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Kiessling Transit Operations Team Standing in Front of KTI Vehicles - About Us Title Background

About Us

Transportation expertise from a family-owned and operated company

Kiessling Transit, Inc., a Massachusetts transportation company, got its start in the home of Carl and Paula Kiessling in 1970, with just two employees and two vehicles. Compared to where we stand today, as a leader in our industry with two large operations facilities and hundreds of employees and vehicle, these were very humble beginnings. Our company truly is one of those great American business success stories.

Our Story

Then…

Originally named Kiessling School Transportation (KST), Carl and Paula built their company from scratch, providing ride services in an era when everything had to be done manually. As you can imagine, this was quite a challenge for the Kiessling husband and wife team.

In these early years, company headquarters had no way to directly communicate with drivers on the road and vice versa. So, if there were any difficulties with a vehicle, a driver would have to find a landline, like a phone booth, and get word to Paula who was at home overseeing ride dispatch. However, to complicate matters, Paula then had no way of relaying to Carl, who was generally out on the road driving or monitoring a new employee, that she needed assistance with whatever issue had arisen, such as a broken-down vehicle, a driver stuck in traffic (remember, no iPhones or Waze apps back then), or an employee calling in sick.

With all that modern technology helps us with today, it’s difficult to imagine having to deal with these types of issues when you are trying to build a business based on providing the highest standards of customer service and care. And yet, the KST owners persevered, and out of these trials and tribulations, came many innovative solutions, including two-way radio communication and bright orange body belts for wheelchair vans, that would eventually propel their business into a leadership role in the transportation management and services industry.

These may not seem like very advanced ideas today; however, back then, Kiessling was at the forefront of implementing concepts to make public transit safe and reliable for all people.

…And Now

Kiessling Transit Inc. has grown exponentially since 1970, reaching the $20M revenue marker in 2009, and we continue on an upward trajectory today. This phenomenal growth is a result of our continuing expansion in the area of Human Services Transportation – in fact, we are now the largest HST vendor in the Worcester area – plus critical Fixed Route and Demand Response ride service contracts that we manage for GATRA (Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority) and the MWRTA (MetroWest Regional Transit Authority).

We operate out of two large transportation facilities in Norfolk and Framingham, MA and we manage hundreds of employees and vehicles daily.

Our company, now led by the Kiessling’s sons, Lars and Roger, remains forever committed to the same principles that Paula and Carl founded the company on. While our company has grown, and will continue to expand, we always want to remain true to the family atmosphere, to treating our employees, customers and passengers with great respect, and to always displaying integrity in all our business interactions. Our entire team works every day to ensure that the values KTI was built on never change.

Our Five Golden Principles

These principles are essential to everything we do.

Customer Always Comes First

Every decision we make is based on how it will affect our relationships with our passengers and customers.

Local Expertise

KTI is a local company; our management, and most of our employees, don’t just work in the community, but live here as well.

Hands-On Management

KTI is operated directly by its owners, Lars and Roger Kiessling, who are the sons of the original founders.

Integrity & Family Values

KTI has their family name on the side of all of their vehicles, which makes them doubly committed to providing a quality product that lives up to their name and the company the founders built.

Safety

KTI is known for their strict safety guidelines and their constant coaching of drivers to ensure that they have the safest product on the road at all times.

Who We Serve

We are proud to work with a wide variety of organizations and individuals from across New England. Our clients include:

Transportation Management Authorities

Adult Day Habilitation Centers

Hospitals

Child Daycare Facilities and Pre-Schools

Special Education Programs

Colleges and Universities

Elementary, Middle and High Schools

Supported Employment Programs

Corporate Office Parks

Company Leadership & History

Kiessling Transit Inc. has been providing transportation services in New England since 1970. Here’s a look back at our company’s history.

Our Partners, Customers, and Passengers Share Their Kiessling Experiences With You

  • "Kiessling’s staff, reliability and customer service are all first rate! Our students have built strong relationships with drivers who are fully focused on their safety, comfort and enjoyment."

    David Drucker - Dean College

  • "As a partner, KTI is forward-thinking and committed to success on all fronts, especially the energy efficiency of their fleet."

    Tim Reeser - Lightning Systems

  • "KTI genuinely cares about the quality of service they provide, the construction and condition of their vehicles and the professionalism by which they treat their clients. To come across a company that operates in the manner that KTI does is rare."

    Glen Perlman - National Van Builders, Inc.

  • "It is obvious that KTI cares about their employees. The negotiations with KTI went smoothly and quickly. Any issues that do arise, KTI deals with swiftly and fairly."

    Ken Kephart - ATU Local 22

  • "It is obvious that KTI cares about their employees. The negotiations with KTI went smoothly and quickly. Any issues that do arise, KTI deals with swiftly and fairly."

    Ken Kephart - ATU Local 22

  • "Working with KTI, we experienced an incredibly smooth transition for our 60 plus participants in their daily rides to and from our program. The attention to detail given by the entire Senior Leadership team is what made the onboarding process and first few days of operation such a complete success!"

    Angela Penny - Saint Francis Adult Day Health Program

  • "Kiessling has stepped in and provided reliable, professional, courteous transportation that has allowed me to further my education, maintain an active social life, and stay gainfully employed."

    James Costello - Passenger

How Can We Help Get You Where You Need To Go?

Whatever your transportation needs, the transit management experts at Kiessling are here to deliver. Please click the appropriate box below and then fill out the pop-up request form to have a member of our team contact you soon.