IC Bus Names Dealer of the Year for 2016
Leonard Bus Sales is recognized as the OEM’s North American School Bus Dealer of the Year for business performance, customer satisfaction, and community service.

Leonard Bus Sales was recognized as the IC Bus 2016 School Bus Dealer of the Year for business performance, customer satisfaction, and community service.

Leonard Bus Sales has been named IC Bus’ North American School Bus Dealer of the Year for 2016.
The award focuses on dealership performance as well as industry and community leadership.
“We are proud of Leonard Bus Sales for earning our top award as the 2016 IC Bus Dealer of the Year,” said Trish Reed, vice president and general manager of IC Bus. “The Dealer of the Year award recognizes the energy and commitment of all the dealership’s employees, the commitment to growing their business, and the recognition by customers as the dealership of choice in their market.”
Leonard Bus Sales was founded in 1965 by Gerald and Helen Leonard in Hancock, New York. The third-generation family-owned company, which became an IC Bus dealer in 2001, has grown and expanded to more than 200 employees with facilities across New York state.
The Dealer of the Year honor follows other recent IC Bus recognitions for Leonard Bus Sales: the Pursuit of Excellence and Diamond Premier Dealer awards for 2016.
“Winning the IC Bus Dealer of the Year award is a tremendous honor for our company and our people,” said Mike Leonard, president and CEO of Leonard Bus Sales. “This is a huge win for the entire Leonard Bus Sales team and a reflection of our commitment to making it easy for our school transportation partners by providing them support like our Diamond and Master Certified technicians, proprietary fleet planning tools, and one-stop-shop service and warranty support.”
Leonard Bus Sales operates four full-service facilities in Deposit, Bergen, Rome, and Saratoga Springs, New York. In addition to bus sales and support, the company contributes to a variety of community programs, including the Bountiful Backpack program and the Leonard Family Scholarship, which was established to assist students enrolling in a technical or college education program to help them reach their goals.
More Management

'Our Routes Looked Like Spaghetti': Survey Reveals School Bus Routing Struggles
Transfinder's new data reveals how driver shortages, bell schedules, and community demands are limiting school bus routing efficiency nationwide — and what districts are doing.
Read More →
Not Just ‘Trust Us’ Anymore: Zonar Achieves SOC 2 Certification for Data Protection
The independent validation means that Zonar meets high cybersecurity standards to protect customer data across its fleet management platform.
Read More →
The 20 Largest School Bus Contractors in 2026
See which private school transportation providers made the list of the largest contractors in 2026, with location, fleet sizes, district contracts, and number of students served.
Read More →
School Bus Contracting in 2026: Fleet, Fuel, and Workforce Trends
Shifting fuel strategies, evolving workforce pressures, rising costs, and growing technology adoption define today’s transportation providers. Here’s what the data reveals about key issues shaping the contractor industry.
Read More →
Thomas Built Buses Names Carolina Thomas 2025 Dealer of the Year
The North Carolina-based Thomas dealership is recognized for the second time for its customer support, operational excellence, and industry commitment, as other top-performing dealers were celebrated.
Read More →
96 Teamsters Locals Ratify Five-Year National Contract with First Student
The agreement covers more than 22,000 school bus workers nationwide, delivering stronger retirement benefits, expanded leave protections, and new safeguards for onboard bus surveillance technology.
Read More →
The Essential Handbook for Safe Alternative Student Transportation
Your district's "exception riders" — students with IEPs, those experiencing homelessness, foster care youth — deserve more than a middleman solution. This handbook breaks down exactly what to look for in a supplemental transportation partner: from driver vetting and regulatory compliance to proactive safety technology. Because getting a ride isn't the same as getting a safe one.
Read More →
How Does Military Logistics Experience Help Keep Students Moving Safely?
See how Army veteran Tracy Voigt went from coordinating construction and logistics in Afghanistan to leading school transportation operations in Minnesota in this National Military Appreciation Month profile.
Read More →
New York School Bus Contractors Association Announces 50th Roadeo Winners
Winners, photos, and highlights from the 2026 NYSBCA School Bus Driver Safety Competition, where drivers across the Empire State showcased safety skills and precision behind the wheel.
Read More →
The BUILD America 250 Act Has Big Implications for School Buses, Too
Buried within a sweeping federal transportation bill are provisions that could affect school bus driver requirements, illegal passing enforcement, and even the future role of autonomous technology in pupil transportation.
Read More →



