Tell us a little bit about Master's Transportation:
Master’s Transportation was founded just over 30 years ago, with our first location in Belton, MO. Today we are headquartered in Kansas City, MO, with 12 offices throughout the United States providing sales, rental, parts and service to our customers. We are one of the only bus dealerships that offers buses for rent, offering 6-passenger vans all the way to 71 passenger school buses, available nationwide at our facilities in Corona, CA spanning to Orlando, FL. In addition to renting, we have an in-house Leasing Department, and can quickly structure and approve leases for 24-48 months.
Our substantial on-the-ground inventory of buses and vans in the most common configurations means we can deliver new buses in 7-10 days.
Additionally, our specialty vehicle factory, Master’s Specialty Vehicles (MSV), enables us to build vans and modify buses in-house for special applications, saving our customers time and money. Our focus on exceeding customer expectations has allowed us to grow and transition into being much more than a conventional bus dealership, and with the opening of our Nashville location, our current staff now exceeds 200 people.
What do you wish more people knew about the business?
Our purpose, the reason we exist, is to Move People Forward. Whether it is a short-term rental, a multi-year lease, the sale of a new or used bus, building a custom van for ADA transportation, or modifying a bus for prison transport, we are providing economical, value-based solutions. I wish all our customers understood everything we offer! We truly can accommodate almost any van or bus-related need.
Additionally, this Spring we will be transitioning into a new corporate facility, custom-built to improve our productivity by combining five locations and bringing our core operating staff under one roof. Not only will this further improve our efficiency overall, but we will be building a new MSV Facility there with 10 times the square feet of our current primary production facility.
This effort has been in the planning and development stage for the past 5 years, so our grand opening this coming Spring will be a huge milestone.
How did you, personally, end up in the transportation industry?
I began my career selling commercial trucks at a Mack Truck Dealership. For several years I focused on light-, medium-, and heavy-duty truck sales in commercial applications. In the early 2000’s I had the opportunity to work for a newly-established van builder and modifier in Elkhart, IN — we built and sold ADA vans and shuttles to bus companies nationwide. This relationship helped me learn quite a bit about what customers are looking for, and what they expect from bus dealers. The eventual transition to selling buses and vans to retail customers seemed like a natural one. I enjoy finding out about a customer’s unique circumstances and needs and being able to offer a sensible competitive solution. Today I’m the Regional Sales Manager for Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, working out of an office in Elkhart, IN.
What has been your experience as an ILLBA member?
When I was given the sales territory of Illinois, joining the ILLBA was a no-brainer. An organization with the sole mission of enhancing the experience and productivity for limo and bus providers through education and advocacy is a worthy ally, and deserves the support of industry partners. I’ve appreciated the topics discussed in the monthly virtual coffee meetings, reading the newsletter, and I’m definitely looking forward to this summer’s Great Lakes Transportation Show.
I would wholeheartedly recommend other vendors become a part of the ILLBA. It helps keep the operators informed, and the industry overall profitable and thriving.
Any predictions, hopes, or ambitions for the future of our industry?
I see continued growth. People will always want to get around, and the industry partners dedicated to providing professional transportation solutions will keep the industry strong, and moving.
You can reach Steve at [email protected], +1 574 301 5786, or on LinkedIn.
Learn more about Master's Transportation on their website and connect with them on Facebook.