For over 90 years, IC Bus has been moving students safely to and from school. What started as a small operation in Arkansas has become one of the most recognized names in school transportation—a brand known for building buses that last, equipped with advanced safety features, and designed to make the driver’s job easier.

The Many Stops Along the Way

International Harvester (the predecessor to today’s company) started building commercial and school buses in 1915. IC Bus, known then as Ward Body Works, was founded in 1933 in Conway, Arkansas. The company—and later AmTran—earned a reputation for building tough, reliable school buses with safety baked in.

In 1991, Navistar International bought into the company, and by 1995 owned it completely. A few years later, they opened an assembly plant in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The facility started production in 2001 with a simple approach: build everything in one place, get it right, and keep everyone safe. More than 250,000 buses have come out of that plant since then.

In 2023, IC Bus rolled out the Next Generation CE Series—a significant redesign that brought real upgrades in safety, comfort, and tech.

Supporting the Shift to Electric

Electric school buses offer districts a practical path toward sustainability while delivering the reliability and performance students depend on every day. With smooth acceleration, quiet operation, and fewer moving parts than traditional vehicles, electric buses can help reduce maintenance requirements and support lower operating costs over time.

To help simplify the transition, IC Bus provides guidance throughout the electrification journey. Customers have access to support for vehicle specification, route analysis, driver and technician training, and identifying potential funding opportunities. Working closely with dealers and industry partners, IC Bus helps districts make informed decisions and develop a plan that fits their transportation needs.

More than 1,600 dedicated team members build approximately 11,000 new buses annually at "The Tulsa Mile," where the chassis, engine, body, and options are all assembled inside the emerald-hued, mile-long assembly floor. With an average tenure of 6.5 years, these skilled workers provide more than $60 million in direct income to the Tulsa community each year, making IC Bus not just a manufacturer but a vital economic anchor for the region.

IC Bus mixes decades of experience with practical innovation. Smarter safety systems, better visibility, tougher construction, improved comfort, and fleet management tools all serve one goal: protect students, support drivers, and help schools do their jobs better. It's a brand built on history but focused on what's next—safer, smarter, more reliable transportation for the road ahead.