About Us

History

Hartley’s School Buses of Rugby, North Dakota, was started by Hartley Hageness in late 1969. He got his start in the school bus business by taking over some school bus routes for Rugby Public School. A dealership for a small line of buses soon followed. Hartley acquired the Blue Bird dealership in Montana and North Dakota in 1973 and still runs numerous school bus routes in both states today.

Along with the location in Rugby, Hartley’s also has a location in Kalispell, Montana, which provide buses and drivers for routes in Montana, as well as complete bus repair work. In addition to the school bus business, both the Rugby and Kalispell locations provide a bus charter service.

Sadly, Hartley passed away in March of 2025 and is missed by all who knew him. The dealership continues to operate guided by Hartley’s vision: We will be easy to do business with, responsive to our customers’ needs, and provide prompt after-sale support in parts and service through a professional, high-qualified distribution network. Customer satisfaction is our top priority.