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CONTENTS
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IN THIS ISSUE City Of Santa Clarita Transit Serves LA County ..................................8
UMA, NTA Unite For Large Motorcoach, Tour Show
Travel Exchange: One + One = A Whole Bunch .....................18 Busline’s Buyers Guide To Insurance & Finance..............................26 • National Interstate 26 • Service Insurance Agency 28 • Lancer Insurance 30 • Protective Insurance 32
• Shriver Insurance Agency 34 • Transportation Insurance Brokers 35 • EUCLID Insurance Agencies, LLC 36
Busline’s Buyers Guide To
HVAC Systems........................................38
Busline Vehicle Showcase
PARATRANSIT/ SHUTTLE BUSES & VANS 43 - 47
RAPID RESPONSE ..................................Page 6 INDUSTRY NEWS .................................Page 37 ON THE COVER: City of Santa Clarita (CA) Transit Manager Adrian Aguilar and Santa Clarita Mayor Pro Tem Marsha McLean are helping grow bus transit services north of Los Angeles. See page 8.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS MAY 2014 May 4-7 APTA Bus & Paratransit Conference Kansas City, MO Info: 202-496-4800 JUNE 2014 June 7-11 Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) Annual Conference Gatineau, Québec Info: 416-365-9800 June 8-13 Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) Annual Expo St. Paul, MN Info: 800-891-0590
JULY 2014 July 19-23 National School Transportation Association (NSTA) Annual Meeting & Convention Charleston, SC Info: 518-220-9905 AUGUST 2014 August 3-8 International Motorcoach Group (IMG) Summer Meeting & Strategic Alliance Meeting Branson, MO Info: 888-447-3466 August 13-17 National Association Of Motorcoach Operators (NAMO) Annual Conference Shreveport, LA Info: 571-312-7117
SEPTEMBER 2014 September 15-17 BusCon 2014 Indianapolis, IN Info: 800-576-8788 OCTOBER 2014 October 12-15 APTA Expo 2014 & Annual Meeting Houston, TX Info: 202-496-4800 JANUARY 2015 January 10-13 American Bus Association (ABA) Marketplace St. Louis, MO Info: 202-842-1645 January 18-22 United Motorcoach Association (UMA) Expo At Travel Exchange New Orleans, LA Info: 800-424-8262
Busline Magazine is published 6 times a year by Rankin Publishing, Inc., 204 E. Main, P.O. Box 130, Arcola, IL 61910-0130. Publisher assumes no liability whatsoever for content of any advertisement or editorial material contained herein. Copyright 2014 Rankin Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written consent of Rankin Publishing, Inc. Subscription Rates in United States: 6 issues $25. Single Copy rate: $10 including postage/handling; Buyer’s Guide $15 including postage/handling. International rates: 6 issue annual Air Mail Subscription $60 U.S. dollars net
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EDITORIAL & CORPORATE OFFICES
Rankin Publishing Co., Inc. Don Rankin and Linda Rankin, Publishers 204 E. Main Street • P.O. Box 130 Arcola, IL 61910-0130, USA Email: drankin@consolidated.net Website: www.rankinpublishing.com (800) 598-8083 (U.S.) • (217) 268-4959 Fax: (217) 268-4815 Editorial: Harrell Kerkhoff, Editor Rick Mullen, Associate Editor Design: David Opdyke Reception: Misty Douglas Advertising Contact Kevin Kennedy @ 623-434-8959 Email: kevloraz@cox.net Or Don Rankin @ 800-598-8083 Fax: 217-268-4815 Email: drankin@consolidated.net
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MARCH/APRIL 2014 Published by Rankin Publishing, Inc. www.buslinemag.com
ARBOC .................................46
UMA Motorcoach Expo 2014 Booth Photo Gallery
Pages 53 — 60
Company
Website
5 Star Specialty Programs American Cooling Technology, Inc. ARBOC Specialty Vehicles Atlantic Detroit Diesel-Allison Bauer Compressors Bauer’s Intelligent Transportation Bitzer BusCon Chestnut Ridge Foam CMI Enterprises Crosspoint Kinetics De Leo Textiles Diamond Manufacturing Dixie Electric, Ltd. Espar Climate Systems EUCLID Insurance Agencies, LLC Freightliner Hometown Trolley idrive Lancer Insurance
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www.5starsp.com www.actusa.us.com www.arbocsv.com www.atlanticdda.com www.bauercng.com www.bauerscertifiedpreowned.com www.bitzerus.com www.BusConExpo.com www.chestnutridgefoam.com www.cmi-enterprises.com crosspointkinetics.com www.deleoco.com www.diamondmfg.com www.dixie-electric.com www.espar.com www.euclidinsuranceagencies.com www.freightlinerchassis.com www.hometowntrolley.com www.idriveglobal.com www.lancerinsurance.com
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Company
Midwest Bus Corporation Mile-X Monochem National Interstate Nissan Commercial Vehicles Prevost Car Protective Insurance Company Relational Bus Systems Russell Cress Company, Inc. Safety Step Service Insurance Shriver Insurance Agency Spheros Sutrak TEMSA TIB Turtle Top Vanner Power WEH Technologies Inc. Willingham Inc.
Website
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www.midwestbus.com 17 www.mile-x.com 60 www.worldwidemonochem.com 16 www.natl.com 27 www.nissancommercialvehicles.com 9 www.prevostcar.com 64 www.protectiveinsurance.com 33 www.rbs2000.com 21 www.russellcressco.com 50 www.safetystep.net 47 www.serviceins.com 29 www.shriverinsuranceagency.com 34 www.spheros.us 20 www.sutrakusa.com 38 www.temsa.com 7 www.tibinsurance.com 35 www.turtletop.com 5 www.vanner.com 12, 22 www.weh.us 50 www.willinghaminc.com 42
Read or Download Complete Issues Of Busline Magazine Online At: www.buslinemag.com Page 6
BUSLINE
March/April 2014
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City of Santa Clarita Transit has been meeting the public transportation needs of the area since 1991. Shown at left is Transit Manager Adrian Aguilar.
By Rick Mullen Busline Magazine Associate Editor
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anta Clarita, CA, nestled in the scenic Santa Clarita Valley about 35 miles northwest of Los Angeles, is the third largest city in Los Angeles County, behind Los Angeles and Long Beach, encompassing about 60 square miles, with a population of more than 200,000 people. Meeting the public transportation needs of the area since its inception in August 1991, City of Santa Clarita Transit assumed responsibility for local transit operations from the County of Los Angeles, commonly known as Los Angeles County or LA County. Santa Clarita contracts the service to MV Transportation. In the beginning, the transit service was called Santa Clarita Transit. “We now provide 8 local fixed-routes, 7 commuter express routes to and from the greater Los Angeles area, 2 station links to Metrolink train stations, a summer special to Santa Monica Beach and 20 supplemental school routes,” said City of Santa Clarita Transit Manager Adrian Aguilar, during a recent interview with Busline Magazine. “City of
Adrian Aguilar photo: Esteban Pallares. All other photos: Evan Thomason.
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including local, commuter, and ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) paratransit services— Dial-A-Ride and Access Services. “We provide comprehensive fixedroute and Dial-A-Ride service throughout the city and surrounding unincorporated areas within the valley, in addition to service for our residents who commute to areas within greater Los Angeles. “We have strong working relationships and partnerships with the County of Los Angeles and agencies such as Access Services, the prime paratransit service in neighboring communities that are not within the
boundaries of the city.” The City of Santa Clarita Transit’s curb-to-curb Dial-A-Ride service is available to seniors over the age of 60 and persons with disabilities. After 6 p.m., the Dial-A-Ride service is open to the general public. There is no age requirement for riders with disabilities. Eligibility is based strictly on a person’s inability to ride the fixed-route service, according to Aguilar. City of Santa Clarita Transit currently operates 60 local fixed-route buses, 28 commuter over-the-road and 30 Dial-A-Ride/Access Services vehicles, primarily cutaways. The transit system averages 2.7 million miles a year, with an annual average ridership of 3.5 million for local and commuter services and 115,856 passengers on its Dial-A— City of Santa Clarita Transit Manager Adrian Aguilar Ride and Access Services vehicles. “Our commuter service is primarily used by white-collar professionals,” Santa Clarita Transit began with 300,000 riders, 8 fixed-routes and 13 Aguilar said. “This service travels to employment sites such as downtown vehicles painted in bright red, plum and gray, complete with oak trees Los Angeles, Century City, the Westwood area and Warner Center, which blowing in the wind and gray hills rising in the distance. hosts a number of medical industries and companies. We also have serv“Under supervision by the city of Santa Clarita, MV Transportation is ice to North Hollywood, which is more of a feeder service that connects responsible for all transit operations and maintenance-related services with the Los Angeles Metro Red Line and Orange Line services.”
“Our biggest focus is maintaining the quality of life we have here in the Santa Clarita Valley, and we feel transit has a major role to play in this effort.”
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According to Aguilar, plans are underway to expand City of Santa power. Therefore, we have not been able to make the transition on the Clarita Transit services in August of this year by splitting an existing commuter side. It is something that we are looking at and we have been in close discussion with a well-known bus engine manufacturer and route to better serve the west side of the unincorporated areas. “In the next 18 to 24 months, we anticipate expanding service to areas motorcoach company, and they tell us something is coming. We are anxthat were recently annexed into the city that may not have had the same iously awaiting the day when we can convert our commuter service to CNG.” level of service as other areas,” Aguilar said. Adjacent to City of Santa Clarita Transit’s maintenance facility is its In addition, the transit system will extend the hours of operation on weekend nights aboard the Commuter Express service to North CNG fueling station, which is also open to the public. “It works similar to a regular gas station where people can use a credHollywood. it card and pump gas,” Aguilar said. “We are seeing a growing number of “The Santa Clarita Valley, folks here in the Santa Clarita valley with personal CNG-powered autothough self-contained, is a large mobiles who are using the fueling station. We are also seeing a growing geographic area. Providing number of private fleets transitioning to CNG, and they are taking advantimely service throughout the tage of the public facility. This includes trash haulers here in the Santa entire valley can be challenging, especially during high-traffic peak hours. That being said, we have a very knowledgeable ridership. They know where they want to go and how best to get there, which helps limit consistent passenger delays.” Aguilar alluded to the challenge of operating the transit system in the semi-mountainous foothills of the region. “We have elevation and hills that can cause a problem sometimes and, in the summer, it can get a little warm up here,” he said. According to www.santaclarita.com, the climate in the Santa Clarita area is classified as semi-arid or Mediterranean in the Koppen Climate Classification System. Santa Clarita is generally hot and dry through most of the year, ranging from 70 to 100 degrees during the summer, and 40 to 65 degrees during the winter. In addition, the region is known for its dry weather. Monthly precipitation ranges from zero to 5 inches, depending on the month. The wettest months occur between December and March, with very little rain in the Santa Clarita The use of QR codes, top left photo, and a CNG fueling station are helping Valley from April through August. the City of Santa Clarita Transit meet future customer needs. According the Encyclopedia of Earth website, The Koppen Climate Classification System is the most widespread system used to classify the climates of places worldwide. The system was devel- Clarita Valley and local school districts, which have CNG-powered oped by German climatologist and amateur botanist Wildomar Koppen school buses.” (1846-1940), who divided the world’s climates into several major cateAs a part of its commitment to customer service and enhancing the ridgories based upon general temperature profiles related to latitude. ing experience of its customers, all of the City of Santa Clarita Transit’s “During the summer months, when combined with the heat and the local fixed-route and commuter vehicles are outfitted with a state-of-thehills, it can cause some operational challenges,” Aguilar said. art Real-Time Tracking System. The transit provider also offers SMS (short message service), which is the text messaging system found on CNG And Other Cutting-Edge Technologies today’s smart phones. In addition, the vehicles are equipped with what Enhance Transit Operations officials call an Infotainment System. “The Real-Time Tracking System, powered by GPS (global positionbout 12 years ago, City of Santa Clarita Transit began the conver- ing system), is available to the public via the Internet,” Aguilar said. “We sion of its transit bus fleet to compressed natural gas (CNG), with have equipped our fleet with GPS tracking units. We have an AVL systhe purchase of 14 CNG-version buses. Recently, the transit com- tem, which allows our dispatchers and staff to track the location of vehipleted the conversion of its fixed-route fleet from diesel-powered vehicles to “A person can visit our website and pull up a map, CNG when it took delivery of 21 new which will list bus stops in the system. The customer buses. “We have worked diligently to transican click on a bus stop and it will tell him or her, tion our fleet from gasoline and diesel over to CNG to the point that more than not only what route serves that stop, but also what half of our Dial-A-Ride fleet is also buses will be arriving in 30 minutes.” CNG,” Aguilar said. For its over-the-road commuter fleet, cles. This technology has been helpful from a management and adminisCity of Santa Clarita Transit still uses clean-diesel coaches. “One barrier to the conversion of our entire fleet to CNG is the lack of trative standpoint. “The system collects information that is valuable to our customers, high horsepower CNG engines,” Aguilar said. “Today’s CNG engines work great for transit-type operations, but when you are trying to move a such as actual locations of buses. It also provides predictive arrival infor40,000-pound over-the-road coach, you need something with more horse- mation. Based on the speed of the bus and by analyzing past historical
A
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In addition, according the Aguilar, trends, the system can predict how the transit system recently installed long it will take a bus to get to a particplacards at each bus stop that contain ular location, given normal operating a QR code and SMS text information, conditions.” allowing riders to quickly and easily City of Santa Clarita Transit has also learn the estimated arrival time of taken other steps to incorporate technotheir bus. logical elements to make pertinent information available to riders. “This feature has reduced call “A person can visit our website and volume dramatically and allows our pull up a map, which will list bus stops customer service staff to spend extra in the system,” Aguilar said. “The custime with customers with more Vehicles used by the City of tomer can click on a bus stop and it will complex issues,” Aguilar said. “This Santa Clarita Transit include articulated buses. tell him or her, not only what route technology has also inspired the serves that stop, but also what buses development of future tools to furwill be arriving in 30 minutes. We have also installed QR (quick ther expand the system’s efficiency.” response) codes. These are like the little squares on the back of packagCity of Santa Clarita Transit also recently began to provide free Wi-Fi ing, etc., that are scanned through a cash register. With a smart phone access on its commuter coaches. “The Wi-Fi technology allows riders to kick back and connect to the Internet for “When I talk to drivers, I emphasize that customer work or pleasure throughout the duration service is our main job. An employee may drive a bus, of their ride. Wi-Fi is very much appreciated by riders,” Aguilar said. “We also real their but calls, phone answer or turn a wrench, or conduct numerous workshops throughout job is customer service.” the city to help attract those who traditionally drive their own vehicles, providequipped with an app, that can be downloaded for free just about every- ing them with the information they need to make the choice to use pubwhere, a person can scan that code and it will provide real-time informa- lic transportation.” tion for a particular stop location. City of Santa Clarita Transit’s on-board Infotainment System provides “We also have an element that allows riders to text an individual bus riders with information about the route they are taking, and events soon stop number into our system. The system will then text back a response, to take place throughout the city. telling which buses serve that location and when they will be arriving.” “We have installed monitors on all our transit and commuter over-the-
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road coaches,” Aguilar said. “The monitors provide a visual announcement in terms of next-stop arrival information. If the bus is approaching First and Main, that information will visually display on the monitor, in addition to an audio announcement. “In addition, based on the GPS — the actual location of the vehicle — we can program the system to display public service announcements and/or route-specific information. For example, if we have a bus that is approaching a shopping mall, two stops before the mall we can have the system display, ‘Don’t forget Santa will be at the mall this weekend.’ “We most often use this technology to alert riders to events at community centers, sports complexes and at the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center. A typical announcement as a bus is approaching the Senior Center might be, ‘This weekend we will be doing wheelchair inspections and seminars on how to use the local bus service. Come out and join us.’” Environmentally Friendly Projects Straw Bales And The Photovolactic Canopy
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he big bad wolf told the little pig who built his house with straw, “I’ll huff and I’ll puff, and I’ll blow your house in.” Everyone knows how that turned out. However, City of Santa Clarita Transit has a straw building that all the big bad wolves in the world cannot blow down. According to Aguilar, the system’s Transit Maintenance Facility (TMF) is the first state-of-the-art “green” building for the city of Santa Clarita,
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and one of the first LEED-certified straw-bale buildings in the world. The TMF was designed and constructed using a variety of high-quality, environmentally sensitive strategies and an unconventional use of materials. “I’m sure everyone has heard the story of The Three Little Pigs. The walls of the TMF are actually made out of straw bales,” Aguilar said. “The walls were constructed by stacking straw bales. The bales are held in place by rebar, which keeps them from sliding. They are wrapped in chicken wire and then plastered with various layers of lime plaster that coats the exterior of the walls. “The question that we commonly get is, ‘How would the straw hold up in case of a fire?’ Because the bales are encased in lime and the straw is so densely packed, no oxygen can get in. Even if the straw was to light, it would smolder rather than catch fire. Also, the exterior walls are lined with moisture sensors, which allows us to monitor moisture levels within the walls to make sure we don’t end up with mold or mildew issues.” According to Aguilar, completed in May 2006, the TMF provides a cost-effective, healthy, resource-efficient facility, which demonstrates the city’s commitment to greener development and responsible public policy. The energy-efficient facility also includes a 22,000-square-foot administration building, a 25,000-square-foot bus maintenance building, automated bus wash, diesel and CNG stations, and the on-street CNG fueling station for use by the general public. The facility is also designed to accommodate more than 150 buses and nearly 160 staff personnel with room for future expansion. The facility received a “Gold” rating from the Leadership in Energy
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and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System in facility. We are now generating from 90 to 95 percent of the facility’s 2006, the city’s first such award. LEED is the nationally accepted bench- electricity use. “Our peak electric use is in the morning and in the evening. During the mark for the design, construction and operation of high performance midday, whatever we don’t use, is pushed back into the grid — that is, it green buildings. Since its opening, the TMF has also received other awards, including goes back to our local utility and then we receive credit for that power.” The city of Santa Clarita’s latest project was the construction of the the Architectural Award of Excellence for outstanding architecture in civic sustainability from the Los Angeles Business Council, in 2008, and McBean Regional Transit Center (MRTC). “We incorporated a number of environmental design elements into the the Excellence in Transportation award by the California Department of MRTC project as well,” Aguilar said. “Included in the project was local Transportation, in 2007. “The posts and the beams of the TMF are made from recycled or reclaimed wood,” Aguilar said. “Our peak electric use is in the morning and in the evening. “They are manufactured beams During the midday, whatever we don’ t use, is pushed back that provide the support for the building, while the straw bales into the grid — that is, it goes back to our local utility and form the ‘shell,’ so to speak.” then we receive credit for that power.” In 2011, with the help of a $4.6 million grant awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Transit Investments in Greenhouse drought-tolerant landscaping that helps minimize water usage. The projGas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) program, the city of Santa Clarita ect was designed with a number of bioswales.” According to a United States Department of Agriculture website, installed a 65,000-square-foot photovoltaic canopy system at the TMF. More than 3,200 photovoltaic panels now cover the facility’s four bus bioswales are storm water runoff conveyance systems that provide an ports, generating enough electric power to offset nearly all of the facili- alternative to storm sewers. They can absorb low flows or carry runoff from heavy rains to storm sewer inlets or directly to surface waters. ty’s electric use. “When the building was first constructed, we had one array of solar Bioswales improve water quality by infiltrating the first flush of storm panels that we used to generate probably about 10 to 15 percent of the water runoff and filtering the large storm flows they convey. “The bioswales will collect water and will filter it naturally as it percoelectricity that we were using at the facility,” Aguilar said. “The canopy serves two major purposes. For one, it has created a shaded area to park lates back into the ground,” Aguilar said. “To aid that process, a big porbuses. In the summer months it gets pretty warm here and the canopy tion of the lot is constructed with pervious pavement (paving material that helps keep the buses cool. Also, the solar panels generate electricity. It allows water to penetrate to the ground below.) “Instead of water running off a typical asphalt concrete lot, the water takes a lot of energy to run the CNG compressors at the on-site fueling
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actually gets soaked into the pavement. We have catch basins or bioswales that the water is channeled to and then is filtered naturally as it goes into the storm drains. “It is technology that has been around for awhile, but hasn’t been used widely in commercial development or construction, because of the cost that is involved in terms of the maintenance. Fortunately we have seen the cost of that technology come down rather significantly. I think the economic downturn helped us a little, in that we also saw construction costs go down. “We also recently opened a large, environmentally friendly park and ride facility adjacent to the MRTC, which is a facility that acts as our centrallylocated transfer depot. “All of our routes pass through the MRTC, allowing riders to transfer routes seamlessly, or to use the park and ride and board our commuter service to Greater Los Angeles.” Customer Service — The ‘Heart’ Of The Matter
W
hen it comes to customer service, Aguilar praised MV Transportation for the part it plays in making sure the riding public experiences the best in service. “We have a very dedicated customer service staff on our contractor side who handle the majority of our calls,” he said. “Our contractor puts them through intense training to make sure they handle every call with professionalism and grace.”
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The commitment to customer service is also a foundation of the Santa Clarita city government in all aspects of the services it provides to the people it serves. “Customer service is something that is near and dear to us, and not only just with our transit service,” Aguilar said. “Our overall philosophy is available on our city website, and is something we share with all city and contract employees. We take it very seriously and it is a big part of what we are and how we do things.” The philosophy statement says, in part: “As city employees, we are proud to say that we are the city of Santa Clarita. We take pride in our organization, our community and ourselves. Our mission is to deliver the best and most cost-efficient municipal service to the citizens and City Council of Santa Clarita.” The remainder of the statement can be seen at www.santaclarita.com, under the City Hall heading. “The city of Santa Clarita is essentially a contract city. We contract the majority of our services, whether it is transit, police, fire, etc.,” Aguilar said. “However, we do see our contractors as partners with the city. One of the things we stress with MV Transportation is they are an extension of the city. City and the contract employees all work together for a common goal — to provide the best customer service for our riders. “When I talk to drivers, I emphasize that customer service is our main job. An employee may drive a bus, or turn a wrench, or answer phone calls, but their real job is customer service.” According to Aguilar, MV Transportation employs about 200 people to provide operations and maintenance. Santa Clarita manages the contract through the work of 8 dedicated employees tasked with general management, operations planning, budget management, marketing, systems management, bus stop management, data management and customer relations. “MV does a wonderful job recruiting, training and retaining operators who are dedicated to providing superb service,” Aguilar said. “From my perspective, the key to being a successful employee here is attitude, and by that I mean the ability to focus on customer service. “We want people who are not just looking for a paycheck, but those who
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desire to be a part of the community and give something back. “Experience is good. We can teach a person to drive a bus or turn a wrench. We can teach a person how to answer a phone. What we can’t teach is that positive attitude, that willingness to help and that cheery personality.� Aguilar told of one service put in place several years ago that highlights the transit system’s continued effort to serve riders. “We started offering free rides to our senior community on our local service,� Aguilar said. “We were trying to move people off the very expensive and taxed Dial-ARide service over to the fixed-route service. Also, many times seniors want to maintain their ability to just pick up and go visit friends or go to the Senior Center without having to make plans in advance, as is necessary when using Dial-A-Ride. “This program ties into our customer service philosophy, which is making sure the service is easy to use and meets the needs of the community.� While an important part of the system’s marketing efforts is to focus on technology and social media, these strategies often play better to younger audiences. “We are also making efforts to make sure we are reaching out to the senior community, as well as folks with disabilities — people who traditionally might shy away from using technologies such as smart phones or the Internet,� Aguilar said. Another program the transit system has put in place is called the Senior Ambassador Program. The initiative was launched in April 2011 to provide local seniors an opportunity to learn about the benefits and convenience of Santa Clarita’s local fixed-route transit system. The way it works, Aguilar explained, is a group of senior “ambassadors� are trained in how to navigate the system. They act as a bridge between the transit staff and the senior community at-large. Each quarter, transit staff members and the Senior Ambassador team
Shown are staff members representing both the City of Santa Clarita Transit and MV Transportation.
conduct a field trip to popular destinations. During these trips, the ambassadors make a presentation to the new riders to teach them about City of Santa Clarita Transit. “One of the biggest obstacles we have found for seniors making the transition from Dial-A-Ride to fixed-route service is the unknown,� Aguilar said. “It is the fear of getting stuck somewhere and not knowing how to get home. By providing this training we have been able to address these initial barriers. The program has been a huge success. We have seen our senior ridership on our local service increase by leaps and bounds.� Another concern, not only for seniors, but the general public as well, is feeling safe while riding the bus. Aguilar said all of the system’s service Continued On Page 52
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B E Travel Exchange: One + One = A Whole Bunch UMA, NTA Unite For Large Motorcoach, Tour Show
UMA Chairman Bill Allen, left, and UMA President & CEO Victor Parra received some help from “Marilyn” and “Charlie” while cutting the ribbon for the 2014 UMA Motorcoach Expo at Travel Exchange in Los Angeles.
By Harrell Kerkhoff Busline Magazine Editor
W
hat new regulations bus/motorcoach operators can expect in the year(s) ahead was the central message during the Legislative & Regulatory Update section of United Motorcoach Association’s (UMA) Active Member Meeting. This was held during the first full day of the UMA Motorcoach Expo at Travel Exchange at the Los Angeles (CA) Convention Center in February. For the second consecutive year, “Travel Exchange” took place in association with NTA (formerly known as the National Tour Association). The two organizations shared many meetings, networking and educational events and a large exposition hall full of vendors representing both UMA and NTA. Helping operators attending the Legislative & Regulatory Update prepare for possible changes due to government regulations and legislative action were UMA Legislative and Regulatory Committee Chair Dale Krapf, of Krapf’s Coaches Inc., West Chester, PA; UMA lobbyist Becky Weber, of the Prime Policy Group; and UMA Vice President of Industry Relations and COO Ken Presley. Krapf, who said the past year was a busy one for the UMA Legislative and Regulatory Committee, started the discussion by addressing what he called three troublesome issues currently facing the industry. These are issues UMA representatives are addressing on behalf of the association’s membership. They are: n In what Krapf called “a dangerous precedent,” he spoke of a city ordinance passed in Austin, TX, in 2013. It requires, “Every charter bus operator to attain operating authority and pay an annual per vehicle fee of up to $400 for driving point-to-point transportation within the city,” he said. Krapf added that for one particular UMA member, the cost would be Page 18
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between $15,000 and $20,000. “The ordinance is further complicated by a requirement for a trip ticket identifying passengers by name, and disclosing that they have been charged,” Krapf said. Additional regulations call for a limit of five newspapers per vehicle, all vehicles from each transportation provider must have matching paint and logos during a scheduled trip, and a 30-minute advanced booking is required. “If we (as an industry) allow this ordinance to stand, then every municipality may consider or adopt a similar requirement. UMA has asked a federal court to recognize federal preemption laws and (prevent) the city of Austin from enforcing this ordinance. We expect a favorable ruling,” Krapf said; n The second issue Krapf brought before attendees at the UMA Legislative & Regulatory Update was the association’s charter service rule complaint filed with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) against New Jersey Transit. “Just so everyone knows, transit authority recipients and their contractors cannot use federal subsidized equipment to compete with the private sector. It’s plain and simple. There are a few exceptions, but under normal circumstances they cannot do that,” Krapf said; and, n The third matter discussed by Krapf concerns what he said are third-party bus/motorcoach inspectors who are becoming increasingly aggressive. “They are contacting public schools, colleges and universities and causing operating companies to pay exorbitant fees. They are also (preventing) smaller operators from serving their communities, often the very communities they have served for decades,” Krapf said. “UMA’s legal council has concluded that this practice is in violation of federal law. We have asked the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to stop this practice. It has declined. To be fair, the legal issue
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Dale Krapf
Becky Weber
is complex. However, UMA feels that allowing third-party inspectors to continue in this pattern must be stopped.” Other Legislative And Regulatory Matters resenting other legislative and regulatory updates during the meeting was UMA lobbyist Becky Weber. She reported on a victory for the bus/motorcoach industry regarding the 2013 passage of a sleep apnea bill. The legislation was approved by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama in October. The law states that if FMCSA wants to take action on sleep apnea requirements that it does so via a rulemaking process as opposed to regulatory guidance. “This was an issue that we (UMA) had been working with (FMCSA) for several years, to help them understand the impact on your businesses that would have taken place (with proposed regulatory guidance),” Weber said. “We did not feel (FMCSA) was listening to us and so we went to Capitol
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Hill. We banded together with our brothers in the trucking industry, the American Bus Association, labor and the school bus industry.” She added the successful bill was drafted following the premise that, “You can’t mandate all of this screening and testing to disqualify drivers for sleep apnea without going through the rule making process. We never said, or believe, that (sleep apnea) is not a health Ken Presley issue. The problem was the idea of a federal mandate coming down to address this without going through the rule making process.” Weber also addressed the importance of the federal surface transportation bill MAP-21 that was signed into law by President Obama in 2012 and due to expire on Oct. 1, 2014. She called the reauthorization of the surface transportation bill the most important piece of legislation facing the bus/motorcoach industry. “This year (reauthorization) is facing a very serious fiscal cliff. If you recall, the U.S. Highway Trust Fund, which is funded by fuel taxes, is not keeping up with expenditures. People are driving less overall, cars are getting more fuel efficient, and the fuel tax has not been raised in 20 years. Basically, this perfect storm has produced what we are predicting to be a bankruptcy of the trust fund in 2015,” Weber said. She added that new revenue sources will have to be found, but expects members of the U.S. Congress to not seriously address the issue until after the November 2014 elections.
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Weber also addressed the federal fuel tax rate differences between private motorcoach operators and public entities providing transportation. Currently, motorcoach operators receive a 17 cent exemption while still paying 7.4 cents per gallon in federal tax on diesel fuel. Meanwhile, public transit, government and school bus vehicles continue to receive the full federal fuel tax exemption. “The rational for all of these entities not paying fuel tax is that they take cars off the road and reduce congestion, save energy, and help the environment. That is what motorcoaches do as well. There is no reason (motorcoach operators) should be paying this fuel tax,” Weber said. She added that a full exemption for motorcoach operators would not provide a huge financial burden to the U.S. highway trust fund, but it would greatly help motorcoach businesses. “We are calling this parity in fuel taxes ... to be treated the same as those in public transit and school bus operators,” Weber said. She also addressed the battle that takes place on Capitol Hill between the motorcoach industry and certain legislators. “You would not believe what kind of mandates (have to be fended off) from the U.S. Senate. We got a lot of them (eliminated), but we can’t fight them all. There are also going to be more coming. It’s the nanny state gone mad,” Weber said. “Therefore, we are constantly having to educate and fight for reasonable and rationale regulations.” Another big issue that could influence owners of motorcoach companies is comprehensive tax reform. “There has been a lot of work gone into this in both the U.S. House and Senate. Will it happen this year? We don’t know, but both House and Senate committees have hired some of the best private sector tax lawyers in Washington, D.C. The tax code has not been reformed since 1986. As you know, it’s very complicated,” Weber said. “We (UMA) have commented on some proposals that have come from the Senate that would change the depreciation rates for buses.” She said comprehensive tax reform will probably not be acted on prior to the November election. “However, I’m here to tell you that there has been a lot of work that has gone into comprehensive tax reform and UMA is paying attention.” Weber also spoke about reforms to the Affordable Care Act. “All of this is influencing your businesses, and there are a lot of bipartisan ‘tweaks’ taking place with this law,” she said. Providing a regulatory update as well was Presley, who stated the long-discussed and debated issue of seat belts for motorcoach travel was settled in November 2013. “By November 2016, all newly manufactured motorcoaches and buses that are 26,000 pounds or heavier must have three-point seat belts. However, there are no retrofit requirements in this rule, which was a major concern for our industry,” Presley said. He added that such issues as motorcoach roof strength and crush resistance, anti-ejection measures, roll over and crash avoidance, tire press monitoring and fire suppression are topics the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is addressing.
Presley also addressed the National Labor Relations Board approving the “ambush” election rule by a 3 to 2 decision. It calls for an election to take place at a company by employees 14 days after a union files a petition. Currently, the median time from petition to election is 31 days. “This reduces the opportunity for owners and management to address the impact of a union. The fear is the worker will not be able to make an informed choice,” Presley said. He added the National Labor Relations Board is accepting public comment on this matter through April 7, 2014. Also addressed by Presley were several new developments with FMCSA pertaining to the bus and motorcoach industry. He said FMCSA officials are now looking into a motorcoach carrier’s past when it comes to compliance reviews. “Before, compliance reviews were evaluated ‘just on today.’ Now, (FMCSA) is connecting prior safety audits and compliance reviews. (A
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motorcoach operator) should pay very close attention to past audits. Go back and look at your old compliance reviews, and make sure you are not making the same mistakes,” Presley said. Other Notices of Proposed Rule Making currently being addressed by FMCSA involve Leasing & Interchange of Equipment, Safety Fitness Determination, and the Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse Rule. Presley addressed as well FMCSA’s requirement that any new entrant to
The Motorcoach Marketing Council’s silent auction was one of the special events during the 2014 Travel Exchange.
the U.S. motorcoach industry must have a safety audit within 120 days from the beginning of its operation. He also discussed the FMCSA Unified Registration System which, he said, should not be confused with the Uniform Carrier Registration. According to Presley, there are new enforcement provisions in place for failing to file biennial updates. “If you don’t update your MCS150 biennially, they (FMCSA) will make deactivate your U.S. DOT (Department of Transportation) num-
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ber automatically. Be sure your contact information is correct. Failure to comply could result in a $1,000 per day fine up to $10,000,” Presley said. “Know when your biennial is due and that this needs to be done within a 30-day period. If not, you could find yourself operating with an inactive status.” He further stressed the importance of motorcoach operators keeping their operating authority listed as “active.” It’s vital, Presley added, that operators regularly check their company’s status by visiting www.safersys.org, paying particular attention to the insurance section of the site. The FMCSA Safety And Fitness Electronic Records (SAFER) System provides company safety data and related services to the industry and public over the Internet. Motorcoach operators could run into problems with “inactive” status if they simply change the name of their company, the address of their business has changed, or if they change insurance providers. “We have seen operators not paying attention. If you don’t make all the stars align properly, you may wind up with an inactive operating authority. Worry about this. The fine is $25,000 per occurrence per day,” Presley said. Five main points regarding a FMCSA compliance audit pertaining to The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) were also outlined by Presley. They are: n Have an ADA accessible bus, lease one or have a written agreement with another carrier to gain access to an accessible vehicle when needed; n Maintain a service log showing that the lift has been inspected on a regular basis. This should be part of a larger ADA maintenance program that includes a list of items on the lift that are checked regularly; n Have a training program in place covering how to handle calls from, and deal with, passengers with disabilities. This should include sensitivity training; n Have an active/current list of all ADA related requests, one form for each request; and, n Maintain a file for such requests for at least five years. Presley also expressed the need for more motorcoach operators to list their companies on the FTA charter registration website (www.fta.dot.gov/CharterRegistration).
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“There are currently fewer than 200 operators registered on the website. If you are not on this website, you will not receive notice when your local transit service needs a charter provider. You have to renew your registration every two years,” he said. Krapf returned to the podium after Presley’s discussion to urged motorcoach operators to attend the next UMA Capitol Hill Fly-In on June 24-25. “We had over 65 members join us last year for a lively two days of discussion. There were over 200 Hill visits with different congressional members,” Krapf said. “It’s important to discuss matters that are vital to our industry with members of Congress.” UMA Active Member Meeting ollowing an Opening Ceremony Breakfast, UMA started its annual Active Member Meeting/Legislative & Regulatory Update with an address by UMA President & CEO Victor Parra. He noted that this year’s Travel Exchange marked the 30th anniversary of the UMA Expo. “Our convention was not only established in 1984, but that year also marked when (the motorcoach) industry was free from the shackles of economic regulation. It was finally deregulated in 1984, and we (members of the motorcoach industry) have fought very hard to maintain this (freedom) ever since,” Parra said. He noted that George Orwell’s famous novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four, published in 1949, was set in the same year that the UMA Expo was established. The novel describes a future society that is controlled by one entity with constant government surveillance. Parra added that when UMA was first organized in 1971 as the United Bus Owners of America (UBOA), its founding fathers foresaw a future when the motorcoach industry, “Wouldn’t be held down by the shackles of economic regulation. Instead, it would be a time where one could start a bus company without having to ask permission from (an existing) carrier, where one could chart (his/her) own course for the future, and where (company representatives) could establish new and innovative services based on what they felt was best.” He asked for a show of hands from those attending the 2014 UMA Active Member Meeting who are now part of motorcoach companies started after 1971. After seeing many hands go up, Parra asked: “Would you be in business today if you had to ask permission from another company to get into this industry? Probably not. Therefore, we are very excited to keep pushing ahead with our mission. But know this, the threat of added regulation remains. Therefore, our mission (at UMA) hasn’t changed. Our mission remains the same, to help you become successful. “Last year we (UMA) took a big leap forward when we combined our convention with (NTA) to create Travel Exchange. What we did was create another breakthrough experience. Not only would you (as motorcoach operators) have an opportunity to meet with manufacturers and suppliers, but also have the chance to connect with the tour operators who charter your buses, along with the hotels where your guests stay, the restaurants where they eat, and with the destinations where they visit.” Along with UMA and NTA, Parra said other transportation groups present and meeting during
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the 2014 Travel Exchange included the National Association of Motorcoach Operators (NAMO), the Ontario Motorcoach Association, the California Bus Association (CBA) and the Hispanic Motorcoach Council. Also speaking during the start of the UMA Active Member Meeting was UMA Vice President of Industry Relations and COO Ken Presley, who discussed two programs associated with the UMA Bus & Mot orcoach Academy.
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Presented by UMA and the College of Southern Maryland, the academy offers various online courses designed to establish basic business techniques for those involved in the motorcoach industry. The goal is to assist bus and motorcoach operators while they navigate today’s competitive environment. One of the two schools offered through the UMA Bus & Motorcoach Academy is the Prevost Preparatory School for Gaetan Bolduc Professional Motorcoach Drivers. Developed to help new drivers prepare for their CDLs, “Prevost Prep” also gives experienced drivers an opportunity to keep current on the unique skills and responsibilities of a professional motorcoach driver. Presley explained that the large pool of motorcoach drivers available after the industry deregulated has long been exhausted. Therefore, it’s getting harder for many motorcoach companies to find qualified driving candidates. He thanked Prevost for helping the motorcoach industry benefit from a strong future driver pool. Presley also invited Prevost President & CEO Gaetan Bolduc during the UMA Active Member Meeting to further discuss the importance of the Prevost Preparatory School for Professional Motorcoach Drivers. “My team and I recognized the need when we heard operators talk about how difficult it was to recruit and train drivers. We all know drivers are the face in front of customers. They are the ones handling the baggage and driving the coaches,” Bolduc said. “They are responsible for many passengers while work-
ing alone. Roads can also be dangerous and today’s (coach equipment) is bigger and more complex. “Even when operators find people interested in driving, often they have little or no experience. Therefore, I’m very thrilled to announce (Prevost’s) 10-year commitment with UMA to expand this driver training program. Our support includes updating the program’s training courses.” Also offered through the UMA Bus & Motorcoach Academy is Ashley Cornell the Clarence Cornell School of Business. The school is named after ABC Companies Founder and Chairman Emeritus Clarence “Clancy” Cornell. It’s designed to teach company owners and their employees sound business principles. Speaking about the school during the UMA Active Member Meeting was ABC Companies Vice President of CustomerCare Ashley Cornell, who is the granddaughter of Clarence Cornell. “It’s essential for companies to properly train and educate their staff. It’s also important to invest in employees and help them further their education,” Ashley Cornell said. “The Clarence Cornell School of Business provides flexible scheduling that will work around the busy lives of employees. I have personally taken the course and was able to do so while juggling my work schedule as well as my home life. “There are many types of classes available, such as those that focus on finance, safety and compliance, and human resources. There are also more Continued On Page 61
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National Interstate has remained offer operators many important benefits including greater premium stabilidedicated to the passenger transportation industry for the past 25 years, ty as well as the opportunity to receive unused premiums and investment while also growing and diversifying into other areas of the transportation income.” Exceptional Claims Handling insurance industry. And Risk Management Services “We built National Interstate to serve passenger transportation compa“Certainly no one wants to think about having an accident or injury, but nies and today, as a market leader, we are just as committed to this industry as we were on day one,” said Dave Michelson, president and chief exec- let’s face it, that’s why you purchase insurance,” said Terry Phillips, senior utive officer of National Interstate. “We have seen numerous insurance vice president at National Interstate. “When you call National Interstate companies enter and exit the passenger transportation insurance space over you will speak with claims and service professionals specially trained in our company’s history, and there are very few that have remained as unwa- transportation insurance. We understand your needs, and are equipped to vering in their support as National Interstate. While we have grown dramat- handle everything from a routine fender bender to the most catastrophic claim. ically over the years as well as expanded “From a loss control perspective, we our product line and staff, I am proud to are committed to helping customers run say that National Interstate has maintained National Interstate’s Major Milestones the safest operation possible,” Phillips its small company atmosphere. Our goal • 1989 - Founded as a passenger transportation added, and continuing, “Over the past seveach day is to provide great, personalized insurer eral years we have significantly invested service to our customers and agents. We in both technology and staff, and we have appreciate the business and personal rela• 1995 – Received initial “A-” A.M. Best rating transitioned our service to provide a contionships we have with them, and recog• 1995 – Launched TRAX, our first ART program sultative approach to risk management. nize their importance in the success of our for passenger transportation, and diversified We doubled the number of regional conorganization. Without them, we wouldn’t into recreational vehicle insurance and general sultants to help operators analyze where be here.” commercial business in the state of Hawaii their losses are coming from, and then put the appropriate programs in place to minCustom Tailored • 2000 – Began offering insurance to trucking comimize their exposure. Passenger Transportation panies “In addition, we enhanced our excluInsurance Products • 2001 – Launched Calypso, our first rental captive sive risk management website, National Interstate’s comprehensive solution for passenger transportation www.sclsonline.com, adding more induspassenger transportation product is try specific resources and services. The designed specifically for charter and tour, • 2006 – Introduced Destination, our third group website has a number of resources includstudent transportation, limousine, paracaptive solution for passenger transportation ing an online video library with over 300 transit, and public transit operations. • 2010 – Acquired Vanliner Insurance Company, a titles, online training, an industry calenNational Interstate offers a wide array of market leader in moving and storage insurance dar, presentations and other valuable coverages, limits, and retention options. tools – all right at your finger tips.” The company has an insurance solution for any size of operation including first-dollar Financial Strength And Stability insurance and deductible options, as well as alternative risk transfer (ART), “When selecting an insurance carrier, you need a partner with impeccaor captive, insurance programs. “Our goal is to have a one-stop-shopping experience for our diverse ble character and financial strength,” Michelson continued. “Since our group of clients,” said Tony Mercurio, executive vice president and chief founding in 1989, integrity has been one of our core values, and we remain operating officer of National Interstate. In describing National Interstate, dedicated to honorable business practices. We received our initial A.M. Mercurio further stated, “We continue to expand into new niches, such as Best ‘A-’ rating in 1995, and have improved that rating, which is currently the emergency and non-emergency ambulance market we entered in ‘A’ (Excellent) IX with a positive outlook. National Interstate has also been January of this year. Over the years, we have also significantly grown our named to Forbes 100 Most Trustworthy Companies for four consecutive ART business designed for visionary operators with a commitment to safe- years (2010-2013), receiving the Most Trustworthy Small-Cap Company in ty excellence. We began offering ART insurance in 1995 with the launch of 2010, as well as the highest score in the small-cap category in 2013.” National Interstate’s winning combination of superior service, cusTRAX, a member-owned group captive program for larger passenger transportation companies. Today, we have become a leader in the transportation tomized products, financial strength, and knowledge of the transportation ART industry, maintaining over 25 ART programs representing over 50 insurance industry all point to a bright future for the company. “From everyone at National Interstate, I would like to thank all of our percent of our gross premiums written. In addition to TRAX, we also offer two passenger group rental captive programs, called Destination and customers for making our company the success that it is today. We are so excited to celebrate our 25th anniversary, and while we are very proud of Calypso, as well as single parent captive options for larger operations.” Due to its success in ART insurance, National Interstate recently our past accomplishments, we believe the next 25 years will be even betreceived three of the 2013 US Captive Service Awards: Claims ter,” Mercurio concluded. Page 26
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Service Insurance Agency
Offering The Value-Added Benefits That Are Critical Today
W
ords of wisdom are sometimes hard to come by, especially during tough times. Those who provide passenger transportation, however, are seeking advice on insurance and other industry-related matters at a rapid pace. With three locations and 61 years of experience providing transportation insurance Service Insurance Agency representatives have the knowledge and dedication to help motorcoach operators survive and thrive in today's business climate. With a dedicated team of customer service representatives (CSRs) and producers, Service Insurance Agency provides the value-added benefits that are critical today. The agency, with its headquarters in Richmond, VA, and offices in Knoxville, TN, and Naples, FL, can provide a variety of insurance products for the transportation industry such as Auto Liability, Physical Damage, General Liability, Worker's Compensation, Garage and GarageKeeper's Legal Liability. The agency also provides additional help in such areas as driver selection, drug and alcohol testing, DOT compliance, and safety seminars. “We are one of the largest insurance agencies in the Southeast, providing transportation insurance solutions to our 650 motorcoach clients,” said Service Insurance Agency President Tim O'Bryan. “We have a dedicated staff of insurance professionals who are committed to the motorcoach industry. With over 150-plus years of collective transportation insurance experience we are able to provide our clients, as well as our potential clients, with valuable insight.” The producers include Service Insurance Agency President Tim O'Bryan, located in Richmond, VA.; Roger Gum, of Knoxville, TN.; and Gray Poehler of Naples, FL. “From an agency standpoint, we help our clients with various situations that come up in the operation of their business, whether it's insurance related or not. Our clients know they can call us with questions that most non-transportation agents may not be aware of,” Mr. O'Bryan said. He added that a non-transportation agent or agency may not understand the unique challenges facing the motorcoach operator today. “The insurance companies provide the insurance coverages required by our clients, but we as an agency provide the customer service that our clients need in order to operate in the current business environment. Whether we issue certificates of insurance to groups who wish to travel with our clients, help our clients with driver selection and retention, provide lienholders with proof that their interests are protected, or just act as a sounding board for general business questions, we strive to be a complete business partner with our clients.” According to Mr. O'Bryan, “The number of insurance carriers
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that specialize in our industry is relatively small. Therefore, it's even more important than ever to deal with an agency that has a long standing relationship with all of these carriers. “One thing about the insurance industry is that it never stays the same. Pricing models change, natural disasters in this country and abroad affect the availability of the high limits that our clients must carry, the ever changing legal climate has a direct impact on this industry. Plus, when you consider the state and federal mandates imposed on our clients, now is the time to strengthen your relationship with your state officials and those in Washington, D.C. “As an agency that specializes in the motorcoach industry, we welcome the opportunity to work with our clients in all of these areas. Service Insurance Agency lives and breathes this industry. We serve on various state association boards to provide insight and help each member, whether or not the company is a client, stay informed. We are committed to strengthening our relationship with our clients, and the various state motorcoach associations to guarantee the stability and future of this industry that supports us,” states Mr. O'Bryan. “These are difficult times. It's important that we all work together. Communication is an essential part of the equation so please do not hesitate to call us and discuss your situation. Service Insurance Agency has been in this business since 1952, and we have guided our clients through a variety of business climates over the years. I am available to my clients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We need to be available because our clients work those same hours,” states Mr. O'Bryan.
Contact: Service Insurance Agency Tim O'Bryan, President 6850 Catawba Lane Richmond, VA 23226 1-800-444-0205 ext. 303 FAX 804-288-7925 CELL 804-914-6993 tobryan@serviceins.com Roger Gum, Producer Knoxville, TN 865-546-9697 roger@serviceins.com Gray Poehler, Producer 3770 Sawgrass Way, #3431 Naples, FL 34112-1304 239-304-2815 gray@serviceins.com
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Lancer Insurance
Now More Than Ever: An Insurer That Understands Your Business By Tim Delaney
“…the U.S. bus and motorcoach industry experienced one of its worst years for serious crashes ever in 2011 which, unfortunately, continued throughout 2012. And, if January and February 2013 are any indication, the rash of serious, headline-grabbing bus crashes could continue.” Tim Delaney Busline Magazine March/April 2013 Sadly, it did continue. In fact, 2013 was actually worse across-the-board than 2012 as media-covered crashes revealed 988 reported bus crash-related injuries (vs. 817 in ’12); 62 reported fatalities (vs. 46 in ’12); 41 reported accidents with at least one fatality (vs. 29 in ’12); and 8 reported accidents with more than one fatality (vs. 7 in ’12). And what makes these grim statistics even more confounding is the fact that the frequency/number of bus claims actually decreased over the last few years. Clearly, it’s the most serious types of bus crashes that are on the rise; the crashes that injure and kill more passengers; and the crashes that lead to staggering multi-million dollar verdicts or settlements. And the plaintiff bar has taken notice and is increasingly targeting bus companies’ $5 million insurance policy limits in its crosshairs. Many plaintiff attorneys have become “specialists” in pursuing bus and motorcoach companies by: filing lawsuits within days of an accident; pressuring defendants for documents and information; and spending very liberally (sometimes over $1 million) to develop their cases. Their philosophy toward bus accidents can be summed up in three ‘rules’: there is no such thing as an accident; it isn’t about what the accident was, but what the accident could have been; and businesses (i.e. bus companies) should never needlessly endanger the community. Not surprisingly, those messages resonate with many jurors who see themselves in the role of the injured plaintiff. And advances in medical science have added a tongue-twisting litany of large verdict-producing conditions including: traumatic brain injury (TBI); post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); and an increasing number of costly, and sometimes dubious, spinal disc herniation surgeries. So, what can a bus company owner do? Most importantly, deal only with a specialized motorcoach insurer like Lancer that has an experienced team of bus and motorcoach claims examiners who are all supported by equally experienced defense attorneys, accident investigators, med-
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ical experts and engineers. Claims professionals who recognize the key exposures, identify plaintiff attorney tactics and prepare a strategy to successfully counter those tactics are vital. Claims professionals should also aggressively pursue other insurers through a Loss Recovery Program to successfully retrieve millions of dollars for policyholders’ downtime and sub-deductible recoveries. And last, but certainly not least, bus owners must understand the value of insuring with a company that understands the critical importance of providing its policyholders with the training and loss prevention expertise and tools to effectively reduce the chances of those serious accidents from ever occurring. At Lancer, we have not only expanded the training and depth of our claims department, but have made a strong financial commitment to the growth of our safety and loss-control regional managers, who visit policyholders in their territories across the United States on a regular basis. This is done to provide driver training, regulatory compliance assistance, guidance on the various electronic onboard devices and cameras available, and post-accident audit preparation and assistance. Lancer’s industry acclaimed, “The First 24 Hours: How To Develop, Implement and Test A Serious Accident Response Plan” DVD and workbook package has been the blueprint for scores of Lancer policyholders. These policyholders have worked closely with Lancer safety and claims managers to put their crisis management plans and personnel to the ultimate test – a full blown accident simulation. Most agree that, while exhausting, it’s a very valuable…and eye-opening…experience. Bus and motorcoach insurance premiums are, in large part, only a reflection of the overall industry’s loss experience, and with the prudent use of deductibles, individual operators can very effectively control those premiums. But, as crash severity continues to rise and the plaintiff bar continues to go to school on motorcoach companies and their $5 million policy limit (God forbid it gets raised by the federal government), bus insurers will have no choice but to upwardly adjust their pricing to the realities of the marketplace. That said, I conclude my comments by repeating the same statement I used to close last year’s “Insurance & Finance” issue of Busline: “…now more than ever you need to choose a bus insurer that has proven it truly understands your business, and will work with you to smooth out any pricing adjustments in the months (and years) ahead.”
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Before you take a turn for the worst...
Get Lancer behind your fleet! Since 1985, motor coach companies have known that, when disaster strikes, no insurer has their back like Lancer. Today, more than 1,250 industry clients rely on lightning on-site support from our exclusive Catastrophic Response (CAT) Team... and over 100 nationwide bus claims specialists whose only job is to get them back on the road to profits fast! For a fast quote, call your agent or 800-782-8902 x3264. Email: bus@lancerinsurance.com
Tell us your Road Story! Tell us about the most surprising problem your drivers faced on the road and you could win an exclusive numbered, signed and framed lithograph. To enter, visit us on Facebook. No purchase necessary.
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COVERAGE THAT REVOLVES AROUND YOU PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION Protective Insurance Company, rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best, has been providing specialized insurance policies to the transportation industry since 1950. Our hands-on approach to insurance allows us to understand the needs of our customers and form long-standing partnerships. We have a strong safety culture, a tenured claims department and superior customer service standards. Here are just a few of the benefits Protective offers: • Outstanding cash flow payment options • Superior claims service • Ability to package all lines of coverage, including auto liability, general liability, physical damage and workers’ compensation • Dedicated loss prevention team that specializes in the transportation industry
EXCELLENCE IN: MEDIUM FLEET TRUCKING | LARGE FLEET TRUCKING | PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION | WORKERS’ COMPENSATION | INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS
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protectiveinsurance.com
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PROTECTIVEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S service is
BEST IN CLASS. We have near-instant access to experienced in-house individuals at Protective who are intimately familiar with and up-to-date on rules and regulations for our industry. Protective understands the risks we face, and we have been impressed by their state-tostate knowledge of claims statutes.
BRIAN & DAVID ANNETT Annett Bus Lines
David Annett Brian Annett
FOR COVERAGE THAT REVOLVES AROUND YOU, CONTACT STACY RENZ: (800) 644-5501 ext. 2570 protectiveinsurance.com
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Shriver Insurance Agency Unparalled Personal Service
Safety, service and savings — these are three areas that we have helped our clients with over the past 50 years, and will continue to work on over the next 50. We are a family-owned and operated independent insurance agency located in Elmhurst, IL. Since 1963, we have served thousands of operators in public transportation. When it comes to safety, we can provide safety videos, loss control inspections and recommendations. Shriver provides unparalleled personal service to each account. This has been our No. 1 priority since the beginning. Your savings comes from our ability to write and negotiate with several of today's insurance carriers. Shriver Insurance Agency will shop the market for you to come up with the finest insurance program to fit your unique needs. We may not be the biggest, simply the best.
Safety, Service Savings
Contact: Charlie Shriver, Shriver Insurance Agency 340 W. Butterfield Road, Suite 2B, Elmhurst, IL 60126 Phone: 800-841-1217 • 630-833-0480 • Fax: 630-833-0876 Email: charlie@shriverinsurance.com • Website: www.shriverinsurance.com
Motorcoach | Charter Buses | School Buses | Limousines | Airport Buses
800-841-1217 Transit Buses | Sightseeing Buses | Shuttle Vans | Casino Buses | Line Runs Page 34
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TIB: Committed To The Transportation Industry, And Only This Industry
T
IB Transportation Insurance Brokers is the largest agency in the country dedicated solely to the transportation industry. Headquartered in Glendale, CA, with offices in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Orlando, Baltimore, and New York, TIB serves more than 5,000 bus and limousine clients nationally. It’s committed to the transportation industry, and only that industry. All of its clients have commercial auto exposures with the vast majority being certificated carriers. At TIB, tough transportation insurance problems are handled every day. The company is staffed to provide clients with the finest service of any broker in the industry. TIB’s goal is to work together as a team to take care of clients. It offers high quality services, trouble-free relationships and rapid response to a customer’s needs through the strength of TIB’s national network. TIB’s specialization and commitment to the transportation industry ensures that by focusing only on this market-
place, it can devote the energy and resources necessary to be at the leading edge of the transportation insurance field. All clients have their own personal account executive. In addition, they are provided with an assistant account executive to handle their standard requests such as certificates, endorsements, filings, etc., and an accounting representative who knows their exact premium status. Clients always have total access to TIB’s corporate management team, who can provide assistance for a client’s risk management needs. The transportation industry has traditionally experienced problems securing programs which provide adequate coverage and competitive pricing. As brokers, TIB works for the clients, explaining the various plans and programs and helping them determine the insurance policies which best suit their needs. TIB is not captive to a single insurance company; therefore, it can offer options and alternatives, rather than providing a client with one —
and only one — insurance program. TIB is keenly aware of changes in the marketplace because the company is there, immersed in it everyday. Obviously, change is a part of the environment, and indeed, a dynamic force affecting all of us. TIB’s goal is to always be on the cutting edge — to discern the good from the potentially damaging; to keep the concerns and goals of its clients foremost in its actions and reactions to the times. All of TIB’s accounts are important to the company, no matter what their size, starting with the largest customers right down to individual owner/operators. The success of each and every one of these customers is an integral part of TIB’s success — this fact is always on the minds of TIB professionals as they serve the company’s client base. “KEEPING YOU IN MOTION IS OUR COMMITMENT — HAVING YOU AS ONE OF OUR CLIENTS IS OUR PLEASURE”
Keeping You in Motion
Transportation Insurance Brokers
800-248-2877
818-246-2800
www.tibinsurance.com LOS ANGELES • NEW YORK • BALTIMORE • MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL • ORLANDO CA LIC. #0705008
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EUCLID Insurance Agencies, LLC
Bus Insurance For Commercial Fleets Or Owner/Operators Protects Your Vehicles And Liabilities From Unexpected Disasters Bus insurance â&#x20AC;&#x201C; such as charter fleet insurance and non-fleet owner/operator bus insurance â&#x20AC;&#x201C; falls under the category of commercial transportation insurance and requires skilled consideration and selection. If you operate a limo, shuttle van, mini-bus, charter bus or
mixed fleet you need proper commercial transportation coverage to protect your financial interests in the event of some misfortune. Euclid Insurance Agencies, aka RodesRoper-Love, specializes in commercial transportation insurance for fleets and single unit
owner/operators. Company representatives understand the requirements that are specific to commercial transportation insurance, and will match the right coverage and insurance limits to fit your local and/or nationwide business needs. There is a wide array of policies and insurance plans that apply to bus insurance. These include auto liability, general liability, property insurance, workers compensation and more. You need to know that you are covered for physical damage to your vehicle as well as damage to third party property. Damage can result from many things including accidents, storms, vandalism or some other unfortunate event. In the event of an accident and injury to others, you want to be sure you are covered for any liability claims, including emergency and medical services and costs. Liability claims can run into millions, so you want to have adequate coverage to protect your financial interests. Whether you operate a nationwide charter service or a local transport for special occasions and events, you want insurance tailored to your needs. Apart from the right mix and match of insurance products, you need bus insurance that is cost effective and affordable. When you deal with a specialized transportation insurance agent you know you will get the right insurance at the right price. You also will receive first-class service, hassle-free online quotes, flexible premium financing, proper coverage, deductible options and fast claims processing. You know you will get the quality service you deserve whether you operate a single bus or a whole bus fleet. Euclid Insurance Agencies, LLC 4450 W. Eau Gallie Blvd., Suite 115, Melbourne, FL 32934 (800) 333-7754 www.euclidinsuranceagencies.com
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Holdsworth Fabrics Is Moving Forward As Camira Holdsworth Fabrics representatives say the 2014 UMA Motorcoach Expo was a new beginning in transportation textiles, as fabric specialist Holdsworth announced it has changed its name to parent company Camira. Part of the Camira Group since 2007, the company says the name change is designed to reflect its wider ranging product capabilities, encompassing not only moquette fabrics for seating, but high performance upholstery flat cloths and textile ancillary trims. The switch to Camira is also part of a global brand building initiative. Holdsworth started in 1822 in the United Kingdom textile heartland in
Halifax, Yorkshire, England, weaving the original wool moquettes for railcar interiors, then for buses and motorcoaches. After six generations in the Holdsworth family, the business was sold in 2005 for real estate development of its historic mill complex, leaving the assets and Holdsworth brand name to be acquired two years later by UK textile manufacturer and global distributor Camira Group. As a result of the successful integration and reinvigoration of the transport textile business, Camira says it now designs and manufactures 10 million yards of fabric a year, sold in 80 countries worldwide. These are used in wide ranging com-
ARBOC Specialty Vehicles Announces 2 Appointments ARBOC Specialty Vehicles, a custom builder of paratransit vehicles, has announced the appointment of Michael Malchow as regional sales manager. He works in all facets of sales, including developing new accounts, sales training, customer service and helping dealers grow their business. ARBOC has also announced the appointment of Chris Ward as director of parts & service. Ward will also continue to serve as a sales representative for Canada. Ward has held many positions with the company in engineering and sales. Through its three key product offerings, the Spirit of Mobility, Spirit of Freedom and Spirit of Liberty, ARBOC offers low-floor paratransit prod-
Michael Malchow
Chris Ward
ucts that serve 2014-2018 federal fuel economy standards. Learn more at www.ARBOCsv.com.
mercial interiors, health care, education and of course mass transit. The company is a current holder of the Queen's Award for Sustainable Development, and accredited to the international environmental management standard ISO 14001. Camira celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2014. Andrew Schofield, Camira group sales & marketing director, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The change from Holdsworth to Camira is a natural progression as we position ourselves as a global textile brand with a single name and a strong cohesive identity. It's very much business as usual and our customers can look forward to on-going excellent service and quality, and outstanding product and technical innovation.â&#x20AC;? This spring the company's North American HQ and distribution center will move from Indianapolis, IN, to Grand Rapids, MI. Visit www.camirafabrics.com for more information.
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ACC Climate Control 22428 Elkhart East Blvd. Elkhart, IN 46514 USA 574-264-2190 FAX: 574-266-6744 E-mail: sales2@accclimatecontrol.com Website: www.accclimatecontrol.com Products: Manufacturer and distributor of automotive heating and air conditioning systems for buses, emergency vehicles, and other specialty vehicles. 12
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American Cooling Technology, Inc. See Ad On Page 39 715 Willow Springs Lane York, PA 17406 USA 877-228-4247 FAX: 717-767-3658 Website: www.actusa.us.com Products: American Cooling Technology, Inc. (A.C.T.) is a manufacturer of advanced bus air conditioning. Products include split type air conditioning systems, roof mount condensers, and roof mount air
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conditioning systems for all bus makes and sizes. It also offers replacement air conditioning parts for most brands including roof mount air conditioning systems. The company specializes in air conditioning specification preparation assistance, technical assistance, and training. 13 BITZER U.S., Inc. See Ad On Page 40 4080 Enterprise Way Flowery Branch, GA 30542 USA 770-503-9226 FAX: 770-503-9440 E-mail: sales@bitzerus.com Website: www.bitzerus.com Products: BITZER provides bus/coach air conditioning compressors. BITZER’s product range covers all compressor technologies from reciprocating to scroll and screw compressors. BITZER bus air conditioning compressors are designed specifically to excell within the harsh environment of today’s engine compartments. BITZER’s bus air conditioning compressors offer superior capacity to cool coaches, school buses, transit buses, including larger articulated and doubledecker buses. 13 Espar Climate Systems See Ad On Page 41 6099A Vipond Dr. Mississauga, ON L5T 2B2 CANADA 800-387-4800
FAX: 905-670-0728 E-mail: inquiries@espar.com Website: www.espar.com Products: Espar Climate Systems is a provider of fuel operated heaters in North America. Espar also sells and services the Eberspaecher Sutrak Air Conditioning units. Espar provides customers a “Best in Class Product Support” package including in-field service representatives, on-site and web-based training, call center for technical support and a number of service dealers throughout North America. 13 Mobile Climate Control 3189 Farmtrail Road York, PA 17406 USA 800-673-2431 FAX: 717-764-0401 Website: www.mcc-hvac.com Products: Mobile Climate Control designs, manufactures, installs and services a complete system solution for buses: by providing maximum heating, ventilating, air conditioning and windshield defrosting/defogging for both conventional and hybrid vehicles. 12 ProAir, LLC 28731 County Road 6 Elkhart, IN 46514 USA 574-264-5494 FAX: 574-264-2194
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E-mail: info@proairllc.com Website: www.proairllc.com Products: Manufacturer of air conditioning, heating and defrost systems for all types of buses and shuttle vehicles. Specializes in climate control systems for driver and passenger areas and also stocks a complete line of related parts. 12 Proheat 3831 No. 6 Road Richmond, BC V6V 1P6 CANADA 604-270-6899 FAX: 604-270-7172 E-mail: sales@proheat.com Website: www.proheat.com Products: Diesel fired auxiliary heavy-duty coolant and heaters. 13 Rifled Air Conditioning, Inc. 2810 Earlham Place High Point, NC 27263 USA 336-434-1000 FAX: 336-861-4646 Website: www.rifledair.com Products: Manufacturer and installer of climate control systems specifically designed to meet the demands of the medium duty bus market. Specializing in school bus and shuttle bus markets. 12
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SMI 1975 Joe B. Jackson Pkwy. Murfreesboro, TN 37127 USA 615-867-8515 Website: www.smiglobal.net E-mail: jim.haigh@smiglobal.net Company Officers: Mike Hagan, Director of Sales; Jim Haigh, Transit Account Manager Products: Pretoria interior ligthing/ducting, LED strip lights, Transpec roof hatches and energy absorbing bumpers. 14 Spheros North America, Inc. See Ad On Page 20 5536 Research Drive Canton, MI 48188 USA Phone: 734-218-7350 Toll Free: 888-960-4849 Website: www.spheros.us Products: Spheros is a global company involved in the development and manufacture of engine-independent heating systems, water pumps, air conditioners and roof hatches, accompanied by comprehensive service. Air management in buses has been the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s expertise for over 60 years. Spheros satisfies the most stringent requirements in terms of quality and reliability. Applying a high level of initiative power to stay ahead of the constantly growing demands
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of Spheros’ customers is the principle of the company’s success. Partners located all over the world receive individual and cost-effective solutions which have been tailored to meet diverse climatic conditions. With the 2009 opening of Spheros North America Inc., based in Canton, MI, the Spheros Group has further expanded its global presence. This opening has provided further proximity to North American customers and their needs. Spheros North America offers direct sales and support to customers located throughout the United States and Canada. 14 Sutrak Corporation See Ad On Page 38 6897 East 49th Avenue Commerce City, CO 80022 USA 303-287-2700 FAX: 303-286-1005 Website: www.sutrakusa.com Products: ISO 9001 certified. Heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems for light rail vehicles, people movers and buses, including school buses. 10 Thermo King Corporation 314 West 90th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55420 USA 952-887-2200
Website: www.thermoking.com Products: Thermo King offers a complete line of HVAC solutions for transit, coach, shuttle and school bus. Thermo King offers: the SLR Series, a one-piece rooftop HVAC unit for shuttle and paratransit vehicles featuring the COMFORTEK™ air distribution system that provides better temperature control, faster recovery and a balanced refrigeration cycle; a complete line of energy efficient, all-electric HVAC systems for hybrid, battery, fuel cell and trolley buses; and an all-electric HVAC system for conventional diesel or compressed natural gas-powered buses featuring integrated electric compressors and is independently operated and powered by a power electronics module. 13 Trans/Air Manufacturing 480 East Locust St. Dallastown, PA 17342 USA 717-246-2627 FAX: 717-244-7088 Website: www.transairmfg.com Products: Trans/Air Manufacturing is an ISO 9001 registered firm, manufacturing a full line of climate control sysems for the school, commercial, and electric/hybrid vehicle markets. Units, parts, service, training, warranty, and new or aftermarket installations are available through factory-owned operations or a network of distributors throughout North America. 14
Sales Rep Contact an Espar Tailor Near You And Get Your Fleet Measured for New Heaters
Espar Climate Systems a member of the Eberspächer group of companies
Espar ... Because Off-the-Rack Just Isn’t Good Enough. www.espar.com /// (800) 387-4800
Hydronic LII 122,000 BTU
Hydronic M-12 42,000 BTU
Hydronic D5 17,000 BTU March/April 2014
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Prevost Marks First 90 Years Prevost, manufacturer of premium motorcoaches, is marking the 90th anniversary of its founding in 1924. From Eugene Prevost’s first wooden-frame bus body to today’s Prevost X345 and H3-45 models, Prevost representatives say it has been committed to quality, innovation and attention to detail. Prevost President and CEO Gaetan Bolduc said, “We are extremely proud to celebrate this milestone in Prevost’s history, and to reflect on
how far we have come across the decades. That said, we have always been – and will always be – a forward looking organization including ‘firsts’ over the years in such areas as safety, environmental care and comfort. Above all, we say thank you to our customers for making this first 90 years possible, and for being our inspiration.” According to company history, “Eugene Prevost, whose wooden furniture business in
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his hometown of Sainte-Claire, Quebec, was well respected by 1924, entered the motorcoach business quite unexpectedly that year. A fellow Sainte-Claire entrepreneur who operated a small bus fleet needed a wooden coach body to sit atop a truck chassis he had purchased. He commissioned Prevost to build it, on the hunch that Prevost could translate his wood-working talent into this new realm. “The wooden and aluminum bus body Prevost produced was so well crafted that the customer immediately asked for another. For a number of years that followed, Prevost continued to build furniture, but it became increasingly clear that buses were his future. “After World War II, ‘Les Ateliers Prevost’ was formed as a dedicated bus producer separate from the Prevost furniture business. The Prevost range of motorcoaches expanded through the 1950s, and helped the company survive that decade’s massive shake-out in the industry. In 1957, Eugene Prevost passed the baton of ownership to two Canadian businessmen, who invested in new products and technologies, and charted a course for Prevost growth that would continue for decades to come. “The 1960s brought a new generation of ownership and the beginning of Prevost’s expansion into the world of motorhome conversion coaches. This new market developed during the 1970s, with 35- and 40-foot versions of the ‘LeMirage’ model which spawned a series of successful Prevost coaches, including the line that continues today as the X3-45. “The company became part of the Volvo Group in 1995. By 2011, when the 15,000th Prevost vehicle – a flagship H3-45 model – rolled out of the state-of- the-art Sainte-Claire plant, the company that Eugene Prevost had started in that rural village would have been all but unrecognizable to its founder. But those core values remain at the heart of today’s Prevost,” say company spokespeople. The theme of the 90th anniversary is “Moving Forward Since 1924.” Throughout the 90th Anniversary year of 2014, www.prevostcar.com will feature a series of “Prevost Partner Profiles” to salute long-standing Prevost customers in both the seated coach and conversion coach sectors. Follow this link for the Profiles page: https://www.prevostcar.com/prevostNinety/.
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Glaval Bus
Glaval Bus
Glaval Legacy
Whether it’s a wheelchair passenger, business traveler or an elderly rider, the Titan II LF eliminates the need for steps to enter or exit the vehicle. There is also no longer a need for the traditional wheelchair lift. The Titan II LF is offered with either a Braun or Ricon bi-fold power ramp. This new low floor kneeling bus utilizes the rugged Chevy G4500 chassis platform along with a heavy-duty “Purpose-Built” chassis and floor structure designed and produced by Spartan Chassis. One of the most impressive features of the Titan II LF is the 4-corner, self-leveling air-ride suspension with kneeling capability. With the touch of one switch, the complete unit will kneel to achieve a 1:6 ramp slope which exceeds ADA’s current minimum, at the same time providing a level floor surface for all wheelchair positions. The Titan II LF offers true random access for up to 5 wheelchair positions, or can seat up to 21 ambulatory passengers. With Glaval’s reputation for building a quality product, the Titan II LF is sure to help make life easier.
Glaval Titan II Low Floor One of the industry’s most recent offerings in the 26,000-lb GVWR class, the Glaval Legacy is built on a Freightliner S2C chassis. The S2C is equipped with a Cummins 6.7L ISB and Allison Transmission, and a rear air-ride suspension and hydraulic brakes. The Legacy is a cutaway style coach with a forward entrance door up to 40” in width. The Legacy is available in a choice of a 96” or 102” exterior width. There is also the choice between a lowered 3-step entryway, or the conventional 4-step floor height. Various seating plans are available to accommodate up to 45 passengers. The Legacy is Altoona tested for 10 years/350,000-miles. Glaval offers a wide variety of ADA-compliant paratransit along with luggage and cargo alternatives, making it a great choice for both the commercial and transit customer. This product is constructed using Glaval’s vacuum laminated galvanized “Flo-Coated” steel-safe cage structure design and backed by a 5 Year/100,000 mile limited body warranty.
Glaval Bus 914 CR #1 North Elkhart, IN 46514 800-445-2825 www.glavalbus.com
Glaval Bus 914 CR #1 North Elkhart, IN 46514 800-445-2825 www.glavalbus.com
Model ............................................................................................Glaval Legacy Seating Capacity............................................Up to 45 passengers seated Overall Length .................................................................32’, 35’, 37’ and 40’ Exterior Width ..............................................................................96” and 102” Exterior Height...............129” approx. (Exc. Roof A/C or Escape Hatch) Interior Width.................................................................................92” and 97” Interior Height..........................................................................78” Headroom Wheelbase ........................................................................219”, 259” and 279” GVWR ..................................................................................................26,000-lbs. Engine......................6.7L Cummins ISB Inline-Six Cylinder Turbo Diesel Transmission.........................................................................Allison 2200 PTS Fuel Tank ..........................................Up to 100-Gallon (Depending on WB) Suspension ...........................................Rear Air Spring/Front Leaf Spring
Model.......................................................................................Glaval Titan II LF Seating Capacity.............................................................21-pax or 5 W/Chair Overall Length .........................................................................24’, 26’ and 28’ Exterior Width................................................................................................96” Exterior Height ........................................110” (Exc. Roof A/C, Roof Hatch) Interior Width.................................................................................................92” Interior Height ..................................78” Behind Rear Wheel/81” in Front Wheelbase ..............................................................................166”, 190” & 214” GVWR .....................................................................................................14,200-lb. Engine ......................................Chevy Vortec 6.0L V8 Gas or CNG option, and also now available with DuraMax Diesel Transmission....................................................................6-Speed Automatic Chassis ..........................................................................................Chevy G4500 Fuel Tank ..............................................................................................57-Gallon March/April 2014
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Turtle Top
Turtle Top
Odyssey XLT The Odyssey XLT shuttle bus and motorcoach series of buses that provide up to 51 passenger capacity are available on the Ford F650, International Dura Star, and Freightliner FM2 chassis. Bus road stability, passenger comfort, dependability, quality and safety are important features for owners of an Odyssey XLT. More passenger capacity for church buses, college buses, city and county transportation authorities, assisted living buses, cross-country touring companies, excursion companies and many more transportation customers can be found selecting the Odyssey XLT. Turtle Top 67819 State Road 15 New Paris, IN 46553 800-296-2105 Email: timmb@turtletop.com www.turtletop.com
ODYSSEY XLT FEATURES • Aerodynamic automotive styling • Clear view windows, contoured, curved, tinted • Up to 51 passenger capacity - CDL required • Wide interior with double row luxury seating • Flexible floor plans including wheel chair capability • Meets and exceeds FMVSS regulations • Qualifies for Buy America • Steel roll cage with full perimeter steel floor • Body and air conditioning warranty second to none
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Odyssey XL The Odyssey XL shuttle bus provides up to 41 passenger capacity and is available on the Ford F550, F560, International TerraStar, and Freightliner FM2 26K. Road stability, passenger comfort, dependability, quality and safety are main features standard in the Odyssey XL. This series fits the needs for church buses, college buses, transportation authorities, assisted living facilities, plus many more bus applications, and is available with wheelchair lifts. Turtle Top 67819 State Road 15 New Paris, IN 46553 800-296-2105 Email: timmb@turtletop.com www.turtletop.com
ODYSSEY XL FEATURES • Aerodynamic automotive styling • Clear view windows • Up to 41 passenger capacity - CDL required • Wide interior with double row luxury seating • Flexible floor plans including wheel chair capability • Meets and exceeds FMVSS regulations • Qualifies for buy America and is Altoona tested • Steel roll cage with full perimeter steel floor • Body and air conditioning warranty second to none
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Turtle Top
Turtle Top
VanTerra Odyssey The VanTerra shuttle buses were developed to replace the standard 15-passenger van. All types of passengers, including senior living agencies, find it easy to enter and exit with ample headroom and aisle passage. The VanTerra maneuvers like a van but have the stability of a dual rear wheel bus. Extended rear wheel stance (with a full roll cage, styling and quality construction) makes this the most affordable and practical choice for safe dependable transportation, according to the company. Turtle Top 67819 State Road 15 New Paris, IN 46553 800-296-2105 Email: timmb@turtletop.com www.turtletop.com
VANTERRA FEATURES • 15 - 18 passenger alternative * • Low, wide enclosed entrance • Wide aisle with interior headroom • Wide wheelbase stance for road stability • Flexible floor plans, including wheelchair capability • Meets and exceeds FMVSS regulations • Altoona tested • Steel roll cage with school bus roll-over crush test • CDL license not require in most states ** • The most storage in its class * Some floorplans include wheelchair/luggage areas that reduce the number of seats. 18 seats is the maximum possible occupancy in this class. ** 15 and under do not require CDL in most states. 16 passenger and above do require CDL
The Odyssey shuttle bus family provides passenger capacities up to 23 on Chevrolet and Ford chassis. The Odyssey shuttle bus with innovation, styling and quality is the bus of choice for church buses, day care buses, airport shuttle buses, assisted living buses, college buses including sport team transportation buses. Turtle Top 67819 State Road 15 New Paris, IN 46553 800-296-2105 Email: timmb@turtletop.com www.turtletop.com
ODYSSEY FEATURES • Aerodynamic automotive styling • Clear view windows • Up to 23 passenger capacity - CDL required • Low wide enclosed entrance • Flexible floor plans including wheelchair capability • Meets and exceeds FMVSS regulations • Qualifies for buy America and is Altoona tested • Steel roll cage with full perimeter steel floor • Body and air conditioning warranty second to none
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ARBOC Specialty Vehicles
Spirit Of Freedom Low Floor The Spirit of Freedom utilizes only General Motors standard suspension to create a low-floor, ADA compliant bus capable of 1:6 ramp angle; all with an ultra-low price point. The spacious 41inch entry opening and low step height make this an ideal bus for airport, hotel, and resort shuttles, as well as transit agencies. Utilizing the GM suspension has the added benefit of driving down maintenance costs over the whole life cycle. The Spirit of Freedom is aggressively entering new markets for today and beyond. ARBOC Specialty Vehicles 51165 Greenfield Pkwy., Middlebury, IN 46540 574-825-4880 • Fax: 574-825-1750 Website: www.arbocsv.com
ARBOC Specialty Vehicles
Spirit Of Mobility Low Floor The ARBOC Spirit of Mobility is built on a conventional GM cutaway with all passengers entering through the same 39-inch wide door opening. The interior offers theater seating for better viewing for all riders. The Spirit of Mobility low-floor bus offers a full air-ride suspension with a beneficial kneeling feature allowing for an entrance of less than 5-inches from the curb without deploying the ramp. ARBOC SV continues to improve products by utilizing the feedback of ARBOC suppliers, dealers, and customers. Improvements to the Spirit of Mobility include a quieter, smoother operating kneeling feature, improved loading and unloading options, and a simplified air suspension maintenance system. ARBOC SV is dedicated to resolving, improving, and supporting the future of low-floor vehicles today. ARBOC Specialty Vehicles 51165 Greenfield Pkwy., Middlebury, IN 46540 574-825-4880 • Fax: 574-825-1750 Website: www.arbocsv.com
Model....................................................................................Spirit of Freedom Seating Capacity..................................................................................12 to 23 Length.......................................................................................................24’, 27’ Width ...............................................................................................................96” Height .............................................................................................................112” Engine.............................6.0L Vortec V8, Optional 6.6L Duramax Diesel Transmission...................................................................6-Speed Automatic Chassis..................................................................................................GM 4500 Air Conditioning..............................................Passenger A/C up to 80btu Wheelchair Lift Option ...................................Low Floor Ramp Entrance, Up to 7 Positions Steering..............................................................................................GM Power Suspension...................................................................................OEM Springs Page 46
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Model .....................................................................................Spirit of Mobility Seating Capacity..................................................................................12 to 23 Length............................................................................................23’, 26’ & 28’ Width ...............................................................................................................96” Height .............................................................................................................110” Engine.............................6.0L Vortec V8, Optional 6.6L Duramax Diesel Transmission...................................................................6-Speed Automatic Chassis..................................................................................................GM 4500 Air Conditioning..............................................Passenger A/C up to 80btu Wheelchair Lift Option ...................................Low Floor Ramp Entrance, Up to 7 Positions Steering..............................................................................................GM Power Suspension .........................................................................4-Corner Air Ride
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ARBOC Specialty Vehicles
Spirit Of Liberty Low Floor The ARBOC SV Spirit of Liberty is a low-floor, medium duty 29 to 34-foot rear engine bus, available in late 2014. The Liberty features an open floor plan with no steps throughout the passenger area. Standard wheelchair zones are a spacious 54 x 30 inches minimum. Passengers enter on a 34-inch wide, 1:6 ramp by Braun (rated at 1,000 pounds, an industry best) or Ricon (rated at 800 pounds) to a 40-inch pass-through between front wheelhouses. The Liberty incorporates lightweight technologies and proven ARBOC SV construction resulting in “Best in Class” curb weights of 16,500 pounds or less. With a GVW of 25,900 pounds the Liberty has the capacity to carry up to 37 passengers plus 17 standees. Power is supplied by a 6.7 liter Cummins ISB diesel engine matched to an Allison B220 six-speed transmission on a proprietary chassis supplied by Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation. ARBOC Specialty Vehicles are ISO certified.
CMI Enterprises Partners With Bustextil S.A. To Offer 85/15 Wool Blend Seating CMI Enterprises (www.cmi-enterprises.com), supplier of interior soft trim to the transportation industry for over two decades, announced that it has expanded its relationship with Bustextil S.A. by adding traditional wool blend seating fabrics for the motorcoach industry. The company will maintain inventory on matching 100 percent polyester bolster and interior trim cloth for sidewalls and ceilings. “With Bustextil’s new state-of-theart manufacturing facility located just a few hours from one of the largest manufacturers of motorcoach seating, we can eliminate both lead times and freight costs traditionally associated with 85/15 wool blend seating fabric,” said Michael Novick, CMI’s CEO. “And by maintaining inventory in CMI’s warehouses in the United States we can provide both seating and companion trim cloth to the domestic manufacturer on a just in time basis providing cost savings without sacrificing quality or aesthetics.” CMI has been serving the automotive, mass transit, RV transportation markets for over a quarter of a century. The company’s services and product lines also serve the hospitality, marine, bus and truck, health care, institutional and contract markets. Headquartered in Miami, FL, CMI has manufacturing plants and warehousing in Elkhart, IN, and Mooresboro, NC.
SAFE, STURDY & DURABLE Safety Step will meet all your transportation needs…
ARBOC Specialty Vehicles 51165 Greenfield Pkwy., Middlebury, IN 46540 574-825-4880 • Fax: 574-825-1750 Website: www.arbocsv.com s Safety Steps full line of transportation steps are designed specifically for the transportation industry s Anti-tip design makes it impossible to tip over with normal use s Transportation models provide a 6”, 8”, 10” or 12” boost s The 10" and 12" steps have brackets for extra durability
Model ........................................................................................Spirit of Liberty Seating Capacity .........................Up to 37 passengers plus 17 standees Length ........................................................................................................29’-34’ Width...............................................................................................................100” Height ..............................................................................................................116” Engine.............................................................240 HP ISB Cummins 6.7 Liter Transmission.....................................................................Allison B220 6-SPD Chassis..............................................................Freightliner Custom Chassis Air Conditioning......................................Roof Mounted Evaporator; Dash Mounted w/Opt. Overhead Aux. Heat Wheelchair Ramp Option.....................................................Braun or Ricon, Up to 6 Positions Suspension ......Air-2 Bag at each axle with electronic height control
s Rugged all-aluminum welded construction s All models are lab tested to hold over 1,000 pounds, but weigh a mere 7 pounds s Non-slip angled rubber leg tips and gripper strips keep your passengers and your Safety Step securely in place s Durable powder coat finish available black, silver or safety yellow
To view all our transportation steps or to order online, visit our website:
www.safetystep.net or call (888) 448-4237 March/April 2014
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National Interstate Celebrates Its 25th Anniversary National Interstate Corporation (NASDAQ: NATL) is celebrating its 25th year of serving the insurance industry. Established in 1989, National Interstate provides commercial insurance products including traditional insurance and alternative risk transfer options, primarily targeting companies in the transportation industry as well as personal lines products predominantly for recreational vehicle owners. National Interstate offers its products and services through several operating subsidiaries including National Interstate Insurance Company, Vanliner Insurance Company, American Highways Insurance Agency, Explorer Insurance Agency, TransProtection Service Company, and Safety, Claims and Litigation Services. “It is with great pleasure that I reflect on the road our company has traveled over the past 25 years,” said Dave Michelson, president and chief executive officer of National Interstate. “Back in 1989, National Interstate was a start-up company with just a dozen employees marketing only passenger transportation insurance. Through the years, we have reached many significant milestones including becoming a market leader of transportation insurance, as well as alternative risk transfer, or captive, insurance programs. “The 1990s were times of growth for National Interstate as we opened an office in the state of Hawaii to market transportation and general com-
mercial insurance, launched our first group captive program, and began offering specialty insurance to recreational vehicle owners. We entered the trucking insurance market in 2000, and became a publicly-traded company in 2005. In 2010, we acquired Vanliner Insurance Company, giving us a market share in the moving and storage insurance industry. Today, we offer specialty products, exploring and entering new insurance niches.” In describing National Interstate, Tony Mercurio, executive vice president and chief operating officer stated, “We are an entrepreneurial company that embraces opportunities in the marketplace that other insurance carriers might shy away from. Our ability to design specialized products and enter new markets has resulted in significant and continuous growth over the last 25 years. While we now have almost 600 employees, National Interstate still operates with the flexibility of a small company. “The success we enjoy today would not be possible without the efforts of our talented and dedicated team, who truly built National Interstate, as well as the many customers who have trusted us over the years. We are excited to celebrate our 25th anniversary, not only because of our pride in our past, but also because we believe the next 25 years will be even better.” Visit www.natl.com for more information.
Think 302 Protects Protects Think FMVSS FMVSS 302 Passengers and Equipment? Equipment? Passengers and
F.R. Cushioning (meets FMVSS 302)
Both seats above were subjected to BS 5852 Source 2 Ignition.
SAFGUARD™ XL Fire-Resistant Cushioning… • Complies with advanced F.T.A. fire safety criteria. • Minimize risk and liability related to vehicle fire safety. • O.E.M. and maintenance seat retrofit applications.
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CH Bus Sales, Inc. (Faribault, MN) and Temsa Global (Adana, Turkey) have announced a new 45-foot coach to the motorcoach industry, The Temsa TS 45. This new Temsa model is specifically designed for North American operators. Duane Geiger, executive vice president of sales and service at CH Bus Sales, said “We are excited about adding the TS 45 to the market as this will give us a more diverse product offering with 30-, 35-, and 45-foot coaches.” Anticipated TS 45 demos will be available in April of 2014 and customer deliveries are planned for July/August of 2014. The TS 45 had its encore debut at the 2014 UMA Motorcoach Expo. CH & Temsa held a press conference at their booth and Vandalia Bus Lines was recognized for the first Temsa TS 45 order and received a plaque.
Vandalia Bus Lines officials were recognized during the UMA Motorcoach Expo at Travel Exchange for placing the first Temsa TS 45 order. Shown, left to right, are Dennis Streif, vice president of Vandalia Bus Lines; Judy Streif, CEO of Vandalia Bus Lines; Randy Angell, Midwest account executive at CH Bus Sales; Dale Streif, president of Vandalia Bus Lines; Dincer Celik, general manager at Temsa Global; and Bob Foley, president and CEO at CH Bus Sales.
CR SAFGUARD™ XL Fire-Resistant Cushioning
Call for specifications. Easily added to seating requirements within vehicle bid packages.
Temsa And CH Bus Sales Introduce TS 45 At UMA
Telephone: 800-234-2734 Fax: 724-537-9003 e-mail: crfoamsales@verizon.net
Randy Angell, midwest account executive at CH Bus Sales, commented: “I have enjoyed selling Vandalia Bus Lines coaches for the past 10 years, and I am extremely excited about selling them the first Temsa 45-foot coach.” Key safety features come standard on the Temsa TS 45 including a lane departure warning system, a tire pressure monitoring system, an engine fire suppression system, a rear parking sensor and a brake pad wear monitoring system. CH Bus Sales, Inc., is the exclusive distributor of Temsa motorcoaches in the United States. Temsa is a fully owned subsidiary of Sabanci Holding, a financial and industrial group in Turkey. Visit www.chbussales.com or www.temsa.com for more information.
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Roman Cornell To Head ABC Specialty Vehicles Division
The Enviro400 Tourist Bus is purpose designed as a tourist bus and offers high seating capacity and a view for passengers in an open top design. Based on the Enviro400 transit bus, the Tourist Bus model is fully-equipped for tourist duty and offers the same levels of strength, maneuverability, ride comfort, and low operating costs. A wide range of options including lower deck air conditioning are available. n Ameritrans Premium Mid-Size Touring Coaches and Specialty Vehicles Ameritrans, manufacturer and distributor of mid-size transport solutions offers a full range luxury-level mid-size touring coaches, executive shuttles and specialty vehicles which can be custom built to operator specifications. With floorplan designs that accommodate from 25 to 47 passengers, Ameritrans coaches are available in many configurations, and offer Ford, Freightliner and RAM chassis options including the Ameritrans E-series, F-series and M2-series. Several premier 2014 models were exhibited during UMA Expo 2014 including the Ameritrans M2 395RlRR and the E285Rl. The newlyenhanced models offer luxury features and passenger amenities for church, school, tour and charter operations. Visit www.abc-companies.com.
ABC New Partnership Distribution Agreements ABC Companies has announced that Roman Cornell will head the company’s Specialty Vehicles Division. With over 20 years of industry experience, Cornell will add the new responsibility to his current role as senior vice president and will lead the sales and marketing effort for ABC Specialty Vehicles, focusing on customer outreach, new product development and partnership alliances. “Thanks to our loyal Van Hool customer base, ABC has enjoyed sustained growth throughout our long history,” states Cornell. “We are pleased to enhance our market position by offering a broader product range, with the core mission of providing our customers increased fleet flexibility and expanded revenue and ridership opportunities via premium quality equipment solutions and professional aftermarket services.” New Flyer Industries Inc., a manufacturer of heavy-duty transit buses in the United States and Canada, recently signed an agreement with ABC Companies, Inc., to serve as the exclusive distributor of New Flyer’s MiDi® and Xcelsior® transit bus models to U.S. private bus and shuttle operators. Roman Cornell Under the terms of the agreement, ABC will market, sell and provide after-sales service for New Flyer’s MiDi® and Xcelsior® transit buses through its established service locations and select independent dealerships. All New Flyer products purchased through ABC will be supported by New Flyer’s warranty, genuine New Flyer spare parts, and lifetime customer care programs. “This is a great opportunity for New Flyer to respond to private customer demand and expand our market reach in the United States,” stated Paul Smith, New Flyer executive vice president of sales & marketing. “The addition of New Flyer’s best selling transit buses to ABC’s current portfolio of highway coaches, light-duty cutaway buses, and refurbishment services provides a comprehensive solution for private bus operators.” With a full range of Van Hool touring, charter and transit models, ABC Companies rounds out its product lineup with specialty vehicles to meet operator needs with offerings including: n New Flyer MiDi® and Xcelsior® Transit Buses The New Flyer MIDi® is a medium-sized, low-floor, clean diesel powered bus for use in community, airport, university and hotel shuttle services. Available in 30 and 35-feet lengths, the design provides maneuverability while maintaining accessibility for passengers with one or two doors and a 1:6 slope wheelchair ramp. The MiDi® was developed through a joint venture with Alexander Dennis, and is based on its E200 design with over 16,000 vehicles deployed worldwide. The New Flyer Xcelsior® is a heavy-duty, low floor bus for use in rigorous duty cycles and provides higher passenger capacities. Available in 35, 40 and 60-foot lengths, the Xcelsior® is offered with clean diesel, compressed natural gas, and diesel electric hybrid propulsion systems; n Alexander Dennis “Buy America” Compliant Enviro500 Double Deck Bus and Enviro 400 Tourist Bus The Alexander Dennis Enviro500 Series offers a range of low floor, air conditioned double-deck buses that offer high capacity, fuel efficiency and low emissions, designed to deliver comfort and passenger capacity for transit routes, interurban commuters and tourist applications. Available in a 42-foot length, the Enviro500 accommodates almost 100 passengers and is offered with a new “Go-Anywhere” low height option of 13-feet, 6-inches.
Metro Bus Driver Honored With C.E.O.’s Star Award A Metro (Cincinnati, OH) bus driver who helped a pedestrian who was injured when he fell in the street was recently recognized for his quick and helpful actions. Metro CEO Terry Garcia Crews presented the CEO’s STAR Award to operator Antonio (Tony) Lackey. On Jan. 30, Lackey’s Rt. 4 bus was stopped at a red light when he noticed a young man fall on ice and hit his head in a crosswalk in downtown Cincinnati. Lackey stopped the bus, called Metro’s dispatch for emergency assistance, and went to assist the man. He brought the young man, who was bleeding, onto the warm bus to wait for medical assistance. Other passengers were transferred to another bus to reach their destination. Lackey, a Springfield Township resident, has been a Metro driv-
SORTA Board Vice Chair Ken Reed, Chair Jason Dunn and Metro CEO Terry Garcia Crews presented Metro bus driver Tony Lackey with the STAR Award.
er since 1988. He has won numerous awards including a “Best Attitude” award in 1988, Operator of the Month, and numerous commendations from passengers. The STAR Award for “Service That Attracts Recognition” is a selective award presented by, and at the sole discretion of, Metro’s CEO. March/April 2014 BUSLINE Page 49
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BITZER Compressors Help Winter Olympic Games In Sochi BITZER Screw Compressors spokespeople say the products proved their worth in five of the Olympic stadiums recently in Sochi. The 26 BITZER CSH and 9 HSK series Screw Compressors ensured that the refrigeration and air conditioning systems provided by Finnish manufacturer Suomen Tekojaa Oy worked seamlessly throughout the games. â&#x20AC;&#x153;BITZER and the Finnish manufacturer have been a team for years, so it was only natural that the global leader in refrigeration compressors and the Finnish company based in Parkano, 185 miles north of Helsinki, should work together,â&#x20AC;? spokespeople said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When it comes to large-scale projects such as these, trust and reliability are key to a successful partnership. Only as a team can we overcome challenges such as installing compressors in air conditioning and refrigeration systems in five stadiums,â&#x20AC;? said Ralf Gasper, BITZERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s director of sales in Northern Europe and the Baltic States. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And thanks to Suomen Tekojaa Oy, we did just that.â&#x20AC;? Since its establishment in 1997, the Finnish company has specialized in the manufacture and construction of refrigeration and air conditioning systems.
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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve built refrigeration systems for more than 100 ice rinks in Russia and around 500 worldwide,â&#x20AC;? Timo Mansikkaviita, managing
(Source: BITZER)
The 26 BITZER CSH and 9 HSK series Screw Compressors ensured that the refrigeration and A/C systems provided by Suomen TekojaĚ&#x2C6;aĚ&#x2C6; Oy worked seamlessly throughout the games.
director and owner of Suomen Tekojaa Oy said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;including several arenas for the Continental Hockey League.â&#x20AC;? BITZER was awarded the contract for supplying the compressors primarily because the five venues had special requirements. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our past experience with BITZER has been extremely positive â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and we only wanted to use high-quality products for this prestigious project,â&#x20AC;? said Timo Mansikkaviita.
The project came with a lot of responsibility, as the athletes require the optimal conditions for a variety of disciplines such as ice hockey, bobsledding and curling. At four of the five venues, the refrigeration and air conditioning systems had to be entirely disassembled and relocated. Suomen Tekojaa Oy invested more than one and a half years of intensive work in the large-scale contract. Timo Mansikkaviita said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have any issues with the technology or planning. It was only the stringent security regulations that sometimes made things difficult for us. Getting into the Olympic Park wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always easy.â&#x20AC;? To ensure that everything ran according to plan during the Olympic Winter Games, the organizers had a backup system installed for each refrigeration system. If one unit failed, the second one was to be put into action. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Double the reliability was our backup plan. The last thing we wanted was for hockey players to find a rink of puddles rather than ice. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why four CSH screw compressors ensured the optimal ice surface and six additional CSH compressors kept the air cool in the Shayba Arena,â&#x20AC;? said BITZERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ralf Gasper. BITZER US, Inc. is a subsidiary of the BITZER Group of 36 companies. Visit www.bitzerus.com for more information.
Âť WEHÂŽ CNG FUELING COMPONENTS Top quality for maximum RELIABILITY
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We also supply Bus: King, Queen, Tail & Interior Frames, Custom Design and Fabrication Services For Mass Transit Displays and Advertising Russell Cress Company Inc. 145 Lodi Street, Hackensack, New Jersey 07601 t 'BY SEDSFTT!GSPOUJFSOFU OFU t XXX SVTTFMMDSFTTDP DPN Page 50
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WEHÂŽ offers a wide range of NGV1 compatible products for safe and easy CNG vehicle refueling:
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MCI And Setra Team Up For 2014 Technical Tune-Up And Webinar Schedule In 2014, MCI is adding Setra-specific Technical Tune-Up sessions at MCI's Louisville facility, customized instruction at customer facilities and special webinars scheduled throughout the year. Setra operators can expect to have their technicians specifically trained on Setra S 417 and Setra S 407 systems. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve made great strides in the last several years in operator and technical training, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re honored to extend MCIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s facilities and expertise to the Setra brand in North America,â&#x20AC;? said Scott Crawford, manager of training at MCI. â&#x20AC;&#x153;More than 1,300 technicians have attended MCI Technical Tune-up sessions at MCI's Technical Training Institute in Louisville, and this year we will offer plenty of new learning opportunities for owners of both MCI and Setra coaches.â&#x20AC;? Setra Technical Tune-Up instruction, led by Jeff Elliott, MCI Technical Trainer for Setra, is scheduled to coincide with MCI-specific Technical Tune-Up sessions held October 14-17. MCI or Setra Advanced Technical Tune-Up sessions will take place May 13-15; and September 16-18. Customized training is also available. Standard classes are available for HVAC, Air Systems and Brakes, Steering and Suspension Electrical Systems and Preventative Maintenance.
Onsite training attendance is generally capped at 10 participants and the fee covers the MCI and Setra specialistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time and travel. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Shops can cooperate to share costs,â&#x20AC;? said Scott Crawford, MCI manager of training. Webinar Training/ On-line Movies MCI's LEARN webinar series will continue in 2014 with new topics as well as updates. Webinars are free to MCI and Setra customers. Since the series began in 2008, MCI has conducted some 150 sessions and had more than 7,500 customer call-ins. Past webinars are archived on MCIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website, where MCI also posts to on-line training instructional videos for Smartire and 2010 engine systems. All information regarding MCI and Setra training opportunities can be found at www.mcicoach.com/training or email mci.training@mcicoach.com or call 847-285-2257.
Royal Star Hawaii To Add 6 New MCI J4500s As part of a rebranding effort that will differentiate its premium â&#x20AC;&#x153;goldâ&#x20AC;? fleet from its standard â&#x20AC;&#x153;silverâ&#x20AC;? category coaches, Royal Star Hawaii has
taken delivery of the first two of six 2014 MCI J4500 coaches that will represent the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top-of-the-line offerings. When complete, the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gold fleet will reach 22 coaches, all 2009-or-newer MCI J4500s. The new gold- and silver-level designations will replace the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s previous â&#x20AC;&#x153;Royal Starâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Super Starâ&#x20AC;? designations.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;The new design update achieves several major goals,â&#x20AC;? said Marc Rubenstein, vice president and general manager. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It updates our 102 Series coaches with a modern look, clarifies the difference between brands with either a gold or silver choice, and unifies both gold and silver coaches under the same Royal Star brand. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s part of an ongoing plan to keep the fleet always looking fresh.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re an all-MCI fleet, and we have been for a very long time,â&#x20AC;? said Rubenstein. Royal Star is â&#x20AC;&#x153;Aloha on WheelsÂŽ,â&#x20AC;? and has served Hawaii since 1996 from its headquarters in Honolulu.
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City Of Santa Clarita Transit: Continued From Page 17 vehicles — fixed-route, commuter and Dial-A-Ride — are equipped with on-board camera systems. “We also have a contract and work closely with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department,” he said. “Officers conduct foot patrols at transit centers. Also, they will ride the bus in uniform or in plain clothes. Oftentimes the deputies will patrol on Segway scooters.” In still another effort to enhance customer service, as well as marketing the system, City of Santa Clarita Transit has dived deeper into the world of social media. “It has been quite enlightening in terms of response and cost effectiveness,” Aguilar said. “Recently, we developed a campaign specifically for Twitter to promote awareness of the system and promote our technology. We have emphasized the fact that we have smart phone applications that allow people to follow us on Twitter. In addition, via Twitter, we have let people know they can go to our Facebook page to receive up-to-date service information. The response to the Twitter campaign was very, very positive and at a relatively low cost.”
he remembered. “My first involvement with transit was kind of a ‘trial by fire’ in terms of my initiation.” Following his time as an intern for the city, he went into the private sector, working for 13 years at a consulting firm that focused on public transportation. “I came back to the city about seven years ago. I was initially hired as an analyst and about four years ago I was promoted to the transit management position,” he said. “I have been in the industry for more than 20 years now. It is one of those things that gets into your blood. It is rewarding to see projects through from the design to the funding to the construction to the implementation process. It is also very rewarding to see the positive impact public transportation has on the community.” Support For Public Transit On A Positive Path
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ublic transportation within the Santa Clarita Valley and the greater Los Angeles area continues to gain positive public perception with each passing year, according to Aguilar. The region is committed to improving service and connectivity, and voters have helped the cause by backing projects that will expedite this process. “Public transportation is also viewed positively within Santa Clarita,” he said. “Thanks to consistent outreach and our helpful staff, residents and riders are well-informed on how to use our service to get them where Wild Weather In The Wild West they need to go in a timely fashion. “We are fortunate that our City Council is very supportive of public ecause of its proximity to Hollywood, and because of its beauty and terrain, the Santa Clarita Valley, including the city of Santa transportation. They understand the value that it brings and that it is really a quality of life issue. The reality Clarita, has been a favorite is we are not unlike most communilocation for filming for both the “Within the city of Santa Clarita, ties in that fewer than 10 percent of motion picture and television induswe go through mock exercises in residents use public transportation tries. The area is often called on a regular basis. “Hollywood North.” terms of various disasters, such as “However, people understand While many movies and TV proearthquakes, fires and flooding. We that, even if they don’t ride the bus ductions of all genres have been filmed there, right up to the present run through these scenarios at least themselves, they have or know children who use the bus to get to day, the valley is perhaps most once or twice a year. Our transit school. They may have elderly parfamous as having been a go-to locasystem has been called upon to use ents or relatives who use the service tion for many classic westerns, datto get to the Senior Center.” ing back to the early 20th century. our resources to evacuate families Environmental issues also come For example, legendary cowboy during fires and floods.” into play in the public’s realization actors such as William S. Hart, Gary of the benefits of public transportaCooper, Tom Mix, Roy Rogers, Bill Boyd, Gene Autry and John Wayne filmed westerns at the famous tion in the region. “People understand when they pass a commuter coach on the freeway Melody Ranch Motion Picture Studio, located near Santa Clarita, accordcarrying 40 to 50 passengers that it means fewer cars on the freeway, ing to www.melodyranchstudio.com. While the “Wild West” exists only in fiction in the 21st century, the which has a positive impact on lessening pollution and traffic congesregion’s “wild” weather-related events are all too real. The area’s topog- tion,” Aguilar said. “There is a huge effort to raise and maintain that raphy, climate, and dry conditions have presented challenges for the resi- awareness in terms of the types of vehicles we operate such as cleaner dents of Santa Clarita and City of Santa Clarita Transit. The region is burning CNG or alternative fuel buses. Also, there is a lot of emphasis placed on ride sharing and ride pooling. known as one of the prime areas in the country for wildfires. “People also see the positive impact of riding the bus in their wallet. According to news reports, last year’s Powerhouse Fire scorched 30,274 acres near Santa Clarita. The fire burned for nearly two weeks and Unlike other parts of the country, our gas prices spike during the summer because of the additives put into the fuels to make them cleaner. destroyed 30 homes and damaged three. “Overall, I think things are moving in a positive direction. We are “Santa Clarita is in a valley surrounded by mountains on three sides. Last year we had wildfires that caused some havoc in the area. We are still excited about the changes and technology that have been adopted by the transit industry. dealing with the aftermath of those fires,” Aguilar said. “We are starting to see a lot more development that brings commercial, In late February heavy rains fell in the area and there were mudslide warnings near Santa Clarita. The city is also situated near the San residential and retail into the same footprint, so people don’t have to make as many trips or are able use transit to get to work or school. Fernando fault zone. “Our primary goal is to maintain our ridership and continue to grow. Our “Within the city of Santa Clarita, we go through mock exercises in terms of various disasters, such as earthquakes, fires and flooding,” biggest focus is maintaining the quality of life we have here in the Santa Aguilar said. “We run through these scenarios at least once or twice a Clarita Valley, and we feel transit has a major role to play in this effort.” year. Our transit system has been called upon to use our resources to evacContact: City of Santa Clarita Transit, Transit Maintenance Facility uate families during fires and floods.” (TMF), 28250 Constellation Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91355. Aguilar’s career with the city of Santa Clarita began in 1994, when he Phone: 661-294-1BUS (1287). worked for about a year as an intern. Website: www.santaclaritatransit.com. “My first day on the job was the day after the Northridge earthquake,”
B
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UMA Motorcoach Expo 2014 Booth Photo Gallery
Prevost Motorcoach manufacturer Prevost features a product lineup that includes motorcoaches, conversion shells, parts and repair services. The year 2014 marks the 90th anniversary of Prevostâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s founding in 1924. Shown above is the Prevost H3-45.
Relational Bus Systems (RBS) Among the products and services offered to the bus and motorcoach industry by Relational Bus Systems (RBS) are computer software, consulting and training. Shown, left to right, are Walter Buist, head developer; Laura Horvath, tour specialist; and Bob Schecter, president.
Protective Insurance Company Different insurance options provided by Protective Insurance Company for the bus and motorcoach industry include general, bus and limo. Shown, left to right, are Todd Carrier, director of risk management; Trevor Eisele, regional marketing manager - east/west; and Stacy Renz, vice president of marketing.
BITZER BITZER supplies the bus and motorcoach industry with air conditioning parts and systems. Shown, left to right, are Andrew Tosh, president; and Norman Gillespie, technical sales manager, NA.
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UMA Motorcoach Expo 2014 Booth Photo Gallery
Motor Coach Industries (MCI) Serving as a motorcoach manufacturer, Motor Coach Industries (MCI) also produces conversion shells and sells used buses. The company has a parts network in place along with service facilities. MCI is also the exclusive distributor of Setra coaches and parts in the United States and Canada.
Vanner Among the products provided by Vanner Inc., for the bus and motorcoach industry are inverters and converters. Shown, left to right, are Steven J. Funk, president; Doug Adams, Western Regional manager/North American bus market manager; and Chris Collet, vice president of bus and hybrid markets.
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National Interstate Insurance Company A provider of different transportation insurance services for the bus and motorcoach industry is National Interstate Insurance Company. Shown, left to right, are Matthew J. Grimm, assistant vice president of passenger transportation; and Michael Heramb, captive manager - passenger transportation.
Aesys Inc. Among the products provided by Aesys Inc., are destination and passenger information systems for the bus and motorcoach industry. Shown are Evelyn W. McGregor, chief financial officer; and Colin McGregor, vice president & managing director.
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UMA Motorcoach Expo 2014 Booth Photo Gallery
C.E. Niehoff & Company Among the products from C.E. Niehoff & Company for the bus and motorcoach industry are generators, alternators and general parts. Shown, left to right, are aftermarket account managers Richard Lane and John Haines.
Bauer’s Intelligent Transportation Among the products and services from Bauer’s Intelligent Transportation are contract management, fuel reduction technology, fuel systems and conversions, intelligent transportation systems, used bus sales and solar electric systems.
Turtle Top Turtle Top is a manufacturer of mid-size, paratransit and electric/hybrid buses as well as limousine coaches. The company also sells specialty vehicles.
Lancer Insurance Lancer Insurance Company is a provider of various products and services to the bus and motorcoach industry including bus and limo, general and physical damage insurance. Shown, left to right, are Randy O’Neill, senior vice president; and Mickey Bayard, vice president.
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UMA Motorcoach Expo 2014 Booth Photo Gallery
Temsa Bus and motorcoach manufacturer Temsa produces vehicles for the North American and European transportation industries. Since 2001, Temsa has extended its bus and coach product range. CH Bus Sales, Inc., is the exclusive distributor of Temsa motorcoaches in the United States.
Amaya Astron Seating A manufacturer of a wide variety of seating products for the bus and motorcoach industry is Amaya Astron Seating.
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Espar Climate Systems Espar Climate Systems provides air conditioning and heating parts, systems and service to the bus and motorcoach industry. Shown, left to right, are Marc Schrรถder, sales & marketing director; and John Bishop, vice president of market development.
Dixie Electric Ltd. Serving the bus and motorcoach industry is Dixie Electric Ltd. The company provides such products as alternators, generators and starters. Shown is Greg MacDonald, sales support & customer development manager.
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UMA Motorcoach Expo 2014 Booth Photo Gallery
Transportation Insurance Brokers (TIB) Providing various types of insurance for the bus and motorcoach industry, including bus and limo as well as workers compensation, is Transportation Insurance Brokers (TIB). Shown, left to right, are Mark Freeark, sales; Jeff McAnany, vice president of sales; Thomas J. Foley, regional vice president; Greg Black, sales; and Jack Sandstrom, sales.
Worldwide Monochem Worldwide Monochem provides such products and services as odor control solutions as well as sanitation equipment and supplies for the bus and motorcoach industry. Shown is Tammy Moyer, Eastern Regional manager.
ABC Companies An exclusive U.S. distributor of new Van Hool products, ABC Companies also specializes in collision repair, financial services, parts and used bus sales.
Camira Supplying a wide variety of fabrics and upholstery options for the bus and motorcoach industry is Camira, formerly known as Holdsworth Fabrics. This includes many color and design choices.
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UMA Motorcoach Expo 2014 Booth Photo Gallery
5Star Specialty Programs Among the types of insurance provided to the bus and motorcoach industry by 5Star Specialty Programs are bus, limo and physical damage. Shown, left to right, are company representatives Tammy Houston and Tara Carmody.
Systems 2000 Providing software to the bus and motorcoach industry is Systems 2000. Shown are Trent Sconnely, international account manager; and Marlyn Queliz, senior international account manager.
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Glaval Bus Glaval Bus manufactures a full line of transit and shuttle buses and tour coaches. Shown is Paul Marnocha, director of sales and marketing.
Willingham Inc. Serving as a bus and motorcoach interior specialist, Willingham Inc., supplies such products as driver seats, seat cover replacements, seating parts and accessories, upholstery and embroidery. Shown, left to right, are company representatives Gene Willingham, Matthew Willingham and Jason Willingham.
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UMA Motorcoach Expo 2014 Booth Photo Gallery
PEX German O.E. Parts LLC Among the products provided by PEX German O.E. Parts LLC to the bus and motorcoach industry are brakes and warning devices. Shown, left to right, are Eric H. Stern, sales manager; and Jeff Saidin, general manager.
RUD Chain Inc. Providing safety equipment, including the Rotogrip automatic snow chains, for the bus and motorcoach industry is RUD Chain Inc. Shown, left to right, are Chris Ward, TPC & non-skid Midwest Regional manager, sales & service; and Steve Blood, territory manager, Rotogrip sales & service.
Sardo Bus & Coach Upholstery Among the products and services from Sardo Bus & Coach Upholstery are seat cover replacements, upholstery work, flooring material and fabric. The company also offers its mobile road crew representatives who travel nationwide to provide customers with on-site installation services.
Spheros Climate Systems Serving the bus and motorcoach industry, Spheros Climate Systems provides air conditioning and heating parts and systems. Shown, left to right, are Chris Shigley, national sales manager; Heiko Baufeld, CEO; and Ryan Ye, sales engineer.
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UMA Motorcoach Expo 2014 Booth Photo Gallery
Auto Meter Products Among the items from Auto Meter Products for the bus and motorcoach industry are conversion parts, electrical systems and components and vehicle monitoring systems. Shown is company representative Joseph Mills.
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De Leo Textiles/Epengle A provider of fabric for the bus and motorcoach industry is De Leo Textiles/Epengle. Shown, left to right, are Stephen J. Morse, vice president/regional sales; Ismail Arslan, vice president of business development; and G端rkan Mutoy, export area manager for Epengle.
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Travel Exchange:
Greenberg said is quite unusual. “Airlines are not used to making profits. Last year was an amazing year for them. Of course, the real question is, how did they make their money? They classes being developed. The current classes range from those that are designed did this with ancillary fees, bag fees and ticket changes. In fact, the fee from one airline for a ticket change can be as high as $400 per ticket,” Greenberg for entry level positions all the way up to the CEO level.” said. Better economic times found in the travel industry doesn’t stop with the airOpening Remarks By UMA And NTA uring the Travel Exchange Opening Ceremony Breakfast, NTA lines. According to Greenberg, many hotels are back to pre-recession levels in Chairman/CEO Mark Hoffmann and UMA Chairman Bill Allen, terms of new builds and occupancy. At the same time, rental car companies, due to consolidations and mergers, are also doing of Amador Stage Lines, Sacramento, well. CA, appeared on stage together for welcoming “And even the cruise lines, for about the first remarks. time in seven years, have started to see a turn for “It was only a year ago that I stood here with the better,” Greenberg said. (NTA Immediate Past Chairman) Jim However, he cautioned those involved in the (Reddekopp Jr.,) at the podium in Orlando, FL, travel industry, such as members of UMA and and welcomed you to the first Travel Exchange,” NTA, to not forget about providing customers true Allen said. “Thanks to all of you, it was a successs.” value for their hard-earned money. He also cauHoffmann added: “We have UMA and thousands tioned against “nickel-and-diming” customers, of travel professionals who booked millions of dolsomething that is becoming a bigger problem in lars of business to thank.” many areas of travel. Hoffmann added that a lot of this business was Greenberg also stated that although several airdue to new partnerships forged on last year’s Travel lines are making money, this trend isn’t equating to Exchange show floor. more flights, In fact, the opposite is happening. As for the 2014 event, Hoffmann announced that Bill Allen, left, and Mark Hoffmann “The airlines are no longer fighting for traffic another organization would be joining the Travel they never wanted in the first place. This can Exchange festivities in Los Angeles, that being the really impact your business. In 2013, nearly 4,000 flights in (the United Faith Travel Association. “We are always looking for ways to bring more business to our members. States) were taken off the schedules permanently,” Greenberg said. “The Faith Travel is a good example,” Hoffmann said. “Faith-based travel has problem is, if people can’t get to you, you are out of business. This applies to motorcoach operators, tour operators, the hotels ... everybody in that become an increasingly important part of the industry.” Faith Travel Association Board Chairman Ed Dresel added during the chain. This applies directly to the United States.” In providing an example of what the U.S. travel industry is up against, Opening Ceremony Breakfast: “We were developed by NTA Services, Inc., over the course of 16 months, but faith travel itself has been growing and Greenberg said one large U.S.-based airline now makes more money flying to evolving over thousands of years. The leadership of the Faith Travel seven cities in Brazil than it does from its entire domestic route system. When it comes to domestic flights, Greenberg said that not only are there Association represents a broad swath of the industry in terms of both geografewer flights, but air fares are generally up 14 percent over the previous year. phy and experience. “That is huge, and it’s not going away. Hotel and rental car rates are also up. “Faith-based travel is an enormous market, and it keeps growing due to the combination of faith and the power of travel. This involves so much more than Rental car companies follow the lead of the airlines and have shrunk their pilgrimages. There are many reasons people of faith travel together and there fleets. Therefore, the laws of supply and demand kick in and fares go up,” Greenberg said. are many places where they want to go.” He added the bad news doesn’t stop with higher air fares, particularly for many U.S. cities that are experiencing fewer flights to and from local airports. The Good, The Bad And The Ugly “If you are the mayor of Cincinnati, Cleveland, Memphis, St. Louis, Of Today’s Travel Marketplace he featured speaker during the Opening Ceremony Breakfast was CBS Phoenix, Milwaukee, Kansas City, Charlotte, Pittsburgh – I can keep going – News Travel Editor Peter S. Greenberg, who provided his overview you have a problem. This is because airlines are closing hubs. In the past 6 on today’s travel industry. This included what he called, “The good, the years, the airlines have closed 18 hubs around the country,” Greenberg said. This is leading to a rapid decrease in available departures from many U.S. bad and the ugly.” Greenberg is an author and Emmy Award-winning journalist and television city airports. There have been success stories in recent years, however, such as producer. When providing his introduction at the breakfast, Parra called in Wichita, KS, where Greenberg said local officials made a special deal with Greenberg, “One of the most knowledgeable people I have ever known in the an airline to serve that city. This involved putting a certain amount of money into an escrow account and guaranteeing flights would be at least 66 percent area of travel.” Starting his address with some good news concerning the growth of travel, full at all times. If not, the airline had the option to take money out of the Greenberg reported that more than 1 billion people crossed an international escrow account. “Guess what? Air fares dropped in Wichita and (the airline) never had to border in 2013. This included 52 million more people than in 2012. He added that it’s expected 70 million travelers are going to cross an international border touch the escrow,” Greenberg said. “There is hope, but you can’t wait. Cities need to start making these kind of deals now. Otherwise, people can’t get to for the first time in 2014. “That is remarkable, and it gives you an idea of why travel is the largest where you are located or can’t afford the trip.” Greenberg also discussed the challenges of traveling by train in the industry in the world. It provides 1 out of every 10 jobs, it’s 10 percent of global GDP (Gross Domestic Product), and it keeps getting bigger,” Greenberg United States. He noted that there is a lot of talk about high-speed rail but few easy answers. said. “If Amtrak officials tell you they have high speed rail, they are (wrong). There was other good news to report, he added, in the form of airline safeTheir tracks are (mostly) owned by the freight lines, which is why Amtrak ty, calling 2013 the safest in over 13 years. “In 2013, there were 29 accidents and 265 fatalities. That is out of 31 mil- trains have to often pull off to a siding when a 100-car freight train comes along,” Greenberg said. “We need high-speed rail (in the United States), but we lion flights, which is unbelievable,” Greenberg said. Many airlines also enjoyed unprecedented profits in 2013, something are not going to have it tomorrow.” Continued From Page 24
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Greenberg reserved most of his positive news for bus and motorcoach travel. He said the fastest rising segment in the travel and transportation industry involves buses. “The traditional, stereotypical idea of a bus is not good. As you all know, however, this has all changed. There are now brand new buses/motorcoaches, brand new routes, affordable fares, leather seats, Wi-Fi lounges, etc.,” Greenberg said. “Buses/motorcoaches have become, both economically and logistically, viable alternatives for trips under 400 miles.” One roadblock to future bus/motorcoach travel is the aging U.S. infrastructure, particularly with the country’s highway and bridge systems, according to Greenberg. “It’s disgusting. This is where you come in. You need to lobby your elected representatives and prove to them as President Dwight Eisenhower once said, ‘America Peter S. Greenberg didn’t build the Interstate highway system, the Interstate highway system built America.’ It’s time for us to (repair) those roads and bridges as this is what you (in the travel industry) are going to be using,” Greenberg said. “Here is the bottom line about Americans – we love to travel. We can’t be denied. It’s not a question of ‘when’ or ‘if’ we are going to travel, it’s a question of ‘how.’” The Power Of Negotiation hen it comes to booking a travel experience, consumers and travel providers should not shy away from the power of negotiation, Greenberg said. “There are great opportunities when working with cruise lines, for example, because they have rooms to fill. But, like the hotels and airlines, it’s all about onboard revenue and ancillary fees. Therefore, it’s important to negotiate up front,” he said. “It’s all negotiable. Be creative. Work with them. It’s a buyers market. They all want your business, and you get to control what you do. “Think outside the box in terms of where you are going (and sending customers). Think not about point-to-point (trips) but one or two additional destinations you can bundle. And forget about seasonality. The off-season is a myth. I would much rather go to the Caribbean in June through August and Paris in February, March or April. I’m not going to Paris to get a tan, and the temperature in the Caribbean in June, July and August is only 4 or 5 degrees higher – with fewer lines, better service and better deals.” Greenberg added that it’s important for motorcoach operators and other industry professionals to view customers as travelers rather than tourists. “Do you know what the definition of a tourist is? A victim waiting to happen. Do you know what the definition of a traveler is? A tourist who has been victimized,” he said. “We have all been victimized. We are all travelers. We know what we don’t want. “By the time people get to your motorcoach, by the time they get to your destination, by the time they get to your experience, they have been beaten up. They have been abused. Part of your job is to help mitigate that abuse, if not eliminate it altogether.” Greenberg also advised those in the motorcoach and destination industries to not depend totally on social media and the Internet. He said it’s time to have conversations again. “Successful travel happens when you participate in the lost art of conversation, whether it’s with a travel agent, airline, hotel, etc.,” Greenberg said. “The Internet can isolate us as a community. This is the time to get outside of your comfort zone and help people experience all of the things available to them (in travel.) Are you ready?”
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BOWMANSDALE 2112 Bumble Bee Hollow Rd. Off Rt. 15 • Mechanicsburg, PA 717-697-5383 CAMP HILL 4230 Trindle Road • 717-737-3896 CARLISLE 60 Noble Blvd. in Super Walmart 717-960-9400 608 E. High St. • 717-249-7721 1176 Harrisburg Pike • 717-243-7774 905 Walnut Bottom Rd. • 717-249-0694 CEDAR CLIFF Exit 19 off I-83 • Camp Hill, PA 717-737-6404 CHAMBERSBURG 1075 Lincoln Way East • 717-263-4601 NORTH CHAMBERSBURG 2891 Philadelphia Avenue (US 11 N.) 717-263-2970 CLEONA 493 W. Penn Avenue • 717-272-5677 COLUMBIA 1788 Columbia Ave., off Rt. 30 717-684-7048 DILLSBURG 898 North US Rt. 15 • 717-432-9500 EAST MANCHESTER 4245 North George St. • 717-266-3170 ELIZABETHTOWN 1284 S. Market St. • 717-367-6471 ENOLA Enola Rd., Exit Rt. 11 15 S. off Rt. 81 • 717-732-4228 EPHRATA 140 N. Reading Rd.• 717-733-1660 GETTYSBURG 517 S. Steinwehr Ave., Bus. Rt. 15 717-334-5920 1090 York Rd.• 717-337-1030 GREENCASTLE Rt. 16 and I-81 • 717-597-2589 HALIFAX 3761 Peter's Moutain Rd.• 717-896-2535 HANOVER 991 Carlisle St., Rt. 94 • 717-632-7531 350 Eisenhower Dr.• 717-632-0005 1448 Baltimore St. • 717-630-0337
HARRISBURG 2929 Paxton St. • 717-561-8050 4605 Jonestown Rd. 717-652-7035 7845 Linglestown Rd. 717-545-8580 Rt. 83 and Union Deposit Rd. 717-564-9320 4403 N. Front St. • 717-238-1048 Harrisburg East Mall/Rt. 83 & Paxton St. 717-561-0703 Eisenhower Blvd. I-283, Exit 1 717 -939-6972 5590 Allentown Blvd., Rt. 22 Exit 26 off I-81 • 717-652-9123 Kline Plaza, 101 S. 25th St. 717-232-0008 Uptown Shopping Center 720 Division St. • 717-236-6226 Harrisburg Airport • 717-948-3900 6535 Grayson Rd. in Wal-Mart 717 -561-0445 HERSHEY Rts. 39 and 322 • 611 E. Main St., Hummelstown • 717-566-6041 JONESTOWN Rt 72 & I-81 • 610-562-8462 LANCASTER 1880 Hempstead Rd. • 717-509-6988 Willow Valley Square • 717-464-5119 1829 Oregon Pike • 717-569-7898 1434 Manheim Pike • 717-394-3417 Rt. 30 and Centerville Rd. Lancaster, PA • 717-393-9523 68 East Town Mall, Rt. 30E Lancaster, PA • 717-394-8957 1755 Columbia Ave. Millersville Exit off Rt. 30, Rt. 462 717-397-5112 575 N. Franklin St., next to McCuskey High School • 717-394-7938 2034 Lincoln Hwy East in Wal-Mart 717-390-1099 King & Water Streets • 717-299-6699 Manor Shopping Center 1296 Millersville Pk. • 717-293-5706
LEMOYNE Rts. 11 and 15 North across from Radisson Hotel • 717-761-7992 LEBANON 1202 W. Maple St. • 717-273-8691 757 E. Cumberland St. • 717-273-9023 1725 Quentin Rd., Lebanon, PA 717-306-6565 LEWISTOWN US 522 & US 22 • 717-248-5255 121 Electric Avenue • 717-248-4447 LITITZ 990 Lititz Pike, Rt. 501 N. 717-627-4666 LITTLESTOWN 430 North Queen St. • 717-359-8946 LYKENS VALLEY 4660 Rt. 209 • 717-362-8416 MANHEIM 711 Lancaster Rd., Rt. 72 717-664-4944 MECHANICSBURG Wesley Dr. Exit, Rt. 15 717-761-7525 KMart Plaza, 5600 Carlisle Pike 717-766-9675 6250 Carlisle Pike in Wal-Mart 717-591-9864 MERCERSBURG 11924 Buchanan Trial West 717-328-0111 MIDDLETOWN 2270 W. Harrisburg Pike • 717-944-9535 MIFFLINTOWN Rt. 322 and Rt. 35, Mifflintown Exit 717-436-9779 MYERSTOWN 295 West Lincoln Avenue (Rt. 422) 717-866-2278 NEW CUMBERLAND 101 Limekiln Rd. • 717-774-1027 NEW HOLLAND 828 W. Main St. • 717-354-9300 NEW OXFORD 6040 York Rd., Rts. 30 and 94 717-624-4266
NEWPORT Rt. 322 and Rt. 34, Newport Exit 717-567-9344 PALMYRA 901 E. Main St. • 717-838-6815 PINE GROVE l-81 , Exit 31 • 717-345-6400 RED LION 897 West Broadway • 717-246-1802 655 Lombard St., Cape Horn Plaza 717-246-7801 SCOTLAND 3347 Black Gap Rd. • 717-263-7507 SHIPPENSBURG 333 East King St. • 717-532-7945 SHREWSBURY Exit 1 off I-83 • 717-235-4663 SILVER SPRING Rt. 114 and Shadow Oak Dr. Mechanicsburg, PA • 717-697-3460 SPRINGETTSBURY Hallam Exit off Rt. 30, Rt. 462 717-757-9655 WAYNESBORO 302 East Main St. • 717-762-9201 YOCUMTOWN Exit 14A off I-83 • 717-938-5705 YORK 2125 York Crossing Dr & Rt 74 717-767-1381 Exit 4, I-83, 133 Leader Heights Road 717-747-9191 York Galleria Mall • 717-757-3026 60 Arsenal Rd. • 717-699-4600 Exit 6W off I-83 • 717-845-9360 3141 Carlisle Road, Dover 717-767-2594 144-158 S. George St. • 717-846-1021 Rts. 30 & 74 in Wal-Mart 717-764-8923 380 Memory Lane • 717-757-2912 Tell us you saw this ad in Busline Magazine, and 1 driver and 1 tour guide will receive a
FREE MEAL! Please call ahead to the phone number listed by the McDonald’s of your choice.
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INCREASED FUEL EFFICIENCY ISN’T MARKETING. IT’S AN UNDERSTANDING.
While other brands may tout increased fuel economy, only Prevost has the reputation to back it up. No gimmicks here, just the innovations that are known for making our motorcoaches run as efficiently as possible. These include features like the PRIME Energy Management System, which keeps operation costs down by using engine negative torque to generate “free” electricity, thus increasing fuel economy. And the Volvo D13 engine with 2014 engine technology gives improved fuel efficiency, even over last year’s engine. Pair that with the I-Shift transmission, and you have the formula for optimal operational efficiency. Safety features, such as AWARE Adaptive Cruise Braking and the Electronic Stability Program, also help you avoid costly downtime by avoiding incidents and keeping your vehicles where they belong—on the road.
For more information: USA 336-393-3929 Canada 418-883-3391 www.prevostcar.com