Dakota Transit Association

What Dakota Transit Association does

Dakota Transit Association (DTA) is a non-profit membership association founded in 1985 to serve as the unified voice for public transportation agencies in North and South Dakota at the national level. It is headquartered in Devils Lake, North Dakota, operates with 1–10 employees, and is governed by a Board of Directors composed of representatives from member transit agencies. DTA's product surface is service-oriented rather than technology-based: it delivers the PASS (Passenger Assistance Safety and Sensitivity) and Defensive Driver Training programs, an annual Fall Conference & Roadeo combining driver competitions with professional development, a monthly Tidbits newsletter, and a website that centralizes membership, resources, and event information.

Its business model is built on recurring annual membership dues paid by transit agencies and associate organizations (40+ members), supplemented by event registration fees, training program enrollment, and group purchasing benefits for insurance and equipment. DTA does not publicly disclose pricing, and revenue figures are not available. Its go-to-market is relationship-driven and sales-led, relying on direct outreach by the Executive Director, industry events, and referral pathways through state Departments of Transportation. Formal partnerships with the ND DOT, SD DOT, the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute at NDSU, the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA), and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) anchor its position as the regional coordinating body for public transit advocacy, training, and information exchange.

Name

Dakota Transit Association

Legal name

Dakota Transit Association

Website

https://dakotatransit.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Dakota Transit Association is a non-profit membership association founded in 1985 that serves as the unified voice for public transportation agencies in North and South Dakota, delivering training, conferences, advocacy, and group purchasing to ~40+ member agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Transit Association Services

NAICS

Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation (4852), Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113), Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation (485)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIALAB

Public Transit Agencies (Bus, Rail, Metro, Paratransit)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Transportation & Infrastructure Agencies (Roads, Transit, Public Works)

SECONDARYTLAFAGAG

Intermodal Public Transit Operators (Bus + Rail Integrated Agencies)

Transportation & Logistics/Passenger Transportation (Air, Rail, Bus, Taxi/Rideshare)/Public Transit Bus Operators (Municipal/Regional)

SECONDARYTHAIABAK

Urban Rail Accessibility & Passenger Assistance Services

Travel & Hospitality/Rail, Bus & Ground Passenger Transport/Urban & Suburban Rail Transit (Metro/Subway/Light Rail/Tram)

Keywords

• Public transit advocacy
• Transit training programs
• Transportation association membership
• Driver certification training
• Transit industry events

Headquarters

HQ city

Devils Lake

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: DTA generates revenue through annual membership dues from public transportation agencies and private organizations in North and South Dakota. Membership provides access to training programs, conferences, networking events, and group purchasing benefits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Dakota Transit Association is a nonprofit membership association that serves as the unified voice for public transportation agencies in North and South Dakota. It delivers its core value through annual membership dues from transit agencies and supporting organizations, providing advocacy at the national level, PASS and Defensive Driver certification training, an annual Fall Conference & Roadeo, and a monthly Tidbits newsletter. Members also gain access to comparative operational data, group purchasing benefits for insurance and equipment, and peer networking across the regional transit ecosystem.

Product overview

Dakota Transit Association operates as a membership-based nonprofit organization rather than a technology product company. Its core offerings include the DTA website as an information portal, PASS and Defensive Driver Training programs for transit professionals, the annual Fall Conference & Roadeo event, the Tidbits monthly newsletter, and a membership program providing access to training resources, networking, and group purchasing benefits for public transportation agencies in North and South Dakota.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DTA Membership Program Annual membership coalition for public transportation agencies and supporting organizations, providing access to training, conferences, peer networking, group purchasing benefits for insurance and equipment, and a collective voice in transit policy.
• PASS Training Program Professional passenger assistance, ADA compliance, and mobility equipment operation training program for transit drivers, with train-the-trainer certification available online through CTAA.
• Defensive Driver Training
• Fall Conference & Roadeo Annual professional development event combining a driver roadeo competition with educational conferences for transit professionals in North and South Dakota, including training sessions, vendor exhibits, and award nominations.
• Tidbits Newsletter Monthly member newsletter providing articles on transit events in North and South Dakota, FTA updates, and safety concerns.

Named customers10 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• North Dakota Department of TransportationcoreOthersAssociate member providing state-level support and regulatory coordination. ND DOT is a key stakeholder in the regional transit ecosystem, providing funding oversight and policy guidance for transit agencies in North Dakota.
• South Dakota Department of TransportationcoreOthersAssociate member providing state-level support and regulatory coordination. SD DOT serves as a key partner for transit agencies operating in South Dakota, similar to the ND DOT relationship.
• Upper Great Plains Transportation InstitutesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated at North Dakota State University (NDSU), UGPTI is an associate member providing research, education, and technical assistance for transportation issues in the Upper Great Plains region.
• Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA)supportingTechnology or IntegrationCTAA offers PASS – Train the Trainer certification 100% online. DTA coordinates with CTAA to provide professional driver training certification programs for member transit agencies.
• Federal Transit Administration (FTA)coreOthersDTA serves as a unified voice for member agencies at the national level before federal transportation authorities including the FTA. FTA funding programs (such as 5311b3 Rural Transportation Assistance Program) are referenced in DTA resources.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Nebraska Association of Transit Providers: Nonprofit membership association for Nebraska transit providers offering advocacy, training, and annual conference. Structurally comparable to DTA as a regional state-level transit association in a neighboring Great Plains state.
• Kansas Public Transit Association: Kansas-based association supporting public transit operators with legislative advocacy, training, and networking events. A comparable state-level membership association serving transit providers in a neighboring rural Midwestern state.
• Iowa Public Transit Association: Statewide nonprofit association representing Iowa's public transit systems with advocacy, training, and member services. Directly comparable to DTA in mission and operating model within an adjacent Midwest state.
• Wisconsin Urban and Rural Transit Association: Wisconsin-based membership association serving both urban and rural transit operators through training, advocacy, and conference programming. WURTA is a close functional peer to DTA operating in an adjacent Midwest state.
• Minnesota Public Transit Association (MPTA): State-level nonprofit membership association representing public transit providers in Minnesota. MPTA is a structurally analogous peer to DTA, performing advocacy, training, and convening for transit agencies in a single neighboring Midwest state.
• Montana Association of Transportation Providers: Statewide association representing Montana's rural and small urban transit providers through training, advocacy, and annual conferences. A structurally analogous regional peer to DTA in another rural Plains/Rockies state.

Broad incumbents

• American Public Transportation Association (APTA): The largest U.S. trade association for public transit, with a broad portfolio of advocacy, standards, and conferences spanning all modes. APTA overlaps with DTA's federal advocacy role but operates at a national scale across all transit modes, including much larger urban systems.

Others

• Federal Transit Administration (FTA): Federal agency within USDOT that administers transit grant programs (including Section 5311 and 5311b3 RTAP referenced by DTA). FTA is a key DTA partner and an adjacent stakeholder in the same transit ecosystem rather than a direct competitor.
• Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute (UGPTI): Research and education center at North Dakota State University that serves as a DTA associate member. UGPTI is a peer in the regional transit ecosystem, providing research, technical assistance, and workforce development that complements DTA's convening and training role.

Direct peers

• Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA): National nonprofit membership association for community and public transportation providers. CTAA is a direct peer to DTA, providing overlapping advocacy, training (including PASS), and member services at the national level, with which DTA coordinates closely.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCy7lCO1HcVieLfXvFCJGaRQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Dakota Transit Association