Analysis
NAICS 485113 is the 2022 national industry for bus and other motor vehicle transit systems, part of 48511 (Urban Transit Systems). Census lists 8 example activities under it in the official index.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments fell 17% and employment fell 16%. The 2018 count used NAICS 2017, so part of a large move can come from codes being redefined rather than from businesses opening or closing.
County Business Patterns counts 523 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 41,501 people at an average annual payroll of $61,150 per employee (35th percentile of national industries). 30% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
By establishments it ranks 1st of the 4 codes at this level within Urban Transit Systems, with 84.6% of them.
Census lists 5 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 485111, 485210, 485410 and 487110. Businesses that do several things are classified by their primary activity, the one that generates the most value, so check those boundaries before settling on this code.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include bus line, local (except mixed mode), bus services, urban and suburban (except mixed mode), bus transit systems (except mixed mode) and city bus services (except mixed mode), among 8 in all.
Official definition
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in operating local and suburban passenger transportation systems using buses or other motor vehicles over regular routes and on regular schedules within a metropolitan area and its adjacent nonurban areas.
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Operating local and suburban passenger transportation systems using both a bus or other motor vehicle and another mode of transport | 485111 Mixed Mode Transit Systems |
| Providing interurban and rural bus transportation | 485210 Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
| Providing bus transportation for students and employees | 485410 School and Employee Bus Transportation |
| Providing scenic and sightseeing transportation using buses or other motor vehicles | 487110 Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land |
| Providing bus shuttle services (except school and employee bus) | 485999 All Other Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation |
Index entries (8)
- Bus line, local (except mixed mode)
- Bus services, urban and suburban (except mixed mode)
- Bus transit systems (except mixed mode)
- City bus services (except mixed mode)
- Commuter bus operation (except mixed mode)
- Local bus services (except mixed mode)
- Suburban bus line services (except mixed mode)
- Urban bus line services (except mixed mode)