About Us
About us and how we started.
Our Vision
Deliver Family Pride in Every Ride through engaged employees and strong community partnership focused on:
– Employer of Choice
– Passenger Safety
– Passenger Experience
– Partner of Choice
– Sustainable Growth
Personal Responsibility In Delivering Excellence (PRIDE)
High Quality Safety Standards
More than 80 years ago, Goldie established Kobussen Buses to get children to and from school safely. Today, Kobussen Buses’ focus on safety is as strong as ever. Through our programs and procedures we emphasize that the safety of everyone we transport is our number one priority.
At Kobussen, we are serious about making sure every vehicle that we put on the road is safe and roadworthy.
We are especially proud of our preventive vehicle maintenance system, an electronic tracking process that maintains complete vehicle histories, schedules preventive maintenance inspections, tracks warranty and parts ordering tasks as well as documents all repairs performed on the vehicle. This program helps ensure safe operation and reduced maintenance costs for every Kobussen vehicle.
The people behind our high-quality vehicles
Kobussen Buses believes that our maintenance team is the best. Our mechanics and maintenance technicians are highly qualified through participation in industry training and certification programs throughout the year. We encourage our mechanics to participate in the ASE certification process and many of our mechanics participate in comprehensive ASE testing and recertification.
The pride of our company
Our drivers enjoy providing superior customer service to our
clients—they are caring, responsible and professional individuals. Our drivers must pass a criminal background check and motor vehicle record review as part of an extensive application and annual training process. Our drivers are required to pass a physical every 2 years. Our drivers are required to participate in our alcohol and drug testing program per DOT guidelines. Our drivers must honor all DOT rules and regulations. They are limited to 10 hours of driving and a total of 15 hours on duty, after taking 8 consecutive hours off. Our drivers attend monthly safety meetings which highlight topics such as; defensive driving, accident prevention and weather related driving skills. Our drivers complete defensive driving classes that include skid pad training at Fox Valley Technical College.
Association Membership
UMA – United Motorcoach Association
WMCA – Wisconsin Motor Coach Association
• Joe Kobussen – current board member & past president
NSTA – National School Transportation Association
• Dan Kobussen – current Vice President
WSBA – Wisconsin School Bus Association
• Dan Kobussen – Past President
Trailways
• Joe Kobussen – current board member
Family Business Forum – fostering healthy businesses in Wisconsin
• Joe Kobussen – past president
Motorcoach Council – founding member
Certification of passenger safety from:
DOD – Department of Defense
DOT – Department of Transportation
PTSB – Public Transportation Safety Board
Chamber Membership
To schools, businesses, and groups: 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.
Deliver Family Pride in Every Ride through engaged employees and strong community partnership focused on:
– Employer of Choice
– Passenger Safety
– Passenger Experience
– Partner of Choice
– Sustainable Growth
Personal Responsibility In Delivering Excellence (PRIDE)
Client Testimonials
“We will definitely plan on using your company for our travels again next year and would love to continue to have John as our driver. Thanks for a wonderful experience. We appreciate all that you have done for us.”
“I just wanted to express what a great trip we had with Chuck our driver. He was a gentleman, helped us load and unload, and very accommodating. With drivers like Chuck, it just makes the trip much more pleasurable”
“Thank you for getting us home safely. You were truly a hero to us! It took a lot of nerve to drive that bus in those conditions, especially with 28 passengers in the back of you. We put our trust in you and we were not disappointed. You are providing a great service to people. Thank you!
Our History
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 1958, former Kaukauna Mayor, Doty Bayorgeon, requested that an inter-city route be established between Kaukauna and Appleton. Kaukauna Bus Service was contracted to operate and manage the inter-city transit system until 1974 when it became Valley Transit. Also during this time, a deluxe school bus was purchased and operated for group charter trips.
The Kaukauna Bus Service was incorporated in 1965. Kobussen began to hire women drivers in the mid-1960s, a sensitive and progressive idea at the time for northeast Wisconsin companies.
In 1967, the company began transporting students for the Neenah Joint School District. Michael Kobussen, Elwood’s youngest son, joined the firm to manage the Neenah operations. Since then Michael’s wife Ann, daughter Melissa and son Scott have joined the business.
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 1995, Kobussen was nominated by the Wisconsin Council of Safety and Department of Industry, Labor and Human Relations (DILHR) for the Wisconsin Corporate Safety Award based on compensation claim scores. Kobussen is the only bus company in NE Wisconsin nominated for this honor.
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. (see all locations) 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 2012, Kobussen received the Contractor of the Year award from “School Bus Fleet Magazine.”
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”.
2018 will be Kobussen’s 80th anniversary of Grandpa Goldie starting the company. Kobussen will celebrate this by building a new corporate office in Kaukauna and purchasing 3 new state of the art motor coaches.
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 (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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a quote for a trip?
Fill out our quote request form that you can find at the top of the screen! Our team will get back to you as soon as they can with all the information you need.
Can I have alcohol on the buses?
Yes! Alcohol is allowed! However, no kegs, no glass on the coach/school bus, only cans or plastic allowed on the coach/school bus.
Is gratuity included in my price?
We add a suggested gratuity to your final price. This can be adjusted or removed by the client if desired, but if not it is there for your convenience.
However you would like to tip, it is always appreciated.
How far does Kobussen Buses Ltd travel?
We will go anywhere in the United States and Canada – except Hawaii – that you want to travel to!
Want a free Quote Request?
Get A Quote Today
Fill out our quote request form to let us know all the information we need. This will include information such as where you want to go, how many people, and when you want to schedule.