First Student
Encyclopedia
First Student, a division of FirstGroup America, is a brand used by the British
transport company FirstGroup for student transport
in the United States. According to the company's website, it is the largest provider of school bus services
in the United States. The company operates out of 650 locations in 42 US states and eight Canadian provinces.
With a workforce of 67,500 employees and a fleet of over 60,000 vehicles, First Student transports approximately 6 million students daily. The company bus fleet drives over 600 million miles every year. First Student is the first school bus operator to integrate Zonar, an electronic fleet-management software
program, into its fleet.
. During the next decade, the company expanded through the acquisition of other school bus contractors. By 2007, FirstGroup had built First Student into one of the largest school bus contractors in the United States. That year, the company acquired Laidlaw
in a merger, taking over its school transportation operations. The First Student brand has since been expanded into the United Kingdom, where First Student UK provides new pupil transportation services. One bus has toured the country on trials.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
transport company FirstGroup for student transport
Student transport
Student transport is the transporting of children and teenagers to and from schools and school events. School transport can be undertaken by school students themselves , they may be accompanied by family members or caregivers, or the transport may be organised collectively, using buses or...
in the United States. According to the company's website, it is the largest provider of school bus services
School bus contractor
A school bus contractor is a private company or proprietorship that provides student transport services to a school district or non-public school. Of the 450,000 school buses operating in the United States, it is estimated that approximately 39% are operated by school bus contractors...
in the United States. The company operates out of 650 locations in 42 US states and eight Canadian provinces.
With a workforce of 67,500 employees and a fleet of over 60,000 vehicles, First Student transports approximately 6 million students daily. The company bus fleet drives over 600 million miles every year. First Student is the first school bus operator to integrate Zonar, an electronic fleet-management software
Fleet management
Fleet management is the management of a company's vehicle fleet.Fleet management includes commercial motor vehicles such as cars, vans and trucks. Fleet management can include a range of functions, such as vehicle financing, vehicle maintenance, vehicle telematics , driver management, speed...
program, into its fleet.
Company history
First Student was created in 1999 when FirstGroup acquired the student transportation division of RyderRyder
Ryder System, Inc. , or Ryder, is an American-based provider of transportation and supply chain management products, and is especially known for its fleet of rental trucks. Ryder specializes in fleet management, supply chain management and dedicated contracted carriage. Ryder operates in North...
. During the next decade, the company expanded through the acquisition of other school bus contractors. By 2007, FirstGroup had built First Student into one of the largest school bus contractors in the United States. That year, the company acquired Laidlaw
Laidlaw
Laidlaw, organized as Laidlaw International, Inc. , was a predecessor corporation of First Student , a US subsidiary of the Scottish transport firm FirstGroup plc...
in a merger, taking over its school transportation operations. The First Student brand has since been expanded into the United Kingdom, where First Student UK provides new pupil transportation services. One bus has toured the country on trials.
See also
- First Student CanadaFirst Student CanadaFirst Student Canada, a subsidiary of the British company FirstGroup and a division of FirstGroup America, is a major contractor of school bus services and public transit systems. The company provides services in Canada comparable to those delivered by sister companies First Transit and First...
- First Student UKFirst Student UKFirst Student UK is the brand used by FirstGroup for student transport in the United Kingdom. The brand was originally used in the United States for school transport there, and was expanded to the United Kingdom in 2000....
- LaidlawLaidlawLaidlaw, organized as Laidlaw International, Inc. , was a predecessor corporation of First Student , a US subsidiary of the Scottish transport firm FirstGroup plc...
- FirstGroup