Public School Bus Services in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)
New York, United States
Last Updated: July 2024
NAICS 48541Revenue
$13.5bn
Past 5-Year Growth
Profit
$XXX.Xm
Employees
203k
Businesses
8,715
Wages
$X.Xbn
Public School Bus Services in the US industry analysis
The industry provides transportation for students and faculty to and from school or other locations. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the majority of total funding for elementary and secondary schools is provided by states and local governments, which are required to keep a balanced budget. When this budget is tight, schools nationwide make hard choices, including consolidated bus routes. The industry struggled to adjust to school closures and remote class schedules caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As the pandemic spread globally and across the United States, many states enacted school closures, workforce cutting and budgetary constraints. In addition, the Russia-Ukraine conflict led to higher fuel costs, affecting school bus companies' operating costs and making bus services less affordable and particularly unstable for profit. Public School Bus Services industry revenue has contracted at a CAGR of 2.6% over the past five years. It is expected to total $13.5 billion in 2024 when revenue will fall by an estimated 3.4%.
Trends and Insights
- The challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic have been hard to overcome. School closures and remote classes significantly reduced the number of students who needed transportation.
- Public schools generate the majority of the industry’s revenue. Busing service is provided by the school district or local government, typically for students who reside beyond a specific distance from the school.
- Large metropolitan areas with high population densities have a large number of establishments. These areas attract bus services because of the high number of school-age children and proximity to schools.
- The industry is highly fragmented with a small number of large companies dominating the market. The top three major bus companies account for over one-third of industry revenue.
Industry Overview
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 2.6 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $13.5bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
The COVID-19 pandemic and budgetary constraints led to a drop in revenue
- School closures and remote classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic led to a decrease in the number of students who needed transportation. Industry revenue declined as contracts were re-negotiated and bus services suspended.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Improving macroeconomic conditions will boost revenue
- States provide almost half of total elementary and secondary school funding and receive most of their funding from a combination of income and sales tax revenue. Tax receipts will rise as macroeconomic conditions, including per capita disposable income and unemployment levels, improve.
Biggest companies in the Public School Bus Services in the US
| Company | Market Share (%)
2024 | Revenue ($m)
2024 | Profit ($m)
2024 | Profit Margin (%)
2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Firstgroup Plc | 2,180.4 | 183.0 | 8.4 | |
National Express Group Plc | 1,331.1 | 76.0 | 5.7 | |
Student Transportation Inc. | 534.7 | 19.5 | 3.6 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including School busing for public schools, Employee bus services and School busing for private schools. School busing for public schools is the largest segment of the Public School Bus Services in the US.
Trends and Insights
School busing for public schools is the industry's largest service
- A typical district consists of several schools, from prekindergarten and elementary to middle and high schools. The industry provides students with regularly scheduled transportation to and from their schools based on the negotiated terms of the contract with the school district.
- More insights available in the full report
Widen you competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- Taxi & Limousine Services in the US
- Bicycle Dealership and Repair in the US
Complementors
- Inland Water Transportation in the US
- Public Transportation in the US
- Scheduled and Charter Bus Services in the US
- Sightseeing Transportation in the US
International industries
- Urban Bus and Tramway Transport in Australia
- Bus Transport in New Zealand
- Bus & Tramway Operations in the UK
- Bus Transportation in China
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
This industry includes companies that primarily provide bus services to students in grades K-12 and school employees. School buses transport students to and from school, as well as between school events, field trips, camps and other educational events. Companies also provide transportation for school employees to and from work.
What's included in this industry?
Providing home-to-school bus transportation for studentsProviding bus transportation for extracurricular activitiesSchool busing for public schoolsSchool busing for private schoolsEmployee bus servicesCompanies
Firstgroup PlcNational Express Group PlcStudent Transportation Inc.Purchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
FLEET MANAGEMENT SOFTWAREOUTSOURCEPRIVATIZATIONIndustry Code
NAICS 48541 - Public School Bus Services in the US
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
The challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic have been hard to overcome. School closures and remote classes significantly reduced the number of students who needed transport...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Public schools generate the majority of the industry’s revenue. Busing service is provided by the school district or local government, typically for students who reside beyon...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2024
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2024
- Major market segmentation in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
Large metropolitan areas with high population densities have a large number of establishments. These areas attract bus services because of the high number of school-age child...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each state in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
The industry is highly fragmented with a small number of large companies dominating the market. The top three major bus companies account for over one-third of industry reven...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
The top four companies have a high market share. This was attained through strategic purchases and acquisitions of many prominent and local public bus companies.
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
- Overview of Firstgroup Plc's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of National Express Group Plc's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Student Transportation Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Firstgroup Plc, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for National Express Group Plc, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Student Transportation Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Companies operating in the industry are subject to various federal, state and local regulations and laws. Most requirements and legislative measures focus on passenger and dr...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
The industry is very labor-intensive. The most significant portion of the industry's cost is accounted for by wages paid to bus drivers and other employees.
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
- Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
- Income Statement (2017-2022)
- Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
- Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
- Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
- Leverage Ratios (2017-2022)
- Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
- Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Average Wage (2014-2029)
- Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
- Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2014-2029)
- IVA (2014-2029)
- Establishments (2014-2029)
- Enterprises (2014-2029)
- Employment (2014-2029)
- Exports (2014-2029)
- Imports (2014-2029)
- Wages (2014-2029)
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in the US include:
- US Census Bureau
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics
- US International Trade Commission
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Public School Bus Services in the US industry in United States in 2024?
The market size of the Public School Bus Services in the US industry in United States is $13.5bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Public School Bus Services in the US industry in 2024?
There are 8,715 businesses in the Public School Bus Services in the US industry in United States, which has declined at a CAGR of 2.4 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Public School Bus Services in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Public School Bus Services in the US industry in United States has been declining at a CAGR of 2.6 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Public School Bus Services in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Public School Bus Services in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Public School Bus Services in the US market in United States?
The biggest companies operating in the Public School Bus Services market in United States are Firstgroup Plc, National Express Group Plc and Student Transportation Inc.
What does the Public School Bus Services in the US in United States include?
Providing home-to-school bus transportation for students and Providing bus transportation for extracurricular activities are part of the Public School Bus Services in the US industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Public School Bus Services in the US in United States?
The company holding the most market share in United States is Firstgroup Plc.
How competitive is the Public School Bus Services in the US industry in United States?
The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Public School Bus Services in the US industry in United States.
