School Bus Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Trans/Air Acquired by Lippert

The school bus air conditioning provider is now under the umbrella for an Indiana-based recreational component supplier.

Trans/Air Acquired by Lippert

Trans/Air operates out of its own customers' facilities and has over 100 service centers across the country.

Photo: SBF/Canva

2 min to read


LCI Industries' subsidiary Lippert Components Manufacturing, Inc., announced acquiring the business assets of Trans/Air Manufacturing Corporation, which provides climate control systems to school buses and commercial customers. 

Founded in 1979, Trans/Air's systems worked with school, type-A, transit, limo, electric-hybrid buses, specialty vehicles, and vans. Its product line includes evaporators, compressors, condensers, hoses & fitting systems, electronic controls and custom-designed drive kits. 

Ad Loading...

Trans/Air is headquartered in Dallastown, Pennsylvania, and operates multiple installation facilities inside its customers’ operations. This ensures a daily presence at customer sites and crucial technical service and product expertise. Trans/Air maintains a network of over 170 authorized service centers across North America.

The company intends to maintain its name and beloved penguin branding, and will be known as Trans/Air Manufacturing, a division of Lippert. They said customers won't experience any changes, or at least any that aren't positive improvements to its service. The people and products you know and trust won't be going anywhere. Rick Lehnert said he intends to stay at the company and is excited about the new partnership being able to expand what the company offers.

Lippert has been manufacturing window and glass solutions for the commercial bus industry for over 12 years. According to the announcement, the two companies many of the same customers. 

Ryan Smith, group president for Lippert’s North American OEM operations, said: “We’re pleased to welcome Trans/Air to the Lippert family. When Lippert was approached with the opportunity months ago, we were immediately impressed with their operational strategies and knew that they would be a great addition to our product portfolio. We are excited to continue the investment into innovation in order to grow the business, and we’ll build on their great team and customer relationships to further expand into the transportation vehicle market.”

Andrew Pocock, Lippert’s EVP of building and transportation products, added: “We are so excited to add such a great team, brand and product line to the Lippert family. We are confident that together we can serve our partners better and will strengthen the product offering, as well as the overall value that Lippert brings to our customers.”

More Management

A professional driver stands in front of a bus beside text reading “Samsara Driver Perks.”
Management•by Staff and News Reports•October 7, 2026

Samsara Launches Free Driver Rewards Program

The new Driver Perks program gives eligible professional drivers access to discounts and offers without adding a cost for participating fleets.

Read More →
Graphic showing hands counting $100 bills with text reading, “How to Finance Your Next School Bus: Municipal Leases, VPAs, Residuals.”
Management•October 7, 2026

How Tax-Exempt Municipal Leases Can Help Finance School Buses

Let’s explore school bus financing options, including municipal leases, vendor payable accounts, and balloon payments, and how they can help stretch fleet budgets.

Read More →
Group of School Bus Fleet 2026 Trailblazers above a graphic announcing that nominations are open for the 2027 SBF Trailblazers, with submissions due Dec. 14, 2026.
Management•by Staff•October 6, 2026

Nominate Rising School Transportation Pros Under 40!

We’re searching for the next generation of leaders making an impact across the K-12 student transportation industry to recognize as SBF’s 2027 Trailblazers. Nominations are open now!

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Graphic for School Bus Fleet’s September 2026 “Changing Lanes” personnel roundup featuring headshots of seven school transportation industry professionals who recently changed roles.
Management•by Staff and News Reports•October 2, 2026

Changing Lanes: BusWhere, EverDriven, InterMotive, Summit School Services, Switzer-Carty & Thomas Built Buses

Check out who's been hired, promoted, and appointed to leadership positions at various school transportation suppliers, contractors, and manufacturers.

Read More →
Graphic featuring several yellow school buses with the headline, “The Most Expensive School Bus Resale Mistake,” and images representing maintenance, auctions, and resale value.
Management•by Steve Mitchell•October 1, 2026

The Most Expensive Thing You Do Before Selling a School Bus: Wait

When should you sell an aging school bus? Learn how maintenance, mileage, corrosion, specifications, and timing can affect resale value long before the auction.

Read More →
A lineup of Krise Transportation vehicles, including Type A and conventional school buses and passenger vans, with one wheelchair-accessible van shown with its lift extended.
Management•by Staff and News Reports•September 30, 2026

American Student Transportation Partners Acquires AJ Myers and Sons

A new deal brings a 75-year Pennsylvania student transportation provider into one of the nation’s largest private school bus contracting groups.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Bernando Brown of DeKalb County Schools speaks during a session at the 2026 School Bus Fleet ConneX in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Management•September 29, 2026

What I Brought Home From SBFX: Relationships, Leadership, and Preparing What's Next

Who could lead your transportation operation tomorrow if you couldn't? Bernando Brown explores succession planning, mentorship, and preparing emerging leaders to step up.

Read More →
Collage from the 2026 School Bus Fleet Connex event showing attendees posing for a group photo, a presenter speaking onstage, two attendees taking a selfie, and participants meeting one-on-one.
Management•by Staff•September 29, 2026

Inside School Bus Fleet ConneX 2026: Industry Leaders Connect in Scottsdale [Photos]

See highlights from SBFX 2026 in Arizona, where school bus operators and suppliers gathered for meetings, education, networking, awards, and more.

Read More →
Attendees seated at banquet tables during a School Bus Fleet ConneX 2026 event, with a speaker at the podium and SBFX signage onstage.
Management•by Elora Haynes•September 28, 2026

School Transportation’s Biggest Pressures and Opportunities: SBFX Attendees Weigh In

School bus operators point to rising costs, staffing, and vehicle prices as immediate pressures while identifying technology, training, and routing as opportunities for growth.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Three Sunrise-branded student transportation vehicles — a black SUV, silver minivan, and white passenger van — parked together in a residential neighborhood.
Management•by News/Media Release•September 25, 2026

STA Acquires Sunrise Transportation

Student Transportation of America expands in Illinois and Connecticut through Sunrise's fleet of nearly 1,000 vehicles.

Read More →