Notice2026-07482
Van Pool Transportation LLC and AG Van Pool Holdings, LP-Acquisition of Control-Specialty Transportation, Inc.
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Published
April 17, 2026
Effective
June 2, 2026
Issuing agencies
Surface Transportation Board
Abstract
On March 18, 2026, Van Pool Transportation LLC (Van Pool) and AG Van Pool Holdings, LP (AG Holdings) (collectively, Applicants), both noncarriers, filed an application to acquire control of an interstate passenger motor carrier, Specialty Transportation, Inc. (Specialty), from its sole shareholder, Bennett Grossman (Seller). The Board is tentatively approving and authorizing the proposed acquisition of control. If no opposing comments are timely filed, this notice will be the final Board action.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 74 (Friday, April 17, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 74 (Friday, April 17, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20772-20775]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-07482]
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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD
[Docket No. MCF 21146]
Van Pool Transportation LLC and AG Van Pool Holdings, LP--
Acquisition of Control--Specialty Transportation, Inc.
AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.
ACTION: Notice Tentatively Approving and Authorizing Finance
Transaction.
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SUMMARY: On March 18, 2026, Van Pool Transportation LLC (Van Pool) and
AG Van Pool Holdings, LP (AG Holdings) (collectively, Applicants), both
noncarriers, filed an application to acquire control of an interstate
passenger motor carrier, Specialty Transportation, Inc. (Specialty),
from its sole shareholder, Bennett Grossman (Seller). The Board is
tentatively approving and authorizing the proposed acquisition of
control. If no opposing comments are timely filed, this notice will be
the final Board action.
DATES: Comments must be filed by June 1, 2026. If any comments are
filed, Applicants may file a reply by June 16, 2026. If no opposing
comments are filed by June 1, 2026, this notice shall be effective on
June 2, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Comments, referring to Docket No. MCF 21146, may be filed
with the Board either via e-filing on the Board's website or in writing
addressed to: Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street SW,
Washington, DC 20423-0001. In addition, send one copy of comments to
Applicants' representative: Kiefer A. Light, Beacon Mobility Corp.,
3700 Embassy Parkway, Suite 500, Akron, OH 44333.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah Fancher at (202) 915-8445. If
you require an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act,
please call (202) 245-0245.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: According to the application, Van Pool is a
Delaware limited liability company indirectly controlled by AG Holdings
through intermediary holding companies.\1\ (Appl. 2-4.) Neither Van
[[Page 20773]]
Pool nor AG Holdings is a federally regulated carrier. (Id.) However,
Van Pool directly owns and controls all equity and voting interest in
23 interstate passenger motor carriers (the Affiliated Carriers).\2\
(Id. at 2-3.) The Affiliated Carriers are: \3\
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\1\ Specifically, Applicants state that Van Pool is wholly owned
by VP Intermediate Company (VP Intermediate), a Delaware corporation
and noncarrier holding company, and that VP Intermediate is wholly
owned by Beacon Mobility Corp. (Beacon Mobility), a Delaware
corporation and noncarrier holding company. (Appl. 14.) Beacon
Mobility is wholly owned by Beacon Mobility Intermediate Corp.
(Beacon Intermediate), a Delaware corporation and noncarrier holding
company. (Id.) Beacon Intermediate is wholly owned by Beacon
Mobility Preferred Issuer, LLC (Beacon Preferred), a Delaware
limited liability company and noncarrier holding company, and Beacon
Preferred is wholly owned by Van Pool Group Holdings, L.P. (Group
Holdings), a Delaware limited partnership and noncarrier holding
company. (Id. at 14-15.) Group Holdings is majority-owned and
controlled by AG Holdings, a Delaware limited partnership and
noncarrier holding company. (Id. at 15.) AG Holdings is owned by
investment funds affiliated with Audax Management Company, LLC (the
Audax Funds), a Delaware limited liability company. (Id.) According
to Applicants, none of these entities has interstate passenger motor
carrier authority, a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)
number, or a USDOT safety rating, and none of the entities control
any regulated interstate passenger carriers other than as set forth
in the application. (Id.)
\2\ On December 12, 2025, the Board published notice tentatively
approving Applicants' acquisition of control of Lavdas Enterprises,
Inc., d/b/a Lavdas Limousines, Inc. (Lavdas) (90 FR 57803). See Van
Pool Transp. LLC--Acquis. of Control--Lavdas Enters., Inc., MCF
21140 (STB served Dec. 12, 2025). However, Applicants state that
they and Lavdas ultimately did not consummate the transaction.
(Appl. 3 n.2.) Accordingly, Lavdas is not among the Affiliated
Carriers. (Id.)
Additionally, on December 23, 2025, the Board published notice
tentatively approving an application by Applicants to continue in
control of two of Applicants' subsidiaries--Rolling V Bus Corp.
(Rolling V) and STS of New Mexico, LLC (STS)--upon Rolling V and STS
becoming federally regulated passenger motor carriers (90 FR
60,223). See Van Pool Transp. LLC--Continuance in Control--Rolling V
Bus Corp., MCF 21141 (STB served Dec. 23, 2025). Applicants note,
however, that STS has not yet applied for interstate authority since
approval was granted but is expected to apply in the near future.
(Appl. 3 n.2.) Accordingly, STS is not currently among the
Affiliated Carriers.
\3\ Additional information about these motor carriers, including
principal place of business, USDOT numbers, motor carrier numbers,
USDOT safety ratings, fleet composition, and driver count, can be
found in the application. (See Appl., Ex. A.)
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<bullet> NRT Bus, Inc., which primarily provides non-regulated
student transportation services for schools in Massachusetts (Essex,
Middlesex, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Worcester Counties), and occasional
charter services, (id. at 4);
<bullet> Trombly Motor Coach Service, Inc., which primarily
provides non-regulated student transportation services for schools in
Massachusetts (Essex and Middlesex Counties), and occasional charter
services, (id. at 4-5);
<bullet> Salter Transportation, Inc., which primarily provides non-
regulated student transportation services for schools in Massachusetts
(Essex County) and New Hampshire, and occasional charter services, (id.
at 5);
<bullet> Easton Coach Company, LLC, which provides (i) intrastate
paratransit, shuttle, and line-run services under contracts with
regional transportation authorities and other organizations, primarily
in New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania, and (ii) private intrastate and
interstate charter motor coach and shuttle services, primarily in
eastern Pennsylvania, (id.);
<bullet> F. M. Kuzmeskus, Inc., d/b/a Travel Kuz, which provides
(i) non-regulated school bus transportation services, (ii) intrastate
and interstate motor coach and limousine charter services, and (iii)
limited intrastate and interstate charter services using school buses,
all in western Massachusetts and southern Vermont, (id. at 5-6);
<bullet> Alltown Bus Service Inc. (Alltown), which primarily
provides non-regulated student transportation services for schools in
the metropolitan area of Chicago, Ill., and its northern suburbs.
Alltown also provides occasional charter services, (id. at 6);
<bullet> DS Bus Lines, Inc., which primarily provides (i) non-
regulated student transportation services for schools in Kansas
(Beloit, Kansas City, Lincoln, Olathe, and Shawnee), Missouri (Belton
and Smithville), Colorado (the metropolitan area of Denver), and
Oklahoma (the metropolitan area of Tulsa), (ii) intrastate employee
shuttle services in Colorado and Texas, and (iii) occasional charter
services, (id. at 6-7);
<bullet> Royal Coach Lines, Inc., which primarily provides (i) non-
regulated student transportation services for schools in the
metropolitan area of Westchester County, N.Y., and southern Connecticut
and (ii) contract and charter transportation services in the same areas
for activities such as summer camps, events, and group trips, (id. at
7);
<bullet> Local Motion, LLC, which provides non-regulated school
bus, charter, and shuttle services in the metropolitan area of Boston,
Mass., (id.);
<bullet> Butler's Bus Service, Inc. (BBS), which primarily provides
non-regulated student transportation services for schools in the New
Hampshire cities of Manchester, North Haverhill, Milford, and Center
Barnstead, and the Vermont cities of Orleans, Lyndonville, and White
River Junction. BBS also provides occasional charter services, (id. at
7-8);
<bullet> TransAction Corporate Shuttles, Inc., which provides
shuttle, on-demand transportation, and charter services in
Massachusetts, (id. at 8);
<bullet> Dell Transportation Corp. (Dell), which primarily provides
non-regulated student transportation for schools, and occasional
charter services. The geographic service area of Dell is primarily the
towns of Hempstead, N.Y., Port Washington, N.Y., and Great Neck, N.Y.,
(id.);
<bullet> Hendrickson Bus Corporation (Hendrickson), which primarily
provides non-regulated student transportation for schools, and charter
transportation for school-related extracurricular activities such as
athletic events, field trips, and other school-sponsored functions. The
geographic service area of Hendrickson is primarily Bayville, N.Y., and
Port Washington, N.Y., (id. at 8-9);
<bullet> Huntington Coach Corporation (Huntington Corp.), which
provides primarily non-regulated student transportation for schools,
and charter transportation for school-related extracurricular
activities such as athletic events, field trips, and other school-
sponsored functions. The geographic service area that Huntington Corp.
serves is primarily Northport, N.Y., and Huntington Station, N.Y., (id.
at 9);
<bullet> Huntington Coach, LLC (Huntington LLC), which primarily
provides non-regulated student transportation for schools, and charter
transportation for school-related extracurricular activities such as
athletic events, field trips, and other school-sponsored functions. The
geographic service area of Huntington LLC is primarily Huntington
Station, N.Y., (id.);
<bullet> Towne Bus Corp. (Towne Corp.), which primarily provides
non-regulated student transportation for schools, and charter
transportation for school-related extracurricular activities such as
athletic events, field trips, and other school-sponsored functions. The
geographic service area of Towne Corp. is primarily Long Island, N.Y.,
(id. at 9-10);
<bullet> Towne Bus LLC (Towne LLC), which primarily provides non-
regulated student transportation for schools, and transportation for
school-related extracurricular activities such as athletic events,
field trips, and other school-sponsored functions. The geographic
service area of Towne LLC is primarily Long Island, N.Y., (id. at 10);
<bullet> Van Trans LLC (Van Trans), which primarily provides non-
regulated student transportation for schools, and transportation for
school-related extracurricular activities such as athletic events,
field trips, and other school-sponsored functions. The geographic
service area of Van Trans is primarily Bronx, N.Y., (id.);
<bullet> WE Transport (NY) LLC (WE NY), which primarily provides
non-regulated student transportation for schools, and transportation
for school-related extracurricular activities such as athletic events,
field trips, and other school-sponsored functions. The geographic
[[Page 20774]]
service area of WE NY is primarily Long Island, N.Y., (id. at 10-11);
<bullet> WE Transport LLC (Connecticut) (WE CT), which primarily
provides non-regulated student transportation for schools, and
transportation for school-related extracurricular activities such as
athletic events, field trips, and other school-sponsored functions. The
geographic service area of WE CT is primarily Bridgeport, Conn., (id.
at 11);
<bullet> WE Transport, Inc. (WE Transport), which primarily
provides non-regulated student transportation for schools, and
transportation for school-related extracurricular activities such as
athletic events, field trips, and other school-sponsored functions. The
geographic service area of WE Transport is primarily Long Island, N.Y.,
(id.);
<bullet> George M. Carroll Transportation, Inc., d/b/a George M.
Carroll Inc. (GMCT), which primarily provides regular home-to-school
transportation services, with a focus on special needs students, and
charter services that primarily involve transportation to and from
school-related extracurricular activities such as athletic events,
field trips, and other school-sponsored functions. GMCT also provides
occasional non-school-related charter services for special occasions
such as weddings, wine tours, proms, sporting events, and airport
trips. The geographic service area of GMCT is primarily within Orange
County, N.Y., (id. at 11-12); and
<bullet> Rolling V Bus Corp., which primarily provides non-
regulated student transportation for schools, and charter
transportation for school-related extracurricular activities such as
athletic events, field trips, and other school-sponsored functions. The
geographic service area of Rolling V is primarily within New York
(Sullivan, Ulster, and Delaware Counties), (id. at 12).
In the present application, Applicants seek Board approval to
acquire control of Specialty from Seller. Specialty is a Connecticut
corporation with its principal place of business in Hartford, Conn.
(Id.) Specialty operates as a motor carrier, with a core service area
within Hartford County, Conn., particularly the Connecticut towns of
West Hartford, Avon, and Farmington, as well as the Connecticut towns
of Guilford and Wallingford surrounding Hartford County. (Id. at 13.)
On rare occasions Specialty's charter operations extend beyond this
core area to include interstate service into New York and
Massachusetts. (Id.) According to the application, Specialty primarily
provides home-to-school and charter student transportation services to
and from extracurricular activities such as athletic events, field
trips, and other school-sponsored functions. (Id. at 12-13.) Specialty
also provides luxury charter bus services for activities such as scenic
tours, corporate retreats, and weddings. (Id.) Specialty's fleet
consists of approximately 13 school buses (1-8 passengers), 173 school
buses (16+ passengers), 110 mini-buses (16+ passengers), 166 vans (1-8
passengers), and 55 vans (9-15 passengers). (Id.) Applicants also
provide additional details regarding Specialty's principal place of
business, USDOT number, FMCSA docket number, fleet composition, and
driver count. (Id., Ex. A.)
Under 49 U.S.C. 14303(b), the Board must approve and authorize a
transaction that it finds consistent with the public interest, taking
into consideration at least (1) the effect of the proposed transaction
on the adequacy of transportation to the public, (2) the total fixed
charges resulting from the proposed transaction, and (3) the interest
of affected carrier employees. Applicants have submitted the
information required by 49 CFR 1182.2, including information
demonstrating that the proposed transaction is consistent with the
public interest under 49 U.S.C. 14303(b), see 49 CFR 1182.2(a)(7), and
a jurisdictional statement under 49 U.S.C. 14303(g) that the aggregate
gross operating revenues of the involved carriers exceeded $2 million
during a consecutive 12-month period ending not more than six months
before the date of the agreement of the parties, see 49 CFR
1182.2(a)(5). (Appl. 15-20.)
Applicants do not expect the proposed acquisition of control to
have a material, detrimental impact on the adequacy of transportation
services available to the public. (Id. at 16.) According to Applicants,
services available to the public will be improved as operating
efficiencies are realized and additional services and capacity are made
available. (Id.) Applicants add that their acquisition of control of
Specialty is consistent with the practices within the passenger motor
carrier industry of strong, well-managed transportation organizations
adapting their corporate structure to operate several different
passenger carriers within similar service markets, but in different
geographic areas. (Id. at 15-16.) Applicants expect the transaction to
result in improved operating efficiencies, increased equipment
utilization rates, and cost savings derived from economies of scale
within Applicants' subsidiaries, all of which will help to ensure the
provision of adequate service to the public. (Id. at 17.)
According to Applicants, demand for school bus transportation and
charter services in the areas served by Specialty is strong and is
expected to increase in the foreseeable future. (Id. at 19.) Applicants
assert that the markets that Specialty serves are very competitive due
to the significant number of national, regional, and local providers
operating in those markets. (Id.) Applicants state that providers
competing with Specialty include, but are not limited to, First
Student, DATTCO, M&J, Autumn Transportation, Durham School Services,
and Student Transportation of America. (Id.) Applicants also state that
Specialty's service area is geographically dispersed from service areas
of Applicants' Affiliated Carriers and that there is very limited
overlap in customer bases as between the Affiliated Carriers and
Specialty. (Id.) In light of the highly competitive nature of
Specialty's operating environment and the limited intersection between
its operations and those of the Affiliated Carriers, Applicants argue
that the impact of the transaction on the regulated motor carrier
industry will be minimal at most, and neither competition nor the
public interest will be adversely affected. (Id. at 19-20.)
Applicants concede that the proposed transaction will increase
fixed charges in the form of higher interest expenses, explaining that
funds will be borrowed to finance the transaction. (Id. at 17.)
Applicants state that the increase in fixed charges will not affect the
provision of transportation to the public. (Id.)
Additionally, Applicants do not expect the transaction to have a
substantial impact on employees or labor conditions because they intend
to continue Specialty's existing operations. (Id. at 17-18.) Applicants
do not anticipate a measurable increase or reduction in Specialty's
workforce but acknowledge that staffing redundancies may result in
limited downsizing of back-office or managerial-level personnel. (Id.
at 18.) Applicants do not expect the transaction to result in changes
in compensation levels or benefits. (Id.)
Based on their representations, the Board finds that Applicants'
acquisition of control of Specialty is consistent with the public
interest. The application will be tentatively approved and authorized.
If any opposing comments are timely filed, these findings will be
deemed vacated, and, unless a final decision can be made on the record
as developed, a procedural schedule will be adopted to
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reconsider the application. See 49 CFR 1182.6. If no opposing comments
are filed by the expiration of the comment period, this notice will
take effect automatically and will be the final Board action in this
proceeding.
This action is categorically excluded from environmental review
under 49 CFR 1105.6(c).
Board decisions and notices are available at <a href="http://www.stb.gov">www.stb.gov</a>.
It is ordered:
1. The transaction is approved and authorized, subject to the
filing of opposing comments.
2. If opposing comments are timely filed, the findings made in this
notice will be deemed vacated.
3. This notice will be effective on June 2, 2026, unless opposing
comments are filed by June 1, 2026. If any comments are filed,
Applicants may file a reply by June 16, 2026.
4. A copy of this notice will be served on: (1) the U.S. Department
of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590; (2) the U.S. Department of
Justice, Antitrust Division, 10th Street & Pennsylvania Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20530; and (3) the U.S. Department of Transportation,
Office of the General Counsel, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington,
DC 20590.
By the Board, Board Members Fuchs, Hedlund, and Schultz.
Decided: April 10, 2026.
Jeffrey Herzig,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2026-07482 Filed 4-16-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on April 17, 2026.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.