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CONTENTS
M
A
G
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MAY/JUNE 2018 Published by Rankin Publishing, Inc. www.buslinemag.com
E
Providing Services For 6 Cities In Virginia
Hampton Roads Transit ................................8 In Business Just 12 Years; 5th Largest In U.S.
Windy City Limousine ................................26
Touring America From Iowa Offices
Legacy Tour & Travel, Hawkeye Stages.................................38 2018 CTAA Expo Heads For Pittsburgh June 10-14 ...............42 CTAA Product Showcases...............................................43-45 — Busline Buyers Guides —
Software .....................................................................46 Video, Safety, Entertainment & Tracking .......................57
Busline Vehicle Showcase:
Alternative Fuels/Hybrid Vehicles .......50
RAPID RESPONSE .........................Page 6 INDUSTRY NEWS........................Page 58
ON THE COVER: Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) Manager of Bus Maintenance Training Mike Glaeser, left, and HRT Director of Rolling Stock Mike Perez are shown next to one of the transit system’s trolley buses produced by Hometown Trolley. See page 8.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
JUNE 2018 June 10-14 Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) Expo Pittsburgh, PA Info: 800-891-0590
JULY 2018 July 21-25 National School Transportation Association Annual Meeting & Convention Philadelphia, PA Info: 703-684-3200 July 29-August 1 Association For Commuter Transportation (ACT) International Conference Anaheim, CA Info: 202-792-5801
AUGUST 2018 August 7-10 International Motorcoach Group (IMG) Strategic Alliance Meeting Sonoma, CA Info: 888-447-3466 SEPTEMBER 2018 September 23-26 APTA Annual Meeting Nashville, TN Info: 202-496-4800
September 30 - October 3 National Conference on Rural Public & Intercity Bus Transportation Breckenridge, CO Info: www.ribtc.org
OCTOBER 2018 October 1-3 BusCon 2018 Indianapolis, IN Info: 800-576-8788
JANUARY 2019 January 6-10 United Motorcoach Association (UMA) Motorcoach Expo Fort Lauderdale, FL Info: 800-424-8262
MARCH 2019 March 19-21 Bus2Bus Trade Show & Congress Berlin, Germany Info: www.bus2bus.berlin
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 2018 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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BUSLINE
May/June 2018
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, Kris Bott Reception: Mary Jo Dunn
Advertising Contact Kevin Kennedy @ 813-502-6672 Email: kevloraz@gmail.com Or Don Rankin @ 800-598-8083 Fax: 217-268-4815 Email: drankin@consolidated.net
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O
Mike Glaeser
Mike Perez
By Harrell Kerkhoff, Busline Magazine Editor
Tom Holden
ceanfront property in Virginia Beach, VA, is highly prized by area residents, community leaders, business owners and — perhaps most importantly — tourists. For generations, people have flocked to the city’s Atlantic Avenue, which like its name suggests, runs parallel to the Atlantic Ocean. They came to see the sights, enjoy the ocean, shop and dine. They are also now there to ride one of the 14 trolley buses provided by Hampton Roads Transit (HRT), which is headquartered in nearby Hampton, VA. “These vehicles are designed to service the tourist season along the Virginia Beach Oceanfront and become operational in the spring. The service is branded, ‘the VB Wave,’” said HRT Manager of Bus Maintenance Training Mike Glaeser.
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May/June 2018
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water in Virginia and the surrounding metropolitan region. “HRT provides transit services for six cities in Virginia — Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Hampton and Newport News. The population of this service area is approximately 1.7 million,” HRT Media Relations Specialist Tom Holden said. “HRT provides four basic modes of transportation: bus, paratransit, light rail and ferry. Included are 56 regional bus routes and 8 metro area express routes, the latter of which are bus routes that include interstate travel. The HRT light rail system runs in Norfolk on 7.4 miles of track. It travels between the eastern edge of the city through downtown to a major medical center.” HRT was incorporated in 1999 through a merger of Tidewater Regional Transit (TRT) Hampton Roads Transit CEO William Harrell (standing) is shown at the and the Peninsula Transportation District HRT operations control center with Franklin Dalmida and Sherry Scott. Commission (PENTRAN). In FY17, the The 14 trolley buses, produced by Hometown Trolley, of Cran- overall ridership count at HRT was 14,267,178 and the revenue don, WI, and officially known as “Hometown Trolley Streetcars,” miles for the same period was 14,695,009.84. were introduced to Virginia Beach in 2015. They are part of a “HRT’s service area is both urban and suburban, comprised larger fleet at HRT that includes 283 buses, 78 paratransit and 9 of different cities that are surrounded by a lot of water,” light rail vehicles and 5 ferries. Holden said. HRT is the regional transit provider for six cities in an area Indeed, when looking at a map of Hampton Roads, it becomes known as “Hampton Roads” — the name of both a large body of quickly clear just how much water is part of the area’s geograph-
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ical landscape. Hampton Roads is one of the world’s largest nat“We also have a seasonal facility in Virginia Beach that houses ural and ice-free harbors. It includes the mouths of several area our 14 trolley buses. Therefore, we don’t have to transport those rivers and eventually empties into the Chesapeake Bay, leading vehicles every day to and from one of our main facilities.” to the nearby Atlantic Ocean. “There are a lot of bridges to travel on as well as underwater tunnels. This can cause traffic issues for everyone who travels by wheeled vehicle, especially with the tunnels,” Holden said. “The nature of these underwater highways is that they are incredibly expensive to build, and so when built, they tend to be on the narrow side. Two lanes are typical for a tunnel, which can slow traffic as multiple lanes are reduced prior to entering one of these tunnels. “There are also a lot of drawbridges in the area, which are often raised due to different maritime demands. Between the water, tunnels and bridges, it Keeping the Hampton Roads Transit fleet clean and attractive helps maintain the system’s image. can present different transportation challenges. This is true, not only for HRT, but everybody else traveling in the region.” SURF, FUN & TROLLEY BUSES Due to the large body of water located between two main sections of its service region, HRT operates two main facilities — irginia Beach is a lot of things to a lot of people. For one, one each in the cities of Hampton to the north and Norfolk to it’s the most populous city in Virginia with an estimated the south. 450,000-plus residents living in mostly suburban neigh“The two facilities have been kept intact since the merger that borhoods. It’s also home to three military bases, a number of large formed HRT. We informally call the two facilities ‘Northside’ and corporations, two universities, several historic sites and — of ‘Southside,’” Glaeser said. “These facilities allow us to maintain course — miles of beaches, with the mighty Atlantic Ocean servour fleet on both sides of the water. ing as a backdrop.
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For many tourists, Virginia Beach’s eastern most street, Atlantic Avenue, is the place to be. It traverses an area filled with restaurants, hotels/motels and various places to shop. Not far from the avenue is a three-mile concrete “boardwalk” and miles of beaches, as well as several fishing piers. Atlantic Avenue is also the working home of the HRT VB Wave service, which features 14 trolley buses. Those vehicles make stops to such popular destinations as the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Museum, the Ocean Breeze Water Park, the Virginia Beach Convention Center and area campgrounds. “The trolley buses on Atlantic Avenue provide a wonderful service for Hampton Roads Transit representatives are shown next to a area tourists. They help riders travel VB Wave trolley bus. The service operates in Virginia Beach, VA. to and from their hotels, restaurants and/or to see a show,” Holden said. “The city of Virginia but then took a hiatus and were replaced by more traditional Beach also provides a lot of free summertime entertainment transit buses. That change did not please everyone — especially at designated public parks along the oceanfront. Our trolleys the tourists. “The buses lacked the same charm as the trolleys, and many peoare a great way for a family to travel on the avenue to check ple were confused by their presence. There were tourists who didn’t out different venues.” Today’s fleet of trolley buses are not the first to find a home want to get on a bus because they weren’t sure where that bus was on Atlantic Avenue. Such vehicles were popular many years ago, going to go. They just wanted to stay on Atlantic Avenue,” Holden
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said. “Besides, the trolleys had always conveyed a message of, that many of the passengers would rather ride in the open-air sec‘Summertime at the beach.’” tion of the trolley rather than the compartment that is climate It became clear to Virginia Beach officials that a new fleet of trol- controlled.” leys was needed for the city and its throng of tourists, who were Perez added that Virginia Beach officials continue to look for just looking for good times and memorable experiences. ways to increase trolley bus ridership in the area. This is not only Eventually, HRT Director of Rolling Stock Mike Perez was good for tourism, but also alleviates traffic congestion. asked to help. He became the project lead in finding a new fleet of “At HRT, we feel the project has been very successful, and trolleys for Atlantic Avenue. Hometown Trolley has been a “The city of Virginia Beach “Our transit system undergoes continual evaluations, good partner,” Perez said. wanted to bring trolley service Holden added: “Today’s VB so that we can make sure the services provided with Wave trolley buses speak to back to the oceanfront. Those public funds are the best services possible.” vehicles were seen as much carefree, summertime travel. more than just a means of They have a specific quality to —HRT Spokesman Tom Holden transportation. They were an them that includes wooden attraction all to themselves. The fact remained, the public really benches and a ‘back porch.’ This is all part of their charming appeal. liked those trolley buses and wanted them back,” Perez said. “The During the height of the summer tourism season, we have 12 of the first step to returning trolley service to Atlantic Avenue was to ask trolley buses in operation, with two more serving as backups. The for the city’s requirements for these vehicles. Since the city was in- vehicles include the same basic electronic features as our buses, installing bike lanes in the area, one requirement was that the new cluding wheelchair accessibility. The fair to ride is $2 for adults trolleys had to include bike racks. Other requirements included and $1 for seniors. Children 17 and under ride free with a paying finding a vehicle that was low-floor and Altoona-tested. And, we adult.” wanted to make sure they featured open air ‘back porches,’ where Among the riders are those who go camping at different sites in riders could stand if they wished. the area. Many of these people find that the ideal mode of trans“After putting out bids for this type of vehicle, Hometown Trol- portation after parking their campers is to hop on one of the trolleys. ley was the only manufacturer that met all the requirements. I have “It’s very convenient for the campers. They can travel downtown, found Hometown Trolley to be a great company to work with dur- have dinner, see the sites, and then get back to the campground ing this process. They did very well. The city of Virginia Beach is using a trolley,” Glaeser said “It’s a great way to get around the Atvery pleased with these trolley buses, as are the riders. I have found lantic Avenue area.”
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A
AREA FULL OF OPPORTUNITIES, CHALLENGES FOR TRANSIT
currently being studied,� Holden said. “HRT just completed a study for one corridor and is going to soon start the other study. HRT will give the city of Norfolk and the U.S. Federal Transit long with the sights and sounds of Virginia Beach, there Administration an assessment of potential capital costs for each are plenty of other cities, attractions and features within the corridor, along with potential ridership numbers. Operating and HRT service area. The metropolitan region of Hampton maintenance costs for either corridor would be about the same. Roads itself has an estimated population of 1.7 million people, who Those are all things to be considered before the next step. live within 3,729 square miles. “This expansion in high-capacity transit brings tremendous potential for the region. Naval Station Norfolk is the world’s largest, in“We recognize that paratransit is an expensive mode of transportation, and volving upward of 78,000 people. look for ways to get more people out of the vans and, if possible, to Many of these people currently use our fixed-routes. We have gone so far as to offer — for our traditional commute using a nearby interstate paratransit customers — no-fare service if they use fixed-routes.� and it gets very crowded, especially during the morning and —HRT Director of Rolling Stock Mike Perez evening rush hours. A dedicated The area is home to shipyards, places of higher education, large transit line would be ideal.� corporations and an expansive military presence that includes faHolden added that HRT bus routes and other transportation servcilities manned by the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force. ices are constantly evaluated and adjusted. “There are many HRT riders who are connected with the military “Plans are in the works at HRT to make adjustments to some of in some capacity. For example, we provide bus service to the Naval our regional routes. This will soon be addressed by the HRT board Station Norfolk as well as Langley Air Force Base, in Hampton,� of directors,� Holden said. “Our transit system undergoes continual Holden said. “This involves many routes. Since the military pro- evaluations, so that we can make sure the services provided with public funds are the best services possible. vides transit vouchers, those routes have become very popular. “There are routes doing so well that additional services are re“HRT is currently studying the possibility of expanding highcapacity transit to Navel Station Norfolk. It would be from a point quired. Other times, we find routes that have decreased in popularon our light rail line to the naval base. There are two corridors ity and are sometimes dropped.�
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BUSLINE
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T
WHO IS ONBOARD?
o gain a better understanding of ridership, transit systems often conduct surveys. HRT is no different. According to Holden, a survey highlighting ridership origins and destinations was conducted for each HRT route from August 2016 to February 2017. It helped HRT officials gain a better understanding of passenger demographics. Results from the 8,000-plus surveys collected showed the Hampton Roads Transit operates 14 trolley buses for its VB Wave service. following: Nearly 56 percent These popular trolleys make stops at favorite tourist attractions. of riders were between 18 and 34 years of age; 55 percent were woman; 73 percent were of owned smartphones. It also made us very hopeful,” Holden a minority race; 95 percent spoke English; 69 percent were said. “Many professionals who work in transit know that the from low-income households; 76 percent were either part- or biggest challenge with customer relations is helping people find full-time employed; 25 percent were students; 49 percent used their next bus arrival times. There are people who will avoid the HRT service because they didn’t have a driver’s license; taking a bus because they don’t know exactly when that bus is 89 percent didn’t have a car available for their specific trip due to arrive. The use of smartphones can help us convey this while taking the survey; and, 88 percent of the respondents type of important information to more riders.” Perez added that HRT is currently putting the pieces in place to owned a smartphone. “We were surprised by the high percentage of people who provide greater automatic vehicle location technology for riders.
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“We are also looking at different ways for our fares to be paid, such as through cashless and/or smartphone technology,” Perez said. Other survey results that Holden shared included: 91 percent of riders paid in cash; 82 percent used the HRT bus system, and of those riders, 37 percent were on personal trips, 33 percent were going home, and 30 percent were going to work. Along with the strong military presence in Hampton Roads, the area is also home to many colleges and universities, several of which use HRT’s services in “Today, many websites a variety of ways. “Many services essentially inare leaner and faster. volve regular city routes, where That is what we are the fares have been negotiated hoping to achieve at with different cities that want to HRT. We will still support specific colleges/uniprovide such versities,” Glaeser said. “HRT information as studies, typically offers a free or repolicies and budgets, duced ride to these students. They simply bring their student but they won’t be as ID to one of our ticket purchasprominent on the site.” ing locations.” —HRT Spokesman Tom Holden Paratransit services are also provided by HRT. It’s an originto-destination, shared-ride service for the cities of Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach. HRT provides paratransit services to and from locations within three-fourths of a mile of existing fixed-routes, using a
Hampton Roads Transit provides public transportation services for six Virginia cities.
variety of vehicles, including lift-equipped vans. “We recognize that paratransit is an expensive mode of transportation and look for ways to get more people out of the vans and, if possible, to use our fixed-routes. We have gone so far as to offer — for our traditional paratransit customers — no-fare service if they use fixed-routes,” Perez said. “However, our main paratransit ridership continues to increase.”
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for their employees. “The TRAFFIX program is funded separately from HRT. It’s sponsored by regional transportation funds,” Holden said. “Along with its other services, TRAFFIX is actively involved in bike share programs. The City of Norfolk will be launching such a program this spring, and TRAFFIX is one of the sponsors. Bike share programs help many people with their first-mile/lastmile transportation issues in relation to transit-related stops.”
A
WORKING ON FUNDING, ALTERNATIVE FUEL OPTIONS
s with many U.S. transit systems, challenges with overall Shown is Hampton Roads Transit’s Norfolk, VA, headquarters. funding at HRT continues. Holden explained that at HRT, there is no HRT also participates in a program called TRAFFIX, which is dedicated funding source to meet the transit system’s operational designed to promote and implement different commuting options. and capital needs. Therefore, HRT officials must annually negotiate Established in 1995, TRAFFIX is a state funded transportation de- service contracts with representatives of the six cities within its mand management program that assists with Virginia’s efforts to service region. decrease traffic congestion during peak travel times. TRAFFIX “Each of these cities has different needs,” Holden said. “It’s up staff encourages the use of transportation alternatives to help, not to HRT to formulate a regional plan, based on varying funding only reduce traffic congestion in the Hampton Roads area, but also amounts, and then deliver that service.” to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The service area includes the According to Holden, it’s always the objective of HRT officials cities and counties that comprise Hampton Roads. to work on resolving funding challenges in the effort to better meet The staff at TRAFFIX works with area employers and military upcoming capital and operational needs. He added that the cities installations to develop and implement transportation programs that participate in the HRT service area are very welcoming to pub-
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lic transportation, but like most “We had to stop service for a day in January due to a winter storm. Instead of municipalities, face their own staying home, however, we had our drivers report for refresher training.” budget battles. —HRT Manager of Bus Maintenance Training Mike Glaeser “There is a lot of pressure placed on cities, finding funds for police and fire departments, etc. — all things that cities need to sake, the backs of the seats are upholstered, while the bottoms run properly,” Holden said. “It would be easier if there was a re- feature vinyl-covered inserts. That has made a marked improvement in our ability to maintain the seats. We have also explored gional way to fund our area’s public transportation services.” While HRT representatives work to find more available fund- different options in flooring to help with cleanliness.” Using clean and attractive vehicles within a transit system can ing, they are also exploring future alternative fuel options for the go a long way in improving that system’s overall image, accordtransit system’s fleet of buses. This includes CNG and electric. ing to Perez. “We haven’t decided which direction we are heading when it “Nationally, not all transit operators are in a position to keep comes to alternative fuels. There are many people representing their equipment cosmetically attractive. They are functional and our area communities who favor electric vehicles, but it comes safe, but the appearance of something that looks a little banged down to having the resources to launch such a program,” Perez up makes a bad impression,” he said. “Keeping vehicles cosmetsaid. “Preliminary engineering and studies on alternative fuel ically attractive can be a big boost to the image of a transit sysprojects have been conducted, and we (at HRT) have talked to tem, and is something that we work on every day at HRT.” our peers, within the transit industry, about different advantages and disadvantages. As an organization, our current fleet of buses GETTING THE WORD OUT almost entirely operates on clean diesel fuel.” Keeping this fleet of vehicles clean is also a high priority. Acith 1.7 million people living within its service region, cording to Perez, HRT vehicles are aggressively deep-cleaned on standing out and becoming heard is an ongoing oba regular basis. jective for those in charge of HRT’s marketing and “With our buses, we have sacrificed a little comfort for the communications. ability to keep them clean. This includes the removal of uphol“Many of our regular customers have signed up for what we stered seat bottoms. Functionally, the seats that we have installed call, ‘Go Alerts.’ This is information that is sent to our customers, are no less padded than their bottom-upholstered counterparts, via email, and focuses on changes to routes and services. Alerts but they are easier to keep clean,” Perez said. “For appearance
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are sometimes sent on an hourly basis, depending on what is going on,” Holden said. “We also have a marketing and communications department that produces advertising — both for print, radio and television, and we use Instagram, Facebook and Twitter as well to get our message to the public. Facebook is particularly helpful in terms of customer feedback.” The HRT website (www.gohrt.com), meanwhile, is currently undergoing a redesign that is Passengers depart a VB Wave trolley bus on Atlantic Avenue in Virginia Beach, VA. expected to be completed The vehicles are maunfactured by Hometown Trolley. this year. “Analytics taken from our website are pretty clear. Most people hoping to achieve at HRT. We will still provide such information visit this site to get route and fare information. We are working as studies, policies and budgets, but they won’t be as prominent to better meet those needs and make it more mobile-friendly,” on the site.” HRT officials also take part in community outreach programs, Holden said. “Website design has evolved over the past decade. It used to be, websites included everything but the kitchen sink. allowing them to talk directly with area residents. That, and other Today, many websites are leaner and faster. That is what we are marketing/communication efforts, are part of the transit system’s
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desire to improve and expand customer service in the years ahead. Drivers and other HRT employees play a big part in those efforts. “Drivers are the main ‘point of contact’ for our customers, while our vehicles and bus stops serve as ‘storefronts,’” Holden said. “It’s therefore critical that our employees are well trained. This training includes customer service. We expect a lot out of our employees.” Currently, approximately 1,087 people work at HRT, in a wide variety of capacities.
Hampton Roads Transit’s trolley buses are maintained at a facility in Virginia Beach, VA, during the tourist season.
“Like any organization with hundreds of employees, there are different levels of performance, when working with customers.
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“We have a work progression process where there are employees eligible for promotion based on acquired skills, rather than traditional seniority.”
—HRT Director of Rolling Stock Mike Perez
Some of our employees are more gifted in this area than others. That is where training can help,” Holden said. “Our drivers often help customers with important information, such as how to make their next connection. Drivers should also always be that one person on the bus who can be counted on to show a friendly face. That goes a long way when it comes to customer service.” It’s been said that customer service never takes a holiday. The same can be said about driver training — or in a recent case at HRT — a snow day. “We had to stop service for a day in January due to a winter storm. Instead of staying home, however, we had our drivers report for refresher training,” Glaeser said. As with many transit systems, there is a shortage of drivers and mechanics at HRT, something that does not surprise either Glaeser or Perez. “If you look at our nation as a whole, there is a skills gap within all trades. This affects the number of people, for example, who are becoming mechanics. Not as many people are taking technical and skills classes. Yet, those positions can be very attractive and lucrative. It’s a nationwide issue,” Glaeser said. “We hold many
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job fairs and have offered signing bonuses in hopes of attracting daily trips. That is a lot of economic activity as we transport people future employees.” to work, to school and to buy things — all through the use of our Perez added: “When it comes to mechanics, we have gone services.” from hiring a ‘body’ to hiring someone who has mechanical skills, and we are in the process of de“We want people to see HRT as not just something that is taking veloping enhanced training programs to better depeople down the road, but a system that plays an important role velop these people. We also have a work in the economic development of Hampton Roads.” progression process in place where there are em—HRT Spokesman Tom Holden ployees eligible for promotion based on acquired skills, rather than traditional seniority.” Perez, Holden and Glaeser all concur that working in public DRIVING THE ECONOMY transportation can be very rewarding. WITH BETTER TRANSIT “I have been at it for 34 years, and feel it’s been a good career choice. You won’t get wealthy working in public transportation, t’s believed the first colonists arrived in the area now known but you will always have a purpose. It’s also generally a sound and as Hampton Roads around 1607. Since then, a steady rate of stable environment,” Perez said. “There is a tremendous amount of commerce and population growth has taken place, to the point personal satisfaction that comes with this type of work.” that the region is now listed as the 37th largest metropolitan statisHolden added: “This industry allows those who work in it to help tical area in the United States. deliver services that many people truly want and need. There are With this growth comes challenges to maintain and improve an always challenges when working in this industry, but there are also efficient transportation network that involves large bodies of water, many opportunities to meet those challenges.” bridges and underwater tunnels. HRT officials continue to work Glaeser agreed: “I feel there will always be a need for public hard in helping the region with these challenges. transportation. In return, it provides a stable working life.” “One of our goals is to always help the public better understand Contact: Hampton Roads Transit, the value of our system to this region. We want people to see HRT 3400 Victoria Blvd., Hampton, VA 23661. as not just something that is taking people down the road, but a sysPhone: 757-222-6100. tem that plays an important role in the economic development of Website: www.gohrt.com. Hampton Roads,” Holden said. “HRT provides roughly 48,000
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In Business Just 12 Years
5th Largest In U.S.
“
We know motorcoaches are our future. We will always love our limousines, SUVs and sedans — but the future of the limousine industry is offering motorcoach options.
Windy City Limousine
I
By Rick Mullen, Busline Magazine Associate Editor
n business for 12 years, Windy City Limousine, of Broadview, IL, a suburb of Chicago, has grown to be the fifth largest chauffeured limousine provider in the nation, according to the company. “We have a little more than 300 vehicles in our fleet, which includes sedans, SUVs, limousines, 14-passenger minicoaches, 23passenger minicoaches, 39-passenger minicoaches, 56-passenger motorcoaches, limousine buses, and transit vehicles,” said Windy City President Kathy Kahne, during a recent interview with Busline Magazine at the company’s facility in Broadview. “We Page 26
”
— Windy City President Kathy Kahne
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run shuttles for major corporations in downtown Chicago, transporting employees from train stations to their corporate headquarters. We have a plethora of vehicles that we work with every day.” The company was founded in 2006, and, in October 2007, it began to establish its motorcoach division, based on customer demand. “We had a great customer base with our minicoaches, but they began demanding motorcoaches,” Kahne said. “We knew there was a need in Chicago for motorcoaches. It was not a saturated market and there weren’t any high level luxury providers of motorcoaches in our sector.
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“It was a road we had never been down. We weren’t quite sure how to get involved with motorcoaches, so we started with two used coaches.” As the motorcoach side of the business began to grow, it wasn’t long before a customer contacted Windy City who needed motorcoaches, and needed them quickly. As a result, the company became involved with a motorcoach manufacturer that is no longer in business. “The motorcoach company didn’t offer the best quality vehicles, but we were able to establish a foothold in the market,” Kahne said. “We got our name out on the street, which really helped us to grow our motorcoach division.” An early milestone for Windy City’s moWindy City Limousine’s facility in Broadview, IL, includes 10,000 square feet torcoach division was when ABC Compaof office space and a 30,000-square-foot maintenance shop. nies came calling. ABC is the North American representative for Van Hool, which manufactures mo- and they have been partners ever since.” Windy City operates Van Hool CX45 models in its motorcoach torcoaches in Belgium. “ABC said, ‘We know what you are capable of, and we know fleet. Customers use the company’s motorcoaches for a wide vaWindy City is a leader in the marketplace from a motorcoach per- riety of reasons. “We have a really good footprint in the sports world, transportspective in the limousine world. You have touched the motorcoach market before anyone else even thought about it, and we ing professional football, basketball and baseball teams; Big Ten would like to partner with you,’” Kahne said. “It was a match Conference college teams; and high school sports teams,” Kahne made in heaven. They came to the table with a good proposal, said. “We also handle such group movements as a grade school
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field trip to the state capital in Springfield, family reunions, weddings, etc. — it runs the gamut. We also use motorcoaches for a lot of local charter work. We will go on over-the-road trips, but it is nice to keep those vehicles at home.” Because of the way such companies as Uber have changed the dynamic in the transportation marketplace, Kahne said limousine companies that do not offer a bus component are at a disadvantage. “Companies that have not entered the bus world, whether it be minicoaches or motorcoaches, it doesn’t matter, are on the outside looking in,” Kahne said. “If a limousine company is in a market that doesn’t have strong com-
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President Kathy Kahne and CEO George Jacobs
Director of Operations Dave Lahr (left) and CFO Craig Gardner
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petition, and is able to give customers a great chauffeured motorcoach at an affordable price, it has a gold mine. “We got ahead of it. We knew what markets to tap into and just kept giving customers that service, growing that piece of the business. It is a wide open market, but you have to have deep pockets to be able to get into it, and you have to know which customers to go after to make it successful. “We know motorcoaches are our future. We will always love our limousines, SUVs and sedans — but the future of the limousine industry is offering motorcoach options.�
A
A DIFFERENT BUSINESS CLIENTELE
s Windy City continued to develop its motorcoach division, it was apparent early on that this segment attracted a different type of clientele, Kahne said. “What forced us to move over into the motorcoach world was customer demand,� Kahne said. “The pharmaceutical industry is a big piece of what we move in Chicago. When government regulation changed what pharmaceutical companies could do from an expense standpoint, they had to figure out how to not use black car service any longer. The answer was to use motorcoach travel. “Where we have seen the biggest growth is with people trying to maximize their dollars. We do not sell individual tickets, rather we sell the entire vehicle. What has made the difference is ‘economy of scale’ — that per person price, which is calculated by dividing the total price of chartering a motorcoach by the number of people in the seats.�
With economy of scale in play, other customers began calling for motorcoaches, including Windy City’s DMC (destination management company) partners, hotel customers and major corporation clients. “There was not a high-end limousine company providing motorcoaches in our market,� Kahne said. “Our customers liked the high-level luxury touch offered by a good service provider in the limousine industry, and they wanted that same customer experience in larger vehicles. “We knew we had the expertise to deliver that kind of service. We weren’t going to just put a bus driver in a vehicle, we were going to offer a chauffeur-driven motorcoach. That was our approach. We are not a bus company per se. Rather, Windy City is a chauffered limousine company that also offers motorcoaches.� Windy City’s “high-end� customers also want the same luxury amenities that come with smaller vehicles. “We offer free Wi-Fi to all of our customers. All motorcoaches are equipped with power sources (110-volt outlets and UBS ports),� Kahne said. “Other amenities include GPS, televisions, CD players, stereo systems, washrooms, overhead lighting and leather seats. “The safety aspects of modern motorcoaches are unbelievable. For example, Van Hool offers a product that is made to last, with chauffeur and passenger safety a high priority.� Safety is also the No. 1 concern at Windy City Limousine. Also ranking high on the company’s priority list is offering clean and attractive vehicles.
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“People will not accept anything but a pristine vehicle. We have a 30,000-square-foot shop that includes our own bus wash equipment,” Kahne said. “Both the interiors and exteriors of vehicles are washed daily. They get a detailed cleaning about once a week.” To enhance the company’s image of a luxury transportation provider, all of its vehicles are black. “We have chosen to go with black vehicles. They are a little bit harder to keep clean, especially during Midwest winters, but when they are clean and shiny, they are sexy and beautiful going down the street,” Kahne said. On any given day, Windy City has about 100 pieces of equipment on the streets in Chicago, sporting the company’s distinctive logo. “All of our vehicles are a kind of rolling billboard for the company; however, motorcoaches are our ‘true’ rolling billboards,” Kahne said. “We definitely logo our vehicles loud and proud, and when there are 100 of them rolling around the city of Chicago, it is really hard for someone not to know who we are.” Windy City’s motorcoaches also have the company’s logo on their rooftops. “We are in Chicago. So, in downtown Chicago, if someone is waiting for his/her vehicle, he/she may be looking down from a high-rise. With our logo on the tops of our vehicles, customers can spot their Windy City coach when it arrives,” Kahne said. “Two years ago, when the Chicago Cubs were in the World Series — a giant deal for the city of Chicago, and for
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Major League Baseball — the teams used us for their ground transportation in Chicago. If you saw the overhead TV shots from the helicopters flying over Wrigley Field, you saw a line of Windy City buses sporting logos on the top.” While the company’s “rolling billboards” on the streets of Chicago are effective marketing tools, Windy City also takes advantage of its partnerships with local professional sports franchises to market the company. “We do a lot of advertising with sports teams. We are very heavy in the sports market,” Kahne said. “We are at Guaranteed Rate Field for the Chicago White Sox and at Wrigley Field for the Cubs. We advertise with the Chicago Bears and the Chicago Bulls. We also do a lot of radio promotions in the sports world. “We partner with the Big Ten college basketball conference, as well. Northwestern University, a Big Ten school in Chicago, is one of our large accounts. We actually have a motorcoach that is logoed for Northwestern.” When Windy City partnered with the Chicago Bears, it gave the NFL franchise its choice of vehicles. The Bears chose to have the team travel in Van Hools. “The Bears will only travel in Van Hool motorcoaches,” Kahne said. “They are the team’s preferred mode of ground travel. Van Hools are fantastic. We have no issues with ABC’s products. ABC has been true to its word. When ABC said it was going to do something, it did it. Its parts and labor division is fabulous, and its sales team is lights out one of the best in the industry. ABC really approaches everything as a partnership. It has been a good match.” Word-of-mouth and being active in giving back to the commu-
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nity are also effective marketing avenues for Windy City. “We do a lot with the Make-A-Wish® Foundation, which has helped us in getting our name out there,” Kahne said. “Again, with 100 pieces of equipment on the street every day, it is kind of hard to miss us.”
I
STARTING FROM ‘SCRATCH’
n the mid-2000s, Windy City Limousine’s original six founding partners, which included the current CEO, George Jacobs, and Kahne, all worked for Carey International Inc. Previously, Jacobs had owned American Limousine, selling it to Carey in 1999. Three of the original partners are no longer with Windy City. In February 2006, the original partners launched Windy City Limousine, with a view to offer expanded services that Carey International did not. “When we started, we had no cars and no customers,” Kahne remembered. “We didn’t have a computer system or a phone system. We worked off our personal laptops and our own personal cell phones. We established the company and, today, we are the fifth largest in the limousine industry. It is a true Cinderella story.” Kahne’s career in the transportation industry began when she was the vice president of marketing for an Hawaiian travel company, based in California. A couple of factors led Kahne — a Chicago native, born and raised — to leave the California company. Following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists attacks, the travel industry underwent some drastic changes, plus she was tired of
traveling back and forth between Chicago and California. “I just decided it was time to stay home and be local,” she said. Kahne said her entry into the Chicago travel market “just kind of happened.” “There was an opening at Carey International. I interviewed for a position and was hired,” Kahne said. “I had a pretty big job in the travel world in California, and I wanted to take a step back. I just wanted go to work everyday and not have a giant job.” Her “just another employee approach” didn’t last long, as, within three months, she rose to become the general manager of her division at Carey International. “What a great ride it has been,” Kahne said. “The industry itself is just crazy. No two days are alike. The industry, in general, is very giving and loving. “Windy City has a significant presence in the limousine channel. Our CEO (Jacobs) is an icon in the industry. He has done wonderful things for the limousine segment in bringing it to a professional level. He has conducted his career from a very unselfish, giving standpoint, always looking out for the good of everyone.” With its motorcoach business, Windy City Limousine has upheld the highest professional standards that has been the benchmark of Jacobs’ career in the luxury chauffeured limousine industry. “Buses are our future and we have partnered with exceptional manufacturers,” Kahne said. “We want to have the best equipment on the road. We want to have the newest technology and Continued On Page 34
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Windy City Limousine:
about 15 minutes from the western suburbs, where we conduct a lot of business. Our location also enables us to bypass many of the traffic bottlenecks that can be encountered on the way to downtown Chicago.” The location also allows the company to reach a vehicle that has broken down in about 20 minutes, give or take, Kahne said.
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the best chauffeurs. I think we have primed ourselves to make that happen. “We have found niche markets that will keep vehicles rolling every day. That is the name of the game. We have very expensive pieces of equipment, and we need to fill them in order KEEPING UP WITH DEMAND AND FINDING to be able to pay for them. We have carved out niche markets that GOOD CHAUFFEURS IS CHALLENGING should continue to get us through and open new avenues for growth.” indy City Limousine has enjoyed dramatic growth in Windy City moved into its current location about 2 1/2 years just 12 years in business, and keeping up with it all ago. It has 10,000 square feet of office space and, as was menhas been a challenging proposition. tioned before, a 30,000-square-foot maintenance shop. “Our biggest challenge is keeping up with supply and “We love our new home. We have a long-term lease on this fa- demand. We are a large company that has done very well in cility. We have no plans to leave anytime soon,” Kahne said. “We what I would say is a relatively short time,” Kahne said. are not a typical limousine company. Most limousine companies “Twelve years is not a long time to be in business. Keeping run with a very small-scale staff. In contrast, we have 110 employ- up with customer demand is a big challenge for us. We ees in the office, plus anare continually growother 300 chauffeurs. Our ing our business. Howexecutive team is housed ever, along with growth in this building. We have comes additional vehia dispatch department, an cles, additional staff and IT department, an acchauffeurs.” counting department and It is no secret that many a chauffeur department. motorcoach and limouWe also have a chauffeur sine companies have a compliancy director. In hard time finding good addition, we have an HR drivers, chauffeurs and department, an affiliate mechanics, and Windy Fleet Supervisor Call Center Manager Fleet Manager-Operations department, a groups deCity is no different. John Pizzi Allison Kubiak Neil Rhebergen partment, a reservations “It is hard to find good department, a fleet dequality chauffeurs who partment and a call center. understand the difference “In our maintenance between just driving a veshop, we can wash and hicle and being on the top repair vehicles. We can of their game, when it do such maintenance comes to great customer services as brake jobs, service. That is the name engine overhauls, body of the game for us,” work, etc. We also have Kahne said. “While most an acre and a half of vepeople can drive, not hicle parking. It is a very everyone knows how to large facility.” please customers, making Events Supervisor Director Technology/Content Dispatch Manager When the company sure they are happy and Erin Digioia Strategy Ryan Kaczmarski Brian Heneghan was searching for a new delighted at the end of facility, finding one their journey. This is a big where all the departpiece of what we stress ments could be under every day.” one roof, and in a conWhile Windy City has a venient location, were training/orientation prohigh priorities. gram for newly hired “Our location is great. chauffeurs, the company We are about 20 minutes seeks prospects with some from O’Hare Internaexperience in the field. tional Airport, Midway “Especially for motorInternational Airport and coaches, we are not a IT Support Specialist Chauffeur Manager Chauffeur Manager downtown Chicago,” training ground for new Allen Lamphear A.J. Jedrzejewski Doug Price Kahne said. “We are also chauffeurs,” Kahne said.
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“We want experienced chauffeurs who know how to drive and who understand the safety aspects of those vehicles. We have 56 passengers in a motorcoach who are mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, aunts, uncles, etc., and they are our No. 1 concern. To have the responsibility for 56 people, is a big deal. It is not something to be taken lightly.” In determining if a chauffeur candidate is the right fit for Windy City, several factors are considered. First and foremost, the person seeking a position must display a passion for safety, Kahne said. “We also look at how a candidate presents his or herself,” Kahne said. “Does he/she view him or herself as a driver, or as a professional chauffeur? From there, it is about customer service. Is the candidate going to represent his or herself and the company well? If a potential new hire can hit all those criteria, we probably have a match.” Once hired, the new chauffeur will undergo an intensive training/orientation period lasting seven days. “He/she will learn about the history of the company, who are our customers, customer expectations and why one customer is different than another,” Kahne said. Instruction in driving skills is also a part of the training class. “At the end of the training period, chauffeurs must pass skill and road tests. If he/she passes all that, we will have a good chauffeur.” Those with minimal experience may start out operating a smaller vehicle, such as a 14-passenger minibus. As he/she gains experience, operating larger vehicles will come into play, with a view to possibly being able to operate a 56-passenger motorcoach.
“We will never just hand someone the keys to a $500,000 motorcoach,” Kahne said. While finding high quality chauffeurs is a challenge, Windy City doesn’t lack in people seeking those positions. “Because of the size of our company and the amount of business that we have, people come knocking on our door from other companies, because we can keep them busy,” Kahne said. “Our name has helped us in that regard.” To operate in Chicago, a chauffeur must obtain a special city license. Acquiring a city license involves taking and passing a class. “You cannot drive in Chicago without a city license. It is a musthave,” Kahne said. “We recruit from the colleges that run the training classes.” In the search for the best chauffeurs, Windy City also advertises and attends job fairs. Word-of-mouth and referrals are also effective. “We offer a referral bonus to all of our chauffeurs and employees and to the person who is hired — it is a two-way bonus,” Kahne said. “We treat our staff well. We are really good to our chauffeurs. We look out for them to make sure they make money, which has helped us to maintain our level of quality employees. We also put them in new equipment, which makes a big difference to people who are deciding where they want to work. We also make sure chauffeurs have benefits. “Word-of-mouth has been our best friend. When a company treats its employees well, that gets out. When employees are treated poorly, that gets out faster.” Windy City gives chauffeurs safety compliance awards every year, as well bonuses for being accident-free for a year. There is
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also a “Chauffeur of the Year” program. “This year, we presented the chauffeur of the year a cash and vacation award,” Kahne said. “He and his family will get to travel somewhere for a week’s vacation.” The company also maintains what it calls a “props board,” on which employees are recognized for doing a good job. “It could be a customer sending in something that says a particular chauffeur was amazing,” Kahne said. “It could be a staff member saying a chauffeur went above and beyond to make his/her life easier on a particular day. We love our chauffeurs. We want them to be happy and safe, and we make sure everyone knows how good our chauffeurs really are.” Kahne said many times when people first get into the industry, they view it as just another job. However, some people soon realize there is a lot more to being a chauffeur than meets the eye. “Our chauffeurs have met people who most people would never meet in their lifetimes,” Kahne said. “Think about all the sports teams we transport. All those players are on our vehicles. How many times is someone going to meet and shake hands with the entire starting lineup for the Chicago Cubs? One of our chauffeurs was one of the first people to hold the World Series trophy. They are exposed to some really fun and interesting things. “A person has to love people to do what we do every day. A little bit of the ‘gift of gab’ is also a good trait to have, but chauffeurs must know when to turn it on and turn it off. The majority of younger chauffeurs will say when they got into it, they didn’t know the job was going to turn into a rewarding and exciting career. Indeed, no two days are the same and no two people are the same. Chauffeurs love their job because they can be with people all day long.” Chicago is the third largest city population-wise in the country behind New York City and Los Angeles. Its surrounding metro area, also known as Chicagoland, is home to a wide variety of ethnic groups. In this multicultural environment, Windy City’s multilingual chauffeurs give the company a huge advantage. “Our chauffeur workforce is like a league of nations,” Kahne said. “We have every nationality and walk of life that you can think of. It is a good thing for our customers. If a customer needs a Mandarin Chinese-speaking chauffeur, we have one. If he/she needs a Bulgarian or Polish-speaking chauffeur, we have them. We get a lot of requests for foreign languagespeaking chauffeurs.” It seems that, in this day and time, discussions about a company’s employees often include how the millennial generation has impacted the workplace. In recent years, millennials have overtaken baby boomers as the largest demographic in the workforce. The reason the subject comes up so often is because the upper leadership of many companies is still baby boomers, whose lifestyles and workplace experiences widely differ from millennials. For example, studies have shown that millennials tend to value quality of life issues in the workplace more than job security and wages, which baby boomers highly value. They are tech savvy and go about their workday differently, in many respects, than their older counterparts. “It has taken me a long time to understand that world,” said Kahne, who is the mother of a millennial. “We do treat them difPage 36
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ferently, but I think millennials get a bad rap to some degree. “They are smart and they are very tech savvy. They are creative thinkers, which I think is a really good thing, especially in our industry. They look at things a little differently. When it comes to technology, they have us all beat. You can give them anything and they can make it work. “They like to work the way they like to work. They have it figured out. We have staff members who stand all day, because that is what they want to do. They don’t want to be sitting all the time. A lot of them work while wearing headphones. They are not listening to anything, but the headphones help them to get into their own space. “They are our future. We need to figure out how to work with them. They are ambitious. They make things happen and they make them happen quickly. I think that is the best part about working with millennials. They don’t wait. They want it and they want it now, and they are going to make it happen.”
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FURTHER ON DOWN THE ROAD
ahne discussed some of the new business coming Windy City’s way, as well as reflecting on the future of the limousine industry as a whole, and the company’s commitment to its motorcoach division. “We just signed the largest account in the history of the company, which is a five-year deal with the McDonald’s Corporation,” Kahne said. “McDonald’s is moving its corporate headquarters from Oakbrook, IL, to downtown Chicago. We were honored to be given that piece of business to transport all the company’s employees from downtown train stations to the corporate headquarters. This is a big development.” Windy City’s performance in supplying transportation during the past Super Bowl weekend in early February also landed the company some valuable repeat business for next year’s event. The Super Bowl game was played on Sunday, Feb. 4, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN. “Windy City really took over the Super Bowl from a bus perspective,” Kahne said. “Minneapolis is unique in that there is not a lot of motorcoach inventory there. We knew we could do the job and do it really well. Many of the corporate sponsors at the Super Bowl have already signed contracts with us for next year in Atlanta. It was a big coup for us to be able to land that business.” Kahne discussed issues that are having, or will have, a significant impact on the transportation industry. “Here is what we are seeing. Uber has definitely taken a toll on our industry, especially on what we call ‘how soon’ business, and also at airports, to some degree,” Kahne said. Kahn said corporations who use Uber are slowly beginning to come back to more traditional companies, such as Windy City, because of “duty and care.” “For example, if a major corporation allows employees to travel with Uber and reimburses them for the costs, there is duty and care involved. That is, if something happens in an Uber vehicle, the company using the service is liable,” Kahne said. “Uber doesn’t have the same vetting process that we have in our industry. They do not have to hold the same insurance that we hold. Furthermore, their vehicles can be anything out there.
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“Are there bad characters and actors in any walk of life? Of course there are. When you put a safety net in place to prevent things from happening, you can close your eyes at the end of the day and say, ‘I have done all I can to keep my passengers and employees safe.’ “We are starting to see that some corporations are waking up and saying, ‘You’re right. We do have duty of care.” Borrowing a famous line from the movie “Field of Dreams,” Kahne said, concerning limousine companies getting into the bus sector, “Build it and they will come.” “It is not just in the Chicago market, it is pretty universal in the United States. There are a lot of good bus companies out there, but in the limousine industry, we have upped the game. “We are open 24/7. We never close. We have a complete staff who handle nothing but our bus business. While we will always look for pockets of business for our sedans, SUVs and limousines, buses is really where I see our entire industry going in the future.” Another much discussed issue in the transportation segment is the introduction of autonomous vehicles into the equation. It is pretty much agreed that it is not a matter of “if” there will be autonomous vehicles, but “when.” “I think it is going to happen. I don’t think it will happen as quickly as some people say, but certainly it is going the happen,” Kahne said. “It is going the change the dynamic of transportation across the world. The game plan is no one will ever buy a car again. The car manufacturers will manufacture the vehicles, but the general public is not going to own an autonomous vehicle. There are going to be companies that own them. People will dial up and say, ‘Send me a vehicle.’ I really don’t believe autonomous vehicles will be sitting in our driveways. “On the bus side, I can see it working very well on a fixedroute. I can see it working in a metropolitan city if it has designated lanes for only autonomous vehicles. “It is going to happen. It is kind of exciting. Again, our world has evolved. If you would have asked me 10 years ago if we would have been as heavily involved in buses as we are today, I would have said no. The world evolves and the business market evolves and we have had to evolve with them.” Looking back on 12 years in business, Kahne said one of the keys to Windy City’s success has been its leadership’s ability to understand the future of the marketplace, while being proactive and not sitting back and waiting for things to happen. “For example, when the Great Recession hit, we had just gotten into business. Instead of waiting to see what was going to happen, we got in front of it very quickly. We were very proactive,” Kahne said. “We didn’t lay off one employee during that time. We approached the management team first and said, ‘We have a dilemma here. This is real. It is happening and we have to make some tough decisions. As an executive team, we can make them, but we want everybody to buy in.’
“The question was, do we cut hours and keep all the staff working? Or, do we maintain hours and lay off people? Everyone unanimously agreed to cut hours. We understood it would cut into our paychecks, but it was better than letting people go. When we did it, we said, ‘We can weather this storm, but we have to be smart in the way we do things.’ So, we got ahead of things.” Continued On Page 56
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having to cut back on non-essential purchases. “Business is starting to come back,” Oliver said. “We’re finding more people are buying longer tours to their ‘dream’ destinations. oday’s bus/motorcoach charter and tour travelers are as var- This includes Alaska and various national parks within the U.S. ied as the wide assortment of trips they can now take. To bet- mainland, as well as Great Britain and the rest of Europe.” ter meet new transportation demands and opportunities for Although local farm income is down, Legacy Tour & Travel these people, Legacy Tour & Travel — with offices in Decorah, has enjoyed success by focusing on an ag-related niche transportaFort Dodge and Newton, IA, — provides an assortment of options tion market. This involves technical tours of area farming operawithin the Midwest, North America and beyond. tions, designed for people from all over the world who want to “Legacy Tour & Travel is the name for our group travel depart- learn more about the Midwest’s high-production agricultural cament. A lot of people also know us through our motorcoach com- pabilities. pany, Hawkeye Stages. With a Oliver is the first to admit this type of planning and packaging name like that, it means we are service is unusual for a motorcoach tour operator, but there’s a well-established tradition of it at Legacy Tour & “We always say that providing fewer Travel/ Hawkeye Stages. “Customers are where seats means more passengers.” you find them, and we’ve found a number of them — Robert Oliver based in foreign countries. There are many people located in Iowa, with the home connected to farming who work in our office. When looking at how office in Decorah. The busi- we could expand our transportation services, we realized that Iowa ness has been owned by the and Illinois are leaders in global agricultural production. Therefore, same family since its begin- we started to offer our services to better show the world our area’s ning in 1954,” Legacy Tour & Travel’s Robert E. Oliver said. farming practices,” he said. “We now serve groups from Europe as “We offer motorcoach charter, tour and travel services for both pub- well as Latin and South America. These are people who visit our lic and private groups. The expanding Legacy Travel Group now local farms and the annual Farm Progress Show. includes tour operators and retail travel agencies in Indiana, Wis“They may have never been to Los Angeles or New York City, consin and Illinois, in addition to our traditional operations in Iowa. but have been all over Iowa and Illinois, looking at farms and meet“I sell private, custom tours to group leaders. The majority of ing area farmers. They are learning about new farming practices these tours use our own motorcoaches. If a group has a destination and/or technologies to take home. Running a tour like that provides and dates in mind, anywhere in the world, we’ll plan and package us with a lot of satisfaction.” a tour for them; packaging and pricing it by the seat to the traveler. It’s a business model that’s extremely popular at the moment.” THE VALUE OF MODERN Oliver has seen a gradual increase in demand concerning difEQUIPMENT/TECHNOLOGY ferent tour options provided by Legacy Tour & Travel. However, there have been setbacks. For example, the company is based in egacy and Hawkeye maintain modern equipment; distinfarm country, and farm families make up a key portion of its cusguishing between those for charter work (designed to take tomer base. With a drop in farm-related income over the past few groups to events such as ball games), and tour coaches, years, this sector has been somewhat depressed, with its members which are equipped for greater comfort on longer itineraries. Page 38
By Harrell Kerkhoff Busline Magazine Editor
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“One of our customers told me that traveling with us was like those passengers who are traveling 500 miles a day during a long taking a cruise without the water. I later thought, ‘That is the coach tour. This allows for a very comfortable way to go down the best compliment you could ever give.’ It speaks to the comfort road,” he said. “The kneeling coach feature is also a must-have, aland the many advantages of motorcoach travel today,” Oliver lowing passengers to comfortably board and leave the vehicle. “We also work hard to upgrade our said. “You can’t compare today’s travel on equipment as the industry changes. Like a tour coach to equipment that was available many carriers, we have added electronic 30 or 40 years ago. It involves a different logging equipment in all coaches. This is product and different experience. We look a big change for our drivers, but they’re for higher-end features, when it comes to adapting well.” our vehicles. Our owners are willing to add higher-end features in all our vehicles, HIRE THE BEST TO BE THE BEST whether for charter or tour work.” For touring, this includes a high-seating ne area of importance that hasn’t motorcoach platform that raises passengers changed for officials at Legacy above the automobile traveler. It also inTour & Travel / Hawkeye Stages volves large wrap-around glass windows during the company’s many decades of and Wi-Fi capabilities. existence is the practice of hiring and re“Whether it’s students or grandparents, taining good employees. This, of course, they all have digital devices today and want includes drivers. to stay in touch while traveling,” Oliver “You can have an average motorcoach said. “A dozen years ago, we thought showand itinerary, but if you have a great ing a DVD movie on a motorcoach was Kari and Steve Tjossem are co-owners of driver, people are going to have a good pretty high-tech, but now this is an accepted Hawkeye Stages / Legacy Tour & Travel. time on your tour. It’s important to be requirement.” Keeping passengers comfortable in other ways is also important. very careful during the hiring process of drivers. We look for safety At Legacy/Hawkeye, this is accomplished, in part, by choosing and reliability,” Oliver said. “Once this criteria is met, we want a driver who can become part of the group he/she is involved with, leather seating and extra legroom on tour coaches. “We always say that providing fewer seats means more passen- at a level of participation that is often dictated by the group itself.” He added that many tour group leaders and passengers want to gers. Having adequate leg room is very important, especially for
O
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know their drivers as individuals. “Often, after a tour is over for the day, there will be passengers who invite their driver to dinner. He/she can eventually become a critical part of the entire group. When it’s time to say goodbye after 10 or so days on the road, there can be some shedded tears as the driver has made a strong connection with the group and contributed so much to their enjoyment of the tour,” Oliver said. “In terms of finding good drivers, it’s a matter of hiring the right people with the right characteristics, and then training them to the standards we expect for their services.” Strong management supervision also comes into play, helping drivers perform to the company’s high standards every day, and for every type of trip. When asked what are key characteristics to look for when hiring a bus/motorcoach driver, Oliver discussed the importance of finding people who are not easily distracted. “There is so much at stake when you are driving a $500,000 vehicle with 50 or more people on board. The main focus should always be on safety. With every intersection, every turn and every stop there is an opportunity for an accident. While a driver shouldn’t live in fear of these facts, he/she certainly needs to be aware, anticipate and look ahead in the interest of safety,” Oliver said. “We also look for candidates who can execute the simple re-
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quirements of being a driver — every single day without fail. This includes helping each passenger on and off the vehicle. “Obviously, it’s also good that a driver is congenial, friendly and makes people feel welcome and comfortable. Passengers want to have a great time while taking our trips, and a driver plays a critical role in making sure this happens. The position of bus/motorcoach driver is very unique. Some people really enjoy driving, which is another important characteristic that we seek. They are willing to perform this important task regardless of the challenges that will inevitably be encountered.” Although the driver often serves as the primary company representative for most passengers, there are several behind-the-scenes positions within most transportation companies that are equally as important. Included in this group are fully-qualified mechanics, which have been reported by some bus/motorcoach providers as being hard to find. “The motorcoach industry is dependent on mechanics trained and experienced in the motor freight industry. They’re proficient diesel mechanics, but haven’t necessarily been properly taught on how to care for a motorcoach, which has unique requirements,” Oliver said. “There are many mechanical and electrical aspects to a motorcoach that can be foreign to a truck mechanic. Today’s motorcoaches are very advanced. For instance, a mechanic of ours may be called to fix the recline mechanism of a seat, replace a window
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that has been cracked, or fix a seal in the interior of the vehicle. There are also very complicated environmental systems, designed to curb air and water pollution, on todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coaches that mechanics should understand, along with a vehicleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s electronics. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Inside a motorcoach are electronic systems that are expected to operate in very hostile environments. These systems are bumped up and down for 10 hours a day while the vehicle is on the road. Customers, however, still expect the microphone, video monitors, speakers and electrical plugs to work properly. All of these items should be within the mechanicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capability to repair. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Being a mechanic is a tough job, and often is an unseen hero who doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get the credit when the group leader says, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Thank youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to the driver. The same is true for the hard working people in our office who support various tour and charter groups while they are on the road. It takes a lot of people with a high level of skill to properly run a transportation company.â&#x20AC;? Oliver estimated the Legacy Travel Group employs close to 100 full- and part-time staff members. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In our industry, this makes us a medium-sized company,â&#x20AC;? he said.
A
CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES
mong the other challenges that Oliver spoke about when it comes to operating a full-service tour, travel and charter business today are higher costs associated with lodging, equipment and related expenses. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As the recent recession waned, many hotel owners increased rates for rooms. This was understandable as consumers cut back on
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discretionary travel (virtually all leisure tours fit into this category) during the recession, and the market wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t allow (for higher rates),â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now, to make up for it, and as a reflection of the expanded features built into todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hotels â&#x20AC;&#x201D; even in the low end of the market â&#x20AC;&#x201D; rates have been going up as much as 12 percent a year. This can translate as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;sticker shockâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for our passengers. Therefore, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re very careful to ensure our packages remain of good value for money paid.â&#x20AC;? Despite these obstacles, Oliver gave several reasons why he feels the future is bright for successful companies involved in bus/motorcoach transportation, such as Legacy Tour & Travel / Hawkeye Stages. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every day there are new people who discover the comfort, luxury and carefree aspects of riding in a high-end motorcoach during a long tour or a shorter charter trip,â&#x20AC;? Oliver said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also important to realize that todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s millennials seem to be more open to using the type of transportation services we provide, and they are owning fewer automobiles compared to previous generations. These are people who look at bus/motorcoach travel as not only a viable option when traveling within a city, but also across the country. They are very open to the high-quality motorcoach experience. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our industry has a great future. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s changing fast, however, and thus a major challenge involves successfully taking advantage of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favorable trends, so that we can enjoy future growth opportunities.â&#x20AC;? Contact: Legacy Tour & Travel, 703 Dudley St., Decorah, IA, 52101. Phone: 800-323-3368. Website: www.legacytourtravel.com.
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The 32nd Annual Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) EXPO is scheduled for June 10-14, 2018, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, PA. The event offers transportation professionals the opportunity to participate in learning events and network with colleagues. Speakers and sessions are designed to keep attendees up-to-date with innovative technology, workforce development, communication strategies, funding and regulations. The EXPO also features a trade show with all of the latest community transportation goods and services. Below is the proposed schedule and some of this year’s activities and learning opportunities as supplied by CTAA:
SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
Sunday, June 10
Morning • Roadeo; and, • Transportation Camp. Afternoon • Roadeo; and, • Transportation Camp. Evening •Roadeo Dinner.
Monday, June 11
Morning • Opening Session; and, • Conference Intensives. Afternoon • Conference Intensives. Evening • Delegates Meeting.
Tuesday, June 12
Morning • Conference Intensives; and, • Mobility Management Event. Afternoon • Conference Luncheon; • Mobility Management Event; • Speed Networking event with vendors; and, • Workshops. Evening • Trade Fair opening with dinner, 5 to 8 p.m.
Wednesday, June 13
Morning • General Session; and,
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• Workshops. Afternoon • Trade Fair with lunch, noon to 3 p.m.; • Workshops. Evening • Pecha Kucha.
Thursday, June 14
Morning • Two rounds of workshops. Afternoon • Membership meeting/lunch; • Tours; and, • Roundtables. Evening • Big Night Out.
GENERAL SESSION
Wednesday, June 13 Learn how three people involved in various capacities in the transit business stopped merely hoping to achieve an objective, but rather made it happen. From resurrecting streetcars in El Paso, TX, to winning state transit investment in Oregon, to breathing new life into the coordination model in Ohio, these three individuals will inspire attendees to turn thier goals into reality: Julie Brown: She is the general manager of the Rogue Valley Transportation District in Medford, OR; president of the Oregon Transit Association; and, Oregon Public Transit Advisory Committee. Her leadership was directly responsible for the state legislature’s passage, for the first time, of real state transit investment. Peter Svarzbein: An artist turned local politician who used his artistic skills to lead an effort to re-launch streetcars in his hometown of El Paso, TX. Chuck Dyer: He is the administrator of the Office of Transit at the Ohio Department of Transportation, where he has worked for the past eight years. He is helping to lead a coordinated transportation model that centralizes transportation programs for a number of state agencies at the DOT, with the goal of increasing mobility services throughout Ohio. Trade Fair Features the latest in transit vehicles, technology, equipment, and services, with more than 100 exhibiting companies and dozens of vehicles.
May/June 2018
Workshops Workshops on Wednesday, June 13, and Thursday, June 14, will feature sessions taught by recognized experts and will be tailored to meet the specific needs of community and public transportation managers, officials and advocates.
Below is a list of the tracks and topics for the sessions. OPERATE Wednesday, June 13 • Transit’s Role in Disasters; • Non-Profits and Transportation: Getting It Right; and, • ADA Reasonable Modification Rule: Learning How to Work with It. Thursday, June 14 • Assessing Your Demand Response Operations; • New Technologies in Transit Payment; and, • Tribal Transit Moving Forward.
MANAGE Wednesday, June 13 • How to Manage Employees Who Resist Change; • Recruiting and Building a Sustainable Driver Workforce; • Developing and Retaining a Sustainable Driver Workforce; and, • Succession Planning for Your Transit System. Thursday, June 14 • Why Does Insurance Cost Keep Increasing and What Can I Do About It?; • The Regulation Solution Exchange; • No-Go for the Go-Go: Preventing Inappropriate Behavior in the Workplace; and, • Understanding Challenges in Drug and Alcohol Testing.
COMMUNICATE Wednesday, June 13 • Communicating Local Policy Objectives with Local Leaders; and, • Using Data to Communicate Outcomes & Value. Thursday, June 14 • Redefining Access: The Role of Transportation in Access to Health Care; and, • Communicating Why — Not Just How — To Ride Transit.
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INNOVATE Wednesday, June 13 • Non-Emergency Medical Transportation: Success in an Era of Uncertainty; • Pursuing Mobility as a Service (MaaS); • Microtransit and Ridehailing: Helpful Strategies and Potential Pitfalls; and, • Re-envisioning your Operations and Revamping your Transit System. Thursday, June 14 • How Autonomous Vehicles Will Affect Mobility; • Moving America Forward: Technology Based Coordinated Transportation and Mobility for All; • Toward an Integrated Mobility: Coming Soon!... To Your Community; and, • A New Approach to Travel Training. PLAN Wednesday, June 13 • Welcome to Urban America: What Happens When the Census Says You’re No Longer Rural; • Mobility with a Healthy Twist: Incorporating Health in Transportation Decisions; and, • Transit Planning 101: Addressing Transit Wants, Needs, and Demand. Thursday, June 14 • Using Public-Private Partnerships to Improve Your System; • Achieving Inclusive Planning; • Ohio’s Mobility Transformation; and, • Complete Streets for Small Communities. Intensive Training Sessions Conference Intensive sessions lead off the training portion of the annual EXPO and feature leading industry experts to communicate
and instruct on vital timely topics. These one-, two- or three-day sessions are designed to provide the proficiencies needed to succeed in today’s rapidly evolving transportation landscape. Note: Conference Intensives meet the training requirement for those seeking CCTM, CTPA, PASS, CCTS, PDS, VMMI, and CSSO certification or re-certification. All certification courses have a testing component. Three-Day Classes June 11-13 • Vehicle Maintenance Management and Inspection (VMMI); and, • Passenger Assistance Safety and Sensitivity (PASS): Train the Trainer Workshop. Two-Day Classes June 11-12 • Certified Community Transit Supervisor (CCTS); • Professional Dispatching and Scheduling (PDS); • Certified Safety and Security Officer (CSSO); • Preparing for the CCTM and CTPA Examination; • Keys to NEMT Success; • Financial Management for Transit Agencies; and, • Find & Retain the Best, Engage or Confront the Rest: How to Wake Up Your Organization and Form a More Perfect Work Environment. One-Day Classes June 11 • Transit Marketing & Communication for Community and Public Transportation; and, • Leading Creative Thinking in Your Organization
June 12 • Capital Maintenance and Transit Asset Management; • Your Transportation Business: How to Thrive and Survive; and, • The Pittsburgh Transit Tour.
Roadeo The National Community Transportation Roadeo is the only national venue to honor and celebrate the value of rural and community transit operators, the backbone of the Community Transportation industry. This event draws drivers from around the country to compete for top scores on a course that tests skills on every level of the drivers’ abilities, with a primary focus on safe operations and passenger sensitivity. SPECIAL EVENTS
Speed Networking with the Vendors (Tuesday, June 12) Offers a chance to talk directly to vendors, get questions answered, and learn about new products in a focused, one-on-one, 5-minute session. Pecha Kucha — An informal Evening of Crowd-sourced Presentations (Wednesday, June 13) For attendees who wish to share an idea, the fourth crowd-sourced event at EXPO employs the Pecha Kucha format of a set number of slides with pre-set timing for each slide, with each presentation running no more than 7 minutes. EXPO’S Big Night Out (Thursday, June 14) Details TBD. Booth Numbers courtesy of CTAA, 04/23/18
2018 CTAA Expo Product Showcase Transign — CTAA Booth #309
Diamond Manufacturing, Inc. — CTAA Booth #634
Transign continues their industry leading innovation with their newest smart bus solution, the LED Destinator EnCompass™. This hands-free fleet management solution combines GPSbased message progression with Transign’s existing high-quality LED Destinator™ signs, route boxes, backup camera’s, complete stop request systems, interior LED displays, automated voice announcements, and location-based advertising opportunities. This unique system continually updates based on a bus’ location, eliminating driver distractions and helping them maintain focus. The system also proves beneficial to dispatch operations, providing more accurate location information and more efficient route control. The LED Destinator EnCompass™ system allows agencies of all sizes to experience the safety and reliability of AVA/AVL software, while improving service and communication to riders. Established in 1959, Transign remains as the only U.S manufacturer of roller curtain signs to meet ongoing demand, offering superior graphic solutions to enhance branding.
1-800-343-1009 • diamondmfg.com • todcull@aol.com May/June 2018
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2018 CTAA Expo Product Showcase American Cooling Technology (ACT) — CTAA Booth #301
AngelTrax — CTAA Booth #135 Vulcan™ Series HCNVRs
American Cooling Technology (ACT) has released its newest rooftop Air Conditioning System the RTS-290. The RTS-290 rooftop AC unit is available in a cooling capacity up 90,000 Btu/hr. IMACA. Please see us at CTAA expo 2018 booth 301 or contact us at acsolutions@actusa.us.com. Or by phone at 717.767-2775.
Apollo Video Technology — CTAA Booth #403
Apollo Video Technology’s RoadRunner 4K™ on-board video surveillance system provides exceptional clarity for transit and rail applications, delivering a clearer view of activities on and around buses and commuter trains. Coupled with a new high definition 360-degree camera, the system empowers transit operators to achieve maximum, panoramic video coverage, virtually eliminating blind spots and coverage gaps. Join us in Booth 403 to learn more about how Apollo Video’s advancements in video quality improve the accuracy of video analytics, and support our breakthrough mSET video management software. For more information, visit www.apollovideo.com. Tel: 888-AVT-USA1 Email: sales@apollovideo.com
Engineered for the mass transit industry, new Vulcan™ Series HCNVRs are equipped with Hybrid Component™ sliderail technology patented by AngelTrax to cut the long-term cost of ownership in half and to increase efficiency by reducing downtime. The V16HCNVR records up to 16 high-definition IP camera channels of interior and exterior views at 720P up to 1080P; eight additional IP channels are accessible through an optional external switch. AngelTrax offers a full range of interior and exterior IP cameras designed to capture vivid video near or far, with POE power provided through the MNVR. When using an active Internet connection, Vulcan HCNVRs can utilize smart 4G cellular/Wi-Fi downloading capabilities to optimize data usage. Learn more about the Vulcan V16HCNVR, V8HCNVR and V12HCNVR at www.angeltrax.com or 800-673-1788.
Chestnut Ridge Foam, Inc. — CTAA Booth #710 Introducing TRAX® advanced fire-resistant molded cushioning. Intended for rail and bus vehicle seating applications, TRAX® is the ideal solution for modern cushioning designs in combination with high level of fire performance. TRAX® cushioning offers striking aesthetics for a vehicle interior. The molding process allows for multiple contours within a seat design to achieve an impressive and distinct appearance. Also eliminates costly waste and labor associated with cut-to-shape cushions and provides repetitive dimensional accuracy. The rapid spread of flames with the FMVSS 302 minimum requirement poses a serious danger to ridership. TRAX® offers a high level of fire-performance that minimizes this hazard, reducing both risk and liability. TRAX® is fully compliant with F.T.A. / F.R.A fire performance criteria verified through internal testing capabilities.
800-234-2734 • www.crfoam.com TRAX® Molded Cushioning Assembly Courtesy of Freedman Seating
Freedman Seating — CTAA #411/413
Gerflor — CTAA Booth #501
The Freedman GO-ES Seat is designed for flexibility to accommodate your passengers’ growing needs. Engineered for easy customization, the GO-ES Seat is shipped “option ready” giving you the flexibility to quickly add accessories in the field. A favorite for buses and transit vans! Now available as a SplitFlip to accommodate strollers, shopping carts, walkers and more. The GO-ES Foldaway Seat is the slimmest, lightest, and most customizable foldaway on the market. Recent engineering and design upgrades have decreased the amount of space between the foldaway seat and vehicle wall, giving more aisle space to your vehicle. Whether creating space for a wheelchair passenger, or making room for luggage, Freedman’s GO-ES Foldaway will exceed your needs. info@freedmanseating.com • (800) 443-4540 • www.freedmanseating.com
TARABUS by Gerflor is the world’s leading non-slip transit flooring, dedicated to bus and coach applications. At BUSWORLD 2017, Gerflor launched their new Tarabus Design, a line of digitally-printed flooring. This world first in personalized transport flooring gives customers the possibility to design their own flooring. With this new technology, Gerflor will provide totally bespoke designs adding value to their customers brand while making the vehicles more attractive. The Tarabus Design range offers an infinite number of possibilities for designers looking for a new approach to the interior design of buses or searching for ways to enhance the passenger experience. The new product is available with all the well-known services developed to improve the manufacturers working environment. Services such as the Self-Adhesive solution, where the flooring is delivered with an acrylic adhesive and protective layer on the back of the flooring, Pre-cut and Pre-welded kits. For more information, visit www.gerflorusa.com or contact pdegroot@gerflorusa.com.
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2018 CTAA Expo Product Showcase Kelderman Manufacturing — CTAA Booth #410
LiquidSpring LLC — CTAA Booth #400 LiquidSpring, the premier suspension for the Transit industry.
Kelderman is the leading manufacturer of air ride suspensions, showcasing our 2 stage air ride for all light/medium duty truck chassis used on buses, limo’s and RV’s. Available on new bus purchases and aftermarket install as well. E-350/450, F-350/450/550/650/750, Chevy HD and cutaway 3500/4500, Dodge 3500-5500, International Terra Star, Sprinter 3500 dual wheel and soon to be released the Transit 350HD/XL. More models available.
Kelderman Manufacturing • 800-334-6150 www.kelderman.com • YouTube at: keldermantv
CLASS® (Compressible Liquid Adaptive Suspension System), a rear suspension for Ford, Ram, GM, International, and Freightliner chassis’ designed to improve ride and handling for transit vehicles, while providing increased operator and passenger comfort and safety. www.liquidspring.com • tward@liquidspring.com
MJM Innovations — CTAA Booth #408
Safety Vision — CTAA Booth #406
EzTransport® is the ultimate and complete transportation management and software solution for transit agencies, transportation providers and those they serve. Our solutions are compatible with Paratransit, NEMT, Fixed Route and Taxi Services. The features include web-based and mobile software for automated fare collection, trip management, participant management and routing and scheduling. MJM Innovations • 1-866-664-1277 • www.mjminnovations.com
Safety Vision's best-selling, reliable Observer series of Hybrid Video Recorders is now enhanced with Analog High Definition (AHD) technology. AHD allows for HD quality video and images using standard analog coax cables, delivering greater resolutions at a lower cost. For a more modern network solution, Safety Vision has also released a new addition to the Observer line...the Observer 4116 Network Video Recorder. This is the first of the Observer recorders to go completely IP based, offering the ultimate in image quality and superior digital zoom capabilities. Call now to ask about one of our new robust observer recorders. 800.851.3901 www.safetyvision.com/mass-transit
Trans/Air Manufacturing Corporation – CTAA Booth #623 Trans/Air Manufacturing Corporation is an ISO 9001 registered firm, manufacturing a full line of climate control systems for the school, commercial and electric/hybrid vehicle markets. Units, parts, service, training, warranty, and new or aftermarket installations are available through factoryowned operations or a network of distributors throughout North America. The RT65 is a complete compact roof-mounted air conditioning system that can satisfy a variety of climate control requirements & specifications. Rated at 40K (SAE)/64K (IMACA) BTU/hr, the RT65 can be installed in single or dual configurations. Systems are offered with EC4.0 electronic controls, freeblow or ducted air distribution and optional heat.
800-673-2446 • www.transairmfg.com • JSterner@transairmfg.com
CTAA Trade Fair Hours TUESDAY, JUNE 12
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13
5 to 8 p.m.
Noon to 3 p.m.
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American Trans-Data, Corp. 3100 S. Harbor Blvd., Suite 140 Santa Ana, CA 92704 USA Phone: 714-751-3000 Website: www.americantransdata.com Products: Providing software solutions to the bus and tour industries since 1980. Turnkey solutions for charter bus companies to manage the reservation and billing process. ATD also provides airport and casino shuttle systems with desktop and mobile platforms. The company’s shuttle system offers on-bus ticket confirmation and redemption. 15
busHive P.O. Box 155 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 USA Phone: 518-877-2507 Email: sales@bushive.com Website: www.bushive.com Company Officers: Michael Hinckley, President; Brian Mann, Director of Sales; Jessica Harblin, Director of Support Products: busHive provides transportation management software. The company specializes in charter management, personnel compliance and vehicle maintenance systems. 18
DDS Wireless International 11920 Forge Pl. Richmond, BC V7A 4V9 CANADA Phone: 604-241-1441 Website: www.ddswireless.com Products: End-to-end, turnkey fleet management solutions for taxi, limousine, transit and other commercial fleets. Its packaged solutions provide a full range of fleet management software and hardware for real-time dispatching; vehicle location and tracking; routing and scheduling optimization; and mobile data communication, navigation and mobile payment processing. 17 Distinctive Systems, Inc. 19531 Lost Creek Dr. Estero, FL 33967 USA Phone: 646-448-9981 Page 46
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Email: nasales@distinctivesystems.com Website: www.distinctivesystems.com/us Company Officers: Don Greenglass, President; Bob Hopwood, Vice President of Support Services; Eric Elliott, Vice President of Sales & Marketing Products: Distinctive Systems is a leading supplier of software to the coach industry. Established for 30 years, over 1,500 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. Distinctive Systems has garnered a reputation over the years for updating its applications with additional functionality, on an ongoing basis. 18
Enghouse Transportation 80 Tiverton Ct., Suite 800 Markham, ON L3R 0G4 CANADA Phone: 905-946-3200 Email: debra.hendricks@enghouse.com Website: www.enghousetransportation.com Products: With over 33 years experience, Enghouse Transportations offers a comprehensive and robust suite of software solutions that serve the public and private transportation markets. Its software solutions include: Sched21 - Fixed Route Scheduling; BusLine - Fixed Route IVR; TripLine - Paratransit IVR; TeleDriver - Workforce Management; CrewLine - Operator IVR; FareLine - Fare IVR; CoachWorks - Motorcoach Management; and TourManager - Tour Management. 18 GIRO Inc. 75 Port-Royal St., Suite 500 Montreal, QC H3L 3T1 CANADA Phone: 514-383-0404 Email: info@giro.ca Website: www.giro.ca Company Officers: Jean Aubin, President and CEO; Marc Dupont, Vice President of Marketing & Sales
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Products: For close to 40 years, transit organizations have trusted HASTUS™, GIRO’s suite of software solutions for planning, scheduling and operations-management, to help them optimize resources to provide high-quality and cost-efficient services, improve practices, and make the best use of data. These solutions are deployed around the world, in more than 25 countries. Devoting 30-percent of the company’s resources to R&D, GIRO coinnovates with clients to take products in new directions. HASTUS™ is a complete software application for public transportation services including bus, metro, commuter rail, and more. An integrated set of modules and functionalities supports all steps in the scheduling cycle—from network design, route description and trip building to generating operator schedules—and serves as the basis for providing schedule information to customers and for managing daily operations. The cohesive solution helps improve long-, medium-, and short-term planning as well as daily management. HASTUS-OnDemand™ is a proven, flexible solution for paratransit and other on-demand transport services for the general public. Two of the five largest paratransit operations in North America use the software to deliver high-quality service while controlling operating costs. 18
Motorcoach Manager, Inc. See Ad On Page 48 3517 Marconi Ave., Suite 207 Sacramento, CA 95821 USA Phone: 916-972-1800 Email: info@motorcoachmanager.com Website: www.motorcoachmanager.com Company Officers: Shirley Campbell, President; Scott Hale, Erik Taylor and Kevin John, Board Members Products: Motorcoach Manager and Tour Optimizer—Motorcoach Manager is flexible fleet management software which provides a complete, cost-effective system for managing all the logistics of motorcoach and tour operations. It tracks charter orders, schedules and dispatches charters, and schedules line runs and school bus routes
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from the initial request for service to the final accounting reports. An integrated vehicle maintenance module is available. The four modules, which may be purchased in any combination, are Charters, Tours, Maintenance, and Shuttles. Tour Optimizer is a separate product which manages and tracks group and retail tours for companies that do not own motorcoaches. It includes an itinerary building tool and a reservation system for selling by the seat. There is an extensive reporting system to save time. The application is the result of over 20 years of collaboration between the Motorcoach Manager staff and hundreds of clients and prospects. A complete set of features, such as built-in email, utilization and availability charts, financial analysis tools, security, equipment and driver management, driver training records, payroll and mileage tracking, etc., are available and can be tailored to fit each operation. Motorcoach Manager can add new reports for clients and export data, so it can be manipulated in a spreadsheet as needed. Responsive, timely customer service is the company’s priority. Single-user or multi-user (networked) versions are available or it can be accessed online. Call to schedule a live demonstration. 18
Norse Systems, Inc. See Ad On This Page 245 Sage Hollow Rd. Guilford, CT 06437 USA Toll Free: 800-769-8468 Email: norse@norsesys.com Website: www.norsesys.com Company Officers: Leif E. Peterson, CSP-President; and David Hopper, Senior Partner Products: Norse Systems, Inc. provides a complete set of integrated products for managing bus transportation. Norse has been providing solutions for the bus industry for over 33 years. The comprehensive software product set is combined with private “cloud” based virtual servers and professional support to provide a complete solution for bus operators. The solutions are designed to run on existing computer infrastructure, so there is minimal or no capital cost. Low monthly fees, with no long term contract, keep costs and risks low. Applications include: Charter/field trip sales and operations, dispatching, driver qualifications, human resources, employee time and pay, transit line runs, day trip/commuter/airport shuttle and tour systems, accident management, equipment maintenance, warrantee tracking and recovery, fuel control, fuel tax reporting, trip bidding, school bus routing with automated map interfaces, multisite inventory control, purchasing, home to school operations, accounts receivable, general ledger, accounts payable, and more. The Norse applications are provided with the “Screen Driver,” The Enterprise IT environment for developers and users. The system includes user security, system administration, custom reporting, and application development and management tools. Demonstrations and sales presentations are available at no cost. 17
Paradigm Technology Consulting, LLC 22 S. Main St. Allentown, NJ 08501 USA Toll Free: 866-782-4636 Phone: 609-890-4150 Email: sales@ptcllc.com Website: www.ptcllc.com Products: A Microsoft Gold Certified Partner focusing on human resources and labor management for the transportation industry. Bringing 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. 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 49 10 Lancaster St. - Box 215 Cherry Valley, NY 13320 USA Phone: 607-264-9300 Toll Free: 800-448-7001 Email: manager@rbs2000.com Website: www.rbs2000.com Products: RBS, Inc. designs, implements and supports Tour and Charter Management systems with more than 500 customers in North America. Products include: GoTour Management System, a browserbased system, manages tour reservations, itineraries, receivables and payables, and produces customer documents and management reports for group and retail tours. The RBS cloud-based sys-
tem is hosted and backed up in the cloud using AWS (Amazon Web Services). RBS is now distributing GoTourV4.10, which includes BOPI (Blocked Out Passenger Inventory); integrated, highly secure, online credit card authorization (GoPay) is available; 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; Offsite Backup and Recovery provides daily offsite data backup and features limited online access to a customer’s data in the event of a disaster; and, Web Manager modules include simple, reliable, real time credit card authorization for GoChart and GoTour; online quote generation and notification; and web access to drivers’ orders for GoChart. Demos for GoTour and GoChart are available by appointment. 18
Sys2K Dealership Software 528 Northlake Blvd., Ste. 1000 Altamonte Springs, FL 32701 USA Phone: 407-358-2000 Email: sales@sys2k.com Website: www.sys2k.com Products: Designed for the bus and motorcoach industry for both dealers and manufacturers. Latest technologies used reduce costs and maximize sales revenue. Features include: fully-integrated Windows-based software, a CRM with endless possibilities to manage and grow the customer base, comprehensive reporting and management dashboards to monitor the success of each department, mobile apps that take the power of the DMS on-the-go, and cloud hosting to alleviate the cost Continued On Page 56
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Motorcoach Manager: Your Partner In Success
Successful operators in the charter and tour industry must develop systems for handling all the logistical components of the services they provide. They must be agile in response to the changing needs of customers, employees, as well as government entities. Motorcoach Manager is fleet management software that provides a time-saving and cost-effective way for tracking business data, so operators can be ready for any situation. As the industry changes, Motorcoach Manager refines its features and functionality in collaboration with its clients. With over 20 years of experience, it’s developed a vast collection of features and reports by building variations for a diverse client base. The result of this customer-focused approach is that Motorcoach Manager is user-friendly software that encompasses deep knowledge of the needs of operators, acquired over time. It provides a powerful blend of innovative features, designed to reduce costs by making record-keeping easier and more accurate. The software’s flexible reporting system is built on data entered one-time and organized to provide in-depth management tools. Motorcoach Manager is appropriate for all sizes of charter, tour, scheduled service or main-
Charter Orders Dispatching Mileage and Fuel Financial Reporting
tenance operations, including companies with multiple divisions, separate office sites or departments. Four fully-developed modules can be tailored to the needs of each company. 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 of a vehicle and a parts inventory is maintained. The software can be used to invoice maintenance work done for outside companies. It tracks scheduled
CHARTER MANAGER
preventive maintenance and DVIR records, and remembers what work needs to be done on each piece of equipment. The parts inventory can handle separate inventories for 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 also tracks payments to hotels and attractions. Once a tour package has been developed, it can be used again on a new date or for a different group. 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. The shuttle manager requires the charter module to manage the dispatching. For additional information, call Motorcoach Manager at 800-780-6880 or visit www.motorcoachmanager.com or www.motorcoachmanager.net.
TOUR MANAGER
Tour Planning Retail Tours Sightseeing Tours Receptive Services
SHUTTLE MANAGER
Airport Shuttles Casino Shuttles
Working Together.
Work Orders Parts Inventory Labor Services Maintenance History
MAINTENANCE MANAGER
Modular Fleet and Tour Management Software • • • •
Tracks all aspects of your operation Simplifies creating charters or tours Multiple dispatch management tools Extensive financial reporting
• • • •
Tracks fuel, mileage, payroll, drivers, vehicles, etc. Prints or emails quotes, contracts, invoices, etc. Single or multi-user licensing. Modules may be purchased individually or combined.
Call or email today to schedule a FREE online live demonstration.
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RBS, Inc: Providing Tour And Charter Management Software For Over 25 Years
RBS, Inc., is a major provider of Tour and Charter Management Software specifically designed for the motorcoach industry. For more than 25 years, RBS has been designing, implementing and supporting its premier products: GoChart and GoTour. The company serves more than 500 North American customers. GoTour, the company’s cloud based Tour Management Software, manages reservations, itineraries, payables, receivables, and produces management reports and customer documents for group and retail tours. Hosted in the cloud using AWS (Amazon Web Services), GoTour can be accessed using a broadband internet connection. The RBS professional staff actively monitors AWS services health, including continuous data backups, software updates, and network traffic analysis. RBS is now distributing GoTour v4.10, which includes “Blocked Out Passenger Inventory” as well as many feature enhancements. GoChart Charter Management System features customer and contract management, scheduling, dispatching, accounts receivable and numerous accounting/operations reports. Modules allow companies to purchase and customize the RBS system to fit their needs. The security module is powerful and has strict controls, and requires each employee to access RBS using a unique login and password. User-defined permissions allow access to specific areas of the program, depending on job types, such as administrator, salesperson, dispatcher and driver. RBS is now distributing v23, which includes user-definable traits and attributes, batch emailing of drivers’ orders, customizable coloring of views and many feature enhancements. Traits are used to define properties of buses/customers such as a bus that is “ADA compliant.” Attributes are used to create categories of Customers and Drivers. The new version also includes the ability to track a customer’s requested and unwanted driver lists. GoChart’s Web Manager provides reliable credit card authorization, online quote generation and notification, driver access to schedules and document storage and retrieval. Web Manger modules include: n Credit Card Processing — Integrated into the RBS GoChart application; n 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; n Online Driver Schedule— Provides web access to drivers’ schedules, allowing drivers to access schedules from home, office or anywhere with an internet connection; and,
n 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 ensures 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. GoText automatically provides scheduled text messages to drivers, reminding them of upcoming assignments. Call RBS at 800-448-7001 or visit www.rbs2000.com to request an evaluation copy of GoChart, or, to schedule a demo of GoTour and start your 30-day trial.
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BUSLINE VEHICLE SHOWCASE
Alte A ltern nat ativ ve eF Fu Fuels/Hy uels s//Hybrid Vehic cle les BYD
BYD
K9
K11
BYD’s 40-foot bus is the company’s best-selling model, and works great in medium and large cities—or anywhere customers need to transport larger numbers of passengers, but don’t need the extended capacity of BYD’s 60-foot articulated bus. Using no fossil fuels of any kind, BYD’s battery-electric buses are the cleanest, safest, most cost-effective way to move people from point to point. BYD brings dependable, zero-emission service to public transportation, university campuses, airports and corporate campuses—all at a lower total cost of ownership than diesel or CNG. Clean air and quiet communities now go hand-in-hand with affordable transportation.
BYD’s 60-foot articulated transit bus is perfect for moving large numbers of passengers. With a capacity of up to 55 seated passengers plus 65 standing (120 total), it is ideal for urban transit systems and highvolume shuttles of all kinds—including airports, sport venues, performing arts centers, and parking. Using no fossil fuels of any kind, BYD’s battery-electric buses are the cleanest, safest, most cost-effective way to move people from point to point. BYD brings dependable, zero-emission service to public transportation, university campuses, airports and corporate campuses—all at a lower total cost of ownership than diesel or CNG. Clean air and quiet communities now go hand-in-hand with affordable transportation.
BYD 1800 S Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015 Phone: 800-BYD-AUTO Email: inquiries@byd.com Website: www.byd.com
Model..................................................................................................................K9 Length............................................................................................................40.9’ Width.............................................................................................................101.6” Height ..........................................................................................................138.6” Engine..................................................................................Wheel-hub motors Electrical System ..........................................Zero-emissions high voltage Chassis..............................................................................................Three-steel HVAC........................High-tech BYD, optimized for electrical propulsion Wheelchair Lift .........................................................................................Ricon Steering...............................................................Douglas, tilt and telescope Suspension...................................................................Air (with mechanical) Seating Capacity ...............................................................................Up to 41+1 Wheelbase.....................................................................................................284” Page 50
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BYD 1800 S Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015 Phone: 800-BYD-AUTO Email: inquiries@byd.com Website: www.byd.com
Model .................................................................................................................K11 Length............................................................................................................60.7’ Width.............................................................................................................101.6” Height ..........................................................................................................138.6” Engine..................................................................................Wheel-hub motors Electrical System ..........................................Zero-emissions high voltage Chassis..............................................................................................Three-steel HVAC........................High-tech BYD, optimized for electrical propulsion Wheelchair Lift .........................................................................................Ricon Steering...............................................................Douglas, tilt and telescope Suspension ...............................................................................Air suspension Seating Capacity ..............................................................................Up to 54+1 Wheelbase......................................................................................238.5/275.6”
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BUSLINE VEHICLE SHOWCASE
Alte A ltern nat ativ ve eF Fu Fuels/Hy uels s//Hybrid Vehic cle les BYD
BYD
C6 Double Decker BYD’s all-new 35-foot double decker coach is turning heads in London. Ideal as a sightseeing coach or a transit bus where high capacity is needed, but a longer articulated bus might not be practical. Upper and lower levels provide panoramic views of the landscape and tourist attractions. Passengers will experience one of the most comfortable rides available—and step off feeling good about their contribution to cleaner air. Using no fossil fuels of any kind, BYD’s coachs are the cleanest, safest, most cost-effective way to move people from point to point.
BYD 1800 S Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015 Phone: 800-BYD-AUTO Email: inquiries@byd.com Website: www.byd.com
Model...........................................................................................Double decker Length ...............................................................................................................35’ Width............................................................................................................100.5” Height...........................................................................................................174.2” Engine..................................................................................Wheel-hub motors Electrical System ..........................................Zero-emissions high voltage Chassis..............................................................................................Three-steel HVAC........................High-tech BYD, optimized for electrical propulsion Wheelchair Lift .........................................................................................Ricon Steering...............................................................Douglas, tilt and telescope Suspension ...............................................................................Air suspension Seating Capacity.............................................................................................54 Wheelbase .................................................................................................234.4”
For customers who want to offer an exclusive, highly personalized experience for their passengers, nothing beats BYD’s 23-foot coach. Up to 16 guests can travel in quiet luxury–perfect for VIP clients, private events, personalized tours, tourist attractions, and shuttles with lower passenger volumes (hotels, private parking facilities, smaller colleges and universities). Passengers will experience one of the most comfortable rides available—and step off feeling good about their contribution to cleaner air. Using no fossil fuels of any kind, BYD’s coaches are the cleanest, safest, most cost-effective way to move people from point to point.
BYD 1800 S Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015 Phone: 800-BYD-AUTO Email: inquiries@byd.com Website: www.byd.com
Model..................................................................................................................C6 Length............................................................................................................23.3’ Width ...............................................................................................................81.1” Height............................................................................................................111.8” Engine..................................................................................Wheel-hub motors Electrical System ..........................................Zero-emissions high voltage Chassis..............................................................................................Three-steel HVAC........................High-tech BYD, optimized for electrical propulsion Wheelchair Lift .........................................................................................Ricon Steering...............................................................Douglas, tilt and telescope Suspension ...............................................................................Air suspension Seating Capacity ..........................................................................................16+1 Wheelbase..................................................................................................156.8” May/June 2018
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Alte A ltern nat ativ ve eF Fu Fuels/Hy uels s//Hybrid Vehic cle les ABC Companies
ABC Companies
Van Hool CX45E — Electric
Van Hool Fuel Cell
The new Van Hool CX45E will utilize the proven CX platform and will feature Proterra® E2 battery technology. Additionally, a fully-electric drivetrain designed to deliver exceptional operational, environmental and passenger benefits will power the CX45E. The CX Electric Vehicle partnership will bring together the resources of three market leaders— ABC Companies, Van Hool, and Proterra—each committed to technology innovation. The CX45E is designed to: • Eliminate hundreds of thousands of pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year; • Save customers tens of thousands of dollars on fuel and maintenance costs; and, • Provide a more comfortable and quieter coach experience for riders. Notable CX45E equipment features and highlights include: • Outside dimensions same as current CX diesel models; • Passenger seating same as current CX models; • One (1) door version is standard, second door is optional; and, • Center positioned ADA lift is optional. Deliveries will begin in 2019. 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...........................................................................................CX45E–Electric Overall Length ................................................................................................45’ Overall Height .............................................................................................11’ 6” Overall Width.................................................................................................102” Seating Capacity...................................................................................up to 61 Total Passengers.............................................................................................56 Brakes .........................................................................Four wheel disc brakes Page 52
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The Van Hool Fuel Cell retains its place as one of the most technically advanced transit buses available today. This clean, quiet, energy efficient low-floor 40-foot transit bus emits only water vapor from the tailpipe. Virtually noiseless, yet powerful enough to climb grades in excess of 18 percent and reach speeds of 50 mph, the Fuel Cell is powered by a zero-emission hydrogen-fueled, hybrid-electric engine, utilizing a fuel cell system, onboard battery power, and regenerative braking. Its clean operation can have an immediate positive impact on street-level emissions. 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 ....................................................................................Van Hool Fuel Cell Overall Length ................................................................................................40’ Overall Height..............................................................................................11’ 5” Overall Width.................................................................................................102” Seating Capacity.......................28 Seated + 4 Fold-Down Seats + Driver Total Passengers .............................................................................................57 Chassis ...................................................Electrically welded partially steel and partially stainless steel structure Brakes.........................................................................Four Wheel Disc Brakes Wheelchair Lift Option .................Fold-Out Wheelchair Ramp at Door 2
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BUSLINE VEHICLE SHOWCASE
Alte A ltern nat ativ ve eF Fu Fuels/Hy uels s//Hybrid Vehic cle les Motor Coach Industries
Motor Coach Industries
MCI® J4500 MCI® D45 CRT LE Built for Commuter Rapid Transit (CRT), the MCI D45 CRT LE delivers all the advantages of a proven high-floor design, combined with a breakthrough mid-door, Low-Entry (LE) vestibule for unprecedented accessibility, especially for passengers using mobility devices. The model will be available in all-electric by 2020. The ADA and Buy America-compliant model was developed with evaluations from the National Council on Independent Living and the American Association for People with Disabilities, among others. An automatic curb-level ramp that accommodates a wider variety of mobility aids, including next generation motorized wheelchairs, cuts dwell times to match low-floor transit boarding times. Spacious comfortable seating accommodates 54 passengers overall, adjusting to 52 when accommodating two passengers with mobility devices.
Now featuring more interior space for best-in-class legroom, and capacity to seat 60 comfortably, the MCI J4500 is slated as the first all-electric 45-coach developed by the leading North American coach manufacturer. The industry’s best-selling coach will feature battery electric technology and a high-torque electric drive system from Siemens. A modern entry and driver dash, with a high definition instrument panel, are additional advancements. Added optional bestin-class ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) with collision mitigation upgrades are offered, along with latest-generation Bendix Fusion that integrates a forward facing camera with vehicle recognition software to detect and stop for stationary objects and provides lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition and much more.
Motor Coach Industries; 200 East Oakton St., Des Plaines, IL 60018; 847-285-2000; 800-428-7626; Fax: 847-285-2013 • Email: marketing@mcicoach.com; Website: www.mcicoach.com
Motor Coach Industries; 200 East Oakton St., Des Plaines, IL 60018; 847-285-2000; 800-428-7626; Fax: 847-285-2013 • Email: marketing@mcicoach.com; Website: www.mcicoach.com
Model .................................................................................................D45 CRT LE Seating Capacity..................................................................................Up to 54 Overall Length ................................................................................................45’ Overall Height...............................................................................................138” Headroom ..................................................................................................78.25” Wheelbase......................................................................................................315” Turning Radius..........................................................................................40’ 11” Fuel Tank Capacity ................................................................................164 gal. Fuel Options............................................................Clean-diesel, all-electric GVWR ..................................................................................................54,000 lbs. Brakes ....................................................Bendix® ADB22X™ Air Disc Brakes
Model...........................................................................................................J4500 Seating Capacity .................................................................................Up to 60 Length .........................................................................................................45.58’ Height........................................................................................................140.75” Headroom ..................................................................................................78.25” Wheelbase......................................................................................................315” Front Suspension .............................................................Independent front GVWR ..................................................................................................54,000 lbs. Brakes ....................................................Bendix® ADB22X™ Air Disc Brakes May/June 2018
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BUSLINE VEHICLE SHOWCASE
Alte A ltern nat ativ ve eF Fu Fuels/Hy uels s//Hybrid Vehic cle les New Flyer of America
Nova Bus
The Xcelsior CHARGE™ builds on the industry-leading Xcelsior® transit bus platform, with extended range battery technology made in America, electric motors with efficient regenerative energy recovery, the highest torque available for steep grade cities, and charging infrastructure compliant with industry standards. Passengers on the battery-electric Xcelsior CHARGE™ will experience the quietest and most accessible transit bus ride available, with improved step height, expanded front door width, the best entry ramp ratio (1:7) in the industry for passengers with mobility assist devices, and best-inclass passenger carrying capacity. All is accomplished by optimized battery placements to comply with maximum gross axle and gross vehicle legal weight limits. The Xcelsior CHARGE™ extended range 40-foot configurations allow for up to 545 kWh battery capacity, obtaining realistic transit ranges of over 260 miles on a single charge based on Federal Transit Administration test protocol. Xcelsior CHARGE™ is available in 35-, 40- and 60-foot articulated bus rapid transit models.
LFS HEV® (Hybrid Electric Vehicle)
New Flyer of America, 6200 Glenn Carlson Drive, St. Cloud, MN, 56301. Website: www.newflyer.com
Model .........................................................................Xcelsior CHARGE™ XE40 Seats .......................................................................................................Up to 40 Length....................................................41’ over bumpers/40’2” over body Width ...............................................................................................................102” Roof height ...............................................................11’1” over charging rails Interior height..................79” over front and rear axle; 95” mid-coach Wheelbase................................................................................................283.75” Motor...............................................Siemens ELFA2 Electric Drive System, standard or optional high gradeability Curb weight hybrid ................................30,500 lb. (approximate weight; varies with ESS configuration) Floor ...............Marine-grade plywood floor, optional composite floor, composite rear interior step, Tarabus, Altro, RCA floor covering Electrical system......................................................................Parker Vansco Cooling system .............................................................Electric cooling fans HVAC .....................................................................................Thermo King RLFE Axles..............................................................MAN VOK 07 front disc brakes; MAN HY-1350 rear disc brakes, single reduction axle Rapid charge .....................................................100 kWh, 150 kWh, 200 kWh Long range charge.........................................280 kWh, 454 kWh, 545 kWh Page 54
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Based on the proven performance of the LFS platform, the LFS HEV® (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) upgrades its already advanced fuelefficient engineering by adding a powerful, ultra-low emissions hybrid drive to cut fuel and maintenance costs. Given optimal operating conditions, the LFS HEV offers up to 30 percent reduction in fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional diesel-powered buses. Other benefits include a significant reduction in noise levels, particularly at the rear of the vehicle and outside. Nova Bus offers two different types of hybrid systems: parallel and series. In both parallel and series vehicles, braking energy normally lost as heat is recuperated through a generator and stored in the rooftop batteries. That’s why hybrid technologies are best suited for frequent stop-and-go conditions. Also available, the high-capacity LFS Artic HEV is an attractive alternative for growing cities focused on sustainable development. Starts and stops are smooth and the ride is stable, even in snowy conditions; the end result is a more enjoyable passenger experience. Developing vehicles to help cities meet their sustainability objectives is part of Nova Bus’ vision to be the leader in green efficiency and Electro Mobility.
Nova Bus: 260 Banker Road, Plattsburgh, NY 12901 518-566-6682 • Fax: 518-957-2002 Email: novabus.sales@volvo.com • Website: www.novabus.com Model .......................................................................................................LFS HEV Seating Capacity...................................................................................up to 41 Length...............................................................................................................40’ Width ...............................................................................................................102” Height..............................................................................................................132” Engine .....................................................................Cummins ISB 6.7 280 HP, Cummins ISL 8.9 330 HP Traction Drive .................................................Allison H 40 EP, BAE HDS200 Chassis .......................................................................Stainless Steel Integral Fuel ...............................................................................Diesel-electric Hybrid Air Conditioning ................................................Thermo King Athenia, MCC Wheelchair Lift Option..............................................................Lift-U, Fedico Steering .............................................................................................TRW TAS85 Suspenion..........................................................................................................ZF
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BUSLINE VEHICLE SHOWCASE
Alte A ltern nat ativ ve eF Fu Fuels/Hy uels s//Hybrid Vehic cle les Complete Coach Works
GILLIG
ZEPS Bus The ZEPS (Zero Emission Propulsion System) drive system technology, developed exclusively by Complete Coach Works (CCW), provides customers with a clean, cost-effective and viable alternative to fossil fuel. CCW can integrate ZEPS into any fleet, helping communities further support the environment for future generations. CCW remanufactures buses to reduce the cost and the environmental impact of bus manufacturing. The ZEPS bus relies on the recycle-reuse-reduce philosophy, and is the ultimate in sustainability. CCW takes a previously used transit bus powered by a fossil fuel engine, and remanufactures it to like-new condition, with an all-electric powered drivetrain system. The ZEPS powered remanufactured electric bus is the ultimate in eliminating environmental impact in the transit industry. For 30 years, CCW has led the transit industry in retrofits and rehabs, but by far the ZEPS line has made CCW most proud by reaching over 1 million miles driven throughout the United States. CCW has successfully retrofitted and deployed its ZEPS all-electric drive system in many operations around the nation, meeting the diverse needs of each operator. The ZEPS system has been utilized for buses, trolleys and other heavy-duty vehicles. Not only is CCW dedicated to crafting quality, it’s also dedicated to always producing projects on time.
GILLIG Low Floor Hybrid GILLIG is a leading heavy-duty transit bus manufacturer and aftermarket parts supplier in the United States. From initial design through final assembly, each GILLIG bus is developed and built by dedicated American workers. GILLIG produces buses incorporating a broad range of drive systems, including clean diesel, compressed natural gas, diesel-electric hybrid, and zero-emission battery-electric. GILLIG is committed to building buses that connect communities, eliminate congestion, and contribute to a greener environment. For its entire 128 years, GILLIG has been a family-owned American business with a long history of creating well-paying, dependable American jobs. In that tradition, GILLIG recently moved into a brand new, state-of-the-art headquarters and production facility in Livermore, CA.
GILLIG LLC 451 Discovery Dr., Livermore, CA 94551 Phone: 510-264-5000 Email: sales@gillig.com Website: www.gillig.com
Complete Coach Works, 1863 Service Court Riverside, CA 92507 800-300-3751 Website: www.completecoach.com, www.ZEPS.com • Zero emission propulsion system • 100 mile driving range • Low maintenance • Clean & noise free • Liquid cool system • Light and densest battery pack • Advance latium ion battery • .7 cents mile electric = $1.05 mile diesel • All electric power drive train system • Improves bus life span • Avoid material waste
Model......................................................................................Low Floor Hybrid Seating Capacity.............................................................................................40 Length...............................................................................................................40’ Width ...............................................................................................................102” Height..............................................................................................................133” Engine ..........................................................................................Cummins B6.7 Type of Fuel................................................................................................Diesel Chassis .......................................................................................Stainless Steel HVAC......................................................................................Thermo King/MCC Wheelchair Lift Option ................................................................Lift U/Ricon Steering .............................................................................TRW Electric Assist Suspension ......................................................................................................Air May/June 2018
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BUSLINE VEHICLE SHOWCASE
Alt A lt te er rnat na n ative F Fu uel ls/Hybr s//Hybrid V s Veh ehic cle les
Proterra
Proterra Catalyst® Battery-Electric Bus Proterra is rapidly reinventing the transit industry with Catalyst® batteryelectric vehicles. Communities across North America have already put these high-performance buses to the test through more than five million miles of service. Designed from the start as an exclusively electric vehicle, the Catalyst vehicle delivers exceptional route flexibility and proven operational performance, with the greatest range of any zero-emission, battery-electric bus in its class. Made with an advanced carbon-fiber-reinforced body and the market’s highest-efficiency batteries and electric drivetrains, the Catalyst bus is designed to safely and quietly endure nearly two decades of on-road service, with minimal maintenance required. Proterra offers a modular, technology-centric approach to vehicle configuration. Customers can choose from two vehicle sizes and can select their energy level, as well as charging solutions to meet the needs of their specific routes.
Proterra Inc. 1815 Rollins Road Burlingame, CA 94010 Phone: 864-438-0000 Email: sales@proterra.com Website: www.proterra.com
Model .................................................................................40’ Catalyst E2 Max Seating Capacity.............................................................................................40 Length...........................................................................................................42’6” Height ............................................................................................................11’ 2” Width ...............................................................................................................102” Engine......................................................Dual independent 190 kW motors Type of fuel ...............................................Battery-Electric, up to 660 kWh Chassis ..............................................Monocoque Carbon-fiber-reinforced composite material HVAC .................................................................Overhead integrated system Wheelchair Lift Option.................................Front ADA power wheelchair ramp (4:1, 6:1 slope) Steering......................................................................................................Power Suspension ........................................Multi-Link Air Ride rear suspension Page 56
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Windy City: Continued From Page 37
Another key to success Kahne discussed has been sticking to the company’s philosophy of putting customers first. “Everyone is in business to make money. So, our philosophy is take care of the customer and we will make money,” Kahne said. Part of taking good care of customers is being honest and acknowledging mistakes. “Things happen. It is how you recover from what happened that makes a difference,” Kahne said. “We don’t embellish. We don’t make up stories. We are brutally honest and tell customers when we have done something wrong, and how we are going fix it so it never happens again. “We view our customer relationships as true partnerships. Give them what they need and want and they will come back and we will all make money. “We have had customers say they were going to fire us. We told them, ‘This is what happened. This is why it happened, and this is how we are going to fix it.’ By the end of the call they said, ‘You couldn’t have handled this any better. You’re human. We get it. We are all people. Things go wrong. It wasn’t with intent. You’ve addressed it and made well by it.’ “Over the years, we haven’t been afraid to take big risks, because without taking risks, there is no reward. So far, the reward has been fantastic. We have confidence in ourselves and what we are willing to do. We all believe in each other and what we can do as a team. It has been a fun ride. I’m looking forward to what it is going to look like a year from now and 10 years from now.” Contact: Windy City Limousine, 2801 S. 25th Ave., Broadview, IL 60155. Phone: 847-916-9300. Email: info@windycitylimos.com. Website: www.windycitylimos.com.
Software: Continued From Page 47
and hassle of maintaining a server. Interfaces with other Microsoft applications, while providing a quality, cost-effective solution. Dealers can realize significant savings by implementing real-time integration across all departments: Parts, Service, Finance, CRM, Accounting, Payroll and Rental. 15
Trapeze Group 5800 Explorer Dr., Mississaugua ON L4W 5K9 CANADA Phone: 905-629-8727 Email: info@trapezegroup.com Website: www.trapezegroup.com Products: Transit Operations and Workforce Management, designed to simplify scheduling, frequent sign-ups, complex pay rules and solve other logistical headaches; Transit Enterprise Asset Management, which tracks equipment and infrastructure over time, extends their lives and keeps them safe; Automated Fare Collection, designed for optimal cash management, provides agencies with fare media and provides higher utility to existing investments; and Traveler Information delivers schedule and real-time information to transit and paratransit passengers. Transit scheduling and planning and paratransit scheduling and dispatch solutions provide flexibility for an agency, while business intelligence tools provide views of an agency’s data. 15
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AngelTrax See Ad On Page 44 119 S. Woodburn Dr., Dothan, AL 36305 USA 800-673-1788 Website: www.angeltrax.com Products: AngelTrax provides in-vehicle video surveillance solutions, including Vulcan™ Series DVRs, cameras and patented mapping technology. 17
Apollo Video Technology See Ad On Page 44 24000 35th Ave., SE, Bothell, WA 98021 USA 425-483-7100 Email: info@apollovideo.com Website: www.apollovideotechnology.com Products: Comprehensive solutions for onboard video surveillance. Designed and manufactured specifically for bus and rail applications, the RoadRunner™ system and back-end ViM Software™ enhance fleet efficiency, reduce maintenance and operating costs, increase accessibility of data, and mitigate risk and liability. 18 ASA Electronics 2602 Marina Dr., Elkhart, IN 46514 USA 574-266-3135 Website: www.ASAElectronics.com Products: The company has been designing and manufacturing mobile electronic products for the marine, RV, powersports, agricultural, construction, commercial vehicle and bus industries since 1977. 18
Clever Devices, Inc. 300 Crossways Park Dr. Woodbury, NY 11797 USA 516-433-6100 Email: contactus@cleverdevices.com Website: www.cleverdevices.com Products: Clever Devices is a provider of technology solutions for all modes of public transportation including fixed-route, bus rapid transit, paratransit and rail. The com-
pany’s solutions enhance mobility and help meet the public transportation challenges of communities around the world. 18
EyeRide 2520 SW 30th Ave. Hallandale Beach, FL 33009 USA 888-668-6698 Email: info@eyerideonline.com Website: www.eyerideonline.com Products: The company provides such items as DVR camera surveillance systems; cameras for commercial trucks, buses and transit vehicles; GPS tracking systems for fleet vehicle management; mobile Wi-Fi hotspot routers for buses and motorcoaches; and electronic logbook and DVIR equipment. 18 iDrive 249 N. Turnpike Rd. Santa Barbara, CA 93111 USA 805-308-6094 Email: sales@idriveglobal.com Website: www.idriveglobal.com Products: iDrive provides in-vehicle camera systems for motorcoach fleets. The company provides multiple solutions such as video event recorders, continuous recording surveillance, fleet management software and/or live GPS tracking, all with one system to better manage fleets. The all-new iDrive X2 is a dual lens video event recorder with iDrive’s all new Visual Telematics®, combining live GPS tracking with five second live video ability and simultaneous continuous recording. The X2 reduces accidents by 50 percent, saving users money. The iDrive D8 is an eight-camera continuous recording mobile DVR unit, equipped with a 250GB Solid State Hard Drive. Both the X2 and D8 run together under the same infrastructure. All data is owned by the customer and can be accessed at any time once downloaded to the dedicated iDrive base station at the customer’s location. 18
REI 6534 L St., Omaha, NE 68117 USA 402-339-2200 Email: info@radioeng.com Website: www.radioeng.com Products: REI is a customer-experience focused, all-in-one solutions provider of professional automotive-grade electronics for the transportation industry. 18 Rosco Vision Systems 90-21 144th Pl., Jamaica, NY 11435 USA 718-526-2601 Website: www.roscovision.com Products: Founded in 1907, Rosco provides such items as backup camera systems, mirrors, visors and other visual safety solutions to the worldwide commercial vehicle market. 18 Safety Vision See Ad On Page 45 6100 W. Sam Houston Pkwy. N. Houston, TX 77041 USA 800-880-8855 Email: masstransitsales@safetyvision.com Website: www.safetyvision.com Company Officers: Lucius McCelvy, Mass Transit Sales Manager Products: Safety Vision’s suite of mobile video recorders offer tough and lasting performance in any transit environment. Equipped with HD technology for high definition picture quality, Safety Vision’s solutions deliver greater resolution at a lower cost. Sophisticated and feature-rich software supplies users with all the necessary playback and investigating tools needed. 18
Seon Unit 111 – 3B Burbidge St. Coquitlam, BC V3K 7B2 CANADA 604-941-0880 Email: sales@seon.com Website: www.seon.com Products: Seon is a manufacturer of video surveillance and fleet management solutions for school and transit buses. 18
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Ethan Sprengeler Joins MCI As Regional Sales Vice President
Motor Coach Industries (MCI) has added Ethan Sprengeler as regional sales vice president. Sprengeler joined MCI on February 26, and is responsible for growing market share in new and pre-owned coach sales, reporting to Patricia Ziska, new coach sales vice president. Previously, Sprengeler was a sales account executive with another company, where he sold new and pre-owned coaches throughout the Midwest. Before that, he held a sales role with a digital business service company after graduating from Bemidji State University, in Bemidji, MN. An avid outdoorsman enjoying fishing, skiing Ethan Sprengeler and golf, Sprengeler is based in his hometown of Minneapolis, MN, and at the Des Plaines, IL, MCI Sales and Service Center. He can be reached at ethan.sprengeler@mcicoach.com or 507-491-8164.
ARBOC Hires Heidi Smart As Executive Assistant
ARBOC Specialty Vehicles LLC. (ARBOC), a U.S. subsidiary of New Flyer Industries Inc., has added Heidi Smart as the executive assistant to Don Roberts, president. Prior to her position with ARBOC, she worked as a dealer sales representative at Glaval Bus for 12 years and as a sales coordinator at Goshen Coach for seven years. In the Heidi Smart past, she also worked with special needs adults, providing life skill training and transportation to medical treatment. She is also a mentor for high risk children. For more information, visit www.arbocsv.com
Tom JeBran New Chair Of ABA Foundation
The American Bus Association Foundation has announced its 2018 leadership officers. Tom JeBran, president of TransBridge Lines in Bethlehem, PA, has been named chairman of the foundation, and John
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Tom JeBran
Percy, president & CEO of the Niagara Tourism & Convention Corporation in Niagara Falls, NY, is vice chairman. “We are excited to have both Tom and John leading the ABA John Percy Foundation this year,” said ABA Foundation President & CEO Peter Pantuso. “Both individuals have been leaders on the ABA board of directors as well as the ABA Foundation, and their dedication to the Foundation’s mission of supporting the motorcoach travel and tour industries is impressive.”
Prevost Regional Sales Manager Serge Gonthier Named To OMCA Board Of Directors
Serge Gonthier, Prevost sales manager for its Quebec region, has been appointed to the Ontario Motor Coach Association (OMCA) board of directors. According to a press release, “Serving bus Serge Gonthier and coach operators throughout Canada, the OMCA’s mission is to enhance the safety and quality of its member companies through education, awareness and advocacy for all facets of the motorcoach industry. OMCA reserves one position on its board of directors for a vehicle OEM product and service representative.” Gonthier takes his seat on the board this month during OMCA’s Annual Meeting and Marketplace, replacing his predecessor, Guy Tessier of Motor Coach Industries (MCI).
Ray Little, New VP Sales For Nova Bus
Ray Little has been appointed vice president of sales, North America, for Nova Bus. Along with his team, he oversees growth across North America, particularly in the United States. In his 25 years of experience, Little has held several executivelevel positions. He also founded and led, for nearly two decades, a company that supports transit clients in driving Ray Little profitability. Until recently, he served as vice president of business development for MV Transportation, a private custom
May/June 2018
transportation and paratransit services firm. Nova Bus provides sustainable transit solutions in North America including hybrid electric buses, high-capacity vehicles and integrated intelligent transportation systems. For more information, visit www.novabus.com.
RTA Receives Bus Safety Award From APTA
The Greater Cleveland, OH, Regional Transit Authority (RTA) has been awarded the Gold Award for Bus Safety from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). RTA, which is among the nation’s largest transit systems, will be presented with the honor for its achievements in safety, security and operations in May at the APTA Bus and Paratransit Conference in Tampa, FL. “We’re proud that RTA’s transit professionals have achieved another milestone,” said RTA CEO and General Manager Joe Calabrese. “We’ve worked as a team to achieve this outstanding honor, and I couldn’t be more proud.” RTA received the award for its adoption of Safety Management Systems (SMS) principles, said RTA’s Director of Safety Richard Czeck. According to Czeck, “SMS relies on data to understand emerging risk. It’s our agency-wide approach to managing safety. From the CEO down, we’re committed to using data in a proactive manner.”
Royal Excursion Acquires Excursions Trailways
South Bend, IN-based Royal Excursion, with a fleet of more than 80 vehicles and more than 200 employees, has acquired Excursions Trailways, a Fort Wayne, IN-based charter bus company. The transaction closed on January 4, 2018. Terms of the acquisition were not released. With the closing, Royal Excursion, a charter bus and luxury transportation provider in northern Indiana, and serving the greater Midwest, has grown considerably. Excursions Trailways travels throughout the United States and Canada from its locations in Fort Wayne, and Ottawa, OH. Founded in 2000 by Thomas Bazow and Pat O’Brian, two full-time teachers, Excursions Trailways grew into a fleet of 20 buses, from a single bus. The company serves corporate and group outings. Customers include semi-pro, collegiate and high-school athletic teams, church groups, students and family-focused groups. Excursions Trailways is also certified by the United States Department of Defense, and authorized to carry the men and women serving in the U.S. military, a certification held by fewer than 10 percent of the motorcoach companies nationally, according to a press release. Visit Royal Excursion at www.royalexcursion.com.
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Broward County Transit Has 30 New 2018 MCI Commuter Coaches
Thirty new MCI Commuter Coaches have been added to a fleet, including 14 other MCI Commuter Coaches purchased in 2014 and 2015, at Broward County Florida’s Express Bus Service. “Broward County Transit’s (BCT) Express Bus Service, in partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation, runs on a managed lane network via I-95 and I-595 to Miami-Dade County and, coming soon, via I-75 to Miami-Dade County. BCT’s Express Bus Service provides service to the two largest-populated counties in Florida with daily trips from nine Park & Ride locations that are free for Express riders. “The new coaches were sold to BCT at an approximate price of $18 million and delivered in December 2017.” The MCI Commuter Coach features Wi-Fi, forward-facing, high-back seats, LED reading lights, power outlets, pullout bike storage trays and wheelchair lifts. Designed for higher speeds, the Buy-America-compliant, Altoona-tested, MCI Commuter Coach uses a high-floor design that raises passengers and the driver above traffic and features a long-travel suspension for a smooth ride. Safety features include electronic stability control, tire pressure monitoring and fire suppression, plus a clean-diesel engine for near-zero emissions. Broward County Transit (BCT) serves the area with nearly 40 million rides to customers annually. It operates 44 routes within 410 square miles of Broward County, and provides service to parts of Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties. For more information about BCT, visit broward.org/BCT, and for information about the MCI Commuter Coach, visit www.mcicoach.com.
Rural And Intercity Transit Conference To Begin September 30 In Breckenridge, CO
Plans have been announced for the 23rd National Conference on Rural Public and Intercity Bus Transportation in Breckenridge, CO. This bi-annual conference, which got its start in 1976 in Greensboro, NC, will be held this year, September 30 - October 3. The year’s conference will focus on improving rural, regional and intercity mobility options in the U.S. The conference will cover topics concerning rural public transit, tribal and intercity bus operations, highlighting current applied research and best practices. Featured keynote speaker, Donna Griggs, will discuss how to manage change. For more information, visit www.www.ribtc.org.
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May/June 2018
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ARBOC Produces 3,000th Bus
“In 2008, ARBOC Specialty Vehicles produced its first bus, and now, 10 years later, it celebrates the production of its 3,000th bus with a new customer, the City of Sarnia, located in Ontario, Canada,” said ARBOC. “The City of Sarnia is excited to modernize its fleet with the addition of eight new ARBOC buses. These new vehicles provide mobility and convenience, allowing us to serve our citizens efficiently today and into the future,” said David Jackson, manager of development and transportation for the City of Sarnia. Under a Metrolinx contract procured by Creative Carriage in Ontario, Canada, the 3,000th bus is a low floor, fully accessible Spirit of Freedom.
Portugal Adds 8 12-Meter BYD Buses
BYD has entered a new market for its pure electric ebuses, Portugal joins Spain as an operator of the BYD ebus. The Coimbra Municipal Public Transportation Service, SMTUC, has placed an order for eight pure electric 12-meter BYD buses.
Pictured, left to right, are Isbrand Ho, managing director at BYD Europe, and Manuel Augusto Soares Machado, president of the Coimbra municipality.
Creative Carriage has supported ARBOC for several years. “It has been a great privilege for Creative Carriage to deliver ARBOC’s 3,000th bus to the City of Sarnia,” said Bob Dunn, president of Creative Carriage. “Congratulations to everyone at ARBOC Specialty Vehicles for reaching a truly tremendous milestone. It is great to work with the industry leader and innovator in mid-size, low floor buses.” “We could not be more pleased to collaborate with the City of Sarnia on this momentous bus,” stated Don Roberts, president of ARBOC. “With a well-established dealer like Creative Carriage, that has been supporting ARBOC since the beginning, we are certain the City of Sarnia, and its customers, will be happy with the vehicle and the support it receives after delivery.”
BYD Begins Operations In Capital City Of Brazil With New Electric Bus
Bus operator, Piracicabana, has launched new electric buses in the city of Brasília, Brazil´s capital. Rodrigo Rollemberg, governor of the Brasilia Federal District, attended the launch. Governor Rollemberg highlighted the benefits of having electric buses in the city. “We are moving quickly towards sustainable mobility. And, we hope to expand the electric bus fleet for the entire federal district.” He also mentioned plans to apply tax incentives for electricity to power electric buses for public transportation.
Calgary Transit Orders 137 Spirit Of Freedom Buses
ARBOC also announced that Calgary Transit has confirmed a contract for 137 fully accessible, low-floor, cutaway Spirit of Freedom buses. “The contract, which supports rejuvenation of community shuttles within Calgary Transit’s 100 percent accessible fleet, was secured by Crestline Coach Ltd., ARBOC’s dealer in seven provinces in Canada,” said ARBOC. “The Freedom exceeds the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines with a 1:5 ramp slope. Built on a conventional GM G4500 chassis with the original equipment manufacturer’s (OEM) spring suspension, it provides a single, non-discriminatory patented angled and accessible entranceway, eliminating the need for riders to navigate steps.” Calgary Transit, located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, has 1,155 active accessible vehicles in service. For more information, visit www.arbocsv.com. Page 60
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New BYD electric bus D9W manufactured in collaboration with Marcopolo.
BYD D9W uses a BYD chassis produced at the company’s Brazilian factory in Campinas, and a Marcopolo Torino bus body. It is a 100 percent electric bus chassis for application in bus bodies up to 13.2-meters long. With a 300-km driving range and zero-emissions, it offers a quiet operation. With a low floor, as well as pneumatic front and rear suspension, it provides comfort, universal accessibility and a smooth ride. The bus also has air conditioning and low maintenance costs. For more information, visit www.byd.com.
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Cardinal Transportation Takes Delivery Of Two 2018 Van Hool TX45s
“Roy Alonso founded Cardinal Transportation in 2000, and has since grown the company into a large and diversified transportation company in central Ohio. With a fleet of over 59 vehicles, including 23 full-size motorcoaches, shuttle buses, limousines and towncars, Cardinal can provide transportation options for both large and small groups. Offerings includes charter and tour — both local and national — airport transportation, chauffeured limousine services, along with a variety of contract services. “Alonso’s career in the transportation industry began when he was 18, as a student bus driver with The Ohio State University’s Transportation Department. He later advanced to operations manager for its Campus Bus & Charter Bus Division,” said Van Hool. “I enjoyed this type of work, and decided I wanted to do it for myself,” said Alonso.
Pictured left to right are Roy Alonso, Cardinal Transportation president, and Jamey Rismiller, operations manager.
According to ABC Companies, Cardinal Transportation began as a black-car service with the acquisition of a small limo company in 2000, utilizing full-sized sedans and SUVs for corporate transportation. Over time, the fleet expanded to include shuttle vehicles and full-size motorcoaches. Two years ago, the owners of America Interstate, a friendly competitor, wanted to retire, and Alonso was ready to expand. The company
was a good fit with Cardinal’s business plan, and allowed a bigger footprint in central Ohio. The owners helped with the transition and continue as part-time employees today. Cardinal completed its new 33,000-square-foot facility in October 2017, which houses all operations under one roof. Situated on five acres of mostly paved parking area, the structure features indoor coach parking spaces along with maintenance booths. With three full-time mechanics on staff, the majority of the maintenance work is done in-house. The company also has a new fueling station. Jamey Rismiller, operations manager, has been with the company for over 10 years and, according to Alonso, will “help take us to the next level.” Alonso said, “I decided on the Van Hool product primarily because of the customer service that ABC Companies provides — before and after the sale.” Both new 56-passenger Van Hool TX45s are equipped with 450 HP engines and six-speed automatic transmissions, and feature leather seats with fabric inserts and three-point seat belts. Optional features include passenger side-window shades, woodgrain flooring, enclosed parcel racks, and cup holders. There is on-board Wi-Fi, multi-media interface and monitors, and 110V USB outlets. Van Hool standard safety features include antilock braking system, automatic traction control, electronic stability control, lane departure warning system, a fire suppression system, daytime running lights and adaptive static light system. Cardinal’s graphic package was produced and installed by ABC Companies in its Winter Garden, FL, location prior to delivery of these coaches. For more information, contact ABC Companies at 800-222-2875 or visit www.abc-companies.com.
Complete Coach Works Wins Two First Place Awards In APTA’s 2018 Annual Ad Wheel Awards Competition
Complete Coach Works (CCW) was awarded first place in two categories of APTA’s 2018 Annual Ad Wheel Awards Competition. In September 2017, CCW competed against more than 360 entries in 14 advertising categories. All submissions were evaluated by 60 industry experts. CCW was ranked first in two of the 14 categories. According to a press release, “CCW won the first category, Educational – Print Media, for the print ad, ‘Trusted for Decades,’ that was published in 2017. The ad conveyed the history of the Carson family line, and its dedication to public transportation since 1945. “The second category, Educational – Social Media, CCW winner was the photo album of the ‘Creation of the CCW American Bus.’ This gallery begins with a product concept sketch drawn on a piece of paper and finishes with an authentic photograph displaying the CCW American Bus suspended in mid-air at the 2017 APTA Expo in Atlanta, GA. The album was a unique way of showcasing how CCW comes together as a team in all departments from beginning to end.” Dale E. Carson, president of CCW, said, “I am so proud of our creative team, from the administrative staff to those working in production. These awards were made possible by the entire company and the employees’ daily efforts to serve CCW customers.” Complete Coach Works (CCW) is a bus remanufacturing and rehabilitation company and provider of transportation solutions with over 30 years of service to the transportation industry. For more information, visit www.completecoach.com. May/June 2018
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Prevost Sponsorship Helps BISC Advance Safety Mission
MetroLINK Debuts Proterra Battery-Electric Bus Fleet In IL
Earlier in April, the Rock Island County Metropolitan Mass Transit District (MetroLINK in Moline, IL) debuted its battery-electric bus fleet at a ribbon cutting ceremony. “The three 40-foot buses, manufactured by Proterra, will help achieve MetroLINK’s continuing vision in developing a sustainable Quad Cities through voluntary efforts in reducing vehicle emissions, building efficient and sustainable infrastructure, and communicating transit’s environmental benefits to the community,” according to MetroLink. “The battery-electric bus project was supported primarily with funds provided through the Illinois Department of Transportation’s award of a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Clean Fuels grant, and an additional FTA 5339 Bus and Bus Facilities grant.” According to a press release, “In 2002, MetroLINK began a clean-air initiative with the introduction of clean-burning compressed natural gas buses. With 80 percent of the fleet currently running on compressed natural gas, the introduction of battery-electric buses was the next step in environmentally sustainable fleet technology. Fueled with electricity, the buses have 30 percent fewer parts, with no liquid fuel or oil changes, thus reducing maintenance labor costs.” Jennifer Hirsch, manager of administration for MetroLINK, said, “We are the first public transit system in Illinois to introduce purpose built battery-electric buses to our fleet, which speaks to the innovation and forward thinking of our leadership team. We want to continue to provide our riders and community with eco-friendly transit options, as well as the most modern experience. We are beyond excited to introduce the Proterra batteryelectric buses to the Quad Cities community, and can’t wait for Quad citizens to take a ride on the future of public transportation.” The public debut of the battery-electric buses came on the heels of a recent award of $3.165 million in Federal Transportation Administration 5339 Bus and Bus Facilities funds to MetroLINK for the purchase of five additional Proterra battery-electric buses and charging equipment.
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May/June 2018
“Prevost announces its recent agreement to sponsor the Bus Industry Safety Council (BISC), in the interest of advancing overall bus safety for all operators and bus and coach passengers,” said the company. “Under the umbrella of the American Bus Association (ABA), BISC is a collective of safety-minded individuals who embody every role of the bus and coach industry, addressing every safety concern from shop safety, driver training to vehicle technology and regulatory compliance. “As part of the Volvo Group, Prevost heralds its safety mission as a core value and guiding principle. Building on its legacy, the Volvo 9700 coach continues to set the highest safety standards possible. Advanced systems for driver assistance, high-efficiency brakes, seat belts and world-class protective structures are standard Volvo safety features.”
Zero Accident Vision, Volvo’s definitive goal of its safety initiative, is to ensure no Volvo vehicle is ever involved in an accident. “We have always put safety first, as do the members of BISC,” said Michael Power, vice president, marketing, Prevost and Nova Bus. “It is in our DNA to plan and design vehicles that lead the industry in safety and protection. Our hope for our sponsorship of BISC is to help instill all bus and coach operators with a similarly robust safety philosophy.” ABA’s goal in founding BISC in 1999 was for it to serve as a forum for bus and coach operators, safety directors, maintenance supervisors as well as OEMs, vendors and government agencies to focus on advancements in safe bus and motorcoach operations. “Speaking for all BISC members, we greatly appreciate the tremendous boost Prevost brings to our efforts through its sponsorship,” said BISC Chairman Alan Smith, safety director, Greyhound Lines, Dallas, TX. “Not only do we have the backing and support of a truly, quality company that shares our vision, BISC is now in a position to grow and develop from Prevost’s vast safety research and resources.” “We appreciate the commitment and foresight Prevost brings to this sponsorship,” said ABA President/CEO Peter Pantuso. “Prevost will not only help BISC grow its membership and reach new heights, the company will further establish itself as one of the pre-eminent safety leaders in the motorcoach industry.” Prevost manufactures intercity touring coaches and produces conversion coaches for high-end motorhome and specialty conversion. For more information, visit www.prevostcar.com.
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