HASTINGS, Minn. — Minnesota Coaches, a leading provider of school bus and motorcoach transportation, has acquired Spanier Bus Service Inc., a family-owned school bus company with nearly 70 years of service to the St. Cloud, Minnesota, community and school district.
The acquisition expands Minnesota Coaches’ school transportation presence in Minnesota and Wisconsin, providing a stable foundation for Spanier to continue serving the 250-square-mile St. Cloud Area School District.
“We appreciate the trust of the school district and the Spanier team as we begin the next chapter of Spanier Bus Service,” said Garrett Regan, vice president of corporate development for Minnesota Coaches and a third-generation school transportation operator. “We are honored to help owners find their path to retirement while continuing their legacy in the bus industry. This commitment extends to supporting the hardworking teammates who care deeply for these students, so they can continue providing exceptionally safe service.”
Spanier’s team of drivers, mechanics, and office staff will remain in place. The company will continue at its current location under the Spanier Bus Service name, while Minnesota Coaches will provide back-office administrative support.
Passing down a legacy
The company has been owned and operated for the past 45 years by Tami Spanier, whose family founded the business in 1957. She is assisting with the transition and plans to continue helping occasionally as a driver.
“I’ve often said that the best part of my day has been behind the wheel of a school bus. I love being out with our kids,” Spanier said. “It was very important to me that I pass the torch to a company we can trust to serve our communities well, and Minnesota Coaches was a great choice. Our family legacy, and the students who depend on us every day, are in good hands.”
Minnesota Coaches acquires Spanier Bus, expanding school transportation across Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Founded by the Regan family in 1959, Minnesota Coaches serves more than 36,000 students at public, charter, and private schools across Minnesota and Wisconsin. The company and its affiliates employ nearly 1,500 team members and operate over 1,000 school buses and other vehicles from more than 20 locations across the Midwest. It has built several decades-long partnerships, with many customers relying on Minnesota Coaches and its affiliates for student transportation for more than 50 years.
“We appreciate the opportunity to serve the St. Cloud community and build on what the Spanier family created,” said Tom Nightingale, CEO of Minnesota Coaches. “Our focus is helping the local team do what they do best — safely serving the community for years to come.”
