Notice2026-08986
TBL Group, Inc.-Acquisition of Control-Chicago Classic Coach, LLC
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
May 7, 2026
Effective
June 23, 2026
Issuing agencies
Surface Transportation Board
Abstract
TBL Group, Inc. (TBL Group), a noncarrier holding company that controls multiple interstate motor passenger carriers, has filed an application to acquire the assets of Chicago Classic Coach, LLC (Classic), a federally regulated motor passenger carrier. The Board is tentatively approving and authorizing the transaction. 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 88 (Thursday, May 7, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 88 (Thursday, May 7, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24953-24955]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-08986]
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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD
[Docket No. MCF 21144]
TBL Group, Inc.--Acquisition of Control--Chicago Classic Coach,
LLC
AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.
ACTION: Notice tentatively approving and authorizing finance
transaction.
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SUMMARY: TBL Group, Inc. (TBL Group), a noncarrier holding company that
controls multiple interstate motor passenger carriers, has filed an
application to acquire the assets of Chicago Classic Coach, LLC
(Classic), a federally regulated motor passenger carrier. The Board is
tentatively approving and authorizing the transaction. If no opposing
comments are timely filed, this notice will be the final Board action.
DATES: Comments must be filed by June 22, 2026. If any comments are
filed, TBL Group may file a reply by July 6, 2026. If no opposing
comments are filed by June 22, 2026, this notice shall be effective on
June 23, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Comments, referring to Docket No. MCF 21144, 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
TBL Group's representative: Andrew K. Light, Scopelitis, Garvin, Light,
Hanson & Feary, P.C., 10 W Market Street, Suite 1400, Indianapolis, IN
46204.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Rackson at (202) 929-2676. If you
require an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act,
please call (202) 245-0245.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 7, 2026, TBL Group filed an
application under 49 U.S.C. 14303 and 49 CFR part 1182 for Board
authority to acquire
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control of the primary assets of, or the member interest in, Classic.
(Appl. 1.) According to TBL Group, either a newly created TBL Group
subsidiary, TBL Newco, will acquire substantially all of Classic's
motor carrier assets and become an interstate motor carrier, or TBL
Group will acquire the membership interest of Classic directly. (Id. at
1, 8, 10.) The application explains that in either case, the services
currently provided by Classic will continue to be provided. (Id. at
10.)
The application states that TBL Group is a Texas corporation,
headquartered at 15734 Aldine Westfield Road, Houston, TX 77032. (Id.
at 2.) TBL Group asserts that it is not a federally regulated carrier.
(Id.) However, the application states that TBL Group controls six
interstate passenger motor carriers (Affiliated Carriers): GBJ Inc.
(GBJ), Echo Tours & Charters, LP (Echo Tours), Echo East Coast
Transportation LLC (Echo East), Echo Windy City, LLC (Echo Windy),
Reston Limousine & Travel Service, Inc. (Reston), and Echo Nevada, LLC
(Echo Nevada).\1\ (Id. at 3-5.) TBL Group states that GBJ is a Texas
corporation doing business as Echo AFC Transportation, AFC
Transportation, and Echo AFC Medical Transport, that primarily provides
charter and contract shuttle services for companies, non-profits,
schools, and tour operators in the metropolitan area of Houston, Tex.,
but also provides interstate charter passenger transportation service.
(Id. at 3.) Echo Tours is described as a Texas limited partnership
doing business as Echo Transportation, that primarily provides charter
and contract shuttle services for companies, non-profits, schools, and
tour operators in the metropolitan area of Dallas, Tex., but also
provides interstate charter passenger transportation. (Id. at 3-4.)
Echo East is described in the application as a Texas limited liability
company that primarily provides interstate and intrastate contract and
charter services in the metropolitan area of Jacksonville, Fla. (Id. at
4.) TBL Group describes Echo Windy as a Texas limited liability company
doing business as Echo Windy City Transportation, that primarily
provides intrastate limousine and charter passenger service in the
metropolitan area of Chicago, Ill., but can also provide interstate
limousine and charter passenger service. (Id. at 4-5.) Reston is
described as a Virginia corporation that provides interstate and
intrastate limousine, shuttle, and charter passenger services in the
metropolitan area of Washington, DC (Id. at 5.) TBL Group describes
Echo Nevada as a Nevada limited liability company, doing business as
Presidential Transportation, that provides limousine, shuttle, and
charter passenger service in the metropolitan area of Las Vegas, Nev.
(Id.)
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\1\ Additional information about these motor carriers, including
principal place of business, U.S. Department of Transportation
(USDOT) numbers, motor carrier numbers, USDOT safety fitness
ratings, fleet composition, and driver count, can be found in the
application. (See Appl., Ex. A.)
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In 2025, the Board approved an application by TBL Group to acquire
control of BTM Coaches, Inc., and that approval became effective on
November 8, 2025. TBL Grp., Inc.--Acquis. of Control--BTM Coaches,
Inc., MCF 21138, slip op. at 1 (STB served Sept. 17, 2025). However,
according to TBL Group, the transaction contemplated by that
application has not yet closed and may not close in the future. (Appl.
9.)
The application describes Classic as an Illinois limited liability
company headquartered in Mt. Prospect, Ill. (Id. at 7.) According to
the application, Classic provides traditional charter motor coach
services such as group travel to events, airports, and other
facilities; school and team travel; tour travel; and shuttle services
for events and meetings. (Id.) Classic's geographic service area is
primarily the Chicago metropolitan area, encompassing the city of
Chicago, its surrounding suburbs, and extending into parts of northeast
Illinois, northwest Indiana, and southeast Wisconsin. (Id.) The
application states that Classic utilizes approximately 22 motor coaches
and employs approximately 29 drivers. (Id.) TBL Group also provides
details about Classic's USDOT number, FMCSA docket number, and safety
rating. (Id., Ex. A.) According to the application, the sole member of
Classic is RSC Classic LLC (RSC), a Nevada limited liability
company.\2\ (Id.) The application states that the persons and/or
entities having control of Classic do not have any ownership interest
in any other passenger motor carrier holding interstate motor carrier
authority. (Id. at 8.)
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\2\ The application states that the membership interest in RSC
is held by the Robert N. Iwamoto Jr. Revocable Trust, David Goya,
Trustee (33.33334% membership interest); ISR Management Inc, a
Nevada corporation, 100% owned by the RSI Irrevocable Separate
Property Trust, Robert Scott Iwamoto, Trustee (33.33333% membership
interest); and IQC Management LLC, a Nevada limited liability
company controlled by Chad Q. Iwamoto (33.33333% membership
interest). (Id.) Thus, according to the application, the ultimate
equity control of Classic is held by members the Iwamoto family, all
of whom are residents of the United States of America. (Id. at 7-8.)
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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. TBL Group has 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 6 months before the
date of the agreement of the parties, see 49 CFR 1182.2(a)(5).
TBL Group does not expect the proposed transaction to have any
detrimental impact on the adequacy of transportation services available
for the public in Classic's service area. (Appl. 10.) TBL Group
anticipates that services available to the public will increase as
additional capacity is made available and operating efficiencies are
realized. (Id.) TBL Group states that after the transaction, the
services currently provided by Classic will continue to be provided to
the public for the foreseeable future, either by TLB Newco in the event
of an asset acquisition, or by Classic in the event the membership
interest in Classic is acquired directly by TBL Group. (Id. at 10.) TBL
Group asserts that its passenger carrier management capacity and
experience in the market segments that Classic serves will lead to
improved operating efficiencies, increased equipment utilization rates,
and cost savings derived from economies of scale. (Id.) TBL Group
further states that the addition of Classic's operations to those of
the applicant's organization will enhance the viability of TBL Group
and the Affiliated Carriers. (Id. at 10-11.) TBL Group therefore
asserts that the proposed transaction will help ensure the ongoing
availability of adequate passenger transportation service to the
public. (Id. at 11.)
TBL Group concedes that the proposed transaction will increase
fixed charges in the form of interest expense, explaining that funds
will be borrowed to finance the transaction. (Id.) However, TBL Group
states that the increase in fixed charges will not affect the provision
of transportation to the public. (Id.) Additionally, the transaction is
not expected to have substantial negative impacts on employees or labor
conditions because TBL Group intends to continue Classic's
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current operations. (Id.) Although TBL Group acknowledges that staffing
redundancies may result in limited downsizing of back office or
managerial level personnel, the application states that, under either
acquisition scenario, substantially all of Classic's current employees
will be offered employment without any negative changes to compensation
levels or benefits. (Id.)
TBL Group states that there is strong demand for passenger surface
transportation in Classic's service area, with many service options
available to passengers. (Id. at 12-13.) According to the application,
Classic competes directly with many other charter bus service providers
in the area, and with an ever-increasing number of national and
regional charter bus brokerage companies. (Id. at 13.) The application
further states that passenger motor carriers in the Chicago area also
compete, at least to some degree, with Chicago's Metra rail system and
Amtrak's intercity rail service in the area, as well as with low-cost
scheduled airlines. TBL Group asserts that, with the exception of Echo
Windy, Classic's service area is geographically dispersed from the
service areas of the Affiliated Carriers, with no overlap in customer
bases. (Id.) TBL Group states that although the geographic service area
of Echo Windy is essentially the same as the Classic's service area,
Echo Windy offers transportation services for individuals and smaller
groups utilizing limousines, premium cars, and premium mini-buses and
vans for relatively short distances, while Classic primarily offers
only full-size motor coaches, typically transporting larger groups over
relatively longer distances. (Id.)
Based on TBL Group's representations, the Board finds that the
transaction proposed in the application 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 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 proposed 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 23, 2026, unless opposing
comments are filed by June 22, 2026. If any comments are filed, TBL
Group may file a reply by July 6, 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.
5. This notice will be published in the Federal Register.
Decided: April 29, 2026.
By the Board, Board Members Fuchs, Hedlund, and Schultz.
Tammy Lowery,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2026-08986 Filed 5-6-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on May 7, 2026.
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