# 2026-12639: Bus Family Seeks Control of Four Similar-Sounding Fleets

2026-12639, John Mclaughlin, Tim Mclaughlin, and Valley Bus, LLC-Acquisition of Control-Valley Bus Coaches, Valley Bus Grand Forks, LLC, West Fargo Bus Company, LLC And T&J Ventures, LLC, is a Federal Register notice from Surface Transportation Board published 2026-06-24, effective 2026-08-11; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-07-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12639
- As of: 2026-07-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-12639
- Title: John Mclaughlin, Tim Mclaughlin, and Valley Bus, LLC-Acquisition of Control-Valley Bus Coaches, Valley Bus Grand Forks, LLC, West Fargo Bus Company, LLC And T&J Ventures, LLC
- Type: Notice
- Agencies: Surface Transportation Board
- Citation: 91 FR 38070
- Published: 2026-06-24
- Effective: 2026-08-11
- Comments close: 2026-08-10
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-07-01

## In one line

Bus Family Seeks Control of Four Similar-Sounding Fleets

## Summary

John and Tim McLaughlin, along with Valley Bus, LLC, want to take control of four bus companies: Valley Bus Coaches, Valley Bus Grand Forks, West Fargo Bus Company, and T&J Ventures. The Surface Transportation Board is giving a thumbs-up to this deal unless someone objects by August 10, 2026. If all goes smoothly, the change will take effect on August 11, 2026, with no extra costs announced.

## Abstract

John McLaughlin and Tim McLaughlin, both noncarriers, together with Valley Bus, LLC (Valley Bus), an interstate motor carrier (collectively with John McLaughlin and Tim McLaughlin, Applicants), filed an application for after-the-fact authority to acquire control of interstate motor carriers Valley Bus Coaches, LLC (Valley Bus Coaches), Valley Bus Grand Forks, LLC (Valley Bus Grand Forks), West Fargo Bus Company, LLC (West Fargo Bus Company), and T&J Ventures, LLC (T&J Ventures) (collectively, Carriers). The Board is tentatively approving and authorizing the transactions. If no opposing comments are timely filed, this notice will be the final Board action.

## Effects PRIA read

- Acquisition Approved—Local School & Charter Buses: benefit, medium. The Surface Transportation Board tentatively approved the after‑the‑fact acquisition of control of four bus companies (Valley Bus Coaches; Valley Bus Grand Forks; West Fargo Bus Company; T&J Ventures). Comments are due by August 10, 2026; if no opposing comments are filed, the approval becomes effe…
- Employees: No Layoffs; Additional Hiring Reported: benefit, medium. Applicants state the transactions did not cause layoffs or adverse changes to wages, benefits, or working conditions and that the transactions allowed them to expand and hire additional drivers and employees. This is the Applicants' representation to the Board as part of their approval request.

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## Sources
- [2026-12639 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/06/24/2026-12639/john-mclaughlin-tim-mclaughlin-and-valley-bus-llc-acquisition-of-control-valley-bus-coaches-valley)
- [2026-12639 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-06-24/pdf/2026-12639.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-12638, Self-Regulatory Organizations; Investors Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Imm…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12638)
- [Next: 2026-12640, Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq Texas, LLC; Order Granting Approval of a…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12640)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12639 (as of 2026-07-01).