AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION ENTERPRISES

American Transportation Enterprises (ATE) was formed in 1955 as a subsidiary of Allen & Co. Allen & Co. was formed by Charles Allen, who in 1944 had acquired the Cincinnati Newport & Covington Railway Co., and in 1951 acquired the Lehigh Valley Transit Co. United Transit Co. was incorporated in 1945. As more transit systems became publicly owned, ATE evolved to a management company for such transit systems. In 1986, ATE was sold to Ryder System, whose business was primarily in trucks, including rentals. At the time, Ryder System also acquired some school bus companies. In 1999, the ATE transit and school bus operations were resold to First Group, operating buses in Great Britain. The US transit management subsidiary is now known as First Transit. The US school bus operations are known as First Student. And in Great Britain, First Group has since been popularizing the American yellow school bus concept.

COMPANIES OWNED BY ATE

Companies acquired by ATE in the years listed.

Companies acquired by United Transit Co. upon formation in 1945, acquired by ATE in 1962.