[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 244 (Tuesday, December 23, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60223-60225]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-23725]
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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD
[Docket No. MCF 21141]
Van Pool Transportation LLC and Ag Van Pool Holdings, LP--
Continuance in Control--Rolling V Bus Corp. and STS of New Mexico, LLC
AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.
ACTION: Notice Tentatively Approving and Authorizing Continuance in
Control.
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SUMMARY: On November 26, 2025, Van Pool Transportation LLC (Van Pool)
and AG Van Pool Holdings, LP (AG Holdings) (collectively, Applicants),
both noncarriers, seek Board approval 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. The Board is tentatively approving
and authorizing the proposed continuance in control. If no opposing
comments are timely filed, this notice will be the final Board action.
DATES: Comments must be filed by February 6, 2026. If any comments are
filed, Applicants may file a reply by February 23, 2026. If no opposing
comments are filed by February 6, 2026, this notice shall be effective
on February 7, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Comments, referring to Docket No. MCF 21141, 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: Amy Ziehm at (202) 918-5462. 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. 2-3.) Neither Van
Pool nor AG Holdings is a federally regulated carrier. (Id.) However,
Van Pool directly owns and controls all equity and voting interest 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. 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.) 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 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.)
\2\ Additional information about these motor carriers, including
principal place of business, 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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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);
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 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 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 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 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, NY, and southern
[[Page 60224]]
Connecticut and (ii) contract and charter transportation services in
the same areas for activities such as summer camps, events, and group
trips, (id. at 6-7);
Local Motion, LLC, which provides non-regulated school
bus, charter, and shuttle services in the metropolitan area of Boston,
Mass., (id. at 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 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, NY, Port Washington, NY, and Great Neck, NY, (id.
at 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, NY, and
Port Washington, NY, (id.);
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, NY, and Huntington Station, NY, (id. at
8-9);
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, NY, (id. at 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, NY,
(id.);
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, NY, (id. at 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, NY, (id. at 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, NY, (id.);
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 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, NY,
(id. at 11); and
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, NY, (id. at 11-
12).
Additionally, on December 12, 2025, the Board published notice
tentatively approving Applicants' acquisition of control of Lavdas
Enterprises, Inc., dba Lavdas Limousines, Inc. (Lavdas) (90 FR 57803).
See Van Pool Transp. LLC--Acquis. of Control--Lavdas Enters., Inc.
(Lavdas Transaction), MCF 21140 (STB served Dec. 12, 2025); (see also
Appl. 11 n.2). Lavdas primarily provides luxury charter transportation
service in southeast Michigan. Lavdas Transaction, MCF 21140, slip op.
at 5. On rare occasions, Lavdas's charter operations include interstate
service into surrounding states, including Illinois. (Id.) If no
opposing comments are timely filed in Docket No. MCF 21140 with respect
to Applicants' acquisition of control of Lavdas, Applicants will
control 23 interstate passenger motor carriers as of January 27, 2026.
In the present application, Applicants seek Board approval to
continue in control of Rolling V and STS upon those entities obtaining
approval from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
to operate as regulated passenger motor carriers. Rolling V is a New
York corporation that currently operates as a motor carrier primarily
providing non-regulated home-to-school transportation services in
addition to intrastate charter, shuttle, and transit services within
the State of New York, particularly the cities of Walton, Livingston
Manor, Neversink, Liberty, South Fallsburg, and Ellenville. (Appl. 12.)
STS is a New Mexico limited liability company that currently operates
as a motor carrier primarily providing home-to-school and charter
student transportation services within Dona Ana County, NM,
particularly the City of Las Cruces and its surrounding areas. (Id. at
12-13.) According to Applicants, both Rolling V and STS currently
operate exclusively in intrastate commerce but are seeking FMCSA's
approval to expand their existing charter operations to include
interstate service. (Id. at 12.) The application indicates that the
interstate service provided by Rolling V and STS, if authorized, is
expected to be, in both the near-term and the long-term, an
insignificant proportion of overall service by those entities. (Id.)
Under 49 U.S.C. 14303(b), the Board must approve and authorize a
transaction that it finds is 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. Here, Applicants have
submitted the information required by 49 CFR 1182.2,
[[Page 60225]]
including (1) information to demonstrate that Applicants' continuance
in control of Rolling V and STS, upon those entities becoming regulated
passenger motor carriers, is consistent with the public interest under
49 U.S.C. 14303(b), see 49 CFR 1182.2(a)(7); and (2) 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). (See
Appl. 15-18.)
Applicants do not expect the proposed continuance in control to
have a material, detrimental impact on the adequacy of transportation
services available to the public. (Id. at 15.) 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 continuance in control of
Rolling V and STS 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 state that the
interstate charter services to be provided by Rolling V and STS would
supplement the home-to-school student transportation services that
those entities currently provide; that each of these market segments
have their own service characteristics; and that Applicants'
continuance in control of Rolling V and STS is expected to result in
improved operating efficiencies, increased equipment utilization rates,
and cost savings derived from economies of scale, all of which will
help to ensure the provision of adequate service to the public. (Id.)
Applicants assert that the impact of the transaction on the
regulated motor carrier industry will be minimal at most. (Id. at 18.)
According to Applicants, demand for school bus transportation and
charter services in the areas served by Rolling V and STS is strong and
is expected to increase in the foreseeable future. (Id. at 17.)
Applicants assert that the markets that Rolling V and STS serve are
very competitive due to the significant number of national, regional,
and local providers operating in those markets. (Id. at 17-18.)
Applicants state that, with respect to Rolling V, competing providers
include Student Transportation of America, First Student, and Durham
School Services. (Id. at 18.) Applicants further state that, with
respect to STS, competing providers include All Aboard America,
Greyhound Lines, and El Paso Limousine. (Id.) Applicants also state
that Rolling V's service area and STS' service area are geographically
dispersed from service areas of the 22 regulated carriers that
Applicants control at present and that there is very limited overlap in
customer bases as between those 22 regulated carriers and Rolling V and
STS. (Id. at 18.) The same appears to be true with respect to Lavdas;
Rolling V operates primarily in New York, STS operates primarily in New
Mexico, and Lavdas operates primarily in southeast Michigan.
Applicants assert that their continuance in control of Rolling V
and STS will not result in an increase in fixed charges. (Id. at 16.)
According to Applicants, their continuance in control of Rolling V
and STS is not expected to have a substantial impact on employees or
labor conditions. (Id.) Applicants state that Rolling V and STS intend
to provide the prospective interstate service using employee drivers
that are already qualified to provide interstate charter bus service.
(Id.) Applicants further state that they do not anticipate a measurable
increase in force or changes in compensation levels and/or benefits
associated with their continuance in control. (Id.)
Based on their representations, the Board finds that Applicants'
continuance in control of Rolling V and STS 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 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. Applicants' continuance in control of Rolling V and STS upon
their becoming federally regulated passenger motor carriers 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 February 7, 2026, unless
opposing comments are filed by February 6, 2026. If any comments are
filed, Applicants may file a reply by February 23, 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 18, 2025.
By the Board, Board Members Fuchs, Hedlund, and Schultz.
Aretha Laws-Byrum,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2025-23725 Filed 12-22-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P