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Student Transit has been in operation for over 80 years. We are proud to consistently provide safe rides and treat our staff and customers like family. However, we were not always in the business of transporting students. Check out this article to learn about how our company originated four Fey generations ago."The Fey family is probably some of the most giving in this community... I've been a loyal worker for six-and-a-half years now, and it's because I love these guys. It's a great family. What a great team," says Marty Klukas, General Manager of Student Transit. 
Ask anyone who works at Student Transit what they love most about the company, and they'll tell you that everyone is treated like family. It makes sense because it is operated by fourth-generation Fey's (brothers Ray and Jim), who have continued the traditions established by their ancestors over 80 years ago. Starting the Route During WWII, the city of Eau Claire could no longer fund its public transit program, which is when Ray Fey Sr. and his son, Fred Fey, stepped in. The father and son team purchased the city's buses in 1939, adding to the collection of bus companies they already managed. Following the war, son and brother Ray Fey Jr. joined in on the endeavor and started what was once known as the Eau Claire Transportation Company. This company was owned alongside other facilities that serviced areas such as La Crosse and Winona. As the organization grew, managing such a wide radius became increasingly difficult, leading the team to shift their focus to a more localized approach. From there, the company continued to blossom due to the determination of the father and son trio. "I always remember [my Grandpa Fred was] super positive," says Jim. "He had an incredibly optimistic attitude about anything, no matter the challenge. He always met it enthusiastically with positivity and optimism. And I think that's what we carry on." Shifting Gears As the company directed its efforts toward servicing the local area, they were approached by the Eau Claire Area School District, which had recently endured an accident with one of its vehicles. The ask was simple - take over their student bussing operations. Initially, they began by picking up children in more rural areas to ensure they could attend school each day. Then, as time passed, school buses began replacing city buses as more and more children joined the routes. In 1975, the company officially switched to exclusively providing school transportation, selling the city busses back to the City of Eau Claire and filling their tracks with the iconic big, yellow vehicles. Soon after, Phillip "Flip" Fey took over as president and established the organization as what is now known as Student Transit. Recounting the company's successes over the years, Jim notes that every person involved along the way can be credited to some degree with its continuous progress and evolution. "We've always had great people," he says. "We've been around this many years because we've always had great people. And that's really what makes this work." Always Moving Forward In 2013, Student Transit added to their routes by taking over bussing for the Altoona School District following a few years of performing maintenance on their fleet. Soon after, the company outgrew its old facility and eventually moved into a larger space in 2015. The new space accommodated staff offices, meeting rooms, additional busses, and an in-house mechanic shop. Today, Student Transit is operated by Ray and Jim Fey, who grew up in the business, riding the busses and frequenting the office. The brothers agree that the company's ongoing mission is always to provide safe rides for all passengers. This is accomplished by training their staff in-house, purchasing the highest quality equipment, and treating every employee and customer like family. When asked what their grandfather would think about the business today, Ray says, "I don't think he'd believe it." "I think we have to give credit to all three of them," says Jim. "I think they all would be very proud of what they started… Fred, Uncle Brud, and Great Grandpa Fey would all be impressed and, I think, never would have imagined how much we've grown." "And we can't forget about Dad," Ray says. "As our most direct mentor, he has greatly impacted our ability to improve the family business continuously. I think he's very proud of everything we have accomplished and how much our team has helped take Student Transit to places his father would have never dreamed of." Check out our current employment opportunities if you want to join our family and join the Student Transit legacy. |
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