Who We Are

For more than 50 years, Dean has delivered its passengers across the state of Michigan with safety, compassion and comfort in mind at every turn. No matter who you are or where you’re going, we’ll get you there.

Family History

Answering The Call Of Those In Need

Established in the early 1950s by Eric Christianson, Dean was born out of a recognized need for transportation services for students affected by polio in Lansing area schools. In 1969, the company was officially named Special Transportation by Lyle L. Stephens, a former Michigan State Police motor carrier lieutenant and a leader in passenger safety, with a focus on providing services to special education students and those with disabilities.

In 1986, Kellie P. Dean, who currently serves as Dean’s President & CEO, joined Stephens, leaving a position in the Lansing School District after 14 years. While working for the district, Dean was a teachers’ aide, special education teacher and special education administrator in charge of the programs for the physically or otherwise health- and hearing-impaired. Dean is a graduate of the Michigan State University College of Education and holds an undergraduate degree in special education and a master’s degree in school administration.

A Leader in Transportation Safety Emerges

In 1991, Special Transportation changed its name to Dean Transportation Inc.

Dean has twice been named the top school bus company in North America and recently received two environmental awards for its commitment to clean transportation.

Dean Trailways is Born

Shortly after establishing its new name, the organization expanded its service offerings with the introduction of Dean Trailways in 1994. Trailways was envisioned as a charter service line that would support Dean’s efforts in transporting Michigan’s special-needs students in the Upper Peninsula to the Michigan School for the Blind in Lansing and the Michigan School for the Deaf in Flint.

Trailways provides luxury transportation services to schools, universities and individual charter groups. Today, Dean Charters and Tours (DBA Dean Trailways of Michigan) is one of the largest motor coach operators in Michigan. Our services have grown to include charters, tours, line runs and sports packages. We work closely with individuals, tour companies, casinos, professional event organizers, professional sports teams, corporate event organizers, schools and all major universities.

Vision

To be Michigan’s most trusted and respected passenger transportation provider; connecting people to their purpose through service and technology innovation; making our communities a better place to live, work, enjoy, and be educated in.

Mission

To Serve our Communities with Caring, Reliable, and Efficient Transportation where Safety is our Dedication, Integrity is our Cornerstone and Respect is Fundamental.

The Dean Coin

Dean Transportation, Inc. and Dean Charter and Tours (DBA Dean Trailways of Michigan) were established from a long history of providing safe, reliable and efficient passenger transportation, and built on a commitment of integrity, trust and respect. Dean Transportation has a fleet of over 1600 yellow school buses, that provide student transportation to over 80,000 students a day. Dean Charter and Tours have a fleet of over 50 Motor Coaches, small buses, vans and sedans, and provides transportation nationwide for sports teams, schools, tourists and corporations. But the heart of this family owned, Michigan based, company are the people that make it all happen. This includes the hard-working dedicated employees, our customers, our transportation partners and the community.

In an effort to recognize those individuals that have gone above and beyond and provided an outstand contribution to the Dean organization, the Dean Coin was developed. The Dean Coin with its green and white signature company colors on one side, and yellow band with the American flag on the other side, are linked representations of our yellow school buses and our white motor coach buses. The coin signifies the value, gratitude and heartfelt appreciation in facilitating the goal to connect people to purpose.

The Dean family hopes you will cherish the significance of your Dean Coin, and know that your contribution was greatly cherished, valued and appreciated.

Thank you!

Awards & Recognition

Dean is driven by the opportunity to improve the lives of our passengers and employees while creating a greener environment for generations to come. We’re committed to being recognized as a North American leader in safety and environmental consciousness. In the pursuit of our mission to provide a transportation experience, we’ve been recognized with the following awards and certifications:

Green School Bus Fleet Certification Gold Level,
National School Transportation Association, 2010

Contractor of the Year,
School Bus Fleet Magazine, 1995

Contractor of the Year,
School Bus Fleet Magazine, 1987

Outstanding State Business,
Special Olympics Michigan, 1994

Gold Level Environmental Certification, 2010
Corporate Clean Transportation Leadership Award, Clean Cities
Celebration of Contributions to Regional Growth Honoree, Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, 2010
Philanthropist of the Year, Association of Fundraising Professionals and Greater Lansing Community Foundation, 2010

Five Star Community and Five Star Investor Award, American Cancer Society, Great Lakes Division, 2010
Corporate Clean Transportation Leadership Award, 2009
Ballentine Award, St. Vincent Catholic Charities, 2006
Socially Responsible Business, Lansing Business Monthly Entrepreneurial Awards, 1997

4812 Aurelius Rd, Lansing, MI 48910