Pennsylvania bus company acquires Birnie Bus Service

ROME, N.Y. — Rome–based Birnie Bus Service, Inc. is now part of West Chester, Pennsylvania–based Krapf Bus Companies, serving as Krapf’s largest division.

Neither firm disclosed financial terms of the acquisition deal in a news release issued Thursday.

The change in ownership became effective on June 14.

“The Birnie name and brand will continue unchanged, and no jobs will be affected,” Tim Birnie, president and CEO of Birnie Bus, said in the news release. “We are both lean organizations and we need and want everyone to stay.”

Birnie Bus Service employs more than 1,300 people, who are now part of the Krapf company’s employee count, which has grown to more than 3,000 people.

Birnie Bus operates 1,000 vehicles including school buses, transit and para-transit vehicles, and commercial motor coaches.

Combined, the Krapf company will operate 2,500 school buses across four states, including Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware, and Virginia.

Birnie brings more than 70 school districts and pre-schools, as well as transit, para-transit, and motor coach operations to Krapf, according to the news release.

The Mohawk Valley–based company transports more than two million passengers and travels over 700 million miles “every year,” according to the news release.

“Birnie Bus is a great bus company and a great fit for us,” Blake Krapf, president and CEO of Krapf Bus Companies, said in the news release. “They are family-owned and run like us. Their core values are much like ours. And they are widely-recognized as being an excellent service provider. We are very proud to have them join the Krapf organization.”

“It is important to me that Birnie Bus is in good hands – including our customers, our employees and our reputation,” said Birnie. “While I will be joining the Krapf board of directors in a more strategic role, I am delighted that the Krapfs will not only be taking charge, but will be taking Birnie Bus to whole new levels in the years ahead.”

About the firms

Birnie Bus says it launched in 1947 when Martin Birnie joined his brother-in-law, Martin Nunn, a local undertaker, to operate three school buses and two charter coaches.

The business “grew steadily” over the years. Martin’s son, Tim Birnie, joined the family business in 1979, “eventually leading the company to grow to its present size.”

George Krapf, Jr. founded Krapf Bus Companies in 1942 with two school buses.

Seventy-five years later, it remains a family-owned operation and describes itself as the “largest provider of school bus transportation in Pennsylvania and Delaware.”

The company operates 1,600 vehicles throughout Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Virginia.

Krapf also operates charter buses, para-transit vehicles, and public transit routes in the greater Southeastern Pennsylvania area.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com