AmTran
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | School bus manufacturing |
| Predecessor | Ward Body Works |
| Founded | 1980 |
| Founder | MBH, Inc. investment group (Thomas E "Mack" McLarty, J.W. "Buddy" Benafield, Richard L. "Dick" Harmon, Robert Harmon) |
| Defunct | 2002 (rebranded as IC Corporation) |
| Fate | Rebranded as IC Corporation; fully acquired by Navistar International |
| Successor | IC Corporation (later IC Bus) |
| Headquarters | Conway , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Steve Ward (distribution and marketing), Jerry Williams (Navistar CEO during acquisition) |
| Products | School bus bodies and buses (Type A, C, D buses) |
| Owner | Navistar International (from 1991, full ownership from 1995) |
Number of employees | ~1,200 (at Tulsa plant opening in 2000) (2000) |
| Parent | Navistar International |
American Transportation Corporation (AmTran) was a U.S.-based manufacturer specializing in school bus bodies, evolving from Ward Body Works, which was founded in 1933. Established in 1980 following Ward's bankruptcy filing in 1979, AmTran maintained bus production and later became a subsidiary of Navistar International in 1991. This acquisition exemplified the 1990s trend of chassis manufacturers purchasing school bus body companies.
AmTran's main offices and production facilities were located in Conway, Arkansas, with an additional assembly plant inaugurated in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1999. In 2000, AmTran was rebranded under International Truck and Bus by Navistar, adopting International’s branding identity. By 2002, the company was renamed IC Corporation, now known as IC Bus.
History
During the late 1970s, the school bus market experienced a downturn as the Baby Boom generation finished their schooling years, leading to a decline in student numbers and reduced demand for buses. Of the so-called "Big Six" manufacturers—Blue Bird, Carpenter, Superior, Thomas, Wayne, and Ward—Ward and Superior faced the most severe financial difficulties. Ward had accumulated debts exceeding $20 million by 1979 after shutting down one of its secondary plants.
1980s: Restructuring
In July 1980, Ward Industries entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with liabilities totaling $21.5 million. To preserve operations within central Arkansas, an investment group called MBH, Inc., led by Thomas E "Mack" McLarty, J.W. "Buddy" Benafield, and brothers Richard L. "Dick" and Robert Harmon acquired the company. MBH revived the business as American Transportation Corporation (AmTran), initially continuing to use the Ward name on school buses while introducing AmTran branding for other product lines by 1981.
Although the Ward family sold their ownership stakes, Steve Ward remained actively involved in distribution and marketing efforts within Arkansas.
Throughout the 1980s, AmTran introduced several design innovations that advanced school bus manufacturing. It was among the last companies to produce a Type A school bus but introduced a higher-capacity model featuring five rows of seats compared to the industry standard of four. In 1986, AmTran launched the Ward/AmTran Patriot—a large semi-forward control conventional bus built on a shortened Chevrolet/GMC B-Series chassis—providing enhanced forward visibility due to its reduced wheelbase and nose angle. While the Patriot did not achieve broad commercial success, it influenced subsequent designs such as the Thomas Vista.
In 1987, AmTran refreshed its body style by adding an exterior rubrail positioned beneath the window line; this design element remains integral to current IC Bus CE and RE-series models.
1990s: Acquisition and Integration
In 1991, Navistar International acquired a one-third ownership stake in American Transportation Corporation under CEO Jerry Williams’ leadership. By April 1995, Navistar obtained full ownership of AmTran, marking the first instance of a chassis supplier acquiring a school bus body manufacturer—a strategic move that sparked further consolidation within the industry.
Following this acquisition, AmTran gradually retired the Ward brand name. The Ward Senator model was redesigned as the AmTran Genesis in 1992 with a new roof emblem. Later that year, AmTran branding replaced Ward on all remaining school bus models. Navistar’s control also led to chassis supply standardization; after 1991, the Volunteer body was primarily paired with International’s 3800 chassis, and Ford chassis options were discontinued after 1998.
In 1996, AmTran introduced its first completely new full-size bus—the rear-engine AmTran RE—which differed significantly from the front-engine Genesis model. To concentrate on full-size buses, production of the Vanguard cutaway-chassis bus ceased after 1996.
The AmTran CS model released in 1997 represented the most substantial update to the Volunteer conventional bus since its original launch in 1973. It featured redesigned driver controls and a four-piece windshield to enhance visibility. After Ford ended production of its B700/B800 chassis in 1998, International’s 3800 chassis became exclusive to the AmTran CS; meanwhile, competitor Thomas Built Buses continued utilizing Freightliner FS-65 chassis for their models.
2000–2002: Transition to IC Corporation
In 1999, AmTran revealed plans for a second manufacturing location in Tulsa, Oklahoma, dedicated to producing conventional-chassis school buses. This plant commenced operations in 2000 with a workforce of approximately 1,200 employees, concentrating on lower-volume FE and RE series models, while the main office remained in Conway.
Following the Tulsa facility's inauguration, the AmTran CS was rebranded as the International IC—a fully integrated conventional bus that combined chassis, powertrain, and body components supplied by International. The IC incorporated design enhancements such as a revamped windshield and driver area, along with a unique vertical-slatted grille exclusive to this model.
In 2001, Navistar renamed its bus division to "International Truck and Bus," gradually retiring the AmTran brand; nonetheless, some vehicles produced through 2002 still displayed "American Transportation Corporation" markings. The FE and RE models transitioned to International branding instead of AmTran.
By 2003, Navistar reorganized its operations again to distinctly separate bus manufacturing from truck production, renaming the subsidiary Integrated Coach Corporation (IC Corporation), which was later marketed as IC Bus starting in 2008.
Products
| Ward/AmTran product lineup (1980-2002) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Production Years | Type/Configuration | Chassis Manufacturer | Details |
| Ward Vanguard | 1985-1992 | Type A (cutaway van chassis; dual rear wheels) | Ford Motor Company
General Motors |
The first Type A school bus with a 25-passenger capacity, largest at its debut. Equipped exclusively with dual rear wheels. |
| Ward Patriot | 1985-1991 | Type C (semi-forward control conventional) | General Motors
Chevrolet/GMC B6 (modified) |
Semi-forward control design based on GM B6 chassis, resembling the 1989-1990 Thomas Vista. Discontinued after GM ceased large-scale conventional chassis production in 1991. |
| Ward Volunteer | 1973-1992 | Type C (cowled-chassis conventional) | Ford Motor Company
General Motors Chevrolet B6/GMC B6000 (1980-1991) International Harvester International Harvester S1700/S1800 (1980-early 1989) Navistar International International 3700/3800 (1989-1992) |
Introduced in 1973 with multiple body revisions during the 1980s; foundational design remains in use with current IC CE-Series. GM chassis discontinued after 1991. |
| Ward President | c.1975-1989 | Type D (front-engine transit) | Asia-Smith Motors (1988-1990)
General Motors Chevrolet/GMC S-7 (1987-1989) International Harvester International FC1853 (1975–1986) |
Front-engine transit bus comparable to Blue Bird All American and Thomas Saf-T-Liner EF. Shared chassis with Wayne Lifestar from 1987 to 1990. |
| Ward Senator | 1990-1992 | Type D (front-engine transit) | Navistar International | Succeeded Ward President; similar in design to Blue Bird TC/2000 and Thomas Saf-T-Liner MVP EF. Rebranded as AmTran Genesis in 1992. |
| AmTran product range (1992-2002) | ||||
| Model | Production Years | Type/Configuration | Chassis Manufacturer | Details |
| AmTran Vanguard | 1993-1996 | Type A (cutaway van chassis; dual rear wheels) | General Motors | Discontinued post-1996 as AmTran shifted its emphasis towards full-size buses; last Type A model until the IC AE-Series launched in 2010. |
| AmTran Volunteer / CS / International IC | 1993-2002 | Type C (cowled-chassis conventional) | Ford Motor Company
Ford B700/B800 (1993-1998) Navistar International International 3700/3800 (1993-2002) |
Volunteer replaced by CS in 1997 featuring updated styling; subsequently replaced by the International-badged IC in 2000 with interior improvements and a distinctive hood design. After 1998, all chassis were sourced from parent company Navistar. |
| AmTran Genesis / FE | 1992-2002 | Type D (front-engine transit) | Navistar International | An evolution of the Ward Senator updated with AmTran branding. Renamed FE in 1998 and later developed into the International/IC FE-Series produced through 2010. |
| AmTran RE | 1996-2002 | Type D (rear-engine transit) | Navistar International | Introduced as a rear-engine competitor in 1996 against Blue Bird TC/2000; driver controls were modernized in 2000. Continues production as IC RE-Series with plans for phase-out by 2024. |
Facilities
AmTran manufactured its buses at the former Ward facility located in Conway, Arkansas. In 1999, the company broadened its operations by establishing a second plant in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This location became the hub for producing all conventional-style bus bodies starting with the introduction of the 2000 IC-series. Meanwhile, the Conway site continued to focus on building FE and RE-Series transit-style buses.
Following AmTran's rebranding as IC Corporation (which later became IC Bus), full-scale bus production at the Conway plant ended in January 2010 after the FE-Series was discontinued. The facility was then converted into a parts manufacturing center until Navistar sold it in 2014.
See also
- IC Bus – successor company
- Navistar International – parent company