OAK CREEK, Wis. — Riteway Bus Service, Inc. d/b/a GO Riteway Transportation Group, said it has acquired Cardinal Buses, Inc. of Middlebury, Indiana. Milwaukee investment bank Bridgewood Advisors, represented GO Riteway in the transaction.
When the companies are combined, the GO Riteway/Cardinal Bus operation will become one of the largest diverse fleets in the Midwest. The owners of Cardinal Buses were nearing retirement age and were looking for a business partner who would maintain the company legacy.
GO Riteway is headquartered in Oak Creek, Wis. and has 1,475 employees in 22 locations. It has over 1,250 passenger transportation vehicles, including school buses, motor coaches, mini-coaches, black cars and airport shuttles. Cardinal Buses is headquartered in Middlebury, Ind. and has satellite offices in Mishawaka, Ind. and Holland, Mich. The company has 120 employees who operate over 50 vehicles,
Ronald Bast, chairman of GO Riteway, said, “We have been looking to grow the geographic footprint of our motorcoach business for years, but it was important for us to find a company that shared our family values. We respect the business the Shoup family and their valued employees have built. We plan to keep the Cardinal name in the markets where they operate,” Bast said.
“Just like our name in our markets, their brand is a long-time symbol of safe and reliable passenger transportation,” he added. “Not only do we plan to retain all Cardinal employees, we expect there will be excellent career opportunities in the future as we look to grow this business regionally.”
About Cardinal Buses
Cardinal Buses was started in 1923, when Branston Shoup purchased Middlebury Bus Lines. Branston’s son, John, took over the business in 1954, and today the company is owned by John’s sons, Matt and Dan Shoup.
About GO Riteway
GO Riteway was founded in 1957 by Rollie and Pearl Bast with four school buses in Germantown, Wis. Today, it is co-owned by four members of the Bast family: Ronald, Rochelle, Wendy and RJ. Over the next 60 plus years, it has continued to expand, pledging to “Be More than a Ride, Be a Solution.” www.goriteway.com
