Bridgestone, Peter Pan celebrate 75-year partnership
Six years after starting Peter Pan Bus Lines, Peter C. Picknelly reached an agreement with the Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. to lease Firestone tires for a period of one year.The original tire lease contract signed in 1939 was given to the Picknelly family by Bridgestone.
Six years after starting Peter Pan Bus Lines, Peter C. Picknelly reached an agreement with the Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. to lease Firestone tires for a period of one year. Seventy-five years later, the two companies have continued a relationship, which has prevailed throughout the evolution of the two companies, guided by quality products and supreme customer service, according to Bridgestone.
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“The lease contracts industry is intense, competition to deliver best product, cost per mile and service is unrelenting,” said Jim Hardin, mileage sales field manager, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations.
Under the initial contract between Harvey Firestone and Peter Picknelly, Firestone agreed to supply tires to equip three, 10 passenger Chevrolet and five, 19 passenger Beck buses on a cost-per-mile basis. Through the years, tire sizes grew, along with bigger and heavier buses, to include the first Firestone whitewall tubeless bus tires, which were discontinued in the 1970’s.
The original tire lease contract signed in 1939 was given to the Picknelly family by Bridgestone.
A phased approach to technology, in-house capabilities, and workforce investment is helping transportation leaders break the reactive cycle and build more resilient, revenue-focused operations.
The company's flagship H3-45 is also the best-selling 45-foot motorcoach in North America, according to vehicle registration data from S&P Global Mobility (Polk).
METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman spoke with Mueller about the opening event, the company’s progress since launching in late 2022, and the road ahead.
METRO Executive Editor Alex Roman presented the award to the operation’s President/CEO Scott Parsons at the United Motorcoach Association’s EXPO in Birmingham, Alabama.
The new facility, spanning more than 43,000 square feet, includes pre-delivery inspection, a large repair, maintenance, and service center, an administrative building, and a dedicated training and delivery center for customers and service partners.
The company will feature a fully equipped 2026 Van Hool CX45 alongside an interactive virtual showroom highlighting the company’s latest vehicle, service, parts, and support solutions.
The survey, produced by the ABA’s research arm, the American Bus Association Foundation, reports quarterly on data collected from surveys of major motorcoach manufacturers that sell vehicles in the US and Canada.
