Minnesota School Bus Company Operated Unsafe Vehicles Despite ‘Out of Service’ Declarations
An investigation found that Pride Transportation, a Minnesota school bus company, repeatedly operated buses that state inspectors had declared unsafe and placed "Out of Service." Despite at least 16 instances of this occurring since 2020, and a high-profile crash involving…
Minneapolis St. Paul, MN, September 10, 2026 — Pride Transportation, a school bus company based in Minnesota, has been found to have repeatedly operated buses that state inspectors had declared unsafe and placed in an “Out of Service” status. This practice has occurred on at least 16 documented occasions since 2020, according to investigation findings.
The buses in question were primarily operating within the Twin Cities metro area, which includes St. Paul. The repeated use of vehicles flagged as unsafe raises concerns regarding student transportation safety.
The situation has also been linked to a high-profile crash involving students. Despite the significant safety concerns and the documented instances of non-compliance, prosecutors have rarely filed charges against the company.
Local city attorneys have cited insufficient evidence as a reason for not pursuing charges in some cases. The exact number of charges filed, or the specific outcomes of any legal actions, were not detailed in the findings. The findings highlight a gap between vehicle safety inspections and the enforcement actions taken when vehicles are deemed unfit for service.
The contractor’s name, Pride Transportation, was provided, but further details regarding the company’s operational history or specific responses to inspection findings were not elaborated upon. The timeframe for these occurrences spans from 2020 to the present, indicating a persistent issue.
Story summarized from the original created by Ryan Raiche on kstp.com, see more information here.
