Groupe Gaudreault – A family journey
1951 – Founding of Les Autobus Gaudreault
Following the acquisition of the city of Joliette's public transport, Mr. Roméo Gaudreault founded Les Autobus Gaudreault Enr. This acquisition includes two regular vehicles and a substitute vehicle servicing workers morning, noon and night.
1951-1953 – Acquisition of new vehicles
Workers now travel in the comfort of new vehicles with a much more reliable schedule. The acquisition of new state-of-the-art Prévost buses, at the unit price of $16 500, makes it possible to serve even more people.
1953 – New innovative vehicle
Les Autobus Gaudreault Enr. buys a very innovative vehicle designed for special trips. The seat covers are made of plush and the vehicle is equipped with a microphone so that the driver may speak to the passengers.
1957 – First school transportation contract
Les Autobus Gaudreault Enr. obtains its first school transportation contract for the staggering amount of $1 500 a year.
1963 – Acquisition of Autobus Montcalm
The Gaudreault family buys out the Autobus Montcalm bankruptcy; this acquisition increases its network to the municipalities of Rawdon, Montcalm, Saint-Jacques, Sainte-Marie-Salomé, Crabtree and Saint-Paul.
1969 – Retirement of the Founder
Mr. Roméo Gaudreault retires. His son Raymond takes over as President and increases its stake in the school transportation market while ensuring maintenance and enhancement of the existing routes and services.
1985 – First intermunicipal contracts
The company signs one of the first contracts with an intermunicipal transportation board, the C.I.T. Joliette Métropolitain, for a five year term.
1987 – Acquisition of Sabem Inc.
With the acquisition of the transportation company Sabem Inc., the family business has now extended to Repentigny.
1991 – Acquisition of businesses specialized in charter
Groupe Gaudreault becomes the family “holding”. It then proceeds to make various acquisitions like Aérocar Québec, Limousine Murray Hill Inc. (specialized in charter in Quebec, Ontario and the United States) and Scobus Inc. (specialized in school, city, intercity and charter transportation).
1996 – Launch of the Raymond Gaudreault Foundation
Launch of the Raymond Gaudreault Foundation. The Foundation aims to help and support charitable organizations who have at heart the mental, physical and financial well-being of children in difficult positions or in need; as well as help and support to any registered organization able to contribute towards these goals.
2001-2002 – City transportation and construction of a bus terminal
Groupe Gaudreault obtains the public transport contract for the regional county municipality of Les Moulins (Terrebonne, Mascouche). In January 2002, operations begin. At the same time, it is having a significant bus terminal built in the Industrial Park of Terrebonne.
2004-2005 – A family journey that keeps going on
In August, the family business suffered the loss of a family member who led the way for more than 30 years, Mr. Raymond Gaudreault. Groupe Gaudreault acquires Transport St-Léonard Group. In July 2005, another tragedy, the death passing of Luc Gaudreault, grandson of the Founder and President of Groupe Gaudreault from 1999 to 2005. In August 2005, Martin Gaudreault, Luc’s younger brother takes over as President of the Group.
In February 2005, Groupe Gaudreault through its subsidiary Lanau Bus, Repentigny division, renews its public transportation contract with the county regional municipality of l’Assomption for a 5 year period, with automatic renewal of another 5 years.
On June 16, 2005, Groupe Gaudreault acquires Transport Saint-Léonard Inc., operating in school and charter transportation in the region of Montréal-East. Its head office is in Anjou and it has a fleet of 130 vehicles.
At that time, Groupe Gaudreault owns a fleet of 650 vehicles and employs 750 people.
On July 10, 2005, tragedy stikes. Luc Gaudreault, grandson of the business founding father and President of Groupe Gaudreault from 1999 to 2005 passes. In August 2005, Martin Gaudreault, Luc’s younger brother, takes over the operations as President. His sister, Manon, becomes Vice-President of the Board of Directors while assuming the position of Sales Manager and Customer Service Manager (Charter).
2006 – New agreements
In November 2006, Groupe Gaudreault, through its subsidiary Lanau Mécano Inc., Body division, brings in the body shop previously operated by its subsidiary, Autobus Thomas Inc.
Also, in November 2006, Groupe Gaudreault through its subsidiary Les Transports Fagnant Inc., comes to an agreement by which it acquires the assets of TRAM; this includes the take over of the drivers of TRAM by Les Transport Fagnant Inc.
Groupe Gaudreault and County Regional Municipality of l’Assomption sign a 5 year agreement with an additional 5 years renewable term, making Groupe Gaudreault the operator of the county regional municipality paratransit transportation.
2007 – Renouvellement de contrats et vente
In Januray 2007, Groupe Gaudreault, through its subsidiary Lanau Bus Inc., Terrebonne division , renews its public transportation contract with county regional municipality of Les Moulins for a 10 year term with automatic renewal of an additional 2 year term.
In June 2007, Groupe Gaudreault sells its subsidiary Autobus Thomas Inc. In October 2007, its subsidiary Autocars Murray Hill Inc. makes the acquisition of a VIP type coach.
2008 – Contract renewal and acquisition
In January 2008, its subsidiary Lanau Bus Inc., Repentigny division, renews the public transportation contract with the County Regional Municipality of l’Assomption for a 10 year term, as well as the contracts for the following runs: 125 (Saint-Donat/Montréal), 34 (Rawdon/Joliette), 45 (Joliette/Repentigny) and 55 (Joliette/Montréal).
In January 2008, the subsidiary of Lanau Bus Inc., Joliette division, renews its public transportation contract with Corporation Transport MRC Joliette for a 5 year term, renewable for an additional 5 year term.
In December 2008, Les Autobus Gaudreault Inc., subsidiary of Groupe Gaudreault, acquires by means of shares the transport company Les Entreprises R. Plouffe Inc. which operates 4 school transportation runs and one sedan transportation run for the school Commission scolaire des Samares board.
2009 – Restructuring and sales
On July 1st, 2009, Groupe Gaudreault starts restructuring some of its subsidiaries.
Transport Saint-Léonard Inc., Autobus de l’Est Inc., Autobus L.M. Inc., Autobus Saint-Léonard Inc., Fiabus Inc., Sécuribus Inc., Transport D.T. Inc. and Garage Michel Vanier Inc. are grouped in a sole company named Transport St-Léonard Inc.
Scobus (1992) Inc. and Autobus Pellerin (1996) Inc. are also grouped to form a sole company named Scobus (1992) Inc.
Les Autobus Gaudreault Inc., Les Entreprises Adonias Laurin Inc. and Les Entreprises R. Plouffe Inc. become a sole company named Les Autobus Gaudreault Inc.
In September 2009, Groupe Gaudreault decides to sell its assets of the Repentigny and Terrebonne sites to Groupe Orléans Express. Groupe Orléans Express Inc. takes over all the activities of Lanau Com, Lanau Mécano, Les Transports Fagnant, Autocars Murray Hill, Sabem and Autobus Lachenaie as well as the major part of those of Lanau Bus. Groupe Gaudreault keeps the activities related to four business sites: Joliette, Saint-Jacques-de-Montcalm, Trois-Rivières and Anjou
Martin Gaudreault becomes the one and only shareholder of Groupe Gaudreault.
Autocars Gaudreault Inc. obtains the public transportation contract for the City of Joliette (which includes Saint-Charles Borromée and Notre-Dame-des-Prairies) for a 10 year term.
At thr end of November 2009, Groupe Gaudreault buys out Autobus D’Autray which has 10 school transportation runs. This acquisition gives birth to the company Brandon Transport Inc., School transportation division and Public transportation division.
As of today, Groupe Gaudreault Inc. has a fleet of more than 360 vehicles and about 450 employees.