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CONTENTS
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MAy/JuNE 2013 Published by Rankin Publishing, Inc. www.buslinemag.com
IN THIS ISSUE Third Generation Motorcoach Firm, Serves National Customer Base From Its 5 Iowa Locations
Hawkeye Stages...........................8
Transit Emphasis On Customer Service Yields Increased Ridership ..................................................20 CTAA EXPO Set For June 2-7 In Albuquerque ........................28 5Star Specialty Programs ....................................................29 A Travel Exchange Panel
Keys To Success In Group Travel .........................................30 Busline Vehicle Showcase:
ALTERNATIVE FUELS / HYBRID VEHICLES 39, 40
RAPID RESPONSE.....................................Page 6 INDUSTRY NEWS ...................................Page 41 ON THE COVER: Steve and Kari Tjossem, of Hawkeye Stages, are shown with one of the company’s Temsa motorcoaches. Hawkeye Stages operates from five Iowa locations. See page 8.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS JUNE 2013 June 1-5 Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) Annual Conference St. John’s, Newfoundland Info: 416-365-9800 June 2-7 Community Transportation Association of America Annual Expo Conference Albuquerque, NM Info: 800-891-0590 JULY 2013 July 19-24 National School Transportation Association Annual Meeting & Convention Tulsa, OK Info: 800-222-6782
AUGUST 2013 August 19-20 Midwest Bus & Motorcoach Association Annual Convention St. Charles, MO Info: 608-354-7110 SEPTEMBER 2013 September 10-11 BusCon 2013 Chicago, IL Info: 800-576-8788 September 29 - October 2 APTA Annual Meeting Chicago, IL Info: 202-496-4800
OCTOBER 2013 October 26-31 Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association Annual Convention Boston, MA Info: 301-984-5700 JANUARY 2014 January 11-15 American Bus Association Marketplace Nashville, TN Info: 800-283-2877 FEBRUARY 2014 February 16-20 United Motorcoach (UMA) Expo At Travel Exchange Los Angeles, CA 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 2013 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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May/June 2013
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: Sandy Pierce 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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Busline Vehicle Showcase:
ALTERNATIVE FUELS / HYBRID VEHICLES
MCI....................... 39
ABC Companies.......39
Proterra..................40
GILLIG ....................40
Company
Website
ARBOC Specialty Vehicles Atlantic Detroit Diesel-Allison Bauer Compressors Bauer’s Intelligent Transportation Bitzer Budget Truck & Autobody BusCon Expo Buses For Sale.com Chestnut Ridge Foam CTAA Distinctive Systems Espar Climate Systems Freightliner Glaval Bus Holdsworth Hometown Trolley Kirks Automotive, Inc. MAHA Lifts MGM Brakes
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www.arbocsv.com www.atlanticdda.com www.bauercng.com www.coachsales.com www.bitzerus.com www.budgettruckandauto.com www.busconexpo.com www.busesforsale.com www.chestnutridgefoam.com www.ctaa.org/expo www.distinctive-systems.com www.espar.com www.freightlinerchassis.com www.glavalbus.com www.holdsworthfabrics.com www.hometowntrolley.com www.KirksOnline.net www.maha-usa.com www.mgmbrakes.com
32 14 25 23 24 47 19 43 45 50 35 22 3 15 31 28 47 33 26
Relational Bus Systems .............................34 Distinctive Systems ...................................35 Motorcoach Manager ................................36 BUYERS GUIDE ..........................................37
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Company
Midwest Bus Corporation Mile-X Motorcoach Manager National Interstate Nissan Commercial Vehicles Prevost Car Protective Insurance Company Proterra Relational Bus Systems Resorts Casino Hotel Safety Step Service Insurance Sutrak TEMSA Turtle Top Vanner Power Volvo Willingham Inc.
Website
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www.midwestbus.com www.mile-x.com www.motorcoachmanager.com www.natl.com www.nissancommercialvehicles.com www.prevostcar.com www.protective insurance.com www.proterra.com www.rbs2000.com www.ResortsAC.com www.safetystep.net www.serviceins.com www.sutrakusa.com www.temsa.com www.turtletop.com www.vanner.com www.prevostcar.com www.willinghaminc.com
Read or Download Complete Issues Of Busline Magazine Online At: www.buslinemag.com Page 6
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May/June 2013
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NATIONAL INTERSTATE:
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MICHAEL, COACH TOURS
LYNN, RMA CHAUFFEURED TRANSPORTATION
“As an alternative risk client of National Interstate, I have found their claims process to be far superior to what I had come to expect after 20 years in the transportation business. Their staff communicates with me frequently about even a minor claim. We have saved a significant amount compared to what I had expected our claims would cost. I get the feeling that
“Accidents can be emotional events.
National Interstate is working as hard as they can to keep the costs down.”
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HAWKEYE STAGES
Third Generation Motorcoach Firm, Serves National Customer Base From Its 5 Iowa Locations Decorah (the company headquarters), Fort Dodge, Newton, Ottumwa and Waterloo. “By maintaining multiple terminals, Hawkeye nown as the “Hawkeye State,” Iowa is home to 3 million people and famous throughout Stages is equipped to efficiently serve nearly all of the world for its large agricultural landscape. Iowa, collectively handling the ebb and flow of The state, however, enjoys a diversified economy, demands within individual market areas,” Hawkeye urbanized areas, a number of colleges and universi- Stages President Steve Tjossem said, during a recent interview at the company’s newest facility in Newton. “We like to think that certain qualities “By maintaining multiple terminals, Hawkeye Stages is equipped found with Iowans — and Midwesterners as a to efficiently serve nearly all of Iowa, collectively handling the ebb whole — enhance our daily work experiences, and flow of demands within individual market areas. We like to whether it’s the performance of co-workers or think that certain qualities found with Iowans — and Midwesterners interaction with customers. “As much as we try to promote our state, we as a whole — enhance our daily work experiences, whether it’s the do however realize there is a limited potential performance of co-workers or interaction with customers.” for inbound group travel traffic, so we often — Hawkeye Stages President Steve Tjossem find ourselves operating motorcoaches to great distances away from home.” ties, and a populace that enjoys exploring destinations The service area for Hawkeye Stages includes all within Iowa and beyond. of Iowa and segments found within certain surIt’s also home of Hawkeye Stages, a third-genera- rounding states. The company travels as well to destion motorcoach operation that currently dispatches tinations found throughout the continental United coaches from five different locations in Iowa — States and into Canada. Hawkeye provides both By Harrell Kerkhoff, Busline Magazine Editor
K
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motorcoach tours in 1957, and then started operating tours under Legacy Tour & Travel approximately 7 years ago,” Tjossem said. In 2008, officials at Hawkeye Stages purchased Northwest Iowa Transportation, based in Fort Dodge, along with this motorcoach operation’s NorthLand Travel tour company. “Northwest Iowa Transportation was operating all of its scheduled tours under the name of NorthLand Travel at the time of the purchase, while we (Hawkeye Stages) were operating tours as Legacy Tour & Travel. When the companies combined, it provided a perfect opportunity to redefine the roles of both Northland and Legacy,” Tjossem said. “NorthLand Travel specializes in public Shown is the headquarters of Hawkeye Stages, located in Decorah, IA. scheduled group tours to such places as charter and tour trips from a mixed fleet of 25 chased in 1954. It was a 29-passenger Flxible Washington, D.C., New York, NY, and motorcoaches that feature different seating Visicoach for $15,417. The company received Branson, MO. A lot of what is sold through capacities that can accommodate 29 to 57 pas- operating authority for several other line runs, NorthLand Travel revolves around the tradialong with charter authority, over the next tional motorcoach tour, but we are increasingsengers. The origin of the company dates to 1954 several years; while a trip to watch the ly expanding into air, rail and cruise tours. “Legacy Tour & Travel, meanwhile, prowhen Steve Tjossem’s grandfather, Bernard University of Iowa Hawkeyes play in the 1957 White, purchased the regular route operating Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, served as the vides private customized tours for preformed student and adult groups. It also offers tradiauthority and five used buses tional motorcoach trips along from Waterloo Stages. with tours to such far away loca“My grandfather had a trucking tions as London and Costa Rica. company known as White’s The bulk of what inbound traffic Motor Transport. My dad, we have is generated by Legacy, Lawrence Tjossem, was also bringing in international groups involved with the trucking operafor primarily agriculture-related tion. They started in the bus busitours.” ness in 1954 while remaining In recent years, according to involved with trucking for Tjossem, Hawkeye Stages’ awhile. The bus side of the busiLegacy Tour & Travel and ness originated in Decorah, which NorthLand Travel have actually is where our company headquargenerated more revenue and ters remain today,” Steve profit than its motorcoach charTjossem said. “Personally, I startter operation. “These two tour companies have easily been the largest generator of demand for our coach The Hawkeye Stages office staff and tour guides located at the service as well,” he said. “About company’s Decorah, IA, office are, above left to right, Pat Downs, 30 percent of our charter busiCarlyn Kraabel, Denise Baumler, Joleen Sorenson, Pavel Makarov, ness comes from our two tour Julie Swenson, Cathy Krupa and Tom Spindler. companies. The second largest Shown at left is Byron Everman. percentage is from college-relatfirst group tour departure organized and sold ed transportation demand.” Hawkeye Stages has also been particularly by Hawkeye Stages. Over time, Tjossem said the line run busi- successful during the past few years with ness could not sustain itself and all regular providing extensive student trips via motorroutes were dropped by the company. Instead, coach to Washington, D.C. These trips take Hawkeye Stages developed into a high-end place at different times of year, and include ed at Hawkeye Stages full time in 1986 after provider of charter and tour transportation. current and retired teachers who aid in the returning from college. Of course, like most This has been aided with the help of two sister educational experience while visiting the people who have grown up in the bus busi- tour companies — Legacy Tour & Travel and nation’s capital. “There are around 25 schools that particiness, I really started working as a kid by wash- NorthLand Travel. “Hawkeye Stages first provided traditional pate in this program right now. It’s become ing buses. After college, I worked in our bus depot as the company was still operating line “...we are able to use the coach as a classroom while en route to the main runs. I worked nights and weekends and slowly became involved with more portions of the destination. This travel time is used to prepare students for what they are company. I have been president of Hawkeye going to see in Washington, D.C. This is the type of trip that I think those involved with the coach business need to work on. It’s important to find Stages for 13 years.” The company’s first new coach was pur- ways to take advantage of what we (as an industry) have to offer.” Page 10
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wife and works at Hawkeye Stages in accounting, added that a few years ago these student trips were opened to include parents and grandparents as well. “Therefore, we are now transporting adults who are traveling with their children and grandchildren on these trips,” Kari Tjossem said. “It’s a wonderful way to introduce people to a kind of travel that they might not otherwise try,” Steve Tjossem added. The Fort Dodge, IA, NorthLand Travel office staff shown are, left to right, Michelle Reed, Rhonda Strutzenberg and Jan Cswercko.
Managing 5 Locations
part of their yearly curriculum and provides a wonderful piece of business for our company,” Tjossem said. “In fact, we have groups signing up for the summer of 2014 who haven’t even started their 2013 trip yet. These schools are from Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. “What is great about these trips is that we are able to use the coach as a classroom while en route to the main destination. This travel time is used to prepare students for what they are going to see in Washington, D.C. This is the type of trip that I think those involved with the coach business need to work on. It’s important to find ways to take advantage of what we (as an industry) have to offer.” Co-owner Kari Tjossem, who is Steve’s
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hile operating from five locations in Iowa, it’s imperative that officials from Hawkeye Stages remain focused on effectively coordinating the company’s various transportation activities. Of course, doing this is often easier said than done. “It’s difficult in many ways, but today’s technology really helps us when it comes to bookings and knowing where our equipment must be located,” Steve Tjossem said. “This, more than anything, helps tie everybody together. We rely a lot on technology as it’s difficult to physically get around and see everybody on a regular basis within our company due to the distance between some of our facilities.” The company’s headquarters remain in
May/June 2013
The Fort Dodge, IA, Legacy Tour & Travel office staff shown are, seated, Bob Oliver, and back row, Deann Haden-Luke and Gerald Bures.
Decorah, a town of approximately 8,000 people located in the bluff country of northeastern Iowa. Decorah is famous for its Norwegian heritage, celebrated by the local Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, and also as the home of Luther College. Most of the mechanics employed by Hawkeye Stages are based out of the Decorah facility. These mechanics often travel to other company locations, such as Waterloo and Newton, to perform maintenance work. The company’s facility in Waterloo, a city located approximately 77 miles southwest of Decorah, includes a fully equipped maintenance shop; while tour offices remain in Fort Dodge (approximately 100 miles west of Waterloo) and Decorah. Hawkeye Stages also
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Mechanics for Hawkeye Stages include, left to right, Jim Harkness and Steve Schick. Harkness is standing in front of a 29-passenger 1967 Flxible Starliner that was purchased new by Hawkeye Stages.
maintains a facility in Ottumwa, located in southern Iowa, while its newest location is in Newton, a city in central Iowa located approximately 30 miles east of Des Moines. “We purchased the Newton facility in early 2012. It was formerly the home of a car dealership,” Steve Tjossem said. “We were looking for a place to consolidate our former operations in Des Moines and Marshalltown, IA (located approximately 30 miles north of Newton). Geographically, it made sense to locate in Newton. It’s in the heart of a good share of our strong customer base in central Iowa. “Hawkeye Stages is still able to adequately service Des Moines (the state capital) since
at the Newton facility will also work for all of our renters, and a conference room here is available as well for everyone.” Steve Tjossem said renovating the Newton facility was quite a process. This included dismantling the facility’s original single-pane windows along with installing geo-thermal heating and cooling systems to make the building more energy efficient, as well as constructing a maintenance pit inside the garage area so buses can be maintained from underneath. The facility also came with many advantages. For example, it’s located on a hill and across the street from a large supermarket complex. “Our facility is very prominent in Newton and we have already received a lot of attention,” Steve Tjossem said. He added that it has become obvious over
Newton is not that far away, and we have kept a sales person in Marshalltown as well.” The Newton facility includes office space and a large maintenance area manned by a full-time Hawkeye Stages’ mechanic. “We currently don’t have much of a tour office presence in central Iowa, which is “Common improvements that are now often taken for something we want to granted, such as with charter reservation/booking build on with our systems, have had the most impact on our growth.” Newton addition,” he said. “We also have extra space here that we the years that having “cookie-cutter” facilities are going to rent out. Our first tenant is the in place at each of Hawkeye Stages’ five locaNewton Convention & Visitors Bureau, which tions does not make good business sense. “We learned quickly that we weren’t going is great because we share a common interest in tourism. Our (Hawkeye Stages) receptionist to be able to have every facility the same,
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He noted that drivers often find themselves in places that are unfamiliar, and thus must be able to successfully find their way around. This is not always easy with a bus full of passengers.
Shown above is the Newton, IA, facility of Hawkeye Stages.
offering the same type of services and staff. There is just not enough going on in rural Iowa to justify this type of offering,” Steve Tjossem said. “However, we are spread around geographically as a company to get into many different markets.” Quality Employees Make A Difference
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ith a workforce of slightly over 100 employees spread over five locations, Hawkeye Stages provides a wide variety of opportunities for those people looking for rewarding employment. The catch is, most positions require not only some type of technical skill, but the ability to work well with customers. These positions include motorcoach drivers, mechanics, washbay personnel, general and administrative staff, charter sales people,
The Newton, IA, staff includes Melissa Berry and Rick Brannen.
“Drivers often don’t get the respect they deserve,” Steve Tjossem said. Kari Tjossem added: “Sometimes customers don’t understand that a motorcoach can’t always go everyplace, or that drivers can’t always drive from point ‘A’ to point ‘B’ without stopping.” When a driver is hired, Hawkeye Stages provides one-on-one training that centers on
drivers,” Steve Tjossem said. “However, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find enough new employees this way. We also seek applicants via our website, newspaper ads, job services and job fairs. “Hawkeye Stages attempts to retain employees by treating everyone with respect, paying a competitive wage, providing certain benefits and maintaining a relaxed but professional work environment. One challenge is that we have lost some good motorcoach drivers over the years to the trucking industry. There are trucking companies that are able to provide higher wages. However, as a motorcoach company, I feel we pay better than most operators.” Hawkeye Stages has established a brand of quality service conducted with integrity, Steve Tjossem added, and the ability to hold true to this brand has allowed the company to remain strong in an ever changing and challenging industry. “A solid brand like this is only attainable if a company is able to attract and retain quality people to provide the service. Hawkeye Stages has been blessed through the years with a long list of such people,” he said. Using Equipment To Fit Specific Needs
A
s the tour business continues to change, smaller group sizes are becoming more of the industry standard, according to Steve Tjossem, and in many cases it is “Sizable growth within our charter bus operation may not be in our future, but I believe more desirable for increased profitability is in this future. Our tour companies show great potential for growth, customers than the and we will increasingly become less of a coach company that has its own tour entities, and traditional group more of a tour company that has its own coaches. The change in mentality within the company size of 50 or more that comes with this transition is likely to make us a stronger coach operation as well.” travelers. The increased dispatchers, marketing staff, tour planners, coach familiarity, safe operation of the vehi- intimacy of a smaller group can make for a tour sales staff, tour managers/guides and cle, compliance requirements, customer serv- much more enjoyable travel experience, he travel agents. ice, proper documentation, company policies added. By far, the most visible and largest segment and procedures and more. “Hawkeye Stages has been able to sucof these employees, however, is the drivers. At “When first dispatched, our new drivers cessfully tap into this exciting trend, and Hawkeye Stages, approximately 60 people are travel with experienced drivers as often as there is much reason for optimism,” he said. employed by the company as either a full- or necessary so they can learn additional “The timely arrival of our fully equipped 36part-time driver. It’s a position of great specifics about the job. Ongoing driver train- passenger luxury Temsa coaches, which we responsibility, according to Steve Tjossem. ing is primarily provided at quarterly meet- are using for some of our tours, provides an “A driver should be able to safely and ings,” Steve Tjossem said. “We have greatly excellent option to satisfy the transportation smoothly maneuver the coach as needed, work relied, through the years, on existing drivers needs of these smaller groups. long days with occasional extended times helping in the training process. It’s beneficial “We recently purchased two 2013 Temsa away from home, thoroughly prepare before when new hires can learn from really good TS35s, removing a few seats to accommoall trips and be able to independently follow existing drivers and see first hand the proper date 36 passengers. This allows for extra leg necessary routes,” he said. “He/she should way to do different tasks.” room.” also be able to work professionally and cheerHe added that a portion of the company’s The company’s Temsa TS35s are also fully with group leaders and passengers. employee recruitment effort starts with word- equipped with leather seats featuring three“There are so many things involved with of-mouth recommendations, such as current point seat belts, electrical outlets, Wi-Fi, being a good driver. It’s a position that employees who refer their acquaintances to mesh seat back pockets, cup holders, a cordrequires not only taking good care of passen- officials at Hawkeye Stages for possible hir- less microphone, four-monitor video sysgers and equipment, but interacting with peo- ing. tems, window shades and a rear window. ple in a professional manner. A driver should “For example, some of our best drivers “We very consciously equipped these be outgoing and entertaining.” have come through referrals from existing coaches with all of the ‘goodies,’ wanting to Page 16
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make sure that our tour passengers would accept them as a smaller, but still luxurious option. Electrical outlets and Wi-Fi very quickly went from extra features to ‘must haves,’” Steve Tjossem said. He added that the relationship between Hawkeye Stages and Temsa is relatively young.
A member of the Newton, IA, staff for Hawkeye Stages is Mark Anderson.
“We have been waiting for a viable midsized tour coach option for several years. We now have a mid-sized coach that does not compromise on quality,” he said. “Although our history with CH Bus Sales (the exclusive U.S. Temsa distributor) is limited, our familiarity with several of the individuals
involved with the company gave them instant credibility for us.” There is more to the equipment side of a charter and tour company, of course, than just providing new vehicles. The appearance of each vehicle, whether new or not, is of utmost importance. “An older, well maintained coach can often be favorably received by the customer. Meanwhile, a new coach that is poorly maintained is not so readily accepted by the customer,” Steve Tjossem said. “This is a good indication of the importance of clean and attractive coaches. Hawkeye Stages thoroughly cleans coaches between every trip, and works diligently at keeping up with necessary body work. Good first impressions are critical.” Cleaning crews at each of Hawkeye Stages’ five locations take care of the often daily chore of washing vehicles as well as cleaning their insides. To aid in this, four of the five facilities have large power brushes. “Again, it doesn’t matter if it’s a brand new coach. If people board and there is stuff on the floor this can leave a very bad impression,” Steve Tjossem said. Kari Tjossem added: “If a company is not taking care of cleanliness issues when it comes to its buses, then customers may start wondering what else is not being main-
tained, such as the critical operating parts of the vehicle. People will tie all of this together. Therefore, cleanliness is always critical.” Although technical advancements in today’s motorcoaches have been significant, Steve Tjossem said advancements in technology that have helped Hawkeye Stages grow the most often are found in other areas of operation. “Common improvements that are now often taken for granted, such as with charter reservation/booking systems, have had the most impact on our growth,” he said. For example, officials at Hawkeye Stages have found that knowledge gained through mileage calculating and reservation software systems to be extremely beneficial. This type of technology helps company personnel gain quicker access to a customer’s history, leading to a more efficient operation and to customer service improvements. It also means Hawkeye Stages is able to handle more business. “A lot of today’s advanced technology is becoming basic, such as our ability to quickly gain important mileage information for the purpose of fuel tax reporting,” Steve Tjossem said. “We also make good use of technology with our student groups as they continue to use iPads while on board along with PowerPoint presentations.”
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May/June 2013
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working relationships with Luther College, Wartburg College and Grinnell College,” Kari Tjossem said. mong the many challenges that Steve Tjossem added that there face today’s motorcoach operaremains strong out-bound demand from tors is knowing what to properIowa residents who want to visit places ly charge customers, and then having the located beyond the state. courage to not back down from this “This is a good thing. It would be nice amount. This business philosophy has to receive greater in-bound demand as led to the past success of Hawkeye well from people wanting to visit Iowa Stages, and Steve Tjossem sees no need from other places,” he said. “There are to change for the future. motorcoach companies in the country “Because of the success of Hawkeye that service a lot of this type of demand, Stages’ tour companies (Legacy Tour & and it can look pretty appealing at times. Travel / NorthLand Travel), and the cusThe Newton, IA, garage staff for Hawkeye Stages includes, It’s important to understand, however, tomer base these entities provide to our from left, Bob Stanton and Ron Simonsen. that these companies also probably face coach business, there has been minimal even more competition than what we (at pressure on us to chase marginal charter service at a higher level than our competitors, coach work,” Steve Tjossem said. “This abili- or the ability to charge more for the service Hawkeye Stages) have as a motorcoach operty to focus on quality work, rather than just will deteriorate over time and the model will ator.” Officials at Hawkeye Stages market their quantity, has allowed the company to become collapse,” he said. “Our company has become much stronger, and to build a brand that tends large enough that management responsibilities company’s various services through a variety to grow itself quite well. have been delegated to multiple people. of ways including such traditional outlets as “Sizable growth within our charter bus Because of this, consistency has at times been newspapers, directory ads, radio, Websites, operation may not be in our future, but I more difficult to maintain, and certain projects emails, mailings, travel shows and personal believe increased profitability is in this future. are more difficult to push through. Price pres- visits with group leaders. However, the greatOur tour companies show great potential for sure within the marketplace dictates that we est “door opener” of all, Steve Tjossem said, growth, and we will increasingly become less gain efficiency with any kind of growth, and continues to be the satisfied customer talking positively to other people about his company’s of a coach company that has its own tour enti- then not lose that efficiency.” ties, and more of a tour company that has its Many of the same opportunities and chal- services. “Positive word-of-mouth referrals are critiown coaches. The change in mentality within lenges facing Hawkeye Stages hold true for cal, especially for the charter busi“The effort to educate the public on the value of motorcoach travel is too often ness,” he said. “We also conduct undermined by some operators who stoop to a level of service that justifies a bad surveys among customers, such as reputation. Strong operators need to remain committed to quality and prove to those who have taken our tour trips. We can gain access to some good the public that we, as an industry, have much to offer.” information as to where people like the company that comes with this transition is motorcoach operators located across the to visit (in the future). Most of these surveys, likely to make us a stronger coach operation United States and Canada. According to Steve however, center around the critique of our as well.” Tjossem, the bus industry has much to offer service in general, asking about the cleanliSteve Tjossem further explained that he has and the future should be bright as long as cer- ness of our vehicles, how our drivers perfound it easier, as a company, to compete in tain operators start reversing the tendency of formed, etc. “The main thing is to take care of our pasthe tour business. This is because while the selling themselves short. tour side can still be price competitive, it’s “The effort to educate the public on the sengers. We get a lot of opportunities to quote usually not at the same level as found when value of motorcoach travel is too often under- charters but tend to be a little higher in price operating motorcoaches. mined by some operators who stoop to a level compared to certain competitors. Therefore, “If we, as a tour operator, can continue to of service that justifies a bad reputation,” some types of traditional marketing aren’t build this part of our business, we can contin- Steve Tjossem said. “Strong operators need to really the best for us. They would lead to more ue to feed quality charter work to our coach remain committed to quality and prove to the people wanting quotes who are only interested company. This gives us a stronger base that public that we, as an industry, have much to in going with the lowest-priced operator.” As a company, Steve Tjossem said that allows us to be a little more choosy about offer. what we do with our charter rates,” he said. “One of the unfortunate aspects of the Hawkeye Stages is at a good size right now, “The travel and tour operation also comes motorcoach industry is that a lot of business and it’s not going to grow by cutting rates. “We have actually downsized some over the with it a little different customer service men- hinges on pricing. As a company, offering tality. It’s our hope that with an increased tour prices that are too low will eventually start a last few years because we let certain cusoperator mentality, we can step it up a notch or snowball effect. Margins eventually shrink to tomers walk rather than offer a lower price,” two as an overall company when it comes to where the company can’t pay its drivers as he said. “For future growth, Hawkeye Stages customer service. We want this stronger focus well and also can’t have nice equipment. It must maintain an exceptional team of individuals who somehow, despite their individualito filter through the whole organization.” influences everything.” As the Hawkeye Stages’ brand is not one Despite such challenges, Steve and Kari ties, find a way to work together in order to geared toward the price-driven customer, Tjossem both remain optimistic about the hold true to the company’s quality brand.” Contact: Hawkeye Stages, Steve Tjossem said that in order to sustain and future of Hawkeye Stages. 703 Dudley St., grow such a brand, his company must be com“In a state like Iowa, you have a chance to Decorah, IA 52101. mitted to winning and keeping business by develop a lot of strong relationships with cusPhone: 563-382-3639. providing consistent quality and service. tomers. Many of these relationships last for Website: www.hawkeyestages.com. “Hawkeye Stages must provide customer years. For example, we have had very long Sticking With A Good Game Plan
A
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come together and where people can transfer from one bus to another. We call it Busline Magazine recently spoke with officials from three public transit a ‘turnaround’ because the buses go in and entities who shared how their systems have evolved to service the needs they turn around and they head back out.” In the part of Akron where the of their ridership base. These officials also shared some exciting new Independence Turnaround is located, programs and innovations taking place at their respective operations. METRO once served a large suburban mall. Ownership of the mall changed and ETRO Regional Transit Authority, servicing Summit County, the new owners did not want METRO service there any longer. The need for OH, which includes the city of Akron, operates a total of 208 the turnaround was determined because people were forced to transfer on vehicles, including 131 larger fixed-route buses and 77 smaller the street, as METRO no longer had access to the mall area. “Transferring on the street was not a good experience for customers, paratransit buses. “Soon, we will be receiving our first set of articulated buses,” said especially the disabled and those in wheelchairs,” Enty said. METRO maintains two park and ride lots and also METRO Executive Director Richard Enty. “There provides express bus service into downtown are six of them coming.” Cleveland, OH, located about 30 miles north of Akron All of METRO’s current vehicles are wheelchair in Cuyahoga County on the shores of Lake Erie. accessible. Some vehicles are equipped with an “Service to Cleveland was also expanded to serve hydraulic lift to accommodate scooters or wheelnortheast Ohio’s main Veterans Administration hospichairs, while others “kneel” by lowering the front pastal, the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center at senger corner of the vehicle to curb level so passenWade Park in Cleveland,” Enty said. “A VA facility gers can roll aboard on a slide-out ramp. In addition, located in the southern part of Cuyahoga County, all METRO line-service buses are equipped with bike which had been in operation since World War II, was racks. closed. As a result, many of our veterans were having “On an average weekday we record 17,800 boarda hard time getting serviced, so we decided to expand ings,” Enty said. “On an annual basis it is 5.2 million, our express bus service to Cleveland, extending from and of that number, 247,000 are paratransit riders. downtown Cleveland to the Louis Stokes Cleveland There are more than 2,300 bus stops in our system. VA Medical Center. “METRO employs 239 operators, including special “The Greater Cleveland RTA (regional transit service operators who are drivers of paratransit vehiauthority), the system I retired from in 2007, built one cles carrying fewer than 14 passengers. In addition, of the country’s finest full-service rapid transit lines, we have 33 mechanics and 14 service technicians, which includes dedicated bus lanes and high platforms who wash and fuel vehicles on a daily basis. METRO Executive Director Richard Enty along Euclid Avenue. “METRO’s mission is to enhance the quality of life “It is actually called the ‘Health Line’ because it serves several hospitals for our community by providing innovative transportation solutions that are safe, dependable, cost effective and customer-focused, now and in the in the University Circle area of Cleveland. The Greater Cleveland RTA allows METRO to use that corridor. Once our bus gets to downtown future.” Recently, METRO has been busy making some significant upgrades to its Cleveland, it heads east to the VA center using the Health Line corridor. “METRO buses can’t operate past the Greater Cleveland RTA Health system, including the addition of 33 CNG (compressed natural gas) buses to Line high platforms, therefore we don’t use their dedicated lanes. However, its fixed-route fleet in 2012. “We have replaced a computer-aided dispatch automatic vehicle location the roadway was rebuilt — all the utilities were buried, etc. — and now it is system on our paratransit fleet, and we also completed installation of a video a very nice operating environment for buses. Once we put this in place for security system on all of our fixed-route buses,” Enty said. “In addition, veterans, a number of Summit County residents who work at the Wade Park METRO opened a new off-street turnaround for seven bus routes in the VA asked us to add a little more service. “One of the trips in the morning ran at a time convenient for them to get northern part of Akron called the Independence Turnaround. “The Independence Turnaround is a transfer center where seven routes to work, but in the afternoon, the service ended too early. We responded to Page 20 BUSLINE May/June 2013
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a petition from 70 VA workers who requested we run a slightly later bus in the afternoons so they could ride home from work. “We also found that many of the VA workers were car and van pooling from one of our park and ride lots located in the western part of Summit County near Interstate 77, which is a direct route into downtown Cleveland. When we added the additional service to the VA, we believe some of the workers abandoned the car/van pools to ride our express buses.” In speaking of travel corridors, Enty alluded to METRO’s Transit Master Plan, which outlines how the transit system should evolve during the next 30 years. “In the Transit Master Plan, we identified five primary travel corridors in Summit County,” Enty said. “The most traveled corridors that were studied for BRT (bus rapid transit) are two combined routes that we call the MarketArlington corridors. These corridors are carrying the largest percentage of our ridership right now. The BRT corridor analysis indicated that some of the trips along the Market-Arlington routes were overcrowded. Therefore, beginning this year, we reduced headway time on the Market-Arlington lines from about 20 to 23 minutes in the peak, down to 15 minutes. It is still a little early, but we are looking at how this has affected ridership. We do know people appreciate the more frequent service.” Summit County consists of 22 municipalities and 9 townships, Enty reported. The county’s population, according to the 2010 census, is 541,781 people, including 199,000 in the city of Akron. To service the county, METRO operates five facilities, including its main administration and maintenance facility. Perhaps the jewel of METRO’s facilities is the futuristic looking, stateof-the-art Robert K. Pfaff Intermodal Transit Center, which was completed in January 2009. The center was renamed after Pfaff on May 16, 2012. “Bob Pfaff was my predecessor here,” Enty said. “He had been executive director for 17 years. He started out as a bus driver at METRO 38 years ago and passed away last July. He was highly regarded by transit professionals nationwide as well as civic and governmental leaders. He was a great mentor and we miss him.” According to METRO officials, about 4,000 public transit passengers travel to downtown Akron each weekday, including workers, students, entertainment users, shoppers and those in transit to other locations. In addition, 60 percent of all METRO bus-to-bus transfers (more than 2,000 daily) occur downtown. “We use a pulse system,” Enty said. “Many of the routes come into the center at the same time, and people can go across the platform and transfer. All of our routes go to the center and we also have Greyhound and buses from two neighboring counties that use our main transit center.” The new 14,000-square-foot transit center provides off-street transfers, eliminating the need for passengers to cross a busy city street in order to change buses. The climate-controlled, glass-andsteel building offers an enclosed waiting area for 300 people. The building also houses METRO customer service representatives, restrooms, vending machines, an ATM, storage, office space, a cafe,
and security in the form of more than 90 cameras plus a joint city of Akron Police and Summit County deputy sheriff-staffed substation. “A lot of school kids use the transfer center. It is a safe place,” Enty said. “We’ve been told it is one of the nicest such facilities in the country.” According to METRO, during the center’s first year of operation, the rooftop solar panels, one of the largest arrays of solar panels in Ohio, provided nearly 20 percent of the electric energy consumed there. The transit center was granted the Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification for environmentally friendly construction in April 2010. In addition, the transit center has 45 geothermal wells for heating and cooling and recycled materials were used in constructing the building wherever possible. Also, about 75 percent of construction scrap material was recycled.
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Enty feels that one of the most telling ways support for public transportation in Summit County is high, is its citizens’ willingness to help fund the system. “I think public transportation is very much viewed as a valuable amenity, both for mobility, as well as for the environmental benefits,” Enty said. “When we last went to voters for a second .25 percent sales tax increase in 2008, we got a tremendous amount of support. Many people voiced appreciation for our paratransit service, because it provides so much mobility to seniors and the disabled. “We are getting ready to pioneer some additional paratransit service, which will be area specific. The northern part of Summit County is less densely populated and our route service doesn’t work quite as well there. However, there is still a need for people who live in this area to go shopping, travel to doctor appointments, etc., so we are going to pioneer a dial-a-ride paratransit for the general public starting this fall. “This new project is in response to people wanting to travel within their communities and not necessarily come all the way to downtown Akron from the northern part of the county. The fixed-route that goes there doesn’t run on a very frequent basis because the demand is low to moderate and the trip takes nearly two hours by bus. We are very interested in getting as much service as we can around the county and the paratransit service model for lower-density suburban areas has proven successful elsewhere. For example, Toledo (OH) Area RTA ad our neighboring county's Portage Area RTA operate this type of demandresponse service that their communities find very popular. “METRO has a very good partnerships with both Summit County and the city of Akron. Numerous other communities, including the cities of Stow, Barberton and Cuyahoga Falls have also been very supportive.
“They understand METRO supports economic development by helping get people to work and to job training. The facilities that we build and maintain also provide jobs for county residents.” Despite widespread support throughout the county, funding remains a challenge for METRO, as it is in most public transportation entities. “The three priorities that I have focused the organization on via the budget process, establishment of the 2013 departmental and individual priorities and development of key performance measures are: safety, customer service and financial responsibility,” Enty said. “We receive a lot less funding from the state of Ohio than we used to, even 15 years ago. Ohio spends an average of less than $2 per capita on public transit, compared to neighboring states Michigan and Pennsylvania that each spend on average more than $40 per capita. “The current biennial state budget now under consideration in the Ohio legislature would allocate just over $7 million annually to transit statewide. That amounts to about onetenth of what Ohio Transit Association members requested of the state’s top transportation leader in a meeting earlier this year. “State of good repair bus replacements and facility improvements require a local match that currently falls nearly completely on county taxpayers. More assistance from the state would help Ohio transit authorities leverage more federal dollars to meet basic capital needs.” As members of one of the nation’s largest demographic groups — the Baby Boomers — are at or approaching retirement, an aging workforce is another of the challenges facing METRO. “The average age of our drivers is pretty high,” Enty said. “Many younger people have left this part of the Midwest to find jobs in the burgeoning areas of the South and Southwest. One of our challenges is to help keep our senior drivers sharp, both mentally and physically. “We offer benefits for drivers such as contributing to the cost of gym
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membership to the YMCA. In addition, we have developed a mile-long walking course that rings our property. One of our supervisors even put together a ‘Biggest Loser’ contest — like the TV show — to help people become more health conscious. “Also, in cooperation with our Transport Workers Union, we have recently added a quarterly safe driving incentive. For holding preventable accidents down, all operators will share in a pay bonus depending on how few of these accidents actually occur.� Looking down the road, Enty is excited about METRO’s participation in the upcoming Gay Games 9Ž in August 2014, which will be jointly hosted by the Cleveland and Akron areas. “We are already beginning to work on developing systems to support the 30,000 athletes plus visitors we are expecting in the early part of August 2014,� Enty said. “We have a number of venues here in Akron for track and field, martial arts, soccer, and softball. There is also a marathon planned in Akron, plus golf at the Firestone Country Club. We will even be hosting a rodeo at the Summit County Fairgrounds. The really cool thing about GG9 is that it is fully inclusive and open to anyone interested in competing. For a small fee, people 18 and older can register and even participate in the opening and closing ceremonies. “METRO, in conjunction with the Greater Cleveland RTA, Portage RTA and Stark RTA, is continuing to work toward regional cooperation to get the athletes and visitors from place to place. Exciting times are ahead for Summit County and its neighbors.� Contact: METRO RTA, 416 Kenmore Blvd., Akron, OH 44301. Phone: 800-227-9905. Website: www.akronmetro.org.
S
erving Reading, PA, and surrounding Berks County, Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority (BARTA) became a county transit authority in January 2010. “We are a relatively small authority. We operate about 55 fixed-route buses and 35 Special Services Division vehicles. Special Services is our
paratransit system,� BARTA Manager of Programs & Marketing Janet Weiss said. “We have 21 fixed routes to serve Reading and Berks County. We also subcontract some of our paratransit service.� Before BARTA became a county authority, the city of Reading and Berks County purchased the Reading Bus Company in 1973. This purchase led to the formation of the Berks Area Reading Transportation Authority, which was in operation until January 2010, when BARTA changed “Reading� in its name to “Regional,� thus reflecting its status as a countywide entity. During 1978, the BARTA Special Services Division was established when the Berks County Commissioners ordered 33 publicly funded social service agencies to give up their transportation systems. The commissioners realized that by consolidating everything under BARTA, they were able to provide transportation for more people at a tremendous saving. Special Services provides door-to-door transportation. An application must be completed prior to using the service. Two working days notice is required to schedule most appointments. Individuals who qualify for transportation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are entitled to next-day service. According to BARTA, this specialized transportation system was the first of its kind in the state of Pennsylvania and one of only a handful in operation in the United States at the time of its inception. “For the fiscal year 2011-2012, BARTA carried about 3.2 million fixedroute and 252,774 Special Services passengers, for a total of about 3.4 mil-
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lion,” Weiss said. “During the same time period, BARTA traveled about 1.6 million fixed-route and 857,556 Special Services miles, for a total of about 2.5 million.” Offering the best in customer service is a high priority at BARTA. The BARTA Transportation Center (BTC), which was opened in downtown Reading in March 2002, serves as a central transfer point for most of the bus routes. The BTC has a passenger waiting area with an automated bus arrival and departure system, along with many other passenger amenities. Included within the BTC is a parking garage for monthly permit parking, a community police station and potential retail space. BARTA also operates five park-n-ride lots throughout Berks County that are served by BARTA’s fixed-route system. “We refer to riders as our ‘customers,’” Weiss said. “We try to instill in our drivers the need to treat people with courtesy. If customers weren’t riding the bus, the drivers would not have jobs. We try to get that across. “(Many years ago) the idea was to get people on the bus and then get them off and not worry about anything except being on time. Now, we are much more customer oriented. We would rather have our drivers be less strict on the schedule and focus on taking care of our customers.” BARTA’s commitment to customer service seems to be paying off as Weiss reported public transportation in Berks County is well supported by county and state governments, as well as the public. “We don’t have a lot of detractors,” she said. “I think we have a pretty good support base in this area. Our ridership has been growing. We were up 4 percent last year on fixed-route runs and 3.1 percent in our Special Services, for an overall 3.9 percent increase. We have experienced a steady
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increase every year. We have many choice riders. BARTA conducted some surveys a few years ago that indicated more than 50 percent of passengers were choice riders. “BARTA also has a partnership with Commuter Services of Southeastern Pennsylvania. With this partnership, people who use the bus can sign up for an emergency ride home program. If something happens and a person needs to go home early or he or she must work overtime and their bus doesn’t run after a certain time, that person can make other arrangements to get home. Whether the person calls a friend or a cab or whatever, he or she will be reimbursed for that expense. It is a phenomenal program. “Commuter Services and BARTA are a great partnership. Nine counties are involved in the Commuter Services area. Commuter Services’ people are great. They will come with us to visit different employers. While realizing transit may not be the right match for everybody, Commuter Services tries to match people with car and van pools, ride sharing, etc.” Weiss spoke of two major projects at BARTA. One of the projects recently completed harkens back to the now defunct Reading Railroad, which brought anthracite coal from the Pennsylvania coal region to cities along the Schuylkill River. The railroad is one of the four railroad properties in the classic United States version of the Monopoly board game. “We just completed a $5 million restoration project of the original Franklin Street Station, which was part of the Reading Railroad system,” Weiss said. “The station had been deteriorating to the point that the roof was about to collapse.” BARTA acquired the Franklin Street Station on December 14, 2005, with the intent to reopen it to again serve the public as a transportation hub for bus services, as it had in the past. The station will also include a small museum.
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The station was originally dedicated on January 25, 1930, and was designed in the renaissance revival architectural style and is symmetrical in design. The one story building is 140 feet long and 47 feet wide. The large central portion was the passenger waiting area and is 77 feet long by 42 feet wide with a 26-foot high ceiling. The original building had a marble terrazzo floor and terracotta wainscoting (a decorative wall embellishment). “After being dedicated in 1930, the station was in operation until the Reading Railroad quit operating,” Weiss said. “After the Reading Railroad quit running, SEPTA (The Southern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) out of Philadelphia took over the rail service. SEPTA came to Reading until 1981. When SEPTA stopped service, the station was closed. So between 1981 and two years ago it was empty and deteriorating. “The one really remarkable thing about this project is the terracotta wainscoting and the marble terrazzo floors have been restored with the original tiles. It is beautiful.” When interviewed recently, Weiss said a dedication and open house of the newly restored Franklin Street Station was planned for May. A second major and unique project is currently underway at BARTA and involves some of the system’s vehicles. “We are currently involved in a project with a company developing a wireless charging system for all-electric vehicles,” Weiss said. “There will be bases implanted in the ground in a variety of locations and the vehicles will only have to drive over the top of the bases to recharge. “We currently have two all-electric vehicles being readied and they will be used in our Special Services Department. We are also looking at the possibility of purchasing some all-electric buses for our fixed-route service, as well. “A company is converting two of our gas powered paratransit buses. They will take the gas engines out and ship them back to us and install electric motors, batteries and all the things to accomplish a total conversion. The allelectric buses will be able to be charged by both plugging them in or by the
wireless connection.” In November 2010, the company was awarded a nearly $587,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Alternative Fuel Incentive Grant program. The grant was to be used to develop the technology for the BARTA system that will recharge electric and plug-in vehicles wirelessly. The technology consists of an integrated suite of hardware and software that can be operated with any type of vehicle. It does not require a conductor to connect the vehicle to the power grid. “The state gave us a grant for the two all-electric vehicles being converted,” Weiss said. “(At this time) we are operating nine hybrid diesel-electric buses on fixed routes, as well as five hybrid diesel-electric vehicles used by our Special Services Department.” In speaking of the challenges BARTA faces as it moves into the future, Weiss said No. 1 is funding, not an unusual situation for many of the nation’s public transit systems. “We could always use some more money so we could expand services,” she said. “We don’t run on Sundays and we are not a 24/7 authority. We have many people who work on Sundays and they have no other way to get to work, so it is a challenge for them. There are people who would like later service on all of our routes. There are some routes that run later in the evening, up until 11 p.m.” As for the future of public transit in Berks County and nationwide, Weiss feels riding the bus is an underused resource. “I don’t think public transit is going to go away,” she said. “In some areas it may get smaller and in other locations it may grow, but I don’t think it is something that we will ever be able to totally do without. “I also think the younger generation is a little more ecologically minded. I think, in a lot of cases, they would just as likely board a bus as jump in a car. The economy is also a factor. It is a lot more expensive nowadays to operate a personal vehicle. The days when a person could
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buy a car for $500 and fill the tank for $5 are long gone. “A monthly bus pass to ride BARTA is $47. I can only fill my car up for one week with $47. If you take the bus to work instead of commuting, you are giving yourself the equivalent of a $100 raise each month, or maybe even more. “Public transportation is a good investment if it works with a person’s work schedule, location, etc. I realize it is not something that everybody can use. For example, BARTA in located in a very rural county. We have areas that are far from Reading and people out there must rely on their own transportation. “I would hate to see public transportation go away. The gridlock we have on the highways now would just be magnified.” Contact: BARTA, 1700 N. Eleventh St., Reading, PA 19604. Phone: 610-921-0601. Email: barta@bartabus.com. Website: www.bartabus.com. Greenlink Transit Director Mark Rickards
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reenville, SC, is a fast-growing community with a population of about 50,000 people, whose public transportation needs are met by Greenlink Transit. Greenlink also serves the nearby cities of Mauldin and Simpsonville. The metro area of Greenville is about 450,000 people as of the 2010 census. For several years, Greenville has been “remaking” itself after facing some tough economic times with the decline of the textile industry in the area. “The Greenville area was formerly a textile manufacturing center,” explained Greenlink Transit Director Mark Rickards. Indeed, for a long time Greenville was known as “The Textile Capital of the World.” However, in the process of remaking itself, the city has been able to attract other industries especially in the automotive and aerospace fields.
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“The leading industry here now is BMW along with Michelin, Fluor and General Electric,” Rickards said. “In addition, the city has developed a very viable downtown. In the 1990s, city, state and federal highway departments actually removed a highway bridge in downtown Greenville, replacing it with a pedestrian bridge called the Liberty Bridge that spans a scenic waterfall on the Reedy River where textile mills once stood. “There has also been a lot of redevelopment of the transit system. However, it is still a route/pulse-type system that operates out of a transit center that was built in 1992. We operate 35-foot buses on about 12 fixed routes. We are looking to expand both regionally and internally in the next 10 years. “The biggest issue we face in being able to expand is that we depend solely on local, state and federal funds and fares. We do not have a dedi-
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cated funding source. “We try to keep the fares as low as possible. We need more hours and days of service. We don’t have Sunday or late evening service. We also don’t have enough buses to expand into our regional communities. “Our sister cities in South Carolina, Charleston and Columbia, all have a small percentage of sales tax that goes directly to transit. We are looking to do the same over the next two years. It is within our mission to seek a dedicated funding source to allow Greenlink to expand. In the meantime, we will continue to grow incrementally where we can.� Greenlink records an average of 540,000 miles per year with a ridership of around 1 million. The system’s buses run on clean diesel fuel and Greenlink officials are looking at using all-electric vehicles as an alternative in the future, according to Rickards. All Greenlink buses are wheelchair accessible and are equipped with bike racks. The Greenlink system also features GAP (Greenville Area Paratransit), an ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) paratransit service provided for individuals who, because of a disability, are unable to use the fixed-route bus service. GAP provides comparable service to the regular fixed-route bus in terms of shared rides, curb-to-curb pickup, service area, hours and days of service. Measures to ensure passenger safety and security are in place throughout the Greenlink system. “Our facilities are all part of the city of Greenville,� Rickards said. “We work closely with the local police. We haven’t had a lot of issues with crime other than some vandalism at shelters. In total, we have 58 shelters. We have cameras on the buses and we have video system surveillance at our facilities.� While the city has rejuvenated itself in recent years, Greenlink has also placed a renewed emphasis on customer service. “Customer service is something we have really highlighted much more now than what was done in the past,� Rickards said. “Our
employees are trained to consider every person as a ‘customer’ rather than a ‘passenger.’ It is most important that individual attention is given when we can. I think our drivers have good relationships with customers.� Rickards also spoke of two programs in the planning stage that are in the budget for next year. One involves developing connecting commuter routes to nearby Clemson, SC, and Clemson University. A second project is to establish a public/private partnership with Greenville’s minor league baseball team, Greenville Drive, to operate a trolley service for the public. “We also have a public/private partnership with a local hospital and local educational entity, CUICAR (Clemson University’s International Center for Automotive Research),� Rickards said. “CU-ICAR works with St. Francis Hospital in conjunction with Greenlink in operating a private/public partnership route.� Looking ahead, Rickards sees a positive change in attitudes as to how public transportation is viewed in the Greenville area and beyond. “Perceptions are evolving quite a bit as we become more of a cosmopolitan area,� Rickards said. “International workers and students are coming to the area more and more from countries in Asia and Europe where there has traditionally been wide acceptance and usage of public transit. “People are certainly becoming more aware of the benefits of public transit. Although Greenville primarily remains an automobile-oriented community, I see progress. I feel very positive about the future of public transit. Our ridership is up and ridership is up nationwide.� Contact: Greenlink, 1021 S. Main St., Greenville, SC 29601. Phone: 864-467-5001. Email: info@RideGreenlink.com. Website: www.greenvillesc.gov/RideGreenlink/.
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CTAA EXPO Set For June 2-7 In Albuquerque This year’s annual Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) EXPO is scheduled for June 2-7 at the Albuquerque (NM) Convention Center. New Mexico’s transportation network includes all modes of transit — from regional rail to regional rural transit, and from bus rapid transit to commuter-focused services. The 2013 Community Transportation EXPO features several key elements, including: Trade Fair The trade show opening and reception will take place on June 4, while the trade fair itself and luncheon are scheduled for both June 5 and 6.
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One-, Two- And Three-day Sessions The Community Transportation Intensive Sessions take place June 3-5. The sessions meet training requirements for those seeking CCTM and CTPA certification. All certification courses have a testing component. Three-Day Courses: June 3-5 • Vehicle Maintenance Mgt/Inspection (VMMI) • Passenger Service and Safety (PASS) Train-the-Trainer Workshop Two-Day Courses: June 3-4 • Certified Community Transit Supervisory (CCTS) • Professional Dispatching and Scheduling (PDS) • Preparing for the CCTM and CTPA Examinations
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• Certified Safety and Security Officer (CSSO) • The Competitive Edge One-Day Courses: June 3 • Transit Marketing for Community/Public Transportation • Developing Policies and Procedures for Transit • Leadership & Motivation • Developing Performance Measures for Mobility Management & Coordination One-Day Courses: June 4 • Financial Management for Transit Agencies • Thinking Like a Business • How to Address the Issue of Distracted Drivers • Design Thinking for Mobility Solutions
Professional Development Workshops Various training sessions taught by recognized experts are offered in the morning and afternoon of June 5 and 6. All EXPO registrants are able to participate in any session. Professional Development Workshop topics planned for EXPO 2013 are: mobility management, dialysis transportation, livability and sustainability, innovative service design, service regionalization, advancing safety and security, transit facility development, creative funding and grant writing, the competitive edge, veterans transportation, social media for transit, strategic partnerships, and senior transportation. Two General Sessions Each year at EXPO, Community Transportation officials feature two general sessions that offer a discussion from recognized experts on key community and public transportation topics. This year’s two general sessions will be held on June 5 and 6. On June 5, Lt. Gen. Russell Honore will provide the conference keynote address with his presentation titled, “The New Normal: Leadership and Preparedness in the 21st Century.” Lt. Gen. Honore is best known for his role in leading the U.S. Defense Department’s response teams after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The second session, on June 6, examines reframing the value of transit and changing the way those in the industry highlight the outcomes that transit engenders. Roadeo & Awards Banquet Held June 2, the 24th Annual National Community Transportation Roadeo will honor the value of rural and community transit operators. Drivers compete for top scores on a course that tests skills of these drivers. It’s followed by a banquet and awards ceremony. Special Events Two special EXPO mini-conferences titled “Volunteer Transportation and Mobility Management” and “Tribal Transit Summit” are scheduled for June 3 and 4, and the Community Transportation Awards Breakfast is set for June 5. Local transit tours, meanwhile, are scheduled for June 6. These will be followed by “EXPO’s Big Night Out: A Celebration Of Route 66,” June 6. The Community Transportation EXPO will conclude on June 7. The day includes a Happy Trails Farewell Breakfast. Visit www.ctaa.org/expo or call 800-7887077 for more information.
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ADVERTORIAL
5Star Specialty Programs Reduce Risk – Reduce Cost Seven Elements To Reducing Risk And Cost With A Formal Loss Control Program By Charlie Johnson, VP Loss Control Services – 5Star Specialty Programs
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usinesses, old and new, are continuously looking for ways to mitigate risk. Though risk can’t be avoided completely, factors to reduce it can and should be managed — which begins at the organizational level. Reducing bottom line premium cost is a key objective for any successful business. Senior management must take ownership of their company’s loss control, demonstrate the organization’s commitment to developing a loss control program, and establish key performance indicators to follow up on progress and measure safety. Here are seven elements that have helped organizations reduce risk and cost by committing to a formal loss control program:
1. Management Involvement and Support — When senior management supports the overall safety effort, companies have a better understanding of how accidents can be controlled and affect loss ratio, and that any situation can be managed safely. It is essential, though, for all department heads to play a role in supporting these efforts by developing safety rules, manage losses, control hazards, motivate supervisors and labor forces, review results, and hold personnel accountable; 2. Assignment of Responsibility — It is the duty of upper management to ensure employees have a clear understanding of what their job entails. It is also their duty to assign responsibility, authority and accountability to key personnel. An employee who knows what is expected of his/her performance, has the authority to accomplish tasks, and is held accountable for results, is not only professionally satisfied, but is motivated to follow safe procedures. A policy statement expressing management’s desired direction is a key factor to a successful loss control program. The policy itself may include items such as the purpose of the program and what it will cover; who will be assigned safety responsibility; if there will be assistance in the form of a safety director or safety committee; and, who will have the authority to administer the safety program; 3. Maintenance of Safe Working Conditions — Once a plan is in place, it must be maintained. After reading a policy statement or attending a presentation, people tend to forget what was presented to them. To maintain a safe working condition, self-inspections should be conducted daily, weekly or monthly — depending on the job. An inspector must be selective, know what to look for, practice observing behaviors/trends, guard against habit and familiarity, record observations, and prepare a checklist.
An inspector should also create a job hazard analysis (JHA). This includes defining the job; breaking the job into a sequence of steps (each describing what is being done); identifying hazards; determining what can go wrong resulting in an accident; and, recommending safe job procedures that either eliminate or control hazardous operations; 4. Employee Training — If a loss control program is developed and personnel held accountable, then employees need to be properly educated — especially if there is a newhire or replacement made. Safety education may include developing a training program (if one doesn’t already exist); determining training needs; defining program objectives; provide additional supervisor training (if needed); and, requiring new-hire training; 5. Record Keeping and Reporting — Supervisors are often responsible for keeping accurate, up-to-date information on management safety reports, planned inspection summaries, safety checklists, job analysis worksheets, employee orientation records and major loss announcements. By having these reports current and organized, companies are helping protect workers’ health and safety as well as identifying potential problems in the workplace; 6. First-aid and Medical Assistance — First-aid given quickly and efficiently can save lives, assist in the prevention of minor injuries turning serious, and, in most cases, be the only treatment necessary. If an accident does occur, it is important to have a first-aid policy and procedure in place. This might include a first-aid trained staff, on-site facility, equipment, supplies, and a recording of all cases; and, 7. Employee Awareness, Acceptance, and Participation — To ensure employees continue to be mindful and informed about mitigating risk, maintain their interest by managing loss control activities. Consider webinars, posters, contests or campaigns to support safety motivation and promotion. People are driven by things like self preservation, personal/material gain, responsibility, leadership, logic, and humanity — so use those concepts for your loss control program and safety advantage. The goal of reducing risk and implementing a loss control program is not to discourage companies, but rather encourage employees to think safety and precaution while on the job. Taking ownership of a strong loss control program, as well as influencing employees on a regular basis, is the key to having a strong and successful business. And, most importantly, we can anticipate safe work environments — for everyone. Visit www.5starsp.com for more information.
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A Travel Exchange Panel
Keys To Success In Group Travel
Representatives from the hotel, motorcoach, tour, and attraction segments answered questions related to group travel trends, pricing, challenges and opportunities. By Harrell Kerkhoff Busline Magazine Editor
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n advantage to combining the annual United Motorcoach Association and NTA (formerly known as the National Tour Association) conventions is that this provides an opportunity to learn how everyone involved with the group travel business process can work together for the success of all involved parties. To further provide insight, an industry panel session titled Keys To Success In Group Travel was held as part of the inaugural Travel Exchange program in Orlando. Moderator: David Brown, This session invHoliday Companies, olved representaRandleman, NC. tives from the hotel, motorcoach, tour, and attractions segments. Panelists were asked questions related to group travel trends, pricing, challenges and opportunities. The panelists for this hour-long session were: Brian Scott, of Escot Bus Lines, in Largo, FL, representing the motorcoach industry; Linda Jeffries, of Newseum, in Washington, D.C., Page 30
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representing the attractions business; J. Chris Babb, of The Group Tour Company, in Washington, D.C., representing tour operators; and Brian Butterworth, of The Red Lion Inn, in Stockbridge, MA, representing the lodging industry. Serving as moderator for the session was David Brown, of Holiday Companies, in Randleman, NC, a motorcoach operation. QUESTION: What changes have you seen in the group travel market from a business and financial perspective over the past four years — from the prosperity before the Great Recession to now? Butterworth — The Red Lion Inn “Our business dropped off (during the recent recession), the worst year being 2009. We have grown steadily ever since, and 2012 finished higher than 2008, which had been our best year.” Babb — The Group Tour Company “From a tour operator perspective, one of the biggest changes since the financial meltdown has been (an increase in) price negotiations. Everyone seems to be very price sensitive, and many people are taking shorter trips. People who were once traveling for 7 to 10 days are now traveling for 5 to 7 days. People who once were taking overnight stays are now taking oneday trips. I suspect most motorcoach companies
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have experienced the same pattern. “Many tour operators were fortunate (at the beginning of the recession) as most business was booked 18 months in advance. It was really in 2010 and 2011 when the financial wellbeing of many tour operators started shrinking. I think we are finally seeing a turn for the better within the industry.” Jeffries — Newseum “At Newseum, unfortunately, we did see (a trend of) cancellations among our retail tours (during the recession), but our school market has been strong and steady. They (schools) are booking shorter trips on average, and where a school might have used five motorcoaches in the past now it may be using only two to four c o a c h e s . Fortunately for Brian Butterworth, us, Newseum is The Red Lion Inn, just turning 5 Stockbridge, MA. years old (at its Washington, D.C. site), so we are still a new attraction.” Scott — Escot Bus Lines “For us, 2009 and 2010 were slower years, with 2010 actually a little bit worse. Business in
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2011 came back really nice, and 2012 also looked good. We definitely see an increase in price negotiations (among customers), and there is a lot of resistance when trying to increase prices.” QUESTION: What do you see is the future of group travel over the next five years? Babb — The Group Tour Company “As a tour operator, I think it’s going to continue to grow. There are three trends that I have noticed. No. 1, the use of technology has increased (among tour passengers), especially since the new iPads came out. We have started seeing more people with these devices and wanting to use them as they travel, which necessitates the need for WiFi. Access to WiFi on motorcoaches is in greater demand. J. Chris Babb, “No. 2, the average size of groups traveling The Group Tour Company, is changing. Filling up a 55-passenger motorWashington, D.C. coach can be difficult as groups continue to get smaller. I think this trend will continue. “And No. 3, where we used to see groups that were comprised of purely students or purely seniors, we are now seeing them more comprised of grandparents, parents and kids all traveling together. There are complete families filling up a motorcoach. This means (travel) itineraries must become more diverse in an effort to appeal to a much larger demographic. I would think this trend will become more pronounced five years down the road as baby boomers become older, have more disposable income and are starting to travel more with their families.” Jeffries — Newseum “Overall, (the group travel) market is becoming a little more demanding as it pertains to activities. They look for special activities, and, for the most part, are willing to pay (extra).” Scott — Escot Bus Lines “We rely on group travel for a good part of our business. From our perspective, we hope this market stays strong and grows. What I have seen from a local standpoint, it’s becoming more difficult for smaller ‘mom and pop’ operators to continue to do well.” Butterworth — The Red Lion Inn “In talking with operators and suppliers, they seem willing to offer (customers) more free time during travel and providing a tour with more options. These trips are not quite so set in stone. More options are being given to people in hopes of attracting additional business. “The Red Lion Inn is an historic full-service hotel located in the Berkshires of New England. Our town (Stockbridge, MA) is a popular destination for tours, such as during the fall foliage season. One thing we have done is work with different tour directors to come up with a (lunch reservation) program at The Red Lion Inn for individual passengers. This provides a lunch option for those on a motorcoach trip who are in our town (for a visit). I also offer operators a flyer that lists things to do in Stockbridge during ‘free time.’” QUESTION: How have the habits of your clients changed over the past four years? Jeffries — Newseum “We haven’t seen a big change in habits over the past four years as Newseum is still absorbing new markets. We have seen fewer seniors than we thought we would. In response, we offer a special senior month at Newseum to encourage increased visitation. “In going forward, I think all of us need to look at our visitation habits and (what groups) we are missing out on. Social media can help encourage more people to visit. We (at Newseum) also send out information to tour guides so that when their group visits us they are more aware of what is going on with our attractions.”
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has started a non-stop flight Scott — Escot Bus Lines between Tokyo and Boston, “Our business has changed which is bringing a lot of significantly, not just during the Japanese travelers (to New past four years, but the past England).” decade. It’s been an intentional Babb — The Group Tour shift and an intentional diversiCompany fication so we aren’t so aligned “Our company is located in specifically to the charter bus Washington, D.C. Especially in business. the springtime, a lot of motor“The charter business is very Brian Scott, coaches come to this market, respondent to negative and posEscot Bus Lines, particularly with student groups. itive situations that come from Largo, FL. (The Group Tour Company) outside forces. These are beyond our control. Therefore, we have active- works with motorcoach companies, other tour ly tried to diversify our contracts to a more operators, travelers, etc., to customize trips. scheduled-service type work. Over the past four Before the recession, a common motorcoach (to years, the pace of this focus has quickened. And Washington, D.C.) would consist of 2 teachers, so, fortunately, when the last recession hit in 2 parent chaperones and 50 kids. Over the past 2009 and 2010, because we diversified, we couple years, many such trips have changed to were OK. We have intentionally shifted our where we are seeing 25 kids traveling with 20 business to try to insulate ourselves from those parents and some teachers. This change has meant that we now not only have to fulfill the outside forces.” needs of the teachers wanting to see the educaButterworth — The Red Lion Inn “On the group travel side, we are seeing more tional elements of a trip, but also fulfill the international travelers. The state of needs of families involved in the same trip lookMassachusetts, and New England overall, are ing for more of a family vacation. We even have very aggressive in attracting international trav- seen instances where families are traveling in elers. There is an organization called ‘Discover separate cars following the motorcoach. “This requires us to change the way we comNew England’ that works to attract tour operators from around the world. It has a great pres- municate with our group leaders, motorcoach ence, especially in Europe. Also, Japan Airlines companies and other tour operators. They all
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have had to recognize this diverse trend. “This change is not only taking place with student groups but with adult groups as well. They are becoming part of family vacations. It’s led to the rethinking of what a standard (travel) itinerary should be for the East Coast. “This change can be hard, especially for people in the motorcoach and group tour industries who understand that the prospect of cars (purposely) following a 55-passenger motorcoach down (busy) Interstate 95 is not necessarily a good thing. Not only is the motorcoach driver now worried about the safety of his passengers, but also about the two or so cars behind him (that are part of the trip.) There is a message that we need to get out to consumers that traveling by motorcoach is a lot different than traveling in a family vehicle. “We have also seen the senior market not only travel more with other generations, but they want to do more adventurous things as well. The standard national park tour is no longer acceptable for many travelers.” QUESTION for Brian Butterworth — The Red Lion Inn People who purchase group travel trips often are able to find a great hotel at a great rate for two or three years, then suddenly the price goes up or the availability goes down. What are the root causes for this?
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“Obviously, every hotel, tour operator and attraction is a different business that works off of different business models. The tour and travel business is important to The Red Lion Inn as it represents for us an area of growth. We have a very loyal following. Our business is definitely driven by travelers and tourists. “We also work with tour operators, corporate meeting planners, etc., to fill in during (the offseason) when it’s still a great time to visit our area, but there isn’t the same type of demand among travelers. “There are officials from some hotels who want to work with group travel people at certain times and not work with them at other times. That’s unfortunate. I would say, however, that many hotels are interested in doing business with (group travel professionals). It’s good, however, when tour operators take the time to understand the business needs of a hotel. This helps everyone work well together. “As far as pricing is concerned, hotels have investors. Their job is to get the most for a room. If there is a convention in town, the price is probably going to go up.” QUESTION For Brian Scott — Escot Bus Lines Does the group touring market provide a better
or worse margin than your other confirmations? “From the late 1980s continuing through the 1990s (the group travel business) was a big area of growth for us. (Group travel) is still an important part of our business model, but we have since spent a lot of time developing our business to where we are selling the seat rather than selling the bus. Both business models have their unique benefits and challenges. “We try to work (in group travel) with a range of customers. Our goal is to build long-term relationships and work with sizeable enough groups so that we are properly servicing their needs. “As far as margins go, (group travel) is on the thinner side. However, it’s one that provides a reasonable amount of volume and keeps a lot of buses busy for a good portion of the year. Therefore, it’s an important part of our business, but one that we try to manage in terms of the number of trips we take on during an annual basis.” QUESTION for Linda Jeffries — Newseum You get a lot of individual foot traffic at Newseum. Therefore, how important is the group travel segment to your success? “The group segment comprises about 35 percent of the visitors to Newseum. Of that 35 per-
cent, about 65 percent is from student travel. Because (group travel) is booked in advance to where we know who is coming and when they are coming, this Linda Jeffries, helps us with Newseum, staffing issues. It Washington, D.C. also helps us to better know how (overall business) is going to be throughout the year. “We have the luxury of having just about unlimited space at Newseum. We don’t turn people away, and because of that, a lot of times (groups) will book late with us. We do have the luxury of being very flexible. “In Washington, D.C., one of our biggest challenges at Newseum, being a paid attraction, is that there are so many other things in our city to see that are free. A lot of these free attractions are also considered ‘must see.’ “Another challenge has to do with the amount of time people now have for an attraction. Some operators have not been to Washington, D.C., for years themselves. They Continued On Page 41
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ADVERTORIAL
Relational Bus Systems RBS, Inc., is a major provider of Tour and Charter Management Systems specifically designed for the motorcoach industry. For 20 years, RBS has been designing, implementing and supporting its premier products: GoChart and GoTour. The company serves more than 500 North American customers. GoChart Charter Management System features customer and contract management, scheduling, dispatching, accounts receivable and numerous accounting/operations reports. Modules allow companies to customize the RBS system to fit their needs. The security module is now more powerful with stricter controls, and requires each employee to access RBS using a unique login and password. User-defined per-
missions allow access to specific areas of the program depending on job types such as administrator, salesperson, dispatcher and driver. GoTour is a browser-based tour management system. GoTour manages reservations, itineraries, payables, receivables, and produces management reports and customer documents for group and retail tours. Access GoTour from any computer that has an Internet connection. GoTour is hosted at a secure RBS-managed data facility. The RBS professional staff manages the server hardware, software and network, including all updates and daily backups. Web Manager provides reliable credit card authorization, online quote generation and notification, driver access to schedules and document storage and retrieval. This includes: • Credit Card Processing — Integrated into the RBS GoChart and GoTour applications; • Quote Request — Customers request quotes online by providing basic information which is used to open a quote in GoChart. Email is forwarded to the customer and sales staff notifying receipt of online quote; • Special Requests for GoChart Data Access via the Web — Provides web access to driver’s schedules allowing drivers to access schedules from home, office or anywhere with an Internet connection; and, • Document Storage and Retrieval — GoChart offers secure storage and retrieval of paper and electronic documents. Letters, contracts, maps, itineraries, emails, memos, notes, copies of receipts/checks can be scanned using a desktop scanner and quickly assigned to charters and/or customers. Users can access stored documents by clicking buttons on customer and charter screens. Stored documents can be accessed anywhere there is an Internet connection. GoTran provides transit data capturing, reporting and customer invoicing. Users can easily create and duplicate transit routes, runs and stops for dispatching. The system can capture manually entered or bus-generated actual ridership and cash fare data. Captured data can be reported in summary or detail form by route, run or stop; includes flexible customer invoicing. Offsite Backup and Recovery software and services are designed with disaster recovery in mind. A backup client on your server connects remotely and backs up your critical RBS data daily. Only you and RBS have access to this data. Notification emails are sent each time the data is backed up. RBS insures that backup data is properly available for restoration and maintains terminal services/remote desktop environment to which your data can be moved. You will have access for two users, for one month, while you re-establish your network infrastructure.
Call RBS at 800-448-7001 or visit www.rbs2000.com to request an evaluation copy of GoChart. Visit our new website at www.rbs2000.com to request a user name and password to access our GoTour demo site. Page 34
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ADVERTORIAL
Distinctive Systems: Specializing In Comprehensive Software Distinctive Systems is an independent software vendor specializing in the development of products for coach, bus and truck companies. Established for 30 years, they have supplied hundreds of systems to operators throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland, North America, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and beyond. The range of software is comprehensive and includes systems for managing coach based charters, regular contract work, community transport operations, gross payroll, vehicle maintenance, workshop management and both back office and online reservations for extended tours, sightseeing trips and shuttle services. All of the applications are Windows based and have been developed using Microsoft Visual Studio. The success that has been achieved over the years comes about as a direct result of their unique experience of both the IT and passenger transport industries. Both 2012 and 2013 have been particularly exciting at Distinctive Systems. A new Rental Option has been offered to clients for all 3 of the Distinctive Systems applications. This has led to another record amount of new client adds to the Distinctive Systems user base. In fact, year after year, for the past 3 years, have seen increased user additions in record numbers. The Annual User Group meeting, coupled
with an ongoing webinar series and expanded Support Services, has ensured successful implementations, ongoing growth of the usage of the applications with existing clients and continued interaction with the publisher and actual developers of the products. Numerous features and enhancements have been added to the entire product suite. Topping the enhancement list is the new Coach Manager Gross Payroll module. The module has been eagerly anticipated by clients since new functionality for gathering vehicle and driver actual mileages and duty times was introduced just over a year ago. Intended to form the basis of the planned payroll functionality from the outset; the finished result provides operators with the most powerful specialized payroll solution ever to be made available to the North American motorcoach industry. Also recently released is an integration from the Microsoft SQL Server based Coach Manager charter and contract booking system to Microsoft Dynamics GP General Ledger. The integration, which is incorporated directly into the Coach Manager software, consists of a batch controlled CSV export of invoice, credit, adjustment and payment transactions. An integration built using Microsoft's Integration Manager tool is then used to import the resulting data file into Microsoft Dynamics
GP General Ledger. The Coach Manager side of the integration is available free of charge to all clients with current Coach Manager Software Maintenance agreements. Additional features have been continually added to the Tour Booking System (TBS). In April 2013, a fully revised and updated data driven website, which is a component of the in-house reservation system, was released. It allows operators to create and maintain a professional website without the expense of employing a specialist web design company. The full TBS application can be further extended with the addition of the TBS Online Booking facility. The Online Booking facility allows clients to create an account, enter passenger names, select their seats, choose pickup points, select their preferred accommodation along with any supplements, accept or decline insurance and pay either a deposit or in full as appropriate. Work on the Vehicle Maintenance System (VMS) has continued as well. An optional tire management module has been designed to manage the maintenance and history recording of individual tires fitted to vehicles in the fleet. This new module is now available.
May/June 2013
For further details, or to arrange a no obligation demonstration, please call 646-448-9981.
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ADVERTORIAL
Motorcoach Manager Motorcoach Manager Provides Software Solutions To Fit Successful operators in the charter and tour industry must develop systems for handling all the logistical components of the service they provide. They must be ready to respond quickly to the changing needs of customers, employees and government entities. Motorcoach Manager provides an orderly way for tracking all the changing information so operators can be ready for any situation. Motorcoach Manager is easy-to-use software which provides a powerful blend of innovative features designed to reduce costs by making record-keeping easier and more accurate. Training and support ensure success. The software’s flexible reporting system is built on data entered one-time on a colorcoded form and organized to provide indepth management tools. As the industry changes, Motorcoach Manager refines its features and functionality in collaboration with its clients. This year the focus is on refining the fully integrated modular products to optimal form. The four modules can be tailored to the needs of each motorcoach company. The charter, tour, maintenance, and shuttle mod-
ules can be combined to match each operation. Details can be personalized. Motorcoach Charter Manager provides a systematic process for handling all the details of a trip order — from the initial customer call through the final reconciliation of the finances, IFTA mileage and fuel reporting, and driver payroll calculations. It includes visual tools to increase income through effective utilization of the fleet. It provides control of scheduling and dispatching, whether an order calls for one coach or for several coaches and drivers running at different dates and times. When a trip is repeated, the data can be entered once and then duplicated. Line runs and shuttles not requiring reservations can be handled with this feature in the charter module. School bus companies use the charter module effectively for sports and field trips as well as routes. Motorcoach Maintenance Manager complements the charter module by keeping a history of equipment maintenance. Parts are tracked from the purchase to the use on a vehicle and a parts inventory is maintained. The software can be used to invoice maintenance work done for outside companies. It tracks scheduled preventive maintenance and remembers what work needs to be done
on each piece of equipment. The parts inventory can handle multiple garages. Motorcoach Tour Manager, also available as Tour Optimizer for companies that don’t own motorcoaches, simplifies the creation of group or retail tours by developing and costing itineraries, taking reservations, selling tickets to groups or individuals, creating rooming lists, name and luggage tags, etc. It tracks payments to hotels and attractions. Once a tour package has been developed, it can be used again on a new date. Companies running regular shuttles with reservations can use Motorcoach Shuttle Manager. Daily shuttles can be pre-entered in batches and passengers can be quickly booked onto the correct shuttle. Round-trip tickets are issued and various reports on the number of riders, cash receipts, etc., are produced. Online reservations are an option. The software is appropriate for all sizes of charter, tour, scheduled service or maintenance operations, including companies with divisions. Multiple offices can be handled using state-of-the-art networking. For additional information, call Motorcoach Manager at 800-780-6880 or visit www.motorcoachmanager.com.
Motorcoach Manager
Software Systems That Work Motorcoach CHARTER Manager Motorcoach TOUR Manager Motorcoach MAINTENANCE Manager Motorcoach SHUTTLE Manager
Flexible enterprise level management software provides a complete tracking solution with personal, committed customer service. • Tracks all aspects of your operation • Simplifies creating charters and tours with templates • Multiple dispatch management options • Extensive financial reporting
Saves time, money and mistakes.
Transportation Software Systems
Call or email today for your FREE information pack with demonstration CD.
800.780.6880 or info@motorcoachmanager.com Modules may be purchased individually or combined. Single or multi-user licensing. Prompt technical support.
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Chevin Fleet Solutions 43 Orchard Hill Drive Sharon, MA 02067 USA Phone: 781-793-0788 Fax: 781-784-6894 Web Site: www.chevinfleet.com Products: Chevin Fleet Solutions, an industryprovider of enterprise fleet management information systems, provides fleet management software that enables transit, demand response and charter organizations to enhance equipment availability, safety and reliability. Included is the ability to manage preventive maintenance, maintenance management, inventory, fuel, driver, accident and risk management as well as comprehensive and infinitely flexible reporting. Chevin’s software becomes a central repository for all fleet related data, allowing organizations to manage complex fleet and operations data with a single enterprise-wide system. 11
Distinctive Systems Inc. See Ad On Page 35 131 1/2 S. Washington St. Binghamton NY 13903 USA Phone: 646-448-9981 E-Mail: www.nasales@distinctive-systems.com Company Officers: Don Greenglass, Bob Hopwood Products: Distinctive Systems is a leading supplier of software to the coach industry. Established for 30 years, over 750 operators rely on one or more of the company’s latest Microsoft SQL-based systems for the efficient management of their companies. The main systems at Distinctive Systems include its Coach Manager Charter and Contract Booking System, the Tour Booking System and the Vehicle Maintenance System. 13
DDS eFleet Services Inc. 11920 Forge Place Richmond, BC V74 4V9 CANADA Phone: 604-241-1441 Fax: 604-241-1440 E-Mail: sales@efleetservices.com Web Site: www.efleetservices.com Company Officers: Michael Dixon Products: Complete solution of fleet management capabilities into a single hosted system that is delivered as a subscription service, including: GPS fleet tracking, GPS navigation, hour of service, two-way text messaging, computer-aided wireless dispatch, point-of-sale payment processing and integrated ticketing capabilities. Features are provided with minimal start-up costs, and the system is designed to be scalable to fit business needs. eFleet is personalized to the vehicle and organization it serves. Dispatchers and managers coordinate fleet activities through a web-based system that is managed, supported and hosted by eFleet. Routine tasks can be automated. Examples include: driver logs, IFTA reporting, ETA vehicle reporting, engine diagnostics, paperless ticketing, comprehensive record keeping of trip navigation, and charge and customer details. 13
Enghouse Transportation 2150 Islington Avenue, Suite 205 Toronto, ON M9P 3V4 CANADA Phone: 416-915-9593 Fax: 416-915-9594 E-Mail: solutions@enghouse.com Web Site: www.enghousetransportation.com Products: With over 25 years experience, Enghouse Transportation, formerly TranSched Systems, offers a comprehensive and robust suite of products that serve the transportation market. CoachWorks is its state-of-the-art motorcoach management software package designed to enhance all aspects of a charter business. CoachWorks encompasses tools for the charter industry, including sales, dispatch, and accounts receivable. By combining multiple functions into one universal program, CoachWorks can increase productivity and streamline the input and maintenance of estimates, trip orders and financial records. Enghouse applications can be deployed individually, combined with other Enghouse solutions, or integrated with third party transportation technology vendors. 12 GIRO Inc. 75 Port-Royal East Montreal, QC H3L 3T1 CANADA
Phone: +1 514-383-0404 Fax: +1 514-383-4971 E-Mail: marketing@giro.ca Web Site: www.giro.ca Products: GIRO Inc. is a leading provider of software solutions for planning and managing public transport-related operations. Its HASTUS™ fixed-route product addresses bus, metro, tram, light rail, and commuter rail. Meanwhile, the GIRO/ACCES™ product addresses demand-response (paratransit) services. The software offers modular solutions to cover vehicle and crew scheduling, operations, and customer information, as well as planning and analysis. 13 Mentor Engineering Inc. #10 - 2175 29th St. NE Calgary, AB T1Y 7H8 CANADA Phone: 403-777-3760 Fax: 403-777-3769 E-Mail: sales@mentoreng.com Web Site: www.mentoreng.com Products: Mentor Streets® Transit is a fully integrated transit ITS solution that includes CAD/AVL, event management, schedule and route adherence, mobile computing, reporting, and more. Streets Transit can help agencies streamline operations to increase on-time service, improve driver/dispatcher communication, simplify scheduling and provide better customer service. Mentor MyRide™ is a passenger information system that makes real-time bus location and status information available to riders any time, from anywhere. From real-time maps and bus departure information to trip planning and SMS, MyRide enhances customer service. With MyRide, passengers can access real-time bus departures and get instant map updates. Additionally, riders can text message the agency from any bus stop to receive the departure times of the next few buses leaving that stop. MyRide integrates with Google™ Maps for easy trip planning, and passengers can create rider accounts to receive automatic alerts for specific routes and stops, when they want them. 11
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Motorcoach Manager, Inc. See Ad On Page 36 3517 Marconi Ave., Suite 207 Sacramento, CA 95825 USA Phone: 916-972-1800 Fax: 916-972-1875 E-Mail: info@motorcoachmanager.com Web Site: www.motorcoachmanager.com Company Officers: Shirley Campbell, President; Scott Hale, Vice President Products: Motorcoach Manager is innovative, flexible software which provides a complete, costeffective system for managing charter orders, scheduling and dispatching, group, retail, and sightseeing tours, shuttles, scheduled line runs, school buses, and vehicle maintenance. The four modules, which may be purchased in any combination, are Charters, Tours, Maintenance, and Shuttles. The application is the result of years of collaboration between the Motorcoach Manager’s staff and hundreds of clients and prospects. Ideas for features are incorporated throughout to make managing charters and tours as easy as possible. The software can be tailored to each motorcoach operation. Add-on features such as online reservations, bar coding, optimized pricing, a built-in email system, utilization charts, availability charts, financial analysis tools, tight security, etc., are either included or available. Motorcoach Manager runs on standard computers with any current version of Microsoft Windows. Single-user or multi-user (networked) versions are available. Responsive, timely customer service is the company’s priority. 13 Norse Systems, Inc. 245 Sage Hollow Road Guilford, CT 06437 Toll Free: 800-769-8468 Fax: 203-457-8033 E-Mail: norse@norsesys.com Web Site: www.norsesys.com Products: Providing integrated software to the bus industry for more than 26 years. Norse Systems offers “Virtual Server” deployments. No capital investment is required, just a fee per user. The most recent innovation from Norse is “Screen Driver,” a complete application development environment provided with the application software. In addition to one source for system infrastructure, application software and professional support, Norse offers a set of integrated software available to the industry. A single fee per user provides a managed hardware and software solution. Applications are offered for charter sales, line run, tour reservations, school bus routing, dispatch, driver qualification, accident management, IFTA taxes, fuel management, work flow control, maintenance, inventory, purchasing and multi-site logistics, driver and employee time and pay, integrated financial systems, individual seat reservations for tours and shuttles, and more. 11 Paradigm Technology Consulting, LLC 22 S. Main Street Allentown, NJ 08501 USA Toll Free: 866-782-4636 Page 38
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Phone: 609-890-4150 Fax: 609-890-4154 E-Mail: sales@ptcllc.com Web Site: www.ptcllc.com Company Officers: Bridgette HobartJaneczko, President; Michael Gummel, Product Engineer Products: Paradigm Technology Consulting, LLC (PTC) is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner focusing on human resources and labor management for the transportation industry. It is PTC’s approach to assemble best of breed solutions for the motorcoach industry, and to offer an end-to-end turnkey solution that makes it possible for operators in the industry to leverage the best technology available. This is done by bringing together the solutions offered by Microsoft, Enghouse, Collective Data and eFleet as well as PTC’s own Transportation Suite. The Paradigm Transportation Suite (PTS) is a suite of payroll and labor management applications designed for operators with more complex payroll and workforce management needs including those involving union contracts. In addition to selling, implementing and supporting operational systems like CoachWorks, Paradigm also sells, implements and supports financial systems such as Microsoft Dynamics GP, customer relationship management systems such as Microsoft Dynamics CRM, vehicle maintenance systems from Collective Data, and Computer-Aided Wireless Dispatch and Fleet Management solutions from eFleet. 13 RBS - Relational Bus Systems, Inc. See Ad On Page 34 10 Lancaster Street - Box 215 Cherry Valley, NY 13320 USA Toll Free: 800-448-7001 Fax: 607-264-8070 E-Mail: manager@rbs2000.com Web Site: www.rbs2000.com Company Officers: Bob Schecter, President; Walter Buist, VP Products: RBS, Inc. designs, implements and supports Tour and Charter Management systems with more than 400 customers in North America. Products include: GoChart Charter Management System features customer and contract management, schedule and dispatch, and accounts receivable. Modules allow system customization to fit a company’s needs and size. Powerful, user definable security requiring unique login and password is available; GoTour Management System, a browserbased system, manages tour reservations, itineraries, receivables and payables, produces customer documents and management reports for group and retail tours. The RBS cloud-based system is hosted at RBS’ secure data facility. GoTour is entering the beta testing phase for its fourth release, “GoTour v4,” including a “typeto-find” feature and help that includes videos; Offsite Backup and Recovery provides daily offsite data backup and features limited online access to a customer’s data in the event of a dis-
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aster; and, Web Manager modules include simple, reliable, real time credit card authorization for GoChart and GoTour; online quote generation and notification; integrated document storage and retrieval; and web access to drivers’ orders for GoChart. Demos available by appointment. Visit the new website and logo at: www.rbs2000.com. 13 RouteMatch Software, Inc. Atlantic Center Plaza 1180 W. Peachtree St., Suite 1130 Atlanta, GA 30309 USA Phone: 888-840-8791 E-Mail: sales@routematch.com Web Site: www.routematch.com Products: RouteMatch is a provider of transit ITS software and solutions. Founded in 1999, the company is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Targeting private and public sector passenger transportation providers, the company’s products address routing, scheduling, dispatching, billing, reporting, fixed-route CAD/AVL, paratransit and fixed-route integration, business intelligence, transportation coordination and more. 10 Schedule Masters, Inc. 300-1B Conestoga Drive Brampton, ON L6Z 4N5 CANADA Phone: 905-495-5402 Fax: 905-495-5404 Web Site: www.schedule-masters.org Products: “The Master Scheduler” is a fixedroute scheduling software tool that includes: scheduling, blocking, run-cutting, rostering, daily operations/dispatch, Web-based trip planning, customer complaint tracking, performance tracking, reporting and mapping. 07 ViaTour Software 200 South Main Street, Suite B Templeton, CA 93465 USA Phone: 505-466-6300 Fax: 866-587-9350 E-Mail: info@viatoursoftware.com Web Site: www.viatoursoftware.com Products: ViaTour Software is a reservation and tour management system that automates a company’s back-end workflow by integrating reservations, operations and accounting. Born as a niche market solution for travel planners in the educational travel market, ViaTour tour management software also answers the requirements of coach tour operators. This all-in-one system supports users throughout the entire tour lifecycle from proposal, costing, and marketing, through reservation processing and communications, to tour operations and, finally, business analysis. ViaTour bundles these feature sets into four application levels: Basic, Standard, Pro and Enterprise. It’s user-friendly and integrates with Microsoft Office. Enterprise, with data in SQL server, allows for Web integration, publishing and remote online access. 10
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A BUSLINE BUYERS GUIDE
Motor Coach Industries
ABC Companies
Van Hool A300L FC - Fuel Cell MCI® Commuter Coach Hybrid/CNG Whether a public transit or government agency’s mandate is to meet clean-air standards, lower fuel costs or improve express service for its ridership, the MCI Commuter Coach is proving to be one of the safest, most comfortable, flexible commuting options available today. With clean-diesel, hybrid and CNG options, all Buy America-compliant and Altoona-tested, MCI has something for nearly everyone. The Commuter Coach, available in 40- and 45-foot versions, boasts the best MDBF (mean distance between failure) rate in its class. Plus, it offers a 42 percent greater seating capacity than a comparable transit bus, at a cost that MCI says is 15 percent lower per seat, depending on specifications. The high-floor coach also offers nimble performance and admirable safety at highway speeds, with a smooth, quiet ride. The wheelchair-lift-equipped coach is designed with plush, forward-facing seats along with individual temperature controls and LED reading lights for a tour-level riding experience that transcends typical transit. In some markets, commuters have been known to let non-MCI buses pass by without boarding because they prefer the comfort of the MCI Commuter Coach.
The Van Hool Company was honored with the BusWorld Kortrijk 2009 Grand Environment Award, citing the company’s A330 Fuel Cell model. The hybrid-diesel electric bus offers a uniquely environmentally-friendly alternative for public transport providers. In the United States, the Van Hool A330 Fuel Cell has been well-received by the American public where partners ABC, Van Hool, and AC Transit pioneered a “green” transit initiative in 2005. Along with AC Transit, Connecticut Transit also has this model in current service. This next generation of Van Hool’s fuel cell bus — the Van Hool A300L FC — retains its place as one of the most technically advanced transit buses available today, according to ABC Companies. This clean, quiet, energy efficient 40-foot transit emits only water vapor from the tailpipe. The new model buses are lighter than the earlier generation fuel cell bus. Advanced lithium-ion battery systems and a more durable fuel cell power plant are key features of the new buses. Virtually noiseless, yet powerful enough to climb grades in excess of 18 percent and reach speeds of 50 mph, the A300L FC is powered by a zero-emission hydrogen-fueled, hybrid-electric engine, utilizing a 120 kW fuel cell system, onboard battery power, and regenerative braking. Its clean operation can have an immediate positive impact on street-level emissions.
Motor Coach Industries; 1700 E. Golf Road, Suite 300, Schaumburg, IL 60173; Ph: 847-285-2000; 800-428-7626; Fax: 847-285-2013 Email: commuter@mcicoach.com; Web site: www.mcicoach.com
ABC Companies; 1506 30th Street, NW; Faribault, MN 55021 USA; Ph: 507-334-1871; Fax: 507-334-0246 Email: abcinfo@abc-companies.com Website: www.abc-companies.com
Model .................................................MCI® Commuter Coach Hybrid/CNG Passenger Capacity................................................................................57, 49 Length.......................................................................................................45’40” Height ............................................................................................................11’5” Interior Height.........................................................................................78.25” Engine Options ..................................................Cummins ISL, ISX or ISL G Transmission Options .................................Allison B500, Allison B500R, Allison EP 50 Hybrid Drive Fuel Tank Capacity...............................164 gal. – CNG 114.6 Diesel Gallon Equivalent (DGE) Fuel Options.........................................................Clean-diesel, hybrid, CNG GVWR .........................................................................50,000 lbs., 46,000 lbs.
Model .....................................................................Van Hool A300L Fuel Cell Seating Capacity.................................28 Seated + 4 Fold-down + Driver Length..............................................................................................................40’ Width ..............................................................................................................102” Height ............................................................................................................11’5” Engine..............................Hybrid Electric/UTC Power Pure Motion™ 120 Type of Fuel......................................................................Gaseous Hydrogen Chassis...........ZF Rear Axle W/Offset Differential & Double Reduction Air Conditioning ....................................Sutrak Heating/Air Conditioning Wheelchair Lift Option................Fold Out Wheelchair Ramp at Door 2 Steering ..............................................................ZF Variable Ratio Steering Suspension...................................................Air Suspension w/Air Springs & Telescopic Shock Absorbers
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GILLIG
Proterra
GILLIG Low Floor CNG/Low Floor Hybrid EcoRide™ BE35 Proterra provides zero-emission, Altoona-tested transit solutions through its innovative and forward-thinking electric buses. The largest of any bus in its class, Proterra’s EV buses not only cater to public needs but also provide real-world proof in Pomona, CA, and San Antonio, TX, that all-electric transit works. It holds the capability to carry 35-seated and 29-standing passengers within its entirely window-wrapped, 35-foot exterior that offers every passenger a view while getting them from Point A to Point B via Proterra’s fast charge technology. Beyond the fact that Proterra’s buses are efficient in terms of maintenance and savings, just as important is the fact that Proterra is altering the perception of public transportation: it broke Altoona records by reaching the highest fuel economy and lowest noise levels of any transit bus ever tested, according to Proterra. By providing the world a livable future and harnessing American innovation, Proterra is a “Champion of Change” by changing the environment for the better, changing the pocketbooks of transit agencies for the better, and changing the idea of what it is to use public transportation. Proterra does this by making transportation entirely accessible without disturbing the daily hustle of urban city centers or the quietness of family neighborhoods.
GILLIG’s past alternate fuel experience has led to the latest addition of its line of green alternatives — a CNG fueling option. GILLIG’s CNG bus design includes a walkway that runs the length of the roof tank mounting cradle, where the tank enclosures can be safely opened to inspect and maintain the CNG tanks, valving and piping. The GILLIG tank enclosure design provides maintenance personnel with a safe, secure place from which to work on the CNG fueling system. And best yet, Altoona test reports document GILLIG’s 6-plus MPG equivalent average on the Altoona test cycle. GILLIG has also been building diesel hybrid buses for more than a decade, and its years of experience have resulted in the best and most complete hybrid product line, according to the company. Altoona test results show that the GILLIG Hybrid is quiet, reliable and fuel efficient. Customers attest to its smooth acceleration and the ease of assimilating these hybrids into their fleets. With rising fuel prices and increased environmental awareness, GILLIG Hybrids can be a great addition to a fleet. GILLIG LLC; 25800 Clawiter Rd.; Hayward, CA 94545 USA Ph: 510-785-1500; Fax: 510-785-6819 Email: sales@gillig.com; Website: www.gillig.com
Proterra, Inc.; 1 Whitlee Ct.; Greenville, SC 29607 USA Ph: 864-438-0015; Fax: 864-281-1894 Email: sales@proterra.com; Website: www.proterra.com Model .......................................................................Proterra EcoRide™ BE35 Seating Capacity............................................64 (35 seated, 29 standing) Length..............................................................................................................35’ Width ..............................................................................................................102” Height ............................................................................................................11’2” Engine............................................................................Battery Electric Only Type of Fuel ..................................................N/A - Zero Emissions Battery Chassis................................................................N/A - Composite Structure Air Conditioning ......................................................Thermo King (electric) Wheelchair Lift Option..........................................................Ricon or Lift-U Steering.........................................................................................................TRW Suspension .....................................................................................................Air Page 40
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Model .....................................................Low Floor CNG / Low Floor Hybrid Seating Capacity...............................................................................26, 32, 40 Length.......................................................................................30’, 35’ and 40’ Width...............................................................................................................102” Height .............................................................................................................136” Engine ...........................................................Cummins ISL-G / Cummins ISB Type of Fuel...................................................................................CNG / Diesel Chassis .......................................................................................................GILLIG Air Conditioning..........................................................................Thermo King Wheelchair Lift Option............................................................................Lift-U Steering..........................................................................................................TRW Suspension ...........................................................GILLIG Front, Neway Rear
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From MGM Brakes: New Electronic Air Disc Brake Monitoring System MGM Brakes, Charlotte, NC, a 100 precent Buy America Company, now offers Bus OEM deployment of Electronic Air Disc Brake Monitoring systems for heavy commercial vehicles. MGM’s development of the e-Stroke Electronic Brake Monitoring System continues with the release of e•STROKE for Air Disc
Brakes. MGM’s spokespeople say that prior drum brake technology utilized an Electronic Controller (ECU) and Hall Effect Sensing Technology within the actuator, to monitor brake stroke. It is widely deployed on S-Cam (drum brake) applications with thousands of systems in daily service. MGM’s new Air Disc Brake monitoring
Holdsworth Presents New Collection Of Fabric Designs Holdsworth company is now offering its new Elements collection and Defender fabric treatment. Holdsworth spokespeople say the Elements collection is a new generation of designs available in 125 different design and color permutations, covering grays, blues, reds, greens and browns. Inspiration for the designs came from a multitude of current trend areas which encompass architectural details, mathematical and geometric patterns, as well as natural and organic influences. The new collection coordinates with other Holdsworth trim and ancillary fabrics for complementary textile finishes on wallsides, curtaining and headrests to create versatile interior schemes on vehicle fleets. The Elements collection is available to order with a 55-yard minimum and four week leadtime. Defender is Holdsworth’s triple action long-lasting fabric protection treatment. The company says this single treatment can be applied to fabrics to ensure fabrics have an invisible protective shield that makes them antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-stain. Holdsworth says Defender will protect the surface of the fabric preventing water, oil and other stains from adhering to the surface. Holdsworth is part of the Camira Group whose North American headquarters is in Indianapolis, IN. Customers in the eastern half of the United States are serviced by Wagner & Associates (Phone: 919552-4466) and in the western part by BusTex Corp (Phone: 303-404-0890). Visit www.holdsworthfabrics.com for more information.
Travel Exchange Panel: Continued From Page 33 are depending on their historical knowledge from 10 years ago and don’t realize the time it now takes to get from one attraction to another. Many itineraries have changed since 9/11, and many of the ‘must-see’ attractions are now more difficult to visit. You have to make appointments through the National Park Service for certain attractions. It’s a very big challenge for tour operators to coordinate all of this and still work (Newseum) in as well.” QUESTION for J. Chris Babb — The Group Tour Company What is your ideal bus transportation provider look like? “We work with many motorcoach companies that are family-owned and managed. We like to
develop long-term relationships. This type of management and consistency is important. “It’s also important to work with companies that have qualified drivers. You can’t have a successful tour unless you have a good driver, good equipment, good guide and good itinerary. It’s an issue if a company doesn’t have experienced drivers who know the rules of the road and know the cities they are operating in. “Also, everyone seems to be looking at margins more closely. Therefore, there are attractions now that don’t offer comps to drivers and/or guides. This is unfortunate.” Linda Jeffries added: “People have to get out of the frame of mind that ‘comp’ means ‘complimentary.’ It should actually mean ‘compensation,’ a reward for bringing the business to a place and (recognizing) everything that the driver and the escort sometimes have to put up with.”
technology utilizes the same Electronic Controller (ECU), but now adds new optical sensing to monitor push rod movement integral to the actuator, and is environmentally sealed between the caliper and the actuator, according to the company. Today’s reality of reduced maintenance staffs and declining budgets demand operational effectiveness at all levels. MGM says electronic brake monitoring as a proactive approach to maintenance has increased in popularity as the technology has developed. This technology enables operators to reduce costs by catching problems as a symptom, which is identified electronically. These symptoms, if undetected, can result in premature component damage, additional parts replacements, excessive downtime, or vehicle safety issues. Officals at MGM say air disc brake systems pose unique challenges to maintenance operations. Periodic inspections are difficult, due to the lack of brake component accessibility, which can make physical removal of wheels a necessity. Even with wheel removal, the caliper mechanism allows no access to moving parts in order to determine proper adjustment or function. NTSB has recently recommended Brake Monitoring Systems for safety on all heavy commercial trucks and buses. CVSA has long recognized the limitations of physical inspections during safety inspections of air disc equipped vehicles, according to the company. Officials at MGM Brakes believe its onboard technology, using integrated electronic brake monitoring, is the most cost effective way to provide real-time diagnostic evaluation. As a safety device on tour buses departing from remote locations, or as a maintenance alert for city transit bus operations, real-time monitoring of air disc brakes may equate to safer vehicles and better component utilization over the long haul. The company says MGM’s electronic brake monitoring system can alert the driver via vehicle displays, or alert maintenance to wheel and problem specific faults in the mechanical function of the caliper system, or air delivery system via AVM or diagnostic tools. For more information, telephone 800-5271534 Ext. 750, or visit www.mgmbrakes.com.
May/June 2013
Read Or Download Busline Magazine Online At www.buslinemag.com BUSLINE
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MCI news Greyhound Lines Orders 130 MCI® D4505 Models Motor Coach Industries will deliver 130 MCI D4505 coaches to Greyhound Lines as part of a two-year contract. MCI officials say Greyhound’s new D4505 coaches will reflect the company’s updated look and will come equipped with wheelchair lifts and digital amenities now available on all of its newer Greyhound coaches, including Wi-Fi and power
outlets at all passenger seats. The new coaches also come with three-point passenger seat belts and leatherette seating for 50. Greyhound has also ordered MCI’s optional air-ride driver’s seat, and added security features including an aisle gate and driver’s shield. “Greyhound Lines has once again selected MCI to deliver on its commitment to provide its passengers with safe, comfortable and environmentally friendly transportation,” said MCI President
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and CEO Rick Heller. “This is a significant contract. It demonstrates MCI’s ability to supply Reliability Driven coaches, parts and service, and allows us to participate in Greyhound Lines’ expansion. We are proud to be a part of its success in serving its growing ridership.”
MCI Combines Private, Public And Setra Sales Teams Motor Coach Industries (MCI) is unifying its private, public and Setra new coach sales teams under one group. The new sales team will be led by Patrick Scully, who moves to the position of executive vice president sales and marketing for MCI. MCI President and CEO Rick Heller said: “We’re making this move for several reasons. First, we want to provide our customers with one point of contact for new coach sales. Our sales team will be responsible for selling MCI and Setra product to both public and private sector customers alike. We have heard from customers who have said they would prefer one sales contact for either MCI or Setra purchases, and we are ensuring we meet that customer requirement. Second, we will have a tightly unified sales organization focused on customer responsiveness. There’s a great deal of experience and talent at MCI, and the new sales structure will give customers greater access to it.”
May/June 2013
Under the new structure, there will be one key new coach sales contact representing MCI and Setra brands to both private and public sector customers. The pre-owned sales team, which is based out of the MCI service centers, remains unchanged. Under the new structure, Scully directly reports to: Pat Ziska, vice president of the field sales group; Mitch Guralnick, who heads the preowned sales group; Mike Denny, who heads a new sales and financing operations group; Brent Maitland, who leads the newly formed marketing team; Tom Wagner, major commuter accounts; and Pam Lawrence, who supports the group’s Patrick Scully administrative needs. Scully joined MCI in 2012 as vice president of public sector sales and marketing following MCI's acquisition of the U.S. and Canadian distribution rights for Setra motorcoaches from Daimler Bus, where Scully was formerly chief commercial officer responsible for both private and public sector sales. Visit www.mcicoach.com for more information.
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Village Charter, Inc., Announces Purchase Of New Temsa TS35 Coaches Village Charter recently added a new Temsa TS35 coach to its fleet. Village Charters, Inc. d/b/a Village Tours and Travel, began operating in Wichita, KS, in 1980. Village is privately
owned by Jeff and Norman Arensdorf. The company offers over 200 retail tours across the country annually, and offers charter services. Village expanded into the Oklahoma
National Interstate Named To Forbes 100 Most Trustworthy Companies Receives Highest Score In Small-Cap Category National Interstate Corporation announces that it has again been named to Forbes 100 Most Trustworthy Companies. In this year’s small cap group, National Interstate is one of five companies receiving the highest current score of 99, and one of only three companies receiving a score of 99 for each of the last four quarters. National Interstate has been on the Forbes 100 Most Trustworthy Companies list for the past four years, and, in 2010, was named the most trustworthy small-cap company. The Forbes list recognizes companies that consistently demonstrate transparent and conservative accounting practices, have a low incidence of high-risk events, and have appropriate board supervision. To create the list, over 8,000 companies traded on U.S. exchanges were evaluated and scored. “We are very pleased that Forbes continues to recognize National Interstate as one of America’s most trustworthy companies,” National Interstate President and Chief Executive Officer Dave Michelson said. “Since our company was founded in 1989, we have been committed to the highest level of ethical business practices in everything we do. We are proud to remain on Forbes’ highly prestigious list, and believe our openness and integrity is a key asset that is important to all of our business partners including our current and prospective customers, agents who represent us, and those who choose to invest in our company.” To view the March 18, 2013 article, visit www.forbes.com.
City market with its tour division in 1989, added coaches to that market in 2005, and last year acquired Time Lines. Headquarters are maintained in Wichita, with a third branch in Salina, KS. Village operates a fleet of 47 charter coaches, and this is the first Temsa in the fleet. The coach is a fully integral mid-sized coach that offers a spacious interior for passengers and driver. The TS35 is constructed from stainless steel, and has independent front suspension and automatic transmission, CH Bus Sales is the exclusive distributor of Temsa motorcoaches in the United States. CH Bus Sales is a privately owned corporation. Temsa is a fully owned subsidiary of Sabanci Holding, a financial and industrial group in Turkey. Visit www.chbussales.com or www.temsaglobal.com for more information.
May/June 2013
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Van Hool Deliveries Windstar Lines Adds 2013 Van Hool T2145 To Fleet “One of the great things about Windstar is the family aspect. I get to work with my family in running the business and we try to treat our customers like family,” says Jeff Greteman, president of Carroll, IA, based Windstar Lines. “In 1995 my parents, Mike and Cathy Greteman, were running a little tour company and decided
to buy their own coach in an effort to ensure the quality of transportation they offered clients. “My younger brothers, Scott and Pat, both started working at Windstar when they were 21. We love working together and we’re even closer than when we were growing up.” Since 1995, the company has grown dramatically, with additional Iowa locations in Cedar Rapids; Dubuque and Des Moines. Other locations are Lincoln, NB; and Rochelle, IL.
Windstar (www.gowindstar.com) has now grown to 57 coaches, offering luxury tours, convention planning and charter service in Iowa and Illinois as well as Omaha and portions of Nebraska. Windstar recently took delivery of a 2013 Van Hool T2145 with chrome mirrors, a back up camera, a multi-monitor DVD system, Hi-Fi Audio and CD Player, and a full fabric interior.
Tyson. “Brad Jackson, who manages our Cary, NC, division, has substantial charter experience, and when we added coaches to his fleet in 2010, business accelerated. We’re buying four additional coaches for the Cary fleet and expect to be operating motorcoaches out of our other locations in the near future.”
Harrison Global Expands Fleet With 2 Van Hool C2045s And 2 GCA M1235s Harrison Global, a Waltham, MA, based corporate travel specialist (www.smartertransportation.com) has recently acquired four motorcoaches for its Cary, NC, location. Brett Tyson, Harrison Global’s director of organizational development said that the company, started by brothers David and Derek Marcou in 1986, has been experiencing growth at all of its locations. Currently it operates out of five facilities centered around Boston, Washington, DC, and North Carolina’s Research Triangle. “We specialize in providing upscale chauffeured transportation to corporate, hotel and college clientele. That business has been steadily growing. Our owners, David and Derek Marcou, have always envisioned adding motorcoaches to Harrison Global’s offerings,” said
The recent acquisition consisted of two Van Hool C2045’s and 2 of ABC’s M1235 midsized coaches. The C2045’s have Van Hool Grand Luxe leather covered seats with 3-point seat belts, perimeter lighting, luxury entertainment system with 15.4-inch video monitors, Wi-Fi, 110 volt outlets, satellite TV, woodgrain flooring, and Van Hool’s rear passenger window. The M1235’s carry 27 passengers and are configured with a rear luggage compartment and lavatory. They, too, have a deluxe entertainment system, and 3-point seat belts. Visit www.abc-companies.com.
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Personnel ABC Companies Appoints New Parts Territory Sales Manager ABC Companies has appointed Mike Richardson as parts territory sales manager for the Southern region. Richardson’s territory will include Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, and New Mexico. He comes to ABC with over 33 years of experience in the coach industry. Richardson began his career in this industry with Carrollton Bus Company as a driver and mechanic. He then spent the next 25 years with Motor Coach Mike Richardson Industries starting out as their shop manager and ended his tenure with MCI as the parts and service manager for their south central region. Most recently, he was the driver training and maintenance manager for the Tornado Bus Company. For more information, contact ABC Companies at 800-222-2875 or visit www.abccompanies.com. Brent Maitland Named MCI Vice President Of Marketing And Product Planning Brent Maitland has been named MCI vice president, marketing and product planning. In this newly created position, Maitland is responsible for promoting and communicating the MCI Reliability Driven and Setra corporate brand strategies in both the private and public sectors using a variety of media, including print and electronic advertising, and promotions. At the same time, Maitland will work closely with MCI’s engineering and afterBrent Maitland market teams to bring new products to market, while furthering customer satisfaction. Maitland, who has been associated with MCI since 2004, assisted in creating the MCI Reliability Driven marketing messages related to coaches, parts and service. He also most recently led the redesign and market launch of the 2013 MCI J4500 coach. Prior to that, he held several executive positions with the company, including leading preowned coach sales and MCI Service Center businesses. Prior to joining MCI, Maitland was a partner in KIMA Consulting and a consultant with Deloitte and Touche. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business.
Veolia Transportation Names Ryan Larsen President Of IntelliRide Division Ryan Larsen has been named as president of Veolia’s new IntelliRide division. The announcement was made by Veolia’s CEO Mark Joseph. IntelliRide officials say its mission is to improve the quality of paratransit, medical services and other shared ride human services, while reducing cost. IntelliRide partners with transit authorities, human service agencies, and Ryan Larsen private health providers to seamlessly integrate classic ADA fleets and flexible fleets (taxis, vans, etc) and rigorously manage their performance. Veolia spokespeople say that as a 28-year transit veteran, Larsen has served in nearly every capacity in the transit industry. Prior to joining Veolia, Larsen served as president of Ecolane, a web-based software for managing paratransit. Larsen earned a BA in history and an MA in urban and regional planning from the University of Iowa. He is a member of the
APTA Access Committee, and APTA Older Adults Transportation Subcommittee. Visit www.veoliatransportation.com and www.veoliatransdev.com for more information. ARBOC Specialty Vehicles Announces Appointment Of John Walsh As Vice President Of Sales & Marketing ARBOC Specialty Vehicles has hired John Walsh to the position of vice president of sales and marketing. In his new position, Walsh will oversee all of the sales and marketing activities which will include developing new business opportunities both domestically and internationally. Prior to joining ARBOC, Walsh spent 23 years with National Bus Sales & Leasing in leadership roles including president where he was responsible for leading the John Walsh entire operation of the company. Most recently, he served as CEO for VPG Autos. Visit www.ARBOCsv.com for more information.
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News From Prevost Prevost Signs Agreement With Greyhound For 90 X3-45 Motorcoaches The relationship between Greyhound and Prevost, which began in 2007, continues with the signing of a new order for ninety (90) Prevost X3-45 motorcoaches. The coaches have been designed by Prevost to meet tough standards set by Greyhound’s commitment to customer satisfaction, according to Prevost. Prevost President and CEO Gaetan Bolduc said, “Prevost is proud to once again supply high quality coaches which realize the criteria established by Greyhound and its passengers. Taking into consideration the safety of passengers and drivers across North America, Prevost and Greyhound have worked together to set the highest standards for our industry.” The 90 X3-45 coaches are equipped with Prevost AWARE, a safety feature which includes Adaptive Cruise Braking, Following Distance Alert and Stationary Object Alert. The coaches also have dual 1800 watt inverters powering 110 volt outlets and Wi-Fi Internet access throughout the coach cabin for each passenger. Delivery of the X3-45 coaches is scheduled to begin in May and be completed in April 2014.
Prevost Joins Family Of Official NASCAR® Partners Prevost and NASCAR have announced a new multi-year partnership that designates the Sainte-Claire, Quebec-based company, as the Official Luxury Motorcoach of NASCAR. The company says that in doing so, Prevost reinforces its nearly 30-year association with the No. 1 spectator sport in the United States, and increases its visibility. Prevost President and CEO Gaetan Bolduc said, “Prevost motorcoaches are fixtures at NASCAR events, populating driver, team owner, and NASCAR officials’ parking lots. Prevost hospitality, executive, and technical support coaches serve as mobile work stations.” With 38 race weekends and an average race-day attendance of more than 100,000 fans at NASCAR Sprint Cup events, many thousands of fans experience NASCAR via tour and charter bus groups annually. Prevost’s involvement with NASCAR began in the 1980s as Featherlite Coaches and Marathon Coach provided trackside offices and living quarters for competitors, sponsors, suppliers and families who made the race track their home throughout the race season. “Prevost’s state-of-the-art motorcoaches provide a home-awayfrom-home for our drivers, team owners, partners, and fans throughout the course of our demanding season,” said NASCAR Chief Sales Officer Jim O’Connell. “Our three national series provide a grand stage for Prevost to showcase its luxury motorcoaches.” NASCAR will utilize Prevost’s motorcoaches this year for at-track hospitality through the NASCAR Fuel for Hospitality® program. The NASCAR Fuel for Hospitality program was designed for Official NASCAR Partners to provide employees and customers with a VIP race-day experience at the track. In addition, Prevost will also be joining the NASCAR Fuel for Business Council® to buy and sell directly with top Fortune 500 companies.
Prevost Opens New Service Center In Houston Prevost has opened a new Service Center in Houston, TX. The Houston facility is a new construction building providing 5,400 squarefeet, including a service area with two drive-through bays. The service center is staffed with Prevost technicians who are certified for bumper-to-bumper maintenance and repair for all Nova Bus vehicles, and Prevost and Volvo Bus coaches, including Volvo engine and transmission. The facility is equipped with a controlled access fence, operational after hours, monitored by a security patrol and a video surveillance camera. The Prevost Service Center is located at 10155 Windfern Road, Houston, TX 77064. Phone: 713-849-8562. Other Prevost Service Centers are in South Plainfield, New Jersey; Jacksonville, Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; Dallas, Texas; Mira Loma, California; Delta, British Columbia; Fort McMurray, Alberta; and Quebec City, Quebec. Visit www.prevostcar.com for more information. Page 46
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ARBOC Specialty Vehicles Announces Partnership With Freightliner Custom Chassis A recent announcement states ARBOC Specialty Vehicles will expand its product offerings in the paratransit market through an emerging partnership with Freightliner Custom Chassis, and the co-development of a low-floor rear-engine custom chassis. Through the partnership, which started in fall 2012, ARBOC Specialty Vehicles — a custom builder of paratransit vehicles for a variety of applications based in Middlebury, IN — and FCCC are working through a collaborative process to develop a customized, dedicated chassis for ARBOC’s Spirit of Liberty product line. Officials say the new product will be powered by an FCCC rear diesel pusher and feature a low-floor design that will eliminate the step-up over the rear axle, and will equip the Spirit of Liberty for use in a variety of low-floor applications such as assisted living facilities, hotel and rental car transport, transit agencies and others. The low-floor chassis will offer customers a GVW of up to 25,900 lbs., and feature ARBOC’s low-floor interior throughout the passenger area with no steps including oversized wheelchair zones. ARBOC and FCCC expect to start production soon after full test validation. The Spirit of Liberty line offers three models ranging in body length from 28 feet to 33 feet and seating capacity from 31 up to 37 passengers. Through its three key product offerings, the Spirit of Mobility, Spirit of Freedom and Spirit of Liberty, ARBOC says it offers low-floor paratransit products that serve a variety of industries and applications as well as meeting and exceeding 2014-2018 federal fuel economy standards. Visit www.ARBOCsv.com for more information. Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation manufactures chassis for the motorhome, delivery walk-in van, and school bus and shuttle bus markets. Visit the Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation website at www.freightlinerchassis.com.
CH Bus Sales Conducts Temsa Operator Training CH Bus Sales and Temsa recently held an extensive technical training session for Temsa operators, technicians and mechanics. The two-day session was held at the Creative Bus Sales facility in Elkhart, IN. Leading the sessions was Cihan Yaycioglu, the U.S. Temsa technical representative. The all-encompassing presentation, training tools and hands on training covered detailed familiarization with the Temsa coach. Temsa and CH Bus Sales personnel with the experience and knowl-
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edge to answer all questions and concerns were available. The participants said the training was very beneficial. CH Bus Sales and Temsa plan to continue offering technical training to customers throughout additional regions of the United States. CH Bus Sales is the exclusive distributor of Temsa motorcoaches in the United States. CH Bus Sales is a privately owned corporation with an industry experienced ownership and management team. Visit www.chbussales.com or www.temsaglobal.com for more information.
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Alcorn McBride Inc. 3300 S. Hiawassee Road, Building 105 Orlando, FL 32835 USA Phone: 407-296-5800 FAX: 407-296-5801 E-Mail: sales@alcorn.com Web Site: www.alcorn.com Products: Compact, rugged, easy-to-install GPS audio/video players. Perfect for guided tours and location-based advertising. 09 ASA Electronics/JENSEN 2602 Marina Drive, Elkhart, IN 46514 USA Toll Free: 800-688-3135 FAX: 574-266-5979 E-Mail: info@asaelectronics.com Web Site: www.jensenheavyduty.com Products: ASA Electronics is an international manufacturer and supplier of audio and video equipment and backup camera/observation systems for the transit, mid-size and coach bus industries. ASA’s high quality JENSENŽ Bus Entertainment
product lineup includes LCD TVs and monitors (including wallmount, flip-down and wedge-style displays), heavy-duty stereos with integrated PAs, PA/DVD controllers, DVD players, wired remote controls, microphones and accessories. ASA also offers the exclusive VoyagerŽ Observation Systems which include single camera, split-screen, tri-view, and quad-view systems. Voyager Observation Systems are designed to increase road safety, elimate dangerous blind spots that typically surround buses, and aid drivers in daily driving maneuvers such as backing, merging, changing lanes and making wide turns. 09 AudioConexus Inc. 556 O’Connor Drive, Suite 129 Kingston, ON K7P 1N3 CANADA Phone: 613-507-1300 FAX: 905-492-1301 E-Mail: info@audioconexus.com Web Site: www.audioconexus.com
Company Officers: Jonathan Stanley, President & CEO; Doug Humphreys, Executive Vice President, Sales; Ange Berlin, Vice President, Creative Products: AudioConexus is a commentary system specialist, offering digital hardwired multilingual commentary systems for GPS triggered audio entertainment at every seat in one or many languages. The company also features wireless multilingual commentary designed for sightseeing operators where portability and flexibility are essential to fleet management. The carry on, carry off TriggerPOINT multilingual commentary system removes the operational and visitor restrictions affiliated with hardwired solutions. Passengers use wireless receivers and headsets. AudioConexus’ single language system is designed to deliver GPS triggered audio commentary over public address systems. Every commentary system features free Route Builder software. Commentary systems are self-managed. 13
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Intec Video Systems 23301 Vista Grande, Laguna Hills, CA 92653 USA Phone: 949-859-3800 FAX: 949-859-3178 E-Mail: info@intecvideo.com Web Site: www.intecvideo.com Company Officers: Donald Nama II, President; Dino Nama, Vice President Products: Rear vision camera systems and industrial strength video safety systems. 13 KVH Industries, Inc. 50 Enterprise Center, Middletown, RI 02842 USA Phone: 401-847-3327 FAX: 401-849-0045 E-Mail: info@kvh.com Web Site: www.kvh.com Products: KVH Industries is a leading manufacturer of solutions that provide global highspeed Internet, television and voice services via satellite to mobile users on land, the sea and in the air. 10 REI (Radio Engineering Industries, Inc.) 6534 L Street, Omaha, NE 68117 USA Toll Free: 800-228-9275 FAX: 402-339-1704 E-Mail: sales1@radioeng.com Web Site: www.radioeng.com Products: Designs, manufactures, services and maintains a full range of mobile electronics for the transportation industry. Solutions include: audio/video passenger entertainment systems; mobile video surveillance, passenger safety announcement players; PA systems; camera observation systems; radios; HD monitors; speakers and microphones. REI fleet management solution provides a quantifiable return on investment, reduces risky driving behavior and can improve operating efficiencies. Variety of features: smart phone apps, vehicle diagnostics and maintenance, trip planning, fleet management, real time ETAs, routing, student tracking, alerts, ad-hoc messaging, reports, passenger information systems and more. REI prides itself on designing, manufacturing, servicing and maintaining customer friendly, comprehensive systems. Founded in 1938. 13 Safety Vision, LLC 6100 W. Sam Houston Pkwy. N., Houston, TX 77041 USA Phone: 713-896-6600 FAX: 713-896-6640 E-Mail: email@safetyvision.com Web Site: www.safetyvision.com Products: Provider of mobile video solutions for transit, police, school bus, commercial, and other public and private sector fleets since 1993. Safety Vision mass transit onboard surveillance camera systems enhance passenger and public safety; improve driver/operator performance; increase ridership and revenues; reduce risk of fraudulent claims; and maximize operational efficiency. Comprehensive mobile video solutions include onboard surveillance, collision avoidance and driver behavior modification systems. Components include mobile digital video recorders (MDVRs); rear-, side, and forward-view interior and exterior cameras featuring infrared technology; in-cab monitors; video-viewing and -sharing software; and vehicle monitoring software featuring GPS. Advanced surveillance system technology enables the secure capture, automated wireless download, and simplified backend management of video, audio and other evidentiary data. 11 Seon Design Unit 111 - 3B Burbidge Street, Coquitlam, BC V3K 7B2 CANADA Toll Free: 877-630-7366 FAX: 866-664-3677 E-Mail: info@seon.com Web Site: www.seon.com Company Officers: Terry Akiyama, President Products: Manufactures fleet management and video surveillance solutions for mobile applications, including the transit, coach, and school bus industries. Seon’s real-time fleet management solution, vMax® Live Plus, provides insight on any route, driver, or vehicle in a fleet. vMax® Live Plus integrates both video and vehicle data into one simple-to-use, web-based application. Track important vehicle data, and the health of a bus camera system. Seon will continue to design and develop technological solutions now and in the future. 13
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June 2—7, 2013 Albuquerque, New Mexico
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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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The exceptional efficiency of an integrated powertrain The Volvo 9700 consistently delivers a profitable combination of performance, efficiency and passengerpleasing comfort. With its dependable Volvo D13 SCR engine, you get a proven platform that saves fuel and minimizes maintenance. The integrated I-Shift transmission takes fuel economy to the next level by keeping engine speed in the sweet spot. Advanced safety features add bumper-to-bumper protection. And wherever you go, you’re backed by our extensive network of Prevost professional service providers. The Volvo 9700 is known around the globe for its high productivity and low operating cost. Here in North America, it’s the best way to accelerate your bottom line. Learn more at www.prevostcar.com.
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