MENU
SEARCHGet the scoop on North American 2025 school bus sales totals, plus a historical look over the last 10 years for comparison. This report is sponsored by First Light Safety Products.
After a slight decline in 2024, the school bus market saw modest gains in 2025.
Photo: School Bus Fleet
How did school bus sales trend this year? We collected the data for you!
After a 2% dip in overall sales last year, in 2025, the trend reversed. Looking at the historical trend, we’re still not yet recovered to pre-pandemic levels, but we are on track with 2015.
Here's what else we found.
School bus production delays from last year resolved this year, and we gained back the lost 2% in 2024. Type As dropped in popularity, Ds dropped even more, and Cs grew in demand.
Photo: School Bus Fleet
| Sales Year | Type A | Type C | Type D | Total |
| 2016 | 7,608 | 29,486 | 3,831 | 40,925 |
| 2017 | 7,997 | 32,141 | 4,251 | 44,389 |
| 2018 | 8,319 | 31,505 | 4,557 | 44,381 |
| 2019 | 9,718 | 31,876 | 3,727 | 45,321 |
| 2020 | 7,200 | 25,980 | 3,024 | 36,204 |
| 2021 | 5,386 | 22,845 | 1,494 | 30,582 |
| 2022 | 7,193 | 30,656 | 2,707 | 40,556 |
| 2023 | 10,412 | 28,076 | 2,725 | 41,241 |
| 2024 | 8,808 | 28,236 | 3,153 | 40,287 |
| 2025 | 8,449 | 30,287 | 2,305 | 41,041 |
| Change | -4% | +7% | -27% | +2% |
U.S. sales slightly increased from last year, with Type Ds plummeting in popularity. Over the past decade, transit-style school buses have experienced extreme fluctuations.
Diesel still makes up the bulk of North American fleets, but gasoline and alt-fuels are gaining ground.
Photo: School Bus Fleet
As usual, Type C bus sales dominated, representing almost three-quarters of total sales. Type As were on par with last year, and Type Ds slightly dropped.
Photo: School Bus Fleet
Get more industry information and statistics — including the full U.S. vs. Canada sales breakdown — in School Bus Fleet's 2026 Fact Book.
Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming one of the most practical tools in today’s transportation office. Here’s how it is improving parent communication, board reporting, training development, and overall efficiency — without replacing professional judgment.
Read More →
Student transportation teams are being asked to do more with less, facing driver shortages, rising costs, and increasing safety expectations. This report uncovers how fleets are adapting, where technology is making the biggest impact, and why student ridership tracking is emerging as a top priority. Download the report to explore the key trends shaping 2026 and what they mean for your operation.
Read More →
Transportation leaders say when their districts implemented Transfinder's AI enhanced logistics technology, it paid for itself in financial savings, time savings and operational headache reductions (OHR). In this white paper transportation experts share specific ways they have experienced how Transfinder P.A.Y.S. (Pay As You Save) off. Each, in their own way, said transportation technology is not simply a software purchase — it’s a strategic investment in operational efficiency, cost containment and staff satisfaction.
Read More →
Lyndon Lie joins the team to oversee engineering innovation and growth amid the Micro Bird expansion.
Read More →
The new RideIQ feature automates invoice grouping by funding source, reducing manual work and improving transparency for school transportation teams.
Read More →
From bus driver to SBF’s Administrator of the Year, Oregon’s Kathy Calkins shares how positivity, relationships, and hands-on leadership transforms teams. The Route is sponsored by IC Bus.
Read More →
Transportation directly impacts attendance, equity, and performance. When systems are reliable, students show up ready to learn and succeed.
Read More →
Lafourche Parish Schools will implement First Student’s Fleet-as-a-Service model for 115 buses, shifting maintenance and operations on-site ahead of the 2026-27 school year.
Read More →
Snag your summer prep checklist for school transportation directors, plus 40 training topic ideas to bring to your team.
Read More →
New IC Bus vehicles can now arrive with Samsara telematics factory-installed, helping fleets reduce downtime, streamline setup, and achieve day-one connectivity.
Read More →
