With the acquisition of Spanier Bus Service, Minnesota Coaches expands its reach in central Minnesota while preserving a 70-year family legacy of safe, community-focused student transportation.
After nearly seven decades of family operation, Spanier Bus Service begins a new chapter under Minnesota Coaches, keeping its team and community commitment intact.
Photo: Minnesota Coaches/Spanier Bus Service
2 min to read
Minnesota Coaches, a school bus and motorcoach transportation provider, recently announced the acquisition of Spanier Bus Service, Inc., a family-owned school bus operator with nearly 70 years of service to the community and school district in St. Cloud, Minnesota.
According to a company release, the acquisition supports Minnesota Coaches' school transportation footprint in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and provides a "stable foundation" for Spanier to continue serving the 250-square-mile school district.
Ad Loading...
"We appreciate the trust of the school district and the Spanier team as we begin the next chapter of Spanier Bus Service," said Garrett Regan, vice president of corporate development for Minnesota Coaches, and a third-generation school transportation operator. "We are honored to help owners find their path to retirement while continuing their legacy in the bus industry. This commitment extends to supporting the hardworking teammates who care deeply for these students, so they can provide exceptionally safe service."
Spanier's team of local drivers, mechanics, and office staff will be retained. It will continue to operate out of the existing site at 1310 Sunridge Dr. in St. Cloud, where it will continue its hiring efforts. The company will continue to operate under the Spanier Bus Service name, though Minnesota Coaches will provide back-office administrative support for the business.
Minnesota Coaches’ acquisition of Spanier Bus Service ensures continued, locally rooted school transportation for students across the St. Cloud area.
Photo: Minnesota Coaches/Spanier Bus Service
Spanier Bus Service Acquisition Continues Family Legacy
For the past 45 years, Spanier Bus Service has been owned and operated by Tami Spanier, whose family started the business in 1957. She is assisting with the transition and plans to continue to help occasionally as a driver.
"I've often said that the best part of my day has been behind the wheel of a school bus. I love being out with our kids," Spanier said. "It was very important to me that I pass the torch to a company we can trust to serve our communities well, and Minnesota Coaches was a great choice. Our family legacy, and the students who depend on us every day, are in good hands."
Founded by the Regan family in 1959, Minnesota Coaches has grown to serve more than 36,000 students each day at public, charter, and private schools across Minnesota and Wisconsin. According to the release, many customers have relied on Minnesota Coaches and its affiliates for student transportation for over 50 years.
Ad Loading...
"We appreciate the opportunity to serve the St. Cloud community and build upon what the Spanier family created," says Tom Nightingale, CEO of Minnesota Coaches. "Our focus is helping the local team do what they do best — safely serving the community for years to come."
Stop bidding everything and try a simpler way. Here's how cooperative purchasing can streamline purchases while maintaining compliance. Sourcewell breaks down the process in this episode of The Route, sponsored by IC Bus.
The alternative transportation company expands its services to traditional yellow buses with the launch of a new division focused on helping school districts optimize their routes.
Roberts, 35, serves as the lead IT application engineer for vehicle electrification at First Student, where he helps shape scalable, real-world EV infrastructure to support student transportation.
Swazer, 29, serves as director of transportation at Puyallup School District, where he champions student wellbeing and inspires the next generation of industry leaders.
Dubas, 38, serves as sales manager and safety advocate at IMMI, where she advances school bus occupant protection through industry education, OEM collaboration, and proactive safety policy efforts.
Moore, 32, grew up around the school bus, leading him to the classroom and eventually inspiring high-performing teams while bringing operations in house (twice).
Baran, 38, serves as transportation supervisor at Odyssey Charter School in Delaware, where he leads daily operations with a focus on safety and professional growth.
Maybee, 36, leads transportation operations for Denver Public Schools, where he is advancing equity, efficiency, and cross-department collaboration to improve student access.
Higgins, 38, serves as director of industry engagement at TAT (Truckers Against Trafficking), where she equips school transportation professionals with the tools to recognize and report human trafficking.
