Trans Tech Taps New Dealer for Type A School Buses
Southern Bus & Mobility will be Trans Tech’s exclusive dealer for sales and service of its Type A school buses in Illinois and Missouri.

Southern Bus & Mobility will be Trans Tech’s exclusive dealer of its Type A school buses in Illinois and Missouri. Shown here are sales representatives for Southern Bus & Mobility and Erickson Lopez, national sales manager for Trans Tech, left; and John Phraner, president of Trans Tech, right.

Southern Bus & Mobility will be Trans Tech’s exclusive dealer of its Type A school buses in Illinois and Missouri. Shown here are sales representatives for Southern Bus & Mobility and Erickson Lopez, national sales manager for Trans Tech, left; and John Phraner, president of Trans Tech, right.
WARWICK, N.Y. — Trans Tech has selected Southern Bus & Mobility as its exclusive dealer for sales and service of its Type A school buses in Illinois and Missouri.
“Southern Bus & Mobility are an outstanding addition to our expanding network of dealerships, and we could not be more thrilled to have them on board,” said Trans Tech President John Phraner. “With an unmatched dedication and service to their customers that spans over two decades, Southern Bus & Mobility are a perfect fit for us.”
Southern Bus & Mobility will sell and support Trans Tech’s lineup of Type A school buses, multifunction school activity buses and commercial buses from its main facilities in Breese, Illinois, and St. Louis, Missouri. Southern Bus & Mobility recently took delivery of its first four Trans Tech Type A school buses: three SSTs and one CST.
Southern Bus & Mobility was awarded a contract in Illinois to provide 14-passenger multifunction school activity buses, 18-passenger wheelchair accessible school buses, and 27-passenger school buses to the state.
“We are very excited about our exclusive dealership agreement with Trans Tech. After seeing firsthand how Trans Tech buses are manufactured, we knew we were dealing with a company that builds an incredibly safe, durable, and dependable bus,” said Southern Bus & Mobility President Tom Gerdes. “Trans Tech’s engineering and signature aerodynamic design provides for better fuel economy and contributes to an extremely quiet and less turbulent ride.”
“We will be working closely with Southern Bus & Mobility to make sure that we continue to manufacture buses that exceed their customers’ needs for safety, versatility and efficiency,” Phraner added.
More Management

Meet the 2025 School Bus Driver Hero Winner: Annette Brown
We caught up with Wa-Nee Community Schools' Annette Brown on site at SBFX, where she was named the 2026 School Bus Driver Hero Award winner. Hear about her reaction, what she loves most about being a school bus driver, and more!
Read More →
Predictability Is Like Ketchup (According to 6-Year-Olds)
To students, a different school bus can feel like a full-blown crisis. One driver reflects on why familiar routines, showing up on time, and being reliably boring matter more than we think.
Read More →
Samsara Launches Free Driver Rewards Program
The new Driver Perks program gives eligible professional drivers access to discounts and offers without adding a cost for participating fleets.
Read More →
How Tax-Exempt Municipal Leases Can Help Finance School Buses
Let’s explore school bus financing options, including municipal leases, vendor payable accounts, and balloon payments, and how they can help stretch fleet budgets.
Read More →
Nominate Rising School Transportation Pros Under 40!
We’re searching for the next generation of leaders making an impact across the K-12 student transportation industry to recognize as SBF’s 2027 Trailblazers. Nominations are open now!
Read More →
Changing Lanes: BusWhere, EverDriven, InterMotive, Summit School Services, Switzer-Carty & Thomas Built Buses
Check out who's been hired, promoted, and appointed to leadership positions at various school transportation suppliers, contractors, and manufacturers.
Read More →
The Most Expensive Thing You Do Before Selling a School Bus: Wait
When should you sell an aging school bus? Learn how maintenance, mileage, corrosion, specifications, and timing can affect resale value long before the auction.
Read More →
American Student Transportation Partners Acquires AJ Myers and Sons
A new deal brings a 75-year Pennsylvania student transportation provider into one of the nation’s largest private school bus contracting groups.
Read More →
What I Brought Home From SBFX: Relationships, Leadership, and Preparing What's Next
Who could lead your transportation operation tomorrow if you couldn't? Bernando Brown explores succession planning, mentorship, and preparing emerging leaders to step up.
Read More →
Inside School Bus Fleet ConneX 2026: Industry Leaders Connect in Scottsdale [Photos]
See highlights from SBFX 2026 in Arizona, where school bus operators and suppliers gathered for meetings, education, networking, awards, and more.
Read More →

