By Empire Media
•
02 Feb, 2021
Click here to view video Kobussen Buses Ltd. is a family owned and operated passenger transportation company that maintains a history of high standards and flexibility because our people are knowledgeable and proud to take a Personal Responsibility In Delivering Excellence (PRIDE) for every passenger. In 1938, Elwood Kobussen, aka “Grandpa Goldie,” a dairy farmer and trucker by trade, was chosen by the Kaukauna Board of Education to transport out-of-town students to and from the Kaukauna High School. Kaukauna Bus Service Incorporated was born that year and started with red, white and blue buses. The idea of busing children gained momentum and a second bus was purchased in 1940. One bus was added each year until the mid 1950s. James Kobussen, Elwood Kobussen’s eldest son, joined the company and they eventually formed a father-son partnership. In the early 1970s, the company started a driver’s training program, although it was not a requirement by the state of Wisconsin. To complete the program drivers were required to attend training and take road and written tests. During this time James Kobussen became a Certified Driver Training Instructor and taught classes at Fox Valley Technical College. This practice continues today with all Kobussen drivers receiving skid pad training at Fox Valley Technical College. Kaukauna Bus Service became Kobussen Buses, Ltd. in 1976. In 1980, Outagamie County and Kobussen started a contract to transport adults with special needs. This contract has been expanded to 11 vehicles and still operates daily. Kobussen expanded into motorcoaches in 1983 and offers chartered group trips throughout the US and Canada. More recently Kobussen has become a member of Trailways — a well known name in the Motorcoach industry — which gives access to Trailways members for the rare need to keep a group moving when a bus or driver cannot continue. In 1994, James’s youngest son, Dan Kobussen, joined the company. In 1998, James retired from Kobussen and his presidency went to his middle child, Joe Kobussen. Over the years Kobussen has opened offices in Oshkosh, Oconto, Sun Prairie, Bloomer and Brodhead. Kobussen continues its commitment to safety, receiving the highest safety certification from the Department of Transportation and the Department of Defense. Kobussen stays on the cutting edge of technology with updates from local and national association membership. Global positioning systems, student routing systems and diesel fired pre-heaters are just some of the items that make up Kobussen’s safe eco-efficient efforts. In 2014 Kobussen purchased propane powered school buses and they proved to be a safe and reliable alternative fuel buses. Now we have over 80 propane powered buses. They are much cleaner for the environment, quieter and require less maintenance than diesel powered buses. According to Dan Kobussen, “they work very well in our cold climate.” Today Kobussen has over 900 dedicated team members who operate and maintain a fleet of Luxury Motorcoaches, School Buses and special needs equipped Transit vehicles from 20 locations covering 28 school districts. Kobussen is committed to growing into the future with all the friendly drivers treating the folks they transport just like one of the family. Check them out online at http://www.Kobussen.com