What Aries Charter Transportation does

Aries Charter Transportation, Inc. is a family-owned ground transportation company founded in 1989 by Ralph Trevino and headquartered in the Chicagoland area (Naperville and Chicago, Illinois). The company operates a fleet of over 60 vehicles spanning motor coaches, minibuses (24/29/39-passenger), 34-passenger trolleys, sprinter vans, sedans, SUVs, and limousines, serving groups of 2 to 200+ passengers within a 500-mile radius of Chicago across Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Its service portfolio covers weddings, corporate events, school field trips, sports team travel, conventions, airport transfers, holiday events, and private tours operated through its Gray Line Chicago division.

The business runs a sales-led, quote-based go-to-market model with direct customer acquisition through phone, online quote forms, and wedding platform listings (The Knot, WeddingWire). Pricing is variable by vehicle type, duration, and distance, with a 5-hour minimum on motor coaches, 3-hour minimum on minibuses, a 50% deposit at booking, and balance due 14 days prior to service. The company holds MBE certification with both the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago, BBB accreditation, and DOT-certified, drug-tested chauffeurs with an average of 10+ years of industry experience. Management team collectively offers 70+ years of experience, and the second generation (Nick and Sam Trevino) holds key leadership roles, signaling family-driven operational continuity rather than institutional or venture-backed growth.

Name

Aries Charter Transportation

Legal name

Aries Charter Transportation, Inc.

Website

https://ariescharter.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Aries Charter Transportation is a family-owned charter bus and ground transportation company operating 60+ vehicles across the Chicagoland area and Midwest, serving weddings, corporate events, schools, sports teams, conventions, and airport transfers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charter Bus and Ground Transportation Services

NAICS

Charter Bus Industry (48551)

SIC

Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100)

akta.pro primary industry

Coach & Bus Charter Fleet Rental (With/Without Driver) (TLABADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate & Employee Shuttle Charters (THAIAIAC), Long-Distance/Overnight Charter Coaches (THAIAIAL)

Keywords

• Charter bus rentals
• Group transportation services
• Motor coach rental
• Corporate shuttle services
• Wedding transportation

Headquarters

HQ city

Naperville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Charter Bus and Vehicle Rentals: Hourly and daily rental of motor coaches, minibuses, trolleys, sprinter vans, sedans, SUVs, and limousines for group transportation. Minimum booking times apply: 5-hour minimum for motor coaches, 3-hour minimum for minibuses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Aries Charter Transportation provides charter bus and ground transportation services in the Chicagoland area using a fleet of 60+ vehicles including motor coaches, minibuses, trolleys, sprinter vans, sedans, SUVs, and limousines. The company sells hourly and daily rentals to groups of 2 to 200+ passengers for weddings, corporate events, school field trips, sports teams, conventions, airport transfers, and private tours, with operations extending across Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin within a 500-mile radius of Chicago.

Product overview

Aries Charter Transportation is a family-owned ground transportation company operating a modern fleet of over 60 vehicles serving the Chicagoland area within a 500-mile radius. The company offers a diverse portfolio of vehicle rental services centered around five core vehicle types: Motor Coaches (56-passenger), Minibuses (24/29/39-passenger), Trolleys (34-passenger vintage-style), and premium vehicles including Sprinter Vans, Sedans, SUVs, and Limousines. The fleet is complemented by service offerings including private tours operated through Gray Line Chicago, holiday lights tours, and specialized transportation for weddings, corporate events, school trips, airport transfers, conventions, sports teams, and general group transportation. The company positions itself as a full-service transportation provider capable of moving groups of 2 to 200+ passengers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 56 Passenger Motor Coach Rental Full-size 56-passenger motor coach bus rental with reclining seats, arm and foot rests, entertainment system, and amenities for large groups traveling within a 500-mile radius of Chicago.
• Minibus Rentals (24, 29, 39 Passenger) Mid-size minibus rentals available in 24, 29, and 39 passenger configurations for employee shuttles, weddings, meetings, airport transfers, and corporate events.
• 34 Passenger Trolley Rental Vintage-style 34-passenger trolley rental featuring classic wood seating and brass railings, popular for weddings, special occasions, corporate events, and holiday tours.
• Sprinter Van Rental Luxury sprinter van rental for small groups, night outings, and executive transportation.
• Sedan Service Executive sedan transportation for individual or small group travel, airport transfers, and private car service.
• SUV Transportation Luxury SUV service for small groups requiring spacious and comfortable ground transportation.
• Limousine Service Premium stretch limousine rental for weddings, corporate events, and special occasions.
• Transit Bus Rental Large-capacity transit bus rental for significant group transportation needs.
• Wedding Transportation Comprehensive wedding transportation service using vintage trolleys, luxury coaches, minibuses, sprinter vans, sedans, SUVs, and limousines for bridal parties, guests, rehearsal dinners, and airport transfers. Recognized vendor on The Knot and WeddingWire.
• Corporate Transportation Professional transportation services for corporate events, employee shuttles, meetings, conventions, and executive travel including McCormick Place coach buses.
• School Transportation DOT-certified transportation services for school field trips, educational outings, proms, and student group travel.
• Airport Transfers Ground transportation for airport arrivals and departures serving Chicago area airports with sedans, SUVs, and larger vehicles.
• Convention Transportation Specialized transportation for convention attendees including McCormick Place and other Chicago convention venues with multi-vehicle coordination.
• Team Transportation Sports team transportation for team travel to games, tournaments, and athletic events with vehicles accommodating full team rosters.
• Group Transportation Comprehensive group transportation services for various occasions including sporting events, school dances, meetings, and employee shuttles.
• Private Tours of Chicago Fully customizable private tour service through the Gray Line Chicago division featuring professional licensed tour guides, private chauffeurs, and flexible itineraries for exploring Chicago neighborhoods, history, architecture, parks, and attractions.
• Holiday Lights Tours Private seasonal trolley and bus tours showcasing holiday light displays throughout Chicago and surrounding areas, with customizable routes and stops.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96 customer reviews with 4.2 star rating on Google

Named customers5 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Trailways Transportation SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of the Trailways network, a national motorcoach system founded in 1936, providing scheduled route and charter transportation services with industry-leading standards.
• ABA (American Bus Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of American Bus Association, the leading trade organization for the motorcoach industry providing advocacy and industry standards.
• SYTA (Student Youth Travel Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of SYTA, the premier trade organization serving student and youth travel professionals.
• MPI Chicago Area Chapter (Meeting Planners International)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive member supporting meeting and event planning professionals in the Chicago area.
• Choose ChicagocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner of Chicago's tourism marketing organization, listed as approved vendor for convention and tourism transportation.
• NACC (North American Cruise/Catering)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember supporting cruise and catering industry events in North America.
• ILEA (International Live Events Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember supporting live event professionals and vendors in the Chicago area.
• Illinois Limousine Association (ILLBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive member of state association for limousine and charter transportation providers.
• United Motorcoach AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember providing advocacy and support for motorcoach operators.
• Naperville Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal chamber membership supporting business community engagement in Naperville area.
• Rosemont Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal chamber membership supporting business community in Rosemont area.
• Bolingbrook Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal chamber membership supporting business community in Bolingbrook area.
• Elmhurst Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal chamber membership supporting business community in Elmhurst area.
• Chicago Convention & Tourism BureaucoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner for convention and tourism transportation services in Chicago.
• Chicago North Shore Convention Visitors BureauminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional tourism partnership serving the north shore Chicago area.
• National Association for Catering Executives (NACE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember supporting catering and event professionals with education and networking.
• Gray Line ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAries Charter operates Gray Line Chicago tour division providing private tours and sightseeing services.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Academy Bus: A Northeast U.S. charter, commuter, and corporate shuttle operator with motorcoach and minibus fleets. Comparable product offering (charter with driver, corporate events, school trips) but different geography.
• Arrow Stage Lines: A Midwest-based motorcoach charter and tour operator with similar fleet composition (motorcoaches, minibuses, executive coaches). Competes head-to-head with Aries for school, sports, and corporate charter work in the Midwest.
• Windstar Lines: A Midwest motorcoach charter operator serving group, school, sports, and corporate customers. Closely comparable fleet, service area, and use-case mix to Aries, focused on Midwest regional markets.
• Concord Coach Lines: Northeast-based motorcoach operator combining scheduled intercity service with charter and group travel. Overlaps with Aries on the charter/group side (weddings, schools, corporate) but serves a different region.
• Lux Bus America: A West Coast motorcoach charter operator offering premium and standard coaches for weddings, corporate events, schools, and sports. Mirrors Aries' product mix, pricing model, and target customer segments.
• Peoria Charter Coach Company: An Illinois-based charter bus operator offering motorcoach and minibus rental across the Midwest. Operates the same way Aries does (charter bus with driver, quote-based pricing) and overlaps in Illinois and Midwest service territory.

Direct peers

• Vonlane: A premium door-to-door motorcoach service running between major U.S. cities. Same chassis-style fleet and driver-included charter model; targets corporate and upscale leisure travelers who might otherwise book Aries for premium group events.
• Burlington Trailways: Aries is a member of the same Trailways network as Burlington Trailways. Both operate motorcoach charter and scheduled services across the Midwest with comparable fleet, pricing, and customer mix (charter groups, schools, sports, corporate).
• GoGoCharter: An online marketplace aggregating charter bus operators across the U.S., letting customers compare and book coaches digitally. Operates in the same charter bus category as Aries and shifts demand toward digital-first booking channels.

Broad incumbents

• Coach USA: One of the largest motorcoach and charter bus operators in North America, with multiple regional brands offering charter, corporate shuttle, and scheduled service. Overlaps with Aries on corporate events, school trips, and charter group service, but at far greater scale and geographic breadth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Aries_Charter
• Facebookfacebook.com/arieschartertransportation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/2655383

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Aries Charter Transportation