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School Transportation Companies Earn Top Honors in 2026

From tech advancements to standout workplace cultures, see which key players across the school transportation sector are earning national recognition.

April 10, 2026
An image of a school bus driving on a road in Malibu with text reading "2026 Industry Honors in School Transportation."

Companies across the school transportation industry are being recognized for growth, innovation, and strong workplace culture in 2026.

Credit:

ArtHouse Studio/School Bus Fleet

6 min to read


Recognition across school transportation is spotlighting the people, technology, and strategies that are shaping the industry's future. From fast-growing bus providers to top-rated workplace cultures and cutting-edge tech innovators, several companies are setting the pace in 2026. Here are some recent company accolades.

Master's Transportation Earns Spot Among Midwest's Fastest-Growing Private Companies

In April, Master’s Transportation, a provider of commercial buses and vans, was ranked No. 66 in the sixth annual Inc. Regionals: Midwest list, which is a ranking of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the Midwest United States. The region includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. 

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An extension of the national Inc. 5000 list, the Inc. Regionals ranking measures revenue and employee growth over a two-year period. According to a release, this makes it one of the “most credible benchmarks of sustained business performance in the country.”

Master's Transportation earned its placement based on significant growth across its 12 locations nationwide, where the company employs 250 team members and serves customers across multiple commercial vehicle segments, including commercial shuttle buses and vans, school buses, multi-functional school activity buses, motor coaches, and used commercial buses. The company also operates seven service departments and a centralized parts department, enabling it to serve customers nationwide.

"Being named to the Inc. Regionals: Midwest list is a direct reflection of the hard work and dedication of every single person on our team," said John Goodbrake, CEO, Master's Transportation. "This recognition validates what we have been building for years, a company with the infrastructure, the talent, and the drive to grow without losing sight of what matters most, which is moving our customers and our people forward."

The 2026 Inc. Regionals recognition adds to a growing list of achievements for Master's Transportation, which has earned multiple regional and national honors in recent years.

RTA: The Fleet Success Company Earns Great Place To Work Certification

A recent announcement from RTA: The Fleet Success Company revealed that the company has been certified by Great Place To Work for the third time in the last four years.  The recognition is based on what current employees say about their experience working at RTA. This year, 99% of employees said it's a great place to work, 42 points higher than the average U.S. company, according to a release.

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RTA operates on three core virtues: Humble, Hungry, and Smart. These virtues are rigorous hiring and operational standards that shape every decision the company makes, from who joins the team to how it serves its 1,000+ fleet management clients.

"Earning this recognition three times isn't something that happens by accident," said Josh Turley, CEO of RTA. "It happens because we are deeply intentional about who we bring into this company and how we treat them once they're here. We set a high bar, and our team clears it every single day. Seeing 100% of our employees say they trust our leadership to be honest and ethical, and that they genuinely care about each other. That's the culture we've worked hard to build and protect. I couldn't be more proud of this team."

Additional highlights from this year's survey include:

  • 100% of employees say management is honest and ethical in its business practices.
  • 100% say people here are willing to go the extra mile to get the job done.
  • 100% say people care about each other here.
  • 100% say when you join the company, you are made to feel welcome.
  • 99% say people here are given a lot of responsibility.

Verra Mobility Recognized as GovTech 100 Company

Smart mobility technology solutions provider Verra Mobility recently announced it has been recognized as a GovTech 100 company for 2026. This is the 11th year that Government Technology magazine has announced the top 100 GovTech companies, and the sixth consecutive year Verra Mobility has been recognized.

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The designation is given to companies showing growth and business leadership in the technology sector and are focused on making a difference in local and state government agencies across the United States. The list is curated and reviewed by a working group from the GovTech Biz editorial team, as well as investors, former officials, and market experts.

“As we look to the year ahead, we are excited to continuously evolve our solutions to meet the ever-changing needs of cities across the globe to improve mobility and make streets safer,” said Jon Baldwin, executive vice president, Verra Mobility.

Last year, Verra Mobility expanded its presence nationwide, with major projects including the launch of California’s first pilot speed safety program in San Francisco and a large-scale expansion confirmed for New York City’s red-light safety program.

For companies like Verra Mobility and its Government Solutions business, this trend presents an opportunity to partner with local governments in delivering innovative technologies, such as automated enforcement and school safety systems.

Tyler Technologies Named a Strong Performer in Industry Cloud Solutions Evaluation

Tyler Technologies, Inc., has been positioned as a Strong Performer in The Forrester Wave: Industry Cloud Solutions For Public Sector, Q1 2026, for its cloud solutions.

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Forrester Research ranked Tyler based on an evaluation of 31 criteria and gave it the top ratings possible in eight, including customer identity and account management, compliance and enforcement, public administration, payments and revenue collection, and geospatial support and GIS integration. Overall, vendors were evaluated against three categories: current offering, strategy, and customer feedback.

“Cloud modernization is one of Tyler’s key strategic pillars and a critical piece to our clients achieving their modernization goals,” said Russell Gainford, chief technology officer for Tyler. “This evaluation by Forrester underscores for us our commitment to creating a seamless and connected technology experience for the public sector.”

Additional findings in the Forrester report about Tyler Technologies:

  • Strategy: Tyler’s vision is connected communities, built on its existing deep domain suites and growing platform capabilities across the U.S. public sector. The company’s more than 45,000 installations reflect its early pure-play heritage, but it is investing heavily to evolve from a product portfolio to an integrated platform model. Many of its customers have moved to newer cloud solutions, a shift evident in the growing share of its newer offerings.
  • Customer feedback: Customers cite its deep domain expertise and scale across levels of government as key strengths. They find that the portfolio offers consolidation and cross-servicing opportunities, especially at the county level in public safety and justice.
  • Forrester’s take: Tyler stands out for its turnkey breadth across U.S. states, municipalities, and counties.

Transfinder Named to Best Companies to Work for in New York List

The New York State Council of the Society for Human Resource Management, Best Companies Group, BridgeTower Media, and Rochester Business Journal have once again named Transfinder Corporation as one of the 2026 Best Companies to Work for in New York.  

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This is the ninth time Transfinder has made the list, and the seventh consecutive year it has been named to the Best Companies to Work for in New York list. Transfinder first made the list in 2015.  

According to a release, one out of every three students taking the bus in North America rides in a vehicle utilizing Transfinder technology.  

“It is a great honor to be named among the Best Companies to Work for in New York, knowing how competitive business is in the Empire State,” said Transfinder President and CEO Antonio Civitella. “We work very hard to make Transfinder a great place to work. We believe we have the best team. It is rewarding to know our employees feel the same way about each other and Transfinder.”

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