Schilleman Bus Service earns Acuity Safety Award

Less than 1% of eligible insureds earn an Acuity Safety Award. This year, Schilleman Bus Service joined that select group for the third time, earning recognition for its outstanding commitment to workplace safety and the care it provides to the communities it serves each and every day.

Originally established by Sue Herfindahl’s parents in the Rhinelander area during the 1970s, Schilleman Bus Service expanded to Eagle River in 1991 under the leadership of Sue and her husband, Greg.

Over the years, the family-owned company has grown to employ 95 people while providing transportation services to schools throughout Northern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Unlike many businesses, Schilleman’s workplace extends far beyond a single building or job site. Every day, its drivers and staff are responsible for safely transporting students across northern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, navigating changing weather conditions, rural roadways, and the unique challenges that come with serving communities across the Northwoods.

“We strive to create a safe work environment, whether it be on our buses or on the snow- and ice-covered roads we encounter throughout the winter,” said Brandon Hunt, terminal manager for Schilleman Bus Service. “We have the entire Northwoods to think about.”

As the company has grown, safety has remained at the center of its operation. Schilleman conducts daily safety meetings, and every vehicle receives daily inspections — often multiple times throughout the day — to ensure drivers and students remain protected.

“It was really validating,” Hunt said of receiving the award. “We work hard every single day to make sure both our employees and those under our care are safe. This award shows that what we’re doing matters.”

Beyond vehicle inspections and safety procedures, Schilleman works hard to create a positive environment for both employees and students. The company’s impact extends beyond transportation, reflected in the long-standing relationships it has built throughout the region.

“We have drivers who have worked here for more than 25 years,” Hunt said. “Before that, Schilleman Bus Service was bringing them to and from school every day.”

That generational connection is one of the things that sets Schilleman Bus Service apart.

“There aren’t many organizations that become part of people’s lives across generations,” said Nic Weight, vice president of Klinner Insurance. “Schilleman Bus Service is one of them. They transported me when I was a student, and today they transport my children. That’s the kind of trust and community impact that can’t be measured by an award alone.”

While Schilleman Bus Service has grown significantly over the years, its mission remains unchanged: providing safe, reliable transportation for the communities it serves. For the company, this award represents more than recognition — it reflects decades of earning the trust of families across the Northwoods, one route at a time.