Minnesota Coaches & Affiliates

Raising the flag in Hastings this Memorial Day weekend. Honoring those who gave everything so we can keep moving forward. If you’re traveling this weekend, stay safe. #MemorialDayWeekend #NeverForget #MinnesotaCoaches

We joined CareerForceMN and the Fergus Falls Area Chamber of Commerce as they hosted an open-air career fair. Our Fergus Falls team continues to show up and get involved in the #community wherever they go.

What a powerful reflection Ryan Scheldrup, thank you for sharing this! Events like the School Bus Road-eo truly highlight what makes this industry. We’re proud to be part of moments like these and grateful for families like yours who are part of the journey!

When you get the entire Minnesota Coaches & Affiliates team together in one place, you're reminded very quickly that what we're building here is bigger than transportation. Our company Road-eo was a perfect example of that. The level of participation said everything. We all play different roles across this company, and it meant a lot to see those come together alongside their families. Kids playing games, families laughing, amazing food, and teammates cheering each other on. Those simple, small moments matter most. The Road-eo is a great event, but what it really represents is the kind of company we are committed to building. A company of #Safety, #Community, #Integrity, and #Service. Thank you to everyone who showed up, participated, volunteered, and brought their families. This is what makes Minnesota Coaches and its Affiliates special.

In honor of our 2026 Minnesota Coaches & Affiliates Road-eo, we sat down with two remarkable teammates, Miranda and Naleisha, to listen to their stories. ~ Interview with Naleisha ~ Naleisha has been in the profession for over 11 years. She has encompassed many roles which include being a bus aide, standby driver, DOT drug collector, and has been an asset for several Service Centers companywide both in driving and training. During this time, she has also become a certified trainer, pursuing additional credentials in special education to enhance driver training. Naleisha’s Road-eo journey is one of the most compelling in the industry: a first experience that ended in failure, a six-year absence, and a triumphant return in 2023 that ended in first place. Last year, she came in first again and achieved 3rd place overall at her first MN State Road-eo competition. Naleisha says, “I think everyone should realize we do this every single day. The course is cones, not people. Don’t let nerves get in the way of being yourself”. Naleisha will also be competing in the 52nd NSTA National Competition in Austin, Texas. Naleisha’s greatest hope lies in the expansion of special education training for bus drivers — an area she believes has been long overlooked. She has pursued certification in special needs transport. Naleisha responds, “They say that the school bus is the extension of the classroom, but when it comes to special ed, that’s where the licensed professionals with degrees stop at the door. After years of being a trainer and a standby driver, I noticed the irregularities of the types of training provided amongst the discretion of companies and school districts statewide. This is why I now teach the importance of FAPE, the IDEA Act, and the 14th amendment. I think there’s so much more we can do, because it’s about meeting everyone where they are and rethinking what support really looks like, both on the bus and in the classroom”. Together, Miranda and Naleisha’s stories show that school bus driving is far more than a job, it is a commitment to #safety, #community, #integrity, and #service.

In honor of our 2026 Minnesota Coaches & Affiliates Road-eo, we sat down with two remarkable teammates, Miranda and Naleisha, to listen to their stories. From their morning routes that are essential to a child’s education, to competing on the national stage. ~ Interview with Miranda ~ Miranda has been driving for 18 years across two service centers — Farmington and now Faribault. She never imagined herself in the role but found it naturally through part-time work and a love of driving and working with children. The highlight of her daily route is when students share their school day with her. Treating her as a trusted part of their lives, not just a driver. Miranda states, “It’s hard to pick one fond memory from 18 years. One that always stuck with me was driving for YMCA camps. One year, students got on the bus and said, ‘We have the cool girl bus driver.’ I thought, yes — a little bit of validation right there.” Miranda completed with a ‘just have fun’ mindset at the Minnesota State Road-eo and won first place. Miranda is competing in the 52nd National School Transportation Association National Competition in Austin, Texas on June 27-28. In her final message, Miranda shared that she loves working with kids and takes pride in getting them to school safely, treating each child with the same care she would want for her own.

Engaging in community events is a priority of our organization and we are proud of our teammates that cheerfully host these events.

When the US Army calls on a Friday morning and asks, "Can you find us four buses and eight drivers?", you answer 'What time do you want to load?' The team pulled together two Ready Bus Company Coaches, one Voyageur Bus Company Coach, one Marschall Line Inc Coach to got the job done and all in less than one hour! Big shout out to Christopher Shelby, Mike Karlen, Traven Medawar, John Moore, Joe Krois and Sarah Wlosinski from #team Minnesota Coaches & Affiliates. We have an awesome team! 

I’d like to recognize our Hastings Bus Company teammates who volunteered with Greater Twin Cities United Way, helping fill bags of food for students to take home for the weekend. Your time, consistency, and love for our #community truly make a difference for families who need it most. Thanks to Joe Ryan, Val Weberg, Angela Wakefield, Denise Becker, Marj Perrault, Al Dunn, and Char Johnson for living the values at Minnesota Coaches & Affiliates!

We are excited to welcome Jon Petz - Amazement Artist® as our guest speaker at the 2026 Minnesota Coaches & Affiliates School Bus Road‑eo! Jon brings an energetic and meaningful perspective that aligns with what our Road-eo message represents—how the smallest moments can create the biggest differences! His message will be a great addition to an event dedicated to recognizing excellence and a commitment to safety across our school bus companies. We look forward to an inspiring and memorable experience for our teams on May 16th! Check out Jon Petz's amazing magic trick for our teammates here: https://lnkd.in/gtxzvJyt