered through a fleet of more than 600 buses coordinated via six regional offices, a centralized phone scheduling line, and a mobile app.
Is OATS Transit a public or private company?
OATS Transit is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was OATS Transit founded?
OATS Transit was founded in 1971. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is OATS Transit based?
OATS Transit is headquartered in Columbia, United States, in the North America region.
How does OATS Transit make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Federal Transit Administration Grants are the primary driver. The others are contract Transportation Services, passenger Fares and foundation Grants and Donations.
Who are OATS Transit's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Hopelink, Ride Connection and ITN America. Broad incumbents are MTM Transit, Transdev (formerly Veolia Transport / First Transit) and Modivcare (formerly LogistiCare). Others are Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) and National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC). Emerging players are Uber Health and Lyft Healthcare.
Does OATS Transit have an API?
No public API is recorded for OATS Transit.
What industry is OATS Transit in?
OATS Transit's product category is Rural Public Transportation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAFAJAI, Community & Senior Transportation Shuttles (Dial-a-Ride, Non-ADA), with a secondary code of THAIAHAE, Senior & Assisted-Living Demand-Responsive Transport. Its NAICS code is 485991 and its SIC code is 4100.