CAC Transportation Inc. was started in Bend in 1984 as Call-A-Cab by James and Cynthia Pessemier. After operating the cab company for a few years they saw a need for a airport shuttle serving Central Oregon and the Redmond Airport.
“That’s when the Redmond Airport Shuttle started operating,” explained Joseph Widner, operations officer for Central Oregon Breeze. “Again a few years later there was an obvious need for a shuttle to the Portland Airport and just a short time later in about 1992 the Central Oregon Breeze was created with Daily Shuttle Bus Service to the Portland Area 362 days a year.”
Since its inception the Central Oregon Breeze grew and became the sole focus and business owned by CAC Transportation Inc. Since the early 2000s The Breeze has added more buses, purchased larger buses, increased to twice daily service in the peak travel seasons and added Interstate Charter Service.
In late 2005 the Pessemiers retired and eventually sold CAC Transportation to their son Joseph Widner and he has continued the business growth and service in the Central Oregon Area. The Central Oregon Breeze is the only locally owned and operated charter bus company creating and keeping jobs in Central Oregon for more than 20 years. The Central Oregon Breeze employs about 18 full and part-time.
“The passenger miles ridden on the Central Oregon Breeze each year (miles per passenger trip) total more than 2.5 million and that could conservatively be translated into more than 150,000 gallons of fuel emissions savings each year for the people of Oregon,” reported Widner.
The Central Oregon Breeze and ticket office recently moved to their new location at 2045 NE Hwy 20 in Bend near the Eastside Cibelli’s Pizza.
Joseph Widner, Operations Officer, Central Oregon Breeze, C.A.C. Transportation Inc., Worldwide Widner Inc., 541-389-7469
