First Student Bus Company Overview
First Student is the largest student transportation provider in North America, operating a fleet of more than 44,000 school buses across the United States and Canada. The company, a subsidiary of FirstGroup plc, serves over 8,000 school districts and transports approximately 5.6 million students annually. Its headquarters are in Cincinnati, Ohio, and it manages routes, maintenance, and driver staffing for public and private school systems. First Student official operations page
As of the latest available public data, First Student holds the top position in the U.S. school bus contracting market by ridership and fleet count. It competes with other major contractors such as Durham School Services and Petermann Bus, but its scale and geographic coverage give it a dominant share. The company's revenue is reported in FirstGroup's annual financial statements, with student transportation representing the largest operating segment. Forbes school bus industry overview
First Student Bus Costs and Fleet Composition
The average cost of a new school bus used in First Student routes ranges from 100,000 to 150,000 dollars depending on size and fuel type. Diesel buses remain the majority of the fleet, but the company has been adding compressed natural gas and propane units to reduce emissions per route. First Student also leases and replaces buses on a rolling cycle, with typical service lives of 10 to 12 years before retirement. NHTSA school bus safety and cost data
First Student's total fleet includes Type A, Type C, and Type D buses, with Type C conventional buses forming the core of operations. Electric school buses are a growing segment, with First Student piloting and contracting battery-electric units from manufacturers such as Blue Bird and Lion Electric. The transition is driven by state incentives, federal funding programs, and long-term fuel savings, though electric buses still represent a small fraction of the total fleet today. EPA Clean School Bus Program
First Student Bus Ridership and Operational Metrics
First Student buses travel an estimated 5.5 billion miles each year across their contracted routes, making it one of the largest surface transportation operations in the world by mileage. The company employs more than 55,000 drivers and support staff, with rigorous training and background checks required for all personnel. Safety performance is tracked through incident rates, and the company publishes annual safety reports highlighting improvements in accident reduction and driver retention.
Ridership data shows that First Student transports roughly 10 percent of the U.S. K through 12 student population on any given school day. Contract terms typically span multiple years with school districts, and pricing is structured around per-mile or per-route fees rather than per-student charges. Operational efficiency is measured by route density, on-time performance, and fuel consumption per mile, with the company using telematics and routing software to optimize daily runs. BTS transportation statistics