First Student, Inc.

• Home-to-school transportation (full-service student transportation)

Contracted school bus operations that handle daily home-to-school and school-to-home routes for districts.

• Special needs transportation

Tailored transportation services, training and support for students with disabilities and other special transportation needs.

• Alternative transportation (non-yellow bus services)

Non-yellow bus options to meet unique student or route needs, such as smaller vehicles or alternative modes where appropriate.

• Non-contract services (à la carte)

Flexible, à la carte transportation solutions that supplement district-operated fleets or existing contracts.

• Charter bus and van rental

School buses and vans available for after-school activities, field trips, athletic events, and other group transportation needs.

Geography and scale

• Serves school districts across North America, including the United States and Canada.
• 530+ locations in two countries.
• More than 48,000 vehicles, including electric school buses.
• 4.8 million student journeys per day, totaling 865+ million annual student journeys (figures approximate as of June 30, 2026).
• 66,800 employees, including drivers, maintenance, safety and support staff.

Partnership approach

First Student works under long-term partnerships with school districts and other education partners, focusing on:

• Safety and operational excellence.
• Diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Environmental and social responsibility.
• Transparency, accountability and strong customer partnerships.
• Student experience and innovation.

Potential district partners, charter customers, and other organizations interested in student transportation solutions can reach out via the Partner with Us, Submit an RFP, Book a Bus, or Contact options on the First Student website.

From the main website navigation and contact pages:

• Partner with Us

For school districts and education partners interested in exploring a contracted student transportation partnership.

• Submit an RFP

For districts or organizations that wish to submit a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) for student transportation services.

• Book a Bus

For charter and event transportation needs such as after-school activities, field trips, and other group trips using school buses or vans.

• Contact Form

A general contact form for questions or inquiries that do not fit other specific options.

• Feedback portal

A community feedback portal that includes options such as reporting a lost item left on a bus.

• Media Relations

The Newsroom page provides a direct email address and phone contact for media inquiries.

Common customer questions (from website FAQs)

• Lost items on the bus

Families are directed to visit the feedback portal on the First Student website, select Lost Item, complete the required fields, and await follow-up from the local team.

• Tracking a child's bus location

Access to real-time or near real-time tracking via First View® depends on whether a school district is registered to use the service. Families should contact their school district to confirm availability.

• Hiring and job opportunities

Prospective employees are directed to the Careers page to search and apply for jobs.

• Bus rentals and charters

Event and field trip transportation can be arranged by using the Book a Bus or charter section of the website to request a quote and learn more.

How to reach the right team

Because First Student operates across many locations and contracts, contact methods and details can vary by district or region. Callers should be directed to:

• Use the Partner with Us, Submit an RFP, or Book a Bus options for district-level or organizational transportation needs.
• Use the Contact Form or Feedback portal for general, family, or community inquiries.
• Use the Newsroom contacts for press and media-related questions.

Specific phone numbers and email addresses may differ by location or department and are best obtained directly from the relevant pages or forms on the First Student website.

Typical roles at First Student include, but are not limited to:

• School bus drivers and van drivers.
• Mechanics and maintenance technicians.
• Dispatch, routing and operations staff.
• Safety and risk management roles.
• Corporate roles in areas such as technology, finance, human resources and more.

Working at First Student

From the website's description and materials:

• First Student provides paid driver training for new drivers.
• The company highlights competitive wages and benefits (specific amounts and plan details are not listed on the public pages used here).
• There is an emphasis on long-term career development, training, and advancement opportunities.
• Workplace awards recognize aspects such as being one of America's Best Workplaces for Women.

Finding and applying for jobs

• Interested candidates can visit the Careers section of the First Student website.
• Job seekers can search for positions by role and/or by state, city or ZIP code to see if openings are available in their area.

For up-to-date job openings, requirements, pay details, and benefit information, applicants should rely on the job postings and application portal on the official First Student website, as those details are not fully listed in the knowledge documents.

First Student emphasizes that it understands:

• Owners' deep connection to their communities.
• The personal and financial significance of selling or transitioning a business.
• The work and investment that has gone into building the company.

The goal is to provide an efficient, supportive process and a seamless transition for owners, employees and contracted customers.

Step-by-step M&A process

From the Mergers and Acquisitions page, the outlined process is:

1. Contact us

Business owners reach out to the First Student M&A team via phone or email to express interest and start a conversation.

2. Provide necessary information

First Student supplies a list of information required to build a valuation for the business.

3. Make the transition

First Student works with the owner to facilitate a turnkey transition, including transfer of contracts, integration planning, and continued business development.

4. Close acquisition

After closing, First Student collaborates with the owner, team members, and contracted customers to support a smooth handover and ongoing operations.

FAQs for prospective sellers

• What will happen to my team?

First Student states that it honors existing length of service for owners and team members who are hired, and that experienced bus drivers, mechanics, dispatch staff and safety team members are valuable to continued service. Employment decisions are made with a focus on maximizing customer service and student safety.

• What will happen to my school district's or consortium's service?

The M&A team and regional operators work with owners to support existing customer relationships and transfer or assign contracts to First Student with minimal hassle.

M&A contact

The M&A page provides a named contact for interested business owners, including a phone number and email address. For the most current details, prospective sellers should refer directly to the Mergers and Acquisitions page on the First Student website.

First Student emphasizes safety in all aspects of operations, including:

• Formal safety culture programs focused on practices, processes and technology.
• Dedicated Safety and Risk Management leadership roles.
• Recognition from organizations such as the National Safety Council's Green Cross and other industry awards.

Driver and staff training

• Comprehensive driver training programs designed to prepare drivers for safe student transportation and ongoing professional development.
• Training for supporting roles such as maintenance, dispatch and safety staff.
• First Serves® student support training program, focused on helping drivers and staff support students' diverse needs and create a welcoming, trusted bus environment.

Technology platform: HALO™

• HALO™ is First Student's proprietary technology platform that supports safer, smarter and more connected student transportation.
• HALO integrates tools for routing, safety, maintenance, operational visibility and communication with districts and families.

First View® (powered by HALO)

• First View® is a vehicle tracking app that allows registered districts, parents and caregivers to track school buses and certain alternative transportation in near real time.
• Access to First View depends on whether a school district is registered to use the service.
• Families should check with their school district to see if First View is available in their area or consult the First View information on the First Student website.

Electrification and sustainability

First Student invests in fleet electrification and sustainable practices, including:

• Deployment of electric school buses as part of its fleet.
• First Charge™, an above-ground, containerized charging infrastructure solution to support electric bus deployment.
• Recognition through multiple awards for electrification, sustainability and innovative mobility solutions.

For questions about safety, training, technology or electrification offerings for a specific district or location, customers should contact First Student directly through the website's Contact or Partner with Us options.

Ask anyway — the agent will say plainly that it is not published rather than guess.