[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 237 (Friday, December 12, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57803-57806]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-22592]
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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD
[Docket No. MCF 21140]
Van Pool Transportation LLC and AG Van Pool Holdings, LP--
Acquisition of Control--Lavdas Enterprises, Inc.
AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.
ACTION: Notice tentatively approving and authorizing finance
transaction.
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SUMMARY: Van Pool Transportation LLC (Van Pool) and AG Van Pool
Holdings, LP (AG Holdings) (collectively, Applicants), both
noncarriers, have filed an application to acquire control of an
interstate passenger motor carrier, Lavdas Enterprises, Inc. dba Lavdas
Limousines, Inc. (Lavdas). 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 January 26, 2026. If any comments are
filed, Applicants may file a reply by February 10, 2026. If no opposing
comments are filed by January 26, 2026, this notice shall be effective
on January 27, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Comments, referring to Docket No. MCF 21140, 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: Amanda Gorski at (202) 748-3874. If
you require an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act,
please call (202) 245-0245.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 14, 2025, Van Pool and AG
Holdings, both noncarriers, filed an application to acquire control of
an interstate passenger motor carrier, Lavdas. According to the
Applicants, Van Pool is a Delaware limited liability company indirectly
controlled by AG Holdings through intermediary holding companies.\1\
(Appl. 2-3.) Neither Van Pool nor AG Holdings is a federally regulated
carrier. (Id. at 2-3.) However, Van Pool directly owns and controls all
equity and voting interests in the following 22 interstate passenger
motor carriers (the Affiliated Carriers): \2\
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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. 13.) 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.) Group Holdings is majority-owned and controlled by AG
Holdings, a Delaware limited partnership and noncarrier holding
company. (Id.) AG Holdings is owned by investment funds affiliated
with Audax Management Company, LLC (the Audax Funds), a Delaware
limited liability company. (Id. at 13-14.) 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. at 14.)
\2\ Applicants state that Van Pool directly owns or controls all
equity and voting interests in 21 interstate passenger motor
carriers. (Id. at 2.) However, in the application, Applicants
identify 22 such carriers. (Id. at 2-3, 4-11.) Additionally, in a
separate application filed with the Board on November 26, 2025,
Applicants seek Board authority to acquire control over Rolling V
Bus Corp. and STS of New Mexico, LLC, upon becoming regulated
passenger carriers. Van Pool Transp. LLC--Acquis. of Control--
Rolling V Bus Corp., Docket No. MCF 21141. The Board will address
that application in a separate decision.
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[[Page 57804]]
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, (Appl. at 2, 4);
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.);
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 2, 4-5);
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. at 2-3, 5);
F. M. Kuzmeskus, Inc., dba 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 3, 5-6);
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 3, 6);
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.);
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
3, 6-7);
Local Motion, LLC, which provides non-regulated school
bus, charter, and shuttle services in the metropolitan area of Boston,
Mass., (id. at 3, 7);
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.);
TransAction Corporate Shuttles, Inc., which provides
shuttle, on-demand transportation, and charter services in
Massachusetts, (id. at 3, 7-8);
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. at 3, 8);
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 3, 8);
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 3, 8-9);
Huntington Coach, L.L.C. (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. at 3, 9);
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 3, 9);
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 3, 9-
10);
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. at 3, 10);
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
service area of WE NY is primarily Long Island, N.Y., (id. at 3, 10);
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 3, 10-11);
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. at 3, 11);
George M. Carroll Transportation, Inc. dba George M.
Carroll Inc. (GMCT), which primarily provides (i) regular home-to-
school transportation services, with a focus on special needs students
and (ii) charter services that primarily involve transportation to and
from school-related extracurricular activities such as athletic events,
field trips, and other school-sponsored functions, with a focus on
special needs students. 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
3, 11).
Additional information about these motor carriers, including USDOT
[[Page 57805]]
numbers, motor carrier numbers, and USDOT safety fitness ratings, can
be found in the application. (See id. at 4-11; id., Ex. A.)
According to Applicants, if the transaction is approved, Van Pool
will acquire all of the issued and outstanding equity stock of Lavdas,
the effect of which will be to place Lavdas under control of
Applicants. (Id. at 12-13.) The application describes Lavdas as a
Michigan corporation with its principal place of business located in
Warren, Mich., and with a core service area of the southeast region of
Michigan, particularly the Metro Detroit region and Wayne, Oakland, and
Macomb Counties (the Service Area). (Id. at 12.) Lavdas operates as a
motor carrier primarily providing premiere luxury charter
transportation service within the Service Area. (Id.) However, based on
customer needs, on rare occasions Lavdas's charter operations extend
beyond the Service Area to include interstate service into surrounding
states, including Illinois. (Id.) Lavdas's fleet consists of
approximately 63 mini-buses, 10 vans (1 to 8 passengers), 4 vans (9 to
15 passengers), 2 limousines (1 to 8 passengers), 4 limousines (9 to 15
passengers), and 14 limousines (16+ passengers). (Id.) Applicants also
provide details about Lavdas's USDOT number, Federal Motor Carrier
Safety Administration docket number, and safety rating in the Summary
Table submitted as part of its application. (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. 14-15.)
Applicants do not expect the transaction to have any detrimental
impact on the adequacy of transportation services available for the
public in Lavdas's service area. (Id. at 15.) According to Applicants,
the transaction, combined with Applicants' passenger carrier management
capacity, is expected to result in improved operating efficiencies,
increased equipment utilization rates, and cost savings derived from
economies of scale within Applicants' subsidiaries. (Id.) Applicants
anticipate that the services available to the public will improve as
operating efficiencies are realized and additional services and
capacity are made available. (Id.) Applicants state that for at least
the foreseeable future, the services currently provided by Lavdas will
continue to be provided by Lavdas under the same name used to provide
such services prior to the transaction. (Id.) The addition of Lavdas to
Applicants' holdings will serve to enhance the viability of the
Applicants' organization. (Id.) The Applicants assert that these
enhancements will help ensure the provision of adequate service to the
public. (Id.)
Applicants state that there is strong demand for passenger surface
transportation in Lavdas's service area, which is projected to grow in
the foreseeable future. (Id. at 17.) They state that Lavdas competes
directly with other passenger service providers in the Service Area,
which is a very competitive market due to the significant number of
national, regional, and local providers operating there, including
Dream Limousines, Inc., Metro Cars, Allstar Chauffeured Services, and
Golden Limousine International. (Id. at 17-18.) The Service Area is
geographically dispersed from the areas in which Applicants' Affiliated
Carriers offer service. (Id. at 18.) While Applicants acknowledge an
overlap in customer bases and service offerings between Lavdas and the
Affiliated Carriers, they state that this overlap is minimal, thereby
reducing any potential competitive concerns. (Id.) In light of the
highly competitive nature of Lavdas'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.)
Applicants concede that the transaction will increase fixed charges
in the form of interest expense, explaining that funds will be borrowed
to finance the transaction. (Id. at 16.) However, Applicants state that
the increase in fixed charges will not affect the provision of
transportation to the public. (Id.)
Applicants do not expect that the transaction will have substantial
impacts on employees or labor conditions because Applicants intend to
provide the interstate service using Lavdas's employee drivers that are
already qualified to provide interstate service. (Id.) Applicants do
not anticipate a measurable increase or reduction in force or changes
in compensation levels or benefits, as Applicants plan to continue the
existing operations of Lavdas. (Id.) However, they note that staffing
redundancies could result in limited downsizing of back-office and/or
managerial level personnel. (Id.)
Based on Applicants' 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 www.stb.gov.
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 January 27, 2026, unless
opposing comments are filed by January 26, 2026. If any comments are
filed, Applicants may file a reply by February 10, 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.
Decided: December 8, 2025.
[[Page 57806]]
By the Board, Board Members Fuchs, Hedlund, and Schultz.
Zantori Dickerson,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2025-22592 Filed 12-11-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P