First Student, Thomas Built sign contract
CINCINNATI — First Student has signed a $90 million contract with Thomas Built Buses to supply Type D Saf-T-Liner school buses over the next thr...
CINCINNATI — First Student has signed a $90 million contract with Thomas Built Buses to supply Type D Saf-T-Liner school buses over the next three years.
This agreement makes Thomas Built the exclusive provider of transit-style buses to First Student.
“We are pleased to be entering into this agreement with Thomas Built,” said Carey Paster, CEO and president of sales, marketing and commercial development for First Student parent company FirstGroup America. “Investing in regular upgrades to our fleet is just one more way we ensure the 4 million children entrusted to us ride safely and securely to and from school each day.” All of the buses ordered by First Student will be built to its customers’ specifications and equipped with a crossing arm, an electronic child-check alarm and GPS technology to meet the company’s mandatory safety requirements.
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