Before highways crisscrossed the country, a young entrepreneur named A.J. Ferraro turned a truck into a bus and unknowingly set the wheels in motion for what would become a multi-generational family business.
More than a century after Ferraro’s innovation and 84 years after he officially founded Trans-Bridge Lines in 1941 with his son, John, and daughter, Camille, the company remains a pillar of the motorcoach industry.
Now in its fourth generation of leadership, the Bethlehem, Pennsylvania-based business continues to evolve while holding onto the resilience that has carried it through economic downturns, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and even a global pandemic.
“Over the years, the company has faced countless challenges that affected our ability to operate,” said Trans-Bridge Lines President Tom JeBran. “One thing has never changed—our resilience in facing challenges in creative and effective ways.”
Family ties prevail
of Trans-Bridge Lines; Lauren JeBran-Helgerson, Controller;
Camille JeBran, Corporate Secretary; Leslie JeBran-Cruz; and Jim JeBran, Executive Vice President and Treasurer.
Ferraro’s vision for a bus company took root in Washington, New Jersey, before expanding to Phillipsburg. When he passed away in 1977, his daughter Camille, along with her husband, James, and her brothers, Joe and John, took over the business. In 1981, Trans-Bridge Lines relocated to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where it remains headquartered today.
The company remains a family affair. In addition to Tom and Jim, the leadership team includes Janet JeBran, general manager of Trans-Bridge Tours; Lauren JeBran-Helgerson, controller; Camille JeBran, corporate secretary; and Leslie JeBran-Cruz, human resources coordinator.
Trans-Bridge Lines operates a fleet of 36 motorcoaches, primarily MCI J4500 models, with some MCI D4500 commuter buses and four Prevost executive coaches featuring 2-and-1 seating. The fleet, with an average age of six years, includes modern amenities such as tiered seating, outlets for electronic devices, Wi-Fi, window shades, individual reading lights, and air vents. All coaches are wheelchair accessible.
The company provides daily scheduled service to New York City, Newark Airport, Wind Creek Bethlehem Casino, and Manhattan Cruise Terminal, with departures from Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley and Bucks County, as well as northwest New Jersey.
Trans-Bridge also offers charter services for weddings, corporate groups, schools, sports teams, and organizations. Its affiliate, Trans-Bridge Tours, provides one-day and multi-day tours, casino trips, and air and cruise vacations.
The JeBran family has long been immersed in the operation, with Tom and his brother Jim growing up around the business and working in every department.
“The business has always been part of our everyday lives,” said Jim JeBran, now the company’s executive vice president and treasurer. “Tom and I did every job from washing buses to working in the shop and office. By 1981, we were both full-time employees.”
