Jul/Aug 2018 Busline Magazine

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See for yourself what makes MCI models and service best-in-class It’s our 85th birthday! Help us celebrate our past, present and future, and be one of the first to discover our latest model innovations, service upgrades and more.

Bring your teams for lunch, prize drawings, parts discounts and educational opportunities.

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Check out 2019 modelyear updates to the best-selling MCI J4500, now featuring a fuelsaving, easy to service, swing out radiator and eFan system, along with optional Advance Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)—only available from MCI

See our new D45 CRT LE with revolutionary accessibility and experience a test drive Check out the best low-floor transit bus

Take advantage of MCI Academy training opportunities, and parts specials

RELIABILITY RALLY SCHEDULE

July 10 Tuesday, Winter Garden, FL

July 19 Thursday, Blackwood, NJ

July 24 Tuesday, Learn about the all-electric platform coming to both MCI J4500 and D45 CRT LE models

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Find deals on pre-owned coaches, plus discounts on service and repairs

For full details and registration, visit mcicoach.com/rally

Des Plaines, IL

August 6 Monday,

San Francisco Bay Area Hayward, CA

August 14 Tuesday, Los Alamitos, CA

September 6 Thursday, Montreal, Canada

September 13 Thursday, Dallas, TX

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WHO’S DRIVING THE BUS? YOU ARE.

When you choose Freightliner Custom Chassis, you get the power to customize your transportation to meet your needs.

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CONTENTS

M

A

G

A

Z

I

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Off And Running With A Steady Canter Of Growth

Stallion Express Bus ....................................8 Reaching Out To Community Pays Dividends

Metro McAllen Adding Routes And All-Electric Buses ...............................24 Busline Vehicle Showcase:

Small & Mid-Size Buses 36

Micro Bird Commercial................58 ARBOC Specialty Vehicles............60 ABC Companies............................63

RAPID RESPONSE .........................Page 6 INDUSTRY NEWS........................Page 56

ON THE COVER: Stallion Express Bus Director & CEO Glenn Ledet stands next to one of his company's motorcoaches produced by CHTC Bus Group. Stallion operates line run and charter services in California. See page 8.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

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

January 25-29 American Bus Association (ABA) Annual Meeting & Marketplace 2019 Louisville, KY Info: 800-283-2877 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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JULY/AUGUST 2018 Published by Rankin Publishing, Inc. www.buslinemag.com

BUSLINE

July/August 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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SAFETY IS OUR PRIORITY AND OUR PASSION.

The Volvo 9700 makes safety a priority with advanced driver assistance systems, high-efficiency brakes, seat belts, and a cabin structure engineered to protect all on board. The ultra-reliable Volvo engine delivers maximum fuel efficiency while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. And every feature is perfectly packaged in a well-equipped coach designed to provide a world-class travel experience. www.prevostcar.com

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Company

Website

ABC Companies

Page #

www.abc-companies.com

Altro

www.altro.com

ARBOC Specialty Vehicles

www.ARBOCsv.com

Amaya-Astron

Atlantic Detroit Diesel-Allison

17, 67

www.amaya-astron.com.mx

20

33

16

www.atlanticdda.com

29

Bitzer

www.bitzerus.com

31

BYD

www.byd.com

Bitimec Wash-Bots BusCon

www.wash-bots.com

BusConExpo.com

CBM NA

CHTC Bus Group Complete Coach Works

Davey Coach Sales, Inc.

www.cleanseal.com

12

www.daveycoach.com

68

www.dixie-electric.com

44

www.completecoach.com

www.diamondmfg.com

EnerDel

www.EnerDel.com

Freightliner

www.freightlinerchassis.com

Hudson River Corporation

www.lavdump.com

Hometown Trolley

Infanti™ Bus & Coach Upholstery

7

45

Diamond Manufacturing Dixie Electric Ltd.

66

www.cbmna.com

www.chtcbusgroup.com

Clean Seal

19

www.hometowntrolley.com

9

15

42

18

3

11

37

www.infantibusandcoachupholstery.com 23

Company

Website

Page #

Kelderman Air Suspension Systems www.kelderman.com Lancer Insurance

www.lancerinsurance.com

Marathon Brake Systems

www.MarathonBrake.com

22

Midwest Bus Corporation

www.midwestbus.com

25

Micro Bird Commercial

www.mbcbus.com

www.mjminnovations.com

Motorcoach Tire Sales

www.motorcoachtiresales.com

30

www.onspot.com

43

www.ta-petro.com

63

Motor Coach Industries (MCI) Norse Systems

Onspot Automatic Tire Chains

www.mcicoach.com www.norsesys.com

OurBus

www.OurBus.com/Partners

Prevost Car

www.prevostcar.com

Petro Stopping Centers Relational Bus Systems Safety Step

Service Insurance Sutrak

www.rbs2000.com

www.safetystep.net

www.serviceins.com

www.sutrakusa.com

2

46 13 5

27

43

44

32

wwwtransignllc.com

42

TRP Parts

www.TRPParts.com/Bus

21

TransitWorks

www.Transit-Works.com

Vanner Power

www.vanner.com

Electric Beltless Alternator

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Energy Management Systems

July/August 2018

14

Transign

Introducing

BUSLINE

34

MJM Innovations

: the ability to do something or produce something without wasting materials, time, or energy: see IAP IITM

Page 6

41

26

www.vanner com

@VannerHybrid

38

6, 39

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Stallion

Express Bus Off And Running With A Steady Canter Of Growth

Glenn Ledet

THEY SAW A NICHE IN LINE RUNS AND WENT AFTER IT. Off and running — these three words best describe the early success of line run and charter transportation provider Luo Cheng Travel, d/b/a Stallion Express Bus. The South San Francisco, CA-based bus/motorcoach operator has shown controlled growth in terms of fleet size and services provided since its inception in December 2016.

By Harrell Kerkhoff Busline Magazine Editor Page 8

BUSLINE

July/August 2018

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HT-45

QUALITY, VALUE, TRADITION

(800) 216-6788 | sales@chtcusa.com | www.chtcbusgroup.com

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Director & CEO Glenn Ledet credits this early success to the company’s founding core values, which stress the desire to

Comfortable seating, adequate leg room and reclining capabilities are among the customer-friendly amenities provided by Stallion Express Bus.

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provide quality line run and charter transportation work, with the needs of all customers in mind.

“This has enabled us to grow and enjoy revenue stability, which is important, especially for a young company,” Ledet said.

“Trying to be everything to everyone does not work for us, as a transportation provider. We saw a niche with line run work early on, and went after that niche. That has brought early success, and allowed us to build a solid reputation among customers and vendors. We are

July/August 2018

benefitting from a reliable business model.”

Currently, the majority of business for Stallion Express Bus is line run service that stretches between several stops in the San Francisco Bay Area and Thunder Valley Casino Resort, located in Lincoln, CA, which is part of the Sacramento, CA, metropolitan area. More line runs are planned for the near future.

“We have a few runs that start and end in Stockton, CA, to the casino, but the majority of them begin in the San Francisco Bay Area,” Ledet said. “We have been able to build a solid reputation with this type of service, and work with other carriers when we receive charter and line run requests that exceed our capacity.

“Many area travel agents and agencies know that if they contact Stallion Express Bus, we will either meet their transportation needs ourselves, or contact area carriers that we work with on a regular basis to complete the work.”

Ledet explained that his company’s line runs usually involve three to five stops per run, travel to a specific destination and follow a set schedule.

“For an operator, the main advantage of providing line runs is that you know there is always going to be work for your company ahead of time. We have that work set in our schedule. It’s there every day, five to seven days a week,” Ledet said. “This can also be a challenge, because it means we have to make sure our equipment and drivers are ready to go, on time, every single day, to meet the daily demands of line run customers.

“We have to keep our equipment in great condition as it’s required to be in service every day. The only time our equipment is not running is if there is a specific maintenance problem that needs to be addressed, or if that vehicle is scheduled for regular maintenance. Line run service also requires us to have backup equipment available when something unexpected happens.”

Line run work also provides specific advantages for drivers. One big advantage is that drivers really get to know their routes well.

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“Our drivers travel to the casino, drop passengers off, wait four to five hours, and then drive the passengers back to their starting point. We also conduct several double runs per day with our equipment. This involves both a day and a night run,” Ledet said. “With line runs, our drivers definitely get to know their routes, as well as many of their passengers.

There is comfortability with this type of service that many drivers enjoy.

They also typically get to drive the same equipment every day. This allows them to maintain that vehicle the way they prefer, as long as this complies with company rules.

“Another good thing about line run work for drivers is that it’s steady emPassengers disembark from a Stallion Express Bus while on a trip. ployment and supplies a consistent inThe company provides line run and charter services. come. They also don’t have to move nearly as much luggage compared to charter and tour work, and “Line runs provide our company with an important daily revenue they are home every night. Most of our drivers work line runs five source. They also keep our employees consistently working, while our equipment is consistently generating revenue.” to six days a week.”

Stallion Express Bus does provide charter work as well. Ledet Ledet considers the line run service to be an important niche for said this mostly involves day trips.

Stallion Express Bus. “We have provided charter transportation to such places as “There may be bus/motorcoach operators who view line run service as secondary work, and would rather focus on providing charters botanical gardens, outlet malls, Joshua Tree National Park, and and/or tours. That is not the case at Stallion Express Bus,” he said. Palm Springs, CA,” Ledet said. “Many of our charter trips take

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N

place in one day, although we also provide some multi-day trips.

We stay in California. It’s good that there is so much to see and do in our state.”

A NEED ARISES

ices for daily bus transportation.

“As operations director, I was working with various bus companies that provided charter and line run services for VMC Travel Express. Over time, finding reliable transportation providers was becoming difficult,” Ledet said. “Since I came from a transportation background, it was decided that I should investigate the possibility of starting a new bus company, with a focus on meeting the transportation needs of VMC Travel Express.”

Today, Stallion Express Bus is a separate company, while VMC Travel Express is a major, but not the only, client.

o stranger to the transportation industry, Ledet has been instrumental in the development of Stallion Express Bus over the past several years. Although the challenges have been many, he said, so have the rewards.

“Stallion Express Bus has a five-year plan that addresses what we, within the company, feel our growth should look like during this time period,” “Line runs provide our company with an important daily revenue Ledet said. “Thus far, the business has exceeded expectations.” source. They also keep our employees consistently working, Ledet began his career in transportation while our equipment is consistently generating revenue.” years ago while working for Parking Company of America, which manages parking facilities — Director & CEO Glenn Ledet and provides transportation services, among other duties. He then started a career in the recycling industry, helping coordinate trucking routes designed to During the company’s formation, the importance of having a transport recycling materials in the San Francisco Bay Area. standardized fleet of vehicles from one manufacturer quickly beDuring these years, Ledet gained experience working with driv- came apparent to Ledet. After extensive research, he decided on ers and mechanics, while learning the ‘ins and outs’ of managing a vehicles produced by CHTC Bus Group, a Chinese company with transportation-based operation. This included such tasks as how to its U.S. headquarters in Chino, CA. properly clean, and care for, large commercial equipment, such as “Through years of working in the transportation business, you buses and motorcoaches. start to learn about the best suspensions, engines, transmissions, Eventually, Ledet became operations director for VMC Travel etc.,” Ledet said. “After talking with mechanics and conducting Express, in San Jose, CA. The company provides booking serv- other research to see what issues operators were having with dif-

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sometimes seven days a week, ferent types of equipment, I and are doing a wonderful job.� chose CHTC. Among the amenities that “In my research, it looked to have impressed Ledet is a me that CHTC was taking the transmission system that comes best engine, and marrying this with an electronic retarder. with the best available transmis“I like the way the transmission and suspension systems.� sions are calibrated. They adVisiting the CHTC producjust to each driver’s style of tion facility also helped Ledet driving, allowing customers to make his choice. get the same experience no “I visited the company three matter who is driving the vehitimes and talked in person with cle,� he said. “We have also their technicians, along with found that each of our CHTC corresponding over the televehicles has a very tight turnphone. I also discussed the ing radius, which is wonderful company’s equipment with my lead mechanic, who was imwhen driving in San Francisco. pressed,� he said. “Problems Electronic stability control in are simple to diagnose for methese vehicles also provides a Running a safe operation and paying close attention to the chanics with these vehicles. much better ride.� bottom line have helped lead Stallion Express Bus to early success.

The simplicity of design allows Customer feedback focusing mechanics to easily reach what needs to be changed or repaired.� on the company’s CHTC vehicles has been positive, with many Initially, Stallion Express Bus purchased three CHTC vehicles indicating the ride is “smooth, quiet and comfortable.� and currently has four in its fleet: two HT 35 (seating 40 passen“The seats are spacious, with adequate leg room and reclining gers) and two HT 45 (seating 56 passengers) models. The operator ability. USB charging ports are available between each seat, as well currently has two more HT 45 models on order. as individual controls for lighting and climate venting,� he said. “We primarily use our CHTC vehicles to transport line run pas- “Customers have reported that when they arrive to their final dessengers,� Ledet said. “They are driven 300 to 600 miles per day, tination, they feel rested and relaxed.�

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BUSLINE

July/August 2018

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Modern technology is used in many forms at Stallion Express Bus. This includes the latest in GPS tracking, which assists in scheduling routine fleet maintenance.

“For example, we have been able to integrate our time table for fluid replacement with our PM schedule. This allows our team to quickly rotate equipment without interrupting daily commitments,” Ledet said.

While passenger safety will always be No. 1 in importance, cleanliness of vehicles is a close second to Ledet and his staff at Stallion Express Bus. Stallion Express Bus has enjoyed a strong relationship with the CHTC Bus Group.

“We have passengers riding in One of Stallion's vehicles even features a CHTC wrap. our vehicles two to three hours a day. It’s simply unacceptable to transport them in less-than-per- features a complete CHTC Bus Group wrap.

“We are not planning to highlight our company’s name on our fect conditions. Stallion Express Bus has its own waste dump and wash pad, where we employ people to clean our vehicles inside equipment’s sides. Instead, we are renting these sides for adverand out,” Ledet said. “This is the best way to ensure our equip- tising purposes,” Ledet said. “We have done this before, such as promoting concerts at the Thunder Valley Casino Resort. We feel ment is well kept.”

As far as the company’s marketing efforts for each of its vehi- it is better to sell the space on the sides of our buses to other encles is concerned, new Stallion Express Bus’ logos are being tities. It helps that our vehicles are driven every day in highly added to the front and doors of its fleet, while one of its buses populated areas, seen by thousands of people.”

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W

GOLDEN STATE OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES

ith 39-plus million residents, California is the most populous and third largest in size of the 50 U.S. states.

It goes without saying, there are a multitude of places to visit while in the Golden State — all to the advantage of Stallion Express Bus and its passengers.

“One of the main advantages we have in this state is the weather. California is known to have Shown, left to right, are Stallion Express Bus driver Joesen He some of the best weather in the world. Additionand administrative assistant Miko Zheng. ally, the quality of living here can be incredible, as there are so many things that the state has to offer. For example, do run into unexpected traffic issues, they can use a commercial any sport a person would want to try can be found in California, GPS unit to search possible alternatives.”

Ledet reiterated it’s important to carefully work with clients when from golfing to windsurfing,” Ledet said. “One disadvantage to California is the cost of living, which can be extremely high, espe- planning specific trips, letting them know that traffic is an important cially when it comes to renting an apartment or purchasing a home. part of the equation.

“Changing departure and arrival times by as little as one hour The other big challenge is the traffic, especially in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles County. For a transportation can provide huge benefits to customers when it comes to travel. provider, this can be a major problem. At Stallion Express Bus, we Doing so can help us keep the cost of a trip down,” Ledet said. must be mindful of traffic whenever we work with a client to plan “Many clients understand the importance of making changes due a charter or add a line run service. Traffic patterns can also influ- to traffic patterns. This is especially true in the San Francisco Bay Area, which has serious traffic problems. This issue doesn’t seem ence driver logs as well as the patience of passengers.

“Whenever we map a new route, we must be mindful of existing to be getting better.”

The Stallion Express Bus operations center in South San Frantraffic patterns and recognize that large commercial equipment is being used. We make sure our drivers know that routes have been sisco includes a 11,000-square-foot maintenance facility, office planned for specific reasons, and must be followed. If our drivers space and wash pad, along with 25,000 square feet of parking. This

July/August 2018

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area can accommodate 40 buses. The location is near San Fransisco International Airport, and is situated in an area full of auto shops, other bus and limo operations, trucking companies and rental car facilities.

ing qualified people to drive passengers in the San Francisco Bay Area is especially challenging.

“Due to the strong competition in this market from the high-tech sector that is providing bus service for its employees, finding good drivers is difficult for many smaller transportation companies,” he said. “One of the things we are doing “Having a certified trainer on staff will help in many ways, to be more competitive when hiring, is adding medical such as training new drivers on the way we want them benefits. We also offer different bonus programs for drivers, such as safety bonuses. We always look to reto drive our vehicles, and avoiding bad driving habits.” ward safe driving. It helps that our GPS tracking units can provide each of our drivers with a daily grade, “We are located in a pure industrial area, and our company fits showing how well a person is operating his/her vehicle. We also in perfectly,” Ledet said. “Being centrally located has reduced our provide excellency bonuses. They cover positive customer feedcosts and provided many opportunities to significantly improve back and vehicle cleanliness issues. customer service. Communication between our various departments at our South San “Our drivers have the potential to make several thousand dollars Francisco location, such as office staff, driva year in bonuses, plus we pay a very competitive rate to begin with, ers, mechanics and management, is quickly relayed, and important changes are effectively and believe in giving raises. We feel it’s a lot easier to keep a good made.” and qualified driver than to find and train a new person.”

Officials at Stallion Express Bus also rent parking spaces for its vehicles, when needed, in the nearby California cities of San Jose and Stockton.

“Our drivers have the potential to make several thousand dollars a year in bonuses, plus we pay a very competitive rate GOOD DRIVERS WELCOME to begin with, and believe in giving raises. We feel it’s a lot easier to keep a good and qualified driver than to find and train oday’s driver shortage continues to be a top concern among a new person.” many bus and motorcoach operators, along with other transDespite bonuses and other perks, Ledet said driver recruitment portation-related business owners. According to Ledet, find- remains a challenge. He has found success using the employment-

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BUSLINE

altro.com/transport July/August 2018

Altro Transflor Figura ™

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evaluated on their related search engine current driving caIndeed. Company offipabilities. If hired, cials also provide signthey take part in a ing bonuses for drivers.

Ledet is the first to company training admit that driving a program, and are bus/motorcoach full evaluated every six of people is not a job months. for everyone. Safety Ledet is currently always must be the top working on having priority. a certified trainer “We tell candidates on staff. up front, if you don’t “Our expectation The Stallion Express Bus facility is located in South San Francisco, CA. like people, don’t do is to have this perthis type of work. Drive freight instead,” he said. “There is also no son fully trained and certified by the end of this year,” he said. room for hotdogging. We don’t employ people to drive a Maserati. “Having a certified trainer on staff will help in many ways, such as Instead, they are paid to drive a heavy piece of equipment that can training new drivers on the way we want them to drive our vehicles, be a dangerous tool. It can also be an incredibly valuable tool, if and avoiding bad driving habits.” driven by the right person with the right mindset, one who always A GREAT INDUSTRY TO WORK IN makes sure safety is the top concern.

“Being a bus/motorcoach driver can be a really enjoyable career.

Many drivers are well-paid, visit incredible places and interact with ust as California is a big state, so is the potential for area wonderful people. The main thing is to be safe and provide quality growth in the line run and charter business, according customer service.” to Ledet.

“Currently, we are evaluating where we feel our best growth poStallion Express Bus currently employs 18 drivers. They are part of a staff that includes management and office personnel, mechan- tential will be over the next 12 months. Our current customer base has identified additional transportation needs, which we are now ics and vehicle cleaners.

When going through the hiring process, driver candidates are looking into,” he said. “Stallion Express Bus has a dedicated and

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knowledgeable team of employees and partners, sharing one common belief, that our company’s future is bright.

“The most important thing is to run a safe operation, and pay close attention to the bottom line.”

“We are working on expanding our operations in Northern California by adding several line runs, as well as implementing centralized charter booking service options with select vendors. We are also looking at expanding our management team by hiring a seasoned general manager. Doing so will allow me more time to find additional business venues for our company.”

As with any industry, keeping up with ever-changing government regulations and modern technology is paramount in passenger transportation.

“We are always looking for the best ways to use new online technologies that will help us improve our overall operation.

Those technologies help us dedicate more of our time toward growth and service improvements,” Ledet said. “Technology is our friend. It has allowed us to improve our safety practices, record keeping, maintenance schedules and better prepare for government inspections.

“With improved technology, we have noticed fewer down times while preserving more company financial resources. Everything is ‘ready to go’ when modern technology is properly used.”

Ledet added that the birth and growth of Stallion Express Bus

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Glenn Ledet has helped lead Stallion Express Bus to early success in the line run and charter business.

would not have been possible without the help of many individuals. This includes VMC Travel Express President Mark Tran, Stallion Express Bus CFO Brandon Chen, and Yvonne Guo, of VMC East Coast, who introduced Ledet to CHTC. “I work closely with Mark on future planning. The same is true with Brandon, who does a good job handling our financials,” Ledet said. “I also work closely with Yuan Chen, who is part of another bus company (A Perfect Express) that shares the South San Francisco facility with Stallion Express Bus. Our two com-

busline0718.FINAL.qxp_Layout 1 6/19/18 9:44 AM Page 23

panies work together and have forged a strong relationship, allowing both businesses to benefit from using a very nice facility.

when starting out. There has been work available to us in the past that we turned down simply because it was ‘too much, too soon.’

We didn’t have the equipment or the drivers, but were able to recommend other good companies to “It’s important to find what you are good at, as a company, do the work. It’s all about sticking with your core values and core business model.” stick with it, and keep working hard to improve. It’s also Ledet added that most people involved with the bus/motorcoach industry work hard, promote important to know your limits, especially when starting out. ” safety and want to grow their companies. It’s also an industry that has satisfied Ledet for many years.

“Additionally, special recognition should go to Quinn Li, of “I thoroughly enjoy working in the transportation business, and JCW Northern America LLC, who is our main mechanic. He started on the ground floor,” Ledet said. “This included washing also has his own business in our facility, and is probably the best buses and learning general mechanics, while on my way to bemechanic I have ever worked with in all of my years being coming part of management. around commercial equipment.”

“This line of work can become very rewarding for those people Ledet feels the need for bus and motorcoach transportation is looking to manage reliable transportation companies and grow the only growing throughout the United States, as the country’s over- industry.” all population continues to age.

“I have always felt that transportation companies entering this business can be very successful as long as they do things the right way. The most important thing is to run a safe operation, and pay close attention to the bottom line,” he said. “Companies that cut corners and do things improperly are the ones that typically fall by the wayside.

218 Shaw Rd., #8, “Many bus/motorcoach operators succeed when they find their South San Francisco, CA 94080. specific niche or niches. It’s important to find what you are good Phone: 415-424-8924. at, as a company, stick with it, and keep working hard to improve.

It’s also important to know your limits as a company, especially

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By Rick Mullen Busline Magazine Associate Editor

T

o meet the public transportation needs of McAllen, TX, Metro McAllen operates seven fixedroutes and a paratransit service for eligible riders.

Mario Delgado, Transit Director

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The downtown McAllen Central Station is the city’s international transit terminal facility, where people can connect to an array of international, national, regional and intracity destinations.

McAllen, with a population just shy of 150,000 people, is located in the southeast tip of the state in the Rio Grande Valley, about 70 miles west of the Gulf of Mexico and across from the Mexican city of Reynosa.

The hub of the transit system is the downtown McAllen Central Station, the city’s international transit terminal facility, where people can connect to an array of international, national, regional and intracity destinations.

“We have 15 fixed-route buses. We also have a route in the downtown area that only runs on weekends,” said Metro McAllen Transit Director Mario Delgado, during a recent interview with Busline Magazine. “We are currently in the process of adding another route to service a big development in northwest McAllen. There is quite a bit of development there, including housing and a charter school. In addition, Texas A&M University is opening a campus in that area.”

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Metro McAllen is also building a new maintenance facility and east of McAllen in the Rio Grande Valley. a transfer hub in north McAllen, as it does not currently have its The red line also includes connections to Valley Transit own maintenance facility. The transit system has been using local Company’s Harlingen terminal, about 40 miles east of private companies to service its vehicles, Delgado said.

McAllen, and Rio Grande Valley Premium Outlets, a 578,000“The Metro McAllen Paratransit (MMP) Service has four ve- square-foot shopping center located in Mercedes, about 20 hicles, three of which are in operation during peak service,” miles east of McAllen.

Delgado said. “...we are making sure we have the kind of leadership MMP Service is an origin to destination public transthat is cognizant of what people’s goals are and lets portation service for people employees know there is value in every position.” with disabilities who are unable to ride the Metro — Transit Director Mario Delgado McAllen fixed-routes. Paratransit is a shared-ride service operated with accessible vehicles.

“The (red route buses) do a cross-over loop,” Delgado said. “It “Paratransit ridership has been steadily growing over the is a terminal-to-terminal service on the expressway. We also have years,” Delgado said. “At peak, we average between 40 and 50 a connection (the blue line) in Brownsville to South Padre Island trips a day. MMP Service operates 24-foot cutaway buses.” (which is located on the Gulf of Mexico northeast of While Metro McAllen operates within the city limits of Brownsville). So, Metro Connect transports passengers from McAllen, it also is part of what is called Metro Connect, which McAllen to Brownsville and from McAllen to South Padre Isoffers three regional express routes. land, and vice versa, as well as from Brownsville to McAllen and “We partnered with the city of Brownsville, TX, and the city from Brownsville to the university in Edinburg.” of Padre Island, TX, to provide a regional public transit service,” The city of McAllen’s Transit Department was established in Delgado said. “There is one route (the green route) that originates 2001 to manage and maintain Central Station. In January 2005, in our bus terminal in McAllen and goes to the University of the Transit Department took over McAllen Express Transit Texas Rio Grande Valley in the neighboring town of Edinburg, (MET) operations. In February 2011, MET became what is now located just north of McAllen.”

Metro McAllen.

Two buses operate on the red route, one which originates in “Metro McAllen receives local, state and federal support,” McAllen, and the other in Brownsville, which is about 60 miles Delgado said. “As a department of the city, we receive funding

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from sales tax revenues. In addition to support from city officials, we depend heavily on federal and state subsidies to run the system.”

ALL-ELECTRIC BUSES ADDED TO THE FLEET

n 2016, Metro McAllen deployed two Complete Coach Works (CCW) fully electric remanufactured ZEPS (Zero-Emission Propulsion System) buses.

According to www.zepsdrive.com, CCW uses the concept of remanufacturing a bus to reduce costs and the environmental impact of bus manufacturing. CCW takes a previously used transit bus powered by a diesel engine and remanufactures it into like-new condition with an all-electric powered drivetrain system.

“The project was a partnership between the city, CCW and WAVE (Wireless Advanced Vehicle Electricfication),” Delgado said.

According to www.wave-ipt.info, WAVE provides standards-based, interoperable, warrantied wireless charging infrastructure for transit, port, industrial and off-road electric vehicles.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) funds were used to bring the project into fruition, Delgado said.

Managed by FTA’s Office of Research, Demonstration and Innovation, in coordination with the Office of Program Management and FTA Regional Offices, the TIGGER Program works directly with public transportation agencies to implement new strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and/or reduce energy use within transit operations, according to the FTA. “We have had a great partnership with both Complete Coach Works and with WAVE,” Delgado said. “When we started the project, there wasn’t a lot to choose from in the marketplace for electric vehicles. Now, some of the big bus manufacturers are making electric vehicles.

“It is great working with CCW. We have a really good relationship with them. The buses are beautiful and they have served us well.”

One of the main issues for systems that use all-electric vehicles is extending the range of a bus before recharging is needed. For McAllen Metro, that is where the WAVE wireless charging infrastructure comes into play.

“We use an inductive charging system,

I

which allows us to give the buses a 10- to 15-minute charge every hour to extend the range,” Delgado said. “We like to get 160 miles per day. Sometimes we get it. Sometimes we don’t.

We don’t always have the time between runs to accomplish a full 15-minute charge, which is a challenge. As the technology improves and agencies are able to get more range on their electric buses, it is going to make it more enticing for them to move into an all-electric fleet.”

The current WAVE technology Metro McAllen uses is a 50kilowatt system.

“WAVE is very close to deploying a 250-kilowatt system, which will reduce charge time from 10 to 15 minutes to two minutes,” Delgado said. “The shorter charge time will be much

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easier to build into a route, with minimal disruption of service.

“Technology is changing very rapidly, and it is only a matter of time before the technology is available to dramatically increase the range of all-electric vehicles.”

Are totally all-electric bus fleets the future of public transportation industry-wide?

That remains to be seen, but for some agencies, including Metro McAllen, it is a scenario worth pondering.

“We have a relatively small fleet, and we have several years to go before we have a big vehicle replacement. In the meantime, it is certainly a topic of discussion as to whether we are going to move to an allelectric fleet,” Delgado said. “I Robert DeLeon, know some agencies in CaliBusiness Manager fornia have made that commitment, as have some systems in other regions of the country.

We are keeping an eye on what the industry is doing, as we think an all-electric fleet could be a viable alternative.”

There is another technological advancement that many public transportation officials acknowledge will inevitably play a role in the future of bus travel — autonomous vehicles.

“I think there is still a way to go in terms of transit agencies having a full deBarry Bazzell, ployment of autonomous Operations Manager buses,” Delgado said. “We have heard stories of autonomous vehicles being involved in fatal accidents, which has been somewhat of a setback. Nonetheless, I think autonomous vehicles are where transportation is going.”

With the current autonomous technology, Delgado agrees with those who think driverless buses would best work on an express-type route or a circulator.

“I think it would make sense to use an autonomous bus on a Mayra Cabrera, Administrative Assistant circulator, or on a route than doesn’t have a lot of stop and go and interaction with other traffic,” Delgado said. “Minimizing the risk of accidents is critical. How autonomous buses will be deployed is also going to depend on regulatory bodies. Right now, there has to be an operator Page 28

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on the vehicle, as far as I know. Regulatory bodies are going to dictate what will and won’t be allowed, especially with transit systems, as they are more heavily regulated than private industry.

Another issue with autonomous vehicles is accessibility. There are a lot of questions to be answered about what is going to happen with autonomous vehicles.”

Metro McAllen is also focusing on using the internet and social media more effectively.

“We are trying, more and more, to incorporate technology. We participate fully in social media, Delgado said.

“We are constantly on social media sharing what is going on and what we are doing. In Sandra Martinez, addition, we recently (in May Assistant Transit Director 2018) deployed our mobile app. We didn’t have an app before, so now our passengers are able to track buses in real time. They can get up-tothe-minute information on bus arrivals at their designated stops. I think that will help make it more convenient for passengers, and will potentially attract more riders on the system.”

Metro McAllen uses Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) and Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) systems, to manCarlos Zambrano, age real-time operations in Operations Supervisor the control center and on the bus. Buses are also outfitted with a security system.

“We are looking at implementing a system that would allow us to remote into the bus surveillance system live, so we could see what is going on in the bus in real time,” Delgado said. “We are also looking at putting fiber optics on our major routes so that we can have LED displays with bus arrival information, etc. With this technology, those who don’t have access Angela Cano, Administrative Supervisor to a smart phone, could get that information at major stops along a route.

“There are a lot of things that can be done in terms of technology to enhance the riding experience to, hopefully, attract more choice riders.”

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A CULTURE OF TEAMWORK

We all have our stories, but, at the end of the day, it is not personal. We have to put ourselves in the passenger’s shoes,” Delgado said. “As long as we have a positive attitude and a team-oriented mentality, we will be in a position where every-

n its effort to find qualified drivers, Metro McAllen seeks those who can bring more to the table than just the basic requirement of having “We empower employees to make certain a commercial driver’s license with a passenger endorsement. decisions. We can’t operate if we are not able to “We want somebody who is eager to make decisions on our own to a certain extent.” work and has a positive attitude about coming to work,” Delgado said. “We are trying to build a culture of teamwork, responsibility and accountability, body is happy to come to work. If we have a good team, if we making sure we are all here to do a job and do it to the best of respect one another and do our jobs with a positive attitude, our ability. there shouldn’t be any issues.”

“Part of having a positive attitude is to be service oriented.

Overall, Metro McAllen has around 82 employees. DelWe serve the public, and we all gado calls the system’s “frontline” need to be able to treat people like employees, those who deal with they are our moms or grandpas. At the public face-to-face, such as A Metro McAllen the end of the day, it is moms, operators, the “backbone” of the Guiding Principle: grandmothers, sisters, brothers, agency. etc., who are riding our system.”

“It is important to show our em“No person is We must also have the capacity ployees they mean a great deal to us left behind.” to be empathetic when a passenger and they are a big part of what we has an issue. do,” Delgado said. “It doesn’t matter “It is not always going to be if a person is a custodian in charge of great. There are going to be disgruntled riders, but it is not per- cleaning the facility, or a transit operator, he/she plays an imporsonal. We need staff who understand somebody might be hav- tant role in the operation.

“We value what our employees’ do for us, and we want to ing a bad day and, unfortunately, might take it out on them.

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Metro McAllen Transit Director Mario Delgado is shown with one of the system’s two Complete Coach Works (CCW) fully electric remanufactured ZEPS (Zero-Emission Propulsion System) buses.

make sure to take care of them. It is a team effort. We empower employees to make certain decisions. We can’t operate if we are not able to make decisions on our own to a certain extent. On the management side, we are making sure we have the kind of leadership that is cognizant of what people’s goals are and lets employees know there is value in every position. They are very important to Metro McAllen.”

METRO MCALLEN SEEKING TO BUILD RIDERSHIP

etro McAllen averages 450,000 fixed-route vehicle revenue miles and 83,000 paratransit revenue miles per year.

Ridership on fixed-routes averages 675,000 trips per year. Paratransit averages just under 15,000 trips per year, Delgado said.

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“Over the past two or three years, single-digit decreases in ridership at Metro McAllen have been the trend,” Delgado said. “Industry-wide, it seems ridership has also been going down the past several years. I’m sure there are exceptions, but the majority of the systems we looked at have recorded a slight decrease in ridership.

Metro McAllen is heavily involved with social media.

“In addition, from time to time, we do some advertising in the print media, radio and television. I also think our new app will help make it more convenient to ride the system, which will potentially attract more riders.”

One bright spot is that studies show millennials are tending to get their drivers licenses at an older age, “We go to high schools, colleges and universities and are more likely to use transportation modes other than automobiles, including to participate in community events. We will take public transit.

“We have read millennials are more ina bus to display. Our mascot also participates. clined to use public transportation. We We teach people about the service.” want to be able to attract that ridership demographic, which is part of the reason we “I recently read a study that says there has been an increase go to schools and universities,” Delgado said. “Ultimately, we in vehicle registrations in Texas, which indicates more people need to able to make it attractive and convenient to ride. We are are driving. working to figure out how we can modify our system to make it “There are also transportation companies, such as Uber and Lyft, that are competing for “...we are working on changing the culture riders. Some choice riders who have been ridof our transit system to make sure we are ing the bus, may be opting to use Uber and Lyft as an alternative.” accountable to ourselves and to each other To help attract ridership, Metro McAllen has a to provide the best service we can.” community outreach initiative.

“We go to high schools, colleges and universities to participate in community events,” Delgado said. “We more convenient, not only for students, but also for anyone who will take a bus to display. Our mascot also participates. We has the choice, on any given day, between getting into a car or teach people about the service. As was mentioned before, taking a bus.”

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to help address traffic congestion and environmental issues. “We, as public servants and transit operators, have an obligation to provide the best service that we can to attract new riders to use the system. We are working with the local metropolitan planning organization, which is going to assist us in funding a transit study that we hope will give us a blueprint of how we need to grow our system. It is costly, so we want to grow our service conservatively to make sure it’s effective. We want to show we are good stewards of public funds.�

Speaking further on the subject of improving the image of public transportation, Delgado said, “We need to get out in the community as much as we can. As an industry, we need to have a strong voice and a unified message to tell “We need to get out in the community as much as our story. We need to tell people why it is important to continue to fund public transwe can. As an industry, we need to have a strong portation. I don’t know, as an industry, that we have done a good enough job of telling voice and a unified message to tell our story.� our story. “Another issue is the negative stigma often associated with “We have made a lot of strides locally. Hopefully, we can conpublic transportation, which we have to overcome.� tinue to make improvements to our system to help more and Delgado said Metro McAllen has come a long way in improv- more people.� ing the image of public transportation is its service area. Part of that effort is to demonstrate the benefits of riding the bus when it Contact: Metro McAllen, 1501 W. Highway 83, Suite 110, comes to such issues as the environment and traffic congestion.

McAllen, TX 78501. “The best alternative is high-occupancy vehicles, making sure we Phone: 956-681-3510. get people on buses or trains,� Delgado said. “We are not quite there Email: metromcallen@mcallen.net. yet in McAllen when it comes to trains, but we are striving to put Websites: www.mcallen.net/metro/default.aspx. more service out there, and make it more convenient to ride the bus www.facebook.com/MetroMcAllen.

While not an official motto, a guiding principle at Metro McAllen encapsulates its commitment to service — “No person is left behind.� “We do everything in our power to make sure passengers are having an enjoyable and comfortable ride to their destinations,�

Delgado said. “Another thing we are working on in changing the culture of our transit system is to make sure we are accountable to ourselves and to each other to provide the best service we can.

Ultimately, the individuals who use our system depend on us to get them to where they are going, while receiving the best possible service. We want to make sure we are dedicated and are going above and beyond to accomplish that mission.

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Freightliner Custom Chassis Delivers 50,000th Chassis To UPS

600 units of its MT-45 chassis that Leaders from UPS and Freightfirst year. FCCC has delivered more liner Custom Chassis Corporation than 1,000 chassis in a year to UPS (FCCC) were on hand at FCCC 13 times since 1996, with a peak of headquarters in Gaffney, SC, remore than 6,000 in 2015. cently to mark the official delivery “While more than half of the of the milestone 50,000th chassis 50,000 chassis delivered to UPS to UPS, which was specially have been either gas- or dieselbranded and displayed for the powered, FCCC and UPS have event. Roger Nielsen, president and long developed and deployed a CEO of FCCC’s parent company, range of alternative-fuel products Daimler Trucks North America including hybrid-electric, hydraulic (DTNA), was on hand with other hybrid, electric, compressed natural DTNA leaders for the celebration, gas (CNG) and propane-autogas.” along with elected officials and FCCC is a manufacturer of gas, civic leaders from Gaffney and diesel and alternative-fuel chassis Cherokee County. for the medium-duty pick-up and “This is a momentous and spedelivery markets. FCCC offers cial day for FCCC, one that is the Pictured from left to right are: Carlton Rose, UPS president of services, including 24/7 factory diculmination of an incredible amautomotive and maintenance engineering; Roger Nielsen, president rect support, a nationwide service ount of teamwork, dedication and and CEO of DTNA; Rick Jordan, UPS senior director of automotive and network with more than 400 dealeffort on the part of a lot of people maintenance engineering; Billy Benson, UPS director of automotive ers in the U.S. and Canada and an over the past 20-plus years,” said and maintenance engineering; Mike Casteel, UPS director of automotive official customer-support mobile Jeff Sather, president of FCCC. procurement; and Jeff Sather, president of FCCC standing behind the app. FCCC also manufactures “This is also a day that certainly autographed 50,000th UPS chassis, an MT-45 model. chassis for the motor home, school wouldn’t be possible without UPS, bus and shuttle bus markets. FCCC a customer who views us as much more than just a vendor — but rather as a valued strategic partner, as they is a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, a Daimler company. have for more than two decades.”

For more information, visit fccccommercial.com.

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5Star has a longstanding market presence. Its program specializes in airport transportation; charter; sightseeing; transit and contract school buses; entertainer coaches and limousines, operating in most states. 5Star has dedicated itself to achieving the best possible result for its brokers and their insureds by relating to, and satisfying, their client needs while providing a high level of customer service excellence. Its associates strive through service, teamwork and integrity to achieve these results.

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Website: www.aimscorp.net Products: AIMS Power has been offering power solutions for the bus and coach industry for over 15 years. Its products are used by OEM’s, up fitters and operators. The company has a large line of inverters and inverter chargers for the industry. In addition to inverters, the company offers a complete line of DC-DC 24v to 12v step down converters, in sizes 5 amps up to 100 amps. 16 _______ALEXANDER DENNIS INC._______

31566 Railroad Canyon Rd. #342 Canyon Lake, CA 92587-9446 USA 951-244-9429 Email: info@alexander-dennis.com Website: www.alexander-dennis.com Products: Alexander Dennis is one of the world’s leading bus and coach builders with a history and heritage of design, engineering and manufacturing excellence that spans more than a century. Employing 2,500 people globally, Alexander Dennis is the largest manufacturer of double-deck buses internationally, with facilities in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand, Malaysia, Germany and the UK. Designed to meet the requirements of the North American market, and with various interior specifications, the Enviro500 is the world’s best-selling 3-axle double deck bus, and forms the backbone of many North American cities’ fleets including Seattle, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa.

Available at 13’6” height, or at 12’10” height for the SuperLo express commuter variant (with integral luggage space), the Enviro500 offers high capacity and comfort for transit and interurban journeys. With stunning street presence, they occupy the same footprint as a conventional single deck bus, but are capable of carrying up to 100 passengers and, due to their low heights, operate with ease across the USA and Canada.

With over 18,000 Enviro200 single deck buses delivered across the globe, the Alexander Dennis range of 30’ and 35’ Enviro200s has transformed urban transit across North America, the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and New Zealand.

Fuel efficient and maneuverable, the Enviro200 single deck bus is perfect for feeder and urban routes, with low-floor accessibility and a premium interior for an enhanced passenger experience.

Low-floor and easy to access, all Alexander Dennis vehicles are constructed on a steel chassis with a lightweight aluminum body, making them fuel efficient with industry-leading reliability, lowest cost of ownership and best-in-class aftermarket support. They meet all North American legislation including FMVSS, ADA and Buy America regulations, are Altoona-tested and are produced in one of Alexander Dennis’ North American manufacturing hubs.

18

Alliance Bus Group / CAIO 1926 Hyannis Ct. College Park, GA 30337 USA 770-305-0060 Email: sales@alliancebusgroup.com Website: www.alliancebusgroup.com Products: Manufacturer of intercity and midsize buses. 14 Allison Transmission One Way Allison Indianapolis, IN 46222 USA 317-242-5000 Website: www.allisontransmission.com Products: Transmissions - parts and systems. 14

Almott 765-621-5519 Website: www.almottusa.com Products: Alternators and electric motors that are designed for transit buses. 18

ALTRO SEE AD ON PAGE 20 12648 Clark St., Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670 USA 800-382-0333 Email: transport@altrofloors.com Website: www.altro.com Products: Altro is a leading manufacturer of slipresistant floors and has been in the forefront of innovation for almost 100 years. Being the inventors

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of safety floors, Altro’s transport floors have been satisfying the diverse needs of the transportation industry for decades in both bus and rail applications.

Put passenger safety first with Altro’s unique combination of aluminum oxide, silicon carbide and quartz aggregate.

All products are lightweight, easy to install and maintain, and have been developed specifically to meet the demands of moving vehicles.

Altro floors are engineered for the latest international smoke, fire and toxicity regulations. Investing in an Altro product is an investment in a complete system – a full range of accessories, including adhesives, color coordinated weld rods and sealants, nosings, trims and moldings are available. Customers can also take advantage of Altro’s kit-cutting service to save time on installation and get their vehicles back into service quickly. Family owned and run since 1919, Altro is committed to providing customers with innovative products to serve their needs. 17

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AMAYA-ASTRON SEATING

SEE AD ON PAGE 33 Pirules 16E, Complejo Industrial Cuamatla Cuautitlan Izcalli, Estado de Mexico 54730 MEXICO +52(55)5881-2007 Website: www.amaya-astron.com.mx Company Officers: Donovan Albarran, Export Sales Director; Rosario Arellano, Sales and Customer Service Products: The Amaya-Astron Seating models: A220 and GT provide the latest in ergonomic technology and passenger safety, fulfilling the FMVSS and CMVSS standards for 3-point seatbelt seats and provide more legroom because of their thinner seat back design, while maintaining comfort in the seat.

Amaya-Astron Seating continues developing seats, which use the highest quality materials and the most innovative technological advances available today. These seats also have a large list of options to meet and exceed customers’ expectations and requirements. The most common of these are automatic footrests, grab handles, airline style and flip-up tray tables, cup holders, mesh magazine

July/August 2018

pockets and USB/110V outlets. Amaya-Astron also offers luxury-seating options as the 2+1 seats.

For sales and service inquiries in the United States and Canada, contact George Farrell, email: gfarr007@aol.com; or Bob Greene, email: bgreene45@cox.net. 18

American Cooling Technology, Inc. (ACT) 715 Willow Springs Ln. York, PA 17406 USA 877-228-4247 Website: www.actusa.us.com Products: American Cooling Technology (ACT) designs, tests and manufactures a complete line of advanced bus air conditioning systems for all sizes and makes of buses, including both conventional and hybrid drive buses. Products include split type air conditioning systems as well as complete roof mount air conditioning systems for all buses. ACT also offers specification preparation assistance, product testing, replacement air conditioning parts for most air conditioning brands, and on-site product training classes. 17 American Public Transportation Association (APTA) 1300 I St., NW, Suite 1200 East Washington, DC 20005 USA 202-496-4800 Website: www.apta.com Products: APTA members are public organizations that are engaged in the areas of bus, paratransit, light rail, commuter rail, subways, waterborne passenger services, and high-speed rail. Members also include

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large and small companies that plan, design, construct, finance, supply, and operate bus and rail services worldwide. Government agencies, metropolitan planning organizations, state departments of transportation, academic institutions, and trade publications are also part of its membership. 16

Ametek, Inc. 1100 Cassatt Rd. Berwyn, PA 19312 USA 610-647-2121 Email: info.corp@ametek.com Website: www.ametek.com Products: Global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electro-mechanical devices for the bus industry. 18 Anderson Insurance TIB-Transportation Insurance Brokers 799 Roosevelt Rd., Bldg. 6, Suite 220 Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 USA 630-348-3380 Website: www.tibinsurance.com Products: Insurance brokerage services for the bus industry. 16

AngelTrax 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 24000-35th Ave., SE Bothell, WA 98021 USA 888-288-8721 Website: www.apollovideotechnology.com Products: A manufacturer of mobile video surveillance and fleet management solutions for motorcoaches, transit buses and school buses. 18 _____ARBOC SPECIALTY VEHICLES_____

SEE AD ON PAGE 16 51165 Greenfield Pkwy.

Middlebury, IN 46540 USA 574-825-1720 Website: www.ARBOCsv.com Products: ARBOC Specialty Vehicles is North America’s low-floor, body-on-chassis (“cutaway”) bus leader serving transit, paratransit, and shuttle applications. With more than 2,500 buses in service, ARBOC leads the low-floor cutaway bus market, providing unsurpassed passenger accessibility, safety and comfort over traditional high-floor cutaway vehicles. In addition to the body-on-chassis product offerings, ARBOC also offers low-floor medium-duty buses for transit and shuttle applications.

With the full ADA-compliant product line consisting of the Spirit of Mobility, Spirit of Freedom, Spirit of Independence, Spirit of Liberty,

and Spirit of Equess, ARBOC offers a solution for any transportation needs. 18 _ATLANTIC DETROIT DIESEL-ALLISON_

SEE AD ON PAGE 29 180 Route 175, P. O. Box 950 Lodi, NJ 07644 USA 201-489-5800 Website: www.atlanticdda.com Products: Engaged in the sale and servicing of diesel and alternative fuel engines, transmissions and related components, parts and accessories, for equipment serving various on- and off-highway markets. 08

Awash (Ecowash) Systems Corp.

19 Community Ave, Unit 2 Stoney Creek, ON L8E 2X9 CANADA 800-265-7405 Website: www.awashsystems.com Products: Awash Systems Corp. manufactures the Tower Wash system for buses, motorcoaches and all sizes of fleet vehicles. The company has services and parts for all its machines since 1991. 16 BAE Systems 1098 Clark St. Endicott, NY 13760 USA 607-770-2083

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Website: www.hybridrive.com Products: Electric bus, zero-emission and near zero-emission transportation solutions, including hybrid-electric options. Also available are electric accessories for diesel and CNG powertrains, as well as parallel-hybrid options for motorcoaches. 18 Bauer’s Certified Pre-Owned Pier 50, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA 415-595-8164 Website: www.bauerscertifiedpre-owned.com Products: Motorcoaches, limousines and other luxury vehicles. 16

Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC 901 Cleveland St. Elyria, OH 44035 USA 440-329-9000 Toll-Free: 1-800-AIR-BRAKE Products: North American leader in integrated commercial vehicle active safety, air management, and braking system technologies. 18 Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake LLC 901 Cleveland St. Elyria, OH 44035 USA 440-329-9709 Toll-Free: 866-610-9709 Products: Develops and produces the full lineup of Bendix actuation solutions plus foundation drum and air disc brakes. 18

Bergen Auto Upholstery Co., Inc. 375 North St., Secaucus, NJ 07094 USA 201-457-9100 Email: bergenauto@aol.com Website: www.bergenseat.com Products: Seat replacement and complete interior refurbishing, including seat covers, ceilings, sidewalls, lav area, under racks, dash, and entrance door. Bergen offers a complete cleaning service, seat cover shampooing, seat frame cleaning, cleaning of sidewalls and A/C ducts, and shampooing of any carpeted surface. Bergen road crew is available to install on location. 14 ___BITIMEC INTERNATIONAL, INC._____

SEE AD ON PAGE 19 15 Putnam Ave., #290 Greenwich, CT 06830 USA 203-637-1900 Website: www.wash-bots.com Products: Bus washing for the 21st century. Stateof-the-art single-brush machines feature: all-stainless-steel frames; brush-only inclination; electric, battery or diesel power; double controls, to work in two directions; totally self-contained; low maintenance; and soap, wash and rinse a full-size coach in approximately 6-8 minutes. 18 ____________BITZER US, INC.____________

SEE AD ON PAGE 31 4080 Enterprise Way Flowery Branch, GA 30024 USA

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770-718-2900 Email: sbauknecht@bitzerus.com Website: www.bitzerus.com Company Officers: Matthew Lish, Natalie Van Dyke

Products: BITZER produces bus/coach air conditioning compressors. BITZER’s product range covers all compressor technologies, from reciprocating to scroll and screw compressors. BITZER bus air conditioning compressors are designed specifically to excel within the harsh environment of today’s engine compartments. BITZER’s bus air conditioning compressors offer capacity to cool coaches, school buses, transit buses, including larger articulated and double-decker buses. 18

Bode North America, Inc. 660 John Dodd Rd. Spartanburg, SC 29303 USA 864-578-9683 Website: www.bodenorthamerica.com Products: Made in the USA, Bode designs and delivers entry systems for trains and buses. Energy efficient electric CADS door for transit buses is easy to install, low maintenance, and low power consumption. The CADS is integrated in the rotating column, saving space, adjusts itself and opens and closes evenly. 15 BRC Group, The 6061 - 90 Avenue SE Calgary, AB T2C 4Z6 CANADA 403-243-7400 Email: info@brcgroup.ca Website: www.brcgroup.ca Products: Collision repair, refurbishment, fire restoration and mechanical services. Located in Calgary, AB, and Las Vegas, NV. 18

Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC 535 Marriott Dr., 8th Floor Nashville, TN 37214 USA 330-697-4497 Website: www.bridgestonefirestonemileagesales.com Products: Provides lease, sales and service of light truck, commercial and specially-designed mileage tires, retreads, wheels and tire service equipment.

15 BUDGET TRUCK AND AUTO BODY, INC.

2027 W. Avalon Rd. Janesville, WI 53546 USA 608-756-0861 Toll Free: 800-524-6113

July/August 2018

Email: mark@budgettruckandauto.com Website: www.budgettruckandauto.com Products: Budget Truck and Auto is an established one-stop shop, guaranteed to satisfy fleet repair needs. With over 40 years of experience, Budget Truck and Auto is a premiere full-service collision center in the Midwest. Recommended by leading insurance companies for quality work and customer service, Budget Truck and Auto can take care of collision repair, fabrication, frame straightening, vinyl graphics, and custom paint needs.

Technicians are trained and certified by the industry’s leading manufacturers, including Prevost, Motor Coach Industries and many more. Services include: custom paint, fabrication, fiberglass, lifts, vinyl graphics, collision repair, frame straightening, certified welding, boats, buses, motorcoaches, and free loaner cars. 18 _____________BYD MOTORS_____________

SEE AD ON PAGE 7 1800 S. Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90015 USA 800-BYD-AUTO (293-2886) Email: info.na@byd.com Website: www.byd.com Products: BYD Company Ltd., is a leading hightech multinational company based in Shenzhen, China. Since its establishment in 1995, BYD has developed expertise in rechargeable batteries, becoming an advocate of sustainable development. It has expanded its renewable energy solutions globally with operations in over 50 countries and regions. After 23 years in development, BYD has created a Zero Emissions Energy Ecosystem – affordable solar power generation, reliable energy storage, cutting-edge electrified transportation and a state-of-the-art monorail. 18 C.E. Niehoff & Co. 2021 Lee St. Evanston, IL 60202 USA 847-866-6030 Email: sales@ceniehoff.com Website: www.ceniehoff.com Products: Heavy-duty brushless alternators. 18

____________CAMIRA GROUP____________

2476 Waldorf Ct. NW Grand Rapids, MI 49544 USA 616-288-0655 Email: camira-usa@camirafabrics.com Website: www.camirafabrics.com Products: A global textile manufacturer, Camira offers total fabric solutions for passenger transport interiors. Known for its traditional plush wool fabrics, Camira’s manufacturing expertise also covers

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lighter weight pile fabrics with added design and texture, contemporary flat weave fabrics for seating, vinyls, leathers and a wide range of ancillary interior trim fabrics for other surfaces within motorcoaches.

Transportation fabric collections include Aura, Aura Twist, Fusion, Orient, Vigor, Vita and Rhino. Added fabric protection comes from Defender, Camira’s triple action, long-lasting fabric treatment which has an invisible protective shield making fabrics anibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-stain.

As well as an extensive portfolio of stocked ranges for motorcoach interiors, Camira has an inhouse design team that can develop custom designs, adding personality and flair to any vehicle interior.

Camira’s designers work in close partnership with professional design houses and operators to create the most appropriate fabric solutions, not only in terms of color and appearance, but also in meeting specific technical requirements, most notably flammability performance. All fabrics are designed with passengers in mind. Comfort and safety is paramount, and working with operators to develop a new fabric ensures the fabric meets their requirements and also the needs of the customer.

Whether a stocked range or custom-made, Camira’s transport fabrics are designed to coordinate with a wide range of other options including leather and vinyl, as well as trim options for piping, headrests, wall side and ceiling finishes, and curtaining to provide flexible options for combination seats, using more than one material type.

Camira is represented by Wagner & Associates (phone: 919-552-4466); and Transportation Products Sales and Service (phone: 724-640-8826). 18

Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) 55 York St., No. 1401 Toronto, ON M5J 1R7 CANADA 416-365-9800 Website: www.cutaactu.ca Products: CUTA is a member-based association that supports public transit as the core of integrated mobility across Canada. 16 Carlyle Compressor 6304 Thompson Rd., Syracuse, NY 13221 USA 315-432-3096 Email: carlyle.compressor@carrier.utc.com Website: www.carlylecompressor.com Products: Carlyle 05G and 05K open-drive compressors are designed for air conditioning and refrigeration applications. The compressor is approved to operate with R-134a and R-4-4A refrigerants. 15 _______________CBM NA_________________

SEE AD ON PAGE 45 8477 Chemin Dalton Ville Mont Royal, QC H4T 1V5 CANADA 877-332-3163

Email: info.canada@cbmcompany.com, info.usa@cbmcompany.com Website: www.cbmcompany.com Products: Spare parts for motorcoaches, buses and trams. 17

CH Bus Sales, LLC/Temsa USA 1645 Lyndale Ave., North, Suite 102 Faribault, MN 55021 USA 507-331-7911 Website: www.chbussales.com Products: Exclusive distributor of Temsa motorcoaches in North America, offering the TS30, TS35E, and TS45 Temsa products. Temsa uses high quality production standards stressing customer satisfaction. The Temsa TS30 and TS35E coaches are fully integral mid-size coaches that provide the same comfort ride and drive as a full-size coach but are more appropriate for smaller groups. The TS45 full-sized coach, meanwhile, has top safety features as standard options. All of the U.S. Temsa coaches are constructed from stainless steel for extra durability and safety, and are tested to ensure the highest standards. 17 Champion Bus Inc. 331 Graham Rd. Imlay City, MI 48444 USA 800-776-4943 Email: sales@championbus.com Website: www.championbus.com Products: Champion Bus, Inc., a subsidiary of REV Group, manufactures small- and mediumsized commercial buses for public transit, paratran-

Let Kelderman’s superior Air Ride Suspension Systems transform a rough ride into tranquil travel. Kelderman offers a 2 stage air ride for shuttle buses, party buses, paratransits, church buses, RV’s and much more.

Check out our videos on YouTube at: keldermantv Contact: Rich Ludvigsen at 641-660-5432 or rich@kelderman.com July/August 2018

www.kelderman.com BUSLINE

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sit, parking, airport, hotel/resort, assisted living, group tour, church and university markets. 16 Chassijet USA 19431 Business Center Dr., #17 Northridge, CA 91324 USA 818-349-3926 Email: michelle@chassijetusa.com Website: www.chassijetusa.com Products: Automatic undercarriage chassis washer.

18

Chestnut Ridge Foam, Inc. 403 Warehouse Dr. Blairsville, PA 15650 USA 800-234-2734 x264 Email: atomasello@crfoam.com Website: ww.crfoam.com Company Officers: Anthony Tomasello, Surface Transportation Sales Manager Products: SAFGUARD XL fire-resistant seat cushioning complies with F.T.A. fire safety criteria. SAFGUARD XL eliminates the profuse burning and known fire hazards associated with FMVSS 302 cushioning, if exposed to open flame ignition sources.

Provides the fire performance needed in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s environment. The use of F.T.A. fire performance criteria helps avoid the potential for individual and transit authority liability. This fire-resistant cushioning is available to all seating manufacturers for O.E.M. vehicles.

SAFGUARD XL represents major advancements in seat cushioning durability and comfort.

Visit www.crfoam.com to view the fire performance

capabilities in action with a comparative testing video of completed bus seats exposed to flame. This video is also available in DVD format for an educational tool demonstrating the danger of how fire may impact bus interiors. CR SAFGUARD XL can easily be added to new vehicle seating specifications. 18 ______

CHTC BUS GROUP ____

designing and selling safe and reliable buses around the world. 18 ______

CLEAN SEAL, INC. ____

__

SEE AD ON PAGE 9 15780 El Prado Rd. Chino, CA 91780 USA 800-216-6788 Email: sales@chtcusa.com Website: www.chtcbusgroup.com Products: Founded in 1998, CHTC Corp. has multiple worldwide operations, with the CHTC Bus Group being a major subsidiary. The company employs more than 50,000 people, and operates 22 subsidiaries in 20 countries.

The CHTC Bus Group has developed an integrated approach to bus design, research and development, and manufacturing of luxury motorcoaches.

Manufacturing is done out of a state-of-the-art 2 million-square-foot factory in Nanchung, in southeastern China. Great pride is taken with the company in

SEE AD ON PAGE 12 20900 West Ireland Rd., P.O. Box 2919 South Bend, IN 46680-2919 USA 800-366-3682, 574-299-1888 Website: www.CleanSeal.com Products: Since 1978, Clean Seal, Inc. has provided superior service to diverse industries. Its sales personnel and in-house staff have many years of experience to help guide customers from the start of their projects to the application of the product selected. Strict adherence to quality assurance procedures and ISO 9001:2015 certification assures that customers will receive products that meet their requirements.

Clean Sealâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s extensive product line includes stock extruded rubber seals, custom extruded rubber seals, grip seals, trim seals, trim moldings, automotive hoses, EHPA hose protection parts, extruded plastic parts, EMI shielding, and custom manufactured metal springs. In addition, it has a variety of secondary operations to make the applica-

THE DIAMOND FAMILY

Serving The Industry Since 1947 Made in the U.S.A.

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July/August 2018

__

diamondmfg.com 800-343-1009 816-421-8363

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tion of any part easier. Such examples of this are: die cutting, cutting and notching, cut to length and splicing (hot and cold). Contact Clean Sealâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s customer service department for more information. 18 CMI Enterprises 13145 NW 45th Ave. Miami, FL 33054 USA 574-226-2977 Website: www.cmi-enterprises.com Products: Bus/coach upholstery, fabric. 14

Collins Bus 415 W. 6th St. South Hutchinson, KS 67505 USA 620-662-9000 Website: www.collinsbuscorp.com Products: Collins Bus Corporation, a subsidiary of REV Group, Inc. (REV), manufactures Type A school bus and multi-function school activity bus (MFSAB) models in South Hutchinson, KS. 16 __

COMPLETE COACH WORKS

SEE AD ON PAGE 15 1863 Service Ct. Riverside, CA 92507 USA 951-684-9585

__

Email: info@completecoach.com Website: www.completecoach.com Products: Remanufactured transit buses, parts for transit buses, repowers, electric transit bus conversions, collision and fire repair, modifications and ADA upgrades. 17

Continental Corporation 6755 Snowdrift Rd. Allentown, PA 18106 USA 610-289-0488 Email: salessupport-us@vdo.com Website: www.trucks.vdo-instruments.com Products: The Commercial Vehicles & Aftermarket business unit of Continental is a global supplier of systems and components to automobile, truck and bus manufacturers. Continental develops and produces products that make transportation safer, cleaner and more fuel-efficient. 16

Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) 1341 G St., NW, 10th Floor Washington, DC 20005 USA 800-891-0590 Website: www.ctaa.org Products: National, nonprofit membership association advocating for mobility for all Americans. 16 Creative Bus Sales 14740 Ramona Ave. Chino, CA 91710 USA 800-326-2877 Email: sales@creativebussales.com

Website: www.creativebussales.com Products: Transit, para-transit, executive coach, wheelchair vans and buses, shuttle and tour buses, trolleys and limo buses. 17

Curved Glass Distributors 72 Chapel St. Derby, CT 06418 USA 800-243-6546 Email: marylou@curvedglassdist.com Website: www.curvedglassdist.com Products: Coach, transit and school bus windshields, auto and light rail glass. Products include tempered, annealed and special order glass. 18

CzechMate Lumber Corp.

P.O. Box 3352 Mooresville, NC 28117 USA 704-660-9194 Email: jmodrak444@yahoo.com Company Officers: Julie M. MoDrak, President Products: Laminated flooring (PlyMetal, Delignit Fire-Retardant), interior plywood-core panels with Micarta/Formica/WilsonArt laminate faces. 18 Daimler Trucks North America 4555 N. Channel Ave. Portland, OR 97217 USA 800-385-4357 Website: www.daimler-trucksnorthamerica.com Products: Manufactures, sells and services commercial vehicles under the Freightliner, Western Star, Detroit and Thomas Built Buses nameplates. Daimler Trucks North America is a Daimler company. 17

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_________DAVEY COACH SALES________

SEE AD ON PAGE 68 7182 Reynolds Dr. Sedalia, CO 80135 USA 800-873-1856 Email: info@daveycoach.com Website: www.daveycoach.com Products: For over 20 years, Davey Coach has worked to provide new and used buses for sale and service for customers and bus industries across the USA, whether a customer operates a single retirement shuttle or an entire bus fleet. Davey Coach offers national buses for sale, with a strong presence in Midwest U.S. bus sales.

Located in the south Metro Denver area, Davey Coach is one of the largest fully-integrated shuttle bus dealerships in the region. It offers a huge inventory of new and used buses for sale and lease.

Davey Coachâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s selection of shuttle buses for sale is stocked with hundreds of options to suit any industry, such as church buses, airport shuttles, limousine buses, childcare and assisted living transportation, and much more. Whatever the need, Davey Coach has the right shuttle for sale.

Davey Coach offers a wide array of products and

services to support bus or van transportation needs, including basic bus graphics, bus wraps, vehicle wraps, bus parts for sale, bus service, bus DOT inspections, bus rental, and custom bus accessories.

If customers need a bus ski rack, a bus bike rack, bus electronics, a bus tow hitch, bus refurbishing, bus conversions, or just about anything to customize a bus, Davey Coach has it covered. 18

De Leo Transportation Fabrics 53 Dwight Pl., Fairfield, NJ 07004 USA 973-439-6801 Email: deleotf@deleotf.com Website: www.deleotf.com Products: De Leo Transportation Fabrics offers velvets for bus, motorcoach and light rail fabrics to public and private transportation industries. Partnered with Epengle, a European transportation fabric manufacturer, the combined companies have over 100 years of experience. De Leo offers polyester, acrylic and wool blends. 15

integrated performance and efficiency. In addition to advanced safety systems and telematics, the Detroitâ&#x201E;˘ product portfolio offers increased power with the robust 505 HP DD13ÂŽ, the 350 HP DD8â&#x201E;˘, and the 230 HP DD5â&#x201E;˘.

For maximum uptime and productivity, Detroitâ&#x201E;˘ Connect Virtual Technicianâ&#x201E; remote diagnostic service comes standard on all Detroit engines. When you demand it all, Demand Detroit. 18

Diamond Coach 2300 West 4th St., Oswego, KS 67356 USA 800-442-4645 Website: www.diamondcoach.com Products: Diamond Coach bus models vary in design and size, accommodating 14 to 32 passengers, with lift and wheelchair options. 17 ___DIAMOND MANUFACTURING INC.___

________DETROIT DIESEL CORP._______

13400 W. Outer Dr. Detroit, MI 48239 USA Website: www.demanddetroit.com Products: Detroit is an industry-leading original equipment manufacturer of state-of-the-art engines, axles and transmissions specifically designed for

SEE AD ON PAGE 42 2330 Burlington St. N. Kansas City, MO 64116 USA 816-421-8363 Email: todcull@aol.com Website: www.diamondmfg.com Company Officers: Todd and Pam Cull Products: Diamond Manufacturing offers a line of

TRANSPORTATION

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INSURANCE

designed for

Transit and Motor Coach Buses

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AVAILABLE MODELS: 24Volts from 200 to 600 Amps Negative or Insulated

SERVICE INSURANCE AGENCY, LLC #ATAWBA ,ANE s 2ICHMOND 6!

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The DelStar Series alternators are an integral charging system of an innovative air cooled brushless design. The compact, heavy duty construction, provides the increased service life expected to match the longer maintenance intervals of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s engines, while providing a performance level without parallel.

s #HARTER s 4RANSIT s 3CHOOL s ,IMO s !UTO ,IABILITY s 0HYSICAL $AMAGE s 7ORKERS #OMPENSATION s %ASY 0AYMENT 0LANS ,OCAL 4OLL &REE &!8 % -AIL TOBRYAN SERVICEINS COM

Setting the Standard

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Dixie Electric Ltd. 517 Basaltic Road Concord, ON Canada L4K 4W8

Page 44

Tel: 905-879-0533 Fax: 905-879-0532 Toll Free: 800-461-5799 E-mail: sales@dixie-electric.com www.delstar-hd.com

BUSLINE

July/August 2018

Tim Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Bryan %XT

Visit our web site: serviceins.com

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fare collection equipment to the transit industry. It supplies traditional, manual fare boxes, donation boxes and a fare box with a remote fare dump option.

Diamond’s traditional fare boxes are the round units (Models H, E-5, D), which are designed to accept coins, tokens and tickets; and, rectangular units (Models RV, SV, XV, NV), which are designed to accept dollar bills, coins, tokens, tickets, passes and similar fare media. Donation boxes come in three sizes to fit most applications. These units can be mounted in a variety of ways: on the modesty panel or stanchion pole in either a vertical or horizontal position. Models F-1 and F-24 remote dump fare boxes can be mounted away from the driver with a push button dump feature. These models can be paired with smart card readers. 18 __________DIXIE ELECTRIC LTD.________

SEE AD ON PAGE 44 517 Basaltic Rd. Concord, ON L4K 4W8 CANADA 905-879-0533 Website: www.dixie-electric.com Products: Dixie Electric provides DelStar product line of brushless heavy-duty alternators designed for motorcoach bus, shuttle bus and transit bus. The DelStar series is an integral charging system of a brushless design. The compact, heavy-duty construction provides increased service life expected to match the longer maintenance intervals of today’s engines, while providing a high performance. 15 EBERHARD MANUFACTURING _______________COMPANY_______________

21944 Drake Rd. Strongsville, OH 44149 USA 800-334-6706 Website: www.eberhard.com Products: Eberhard Manufacturing Company, a division of The Eastern Company, has been serving various industries within the transportation and industrial markets for over 140 years. Eberhard ships products from its factories in Strongsville, OH; Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada; Lerma, Mexico; and Shanghai, China.

Today, Eberhard is a leading manufacturer of industrial, vehicular, and specialty hardware and access systems, with a strong quality system based on its ISO9001 certification.

Eberhard offers a complete line of products such as: electric and manual door controls, compression latches, key cylinders, quarter turns, access handles, hinges, custom rods, yokes, door holdbacks, steps, gas springs, latching systems, folding t-handles and paddle latches—all available in a variety of finishes

for applications such as entrance and rear doors, baggage, battery, and compartment doors.

Eberhard produces thousands of different products, but it also has a full engineering staff that is available to assist in the design of custom products or systems for customer-specific applications.

Eberhard also specializes in various levels of fabrication and assembly utilizing materials such as steel, composites, malleable, ductile and die casting. 18

Eberspaecher Climate Control Systems 6099A Vipond Dr. Mississauga, ON L5T 2B2 CANADA 800-387-4800 Email: info-na@eberspaecher.com Website: www.eberspaecher-na.com Products: Fuel operated heaters and Sutrak air conditioning systems. Eberspaecher provides customers a “best in class product support” package, including in-field service representatives, on-site and webbased training, call center for technical support and a number of service dealers in North America. 15 ElDorado 1655 Wall St., Salina, KS 67401 USA 800-850-1287 Website: www.enconline.com Products: ElDorado, a subsidiary of REV Group, manufactures light- and medium-duty commercial buses for public transit, paratransit, airport, parking, hotel/resort, group tour, assisted living, church and university transportation markets. 16 __________________EMP_________________

2701 North 30th St. Escanaba, MI 49829 USA

906-789-7497 Email: productinfo@emp-corp.com Website: www.emp-corp.com Products: EMP is a leader in advanced thermal and oil management technology. It has produced the Mini-Hybrid® system and other advanced components since 2006. The Mini-Hybrid system eliminates engine overheating, particularly in harsh start-stop conditions. Other benefits to this system include reduced emissions, improved fuel economy, and more power delivered to the wheels. EMP’s team of engineers has also created aftermarket systems compatible with a variety of manufacturers, as well as powerful alternators to accommodate the unique power needs for the transit bus industry.

Based in Escanaba, MI, EMP’s products are used globally by major diesel engine OEMs and hydraulics manufacturers. Some of those other products include brushless DC electric oil pumps, water pumps and fans. In addition to its top-ofthe-line thermal management products, EMP also provides world-class machining, assembly and other manufacturing and engineering services.

For the transit bus industry, however, increased uptime and reduced maintenance with EMP’s Mini-Hybrid are just a few more reasons why it is a favorite among its competition. 18 _______________ENERDEL______________

SEE AD ON PAGE 18 8740 Hague Rd., Bldg. 7 Indianapolis, IN 46256 USA 317-703-1800 Email: info@enerdel.com Website: www.enerdel.com Products: Since being founded in 2004, EnerDel’s world-class engineers have worked to perfect the prismatic cell design and modular stacking archi-

TM

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tecture, offering customers a wide range of services to support the complete life of their battery products. EnerDel is headquartered in Indianapolis, IN, with manufacturing in Korea and Indianapolis. EnerDel was the first in the U.S. to mount a commercial-scale production of large-format, lithium-ion battery packs.

EnerDelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Vigor+ battery packs are designed to meet challenging power and energy requirements of modern hybrid and electric transportation applications. Vigor+ packs offer versatility across diverse industries including automotive, heavy-duty bus and truck, industrial equipment, trolley buses, trams, and agricultural machines offering long life, outstanding warranty and a product that meets Buy America requirements. EnerDel is able to deliver lithium-ion battery solutions to foster customer success. 18 _____ENGHOUSE TRANSPORTATION____ 80 Tiverton Ct., Suite 800 Markham, ON L3R 0G4 CANADA 905-946-3200

Website: www.enseicom.com Products: Founded in 1982, Enseicom manufactures street furniture, billboards, advertising structures and signage in North America. Staffed with a full in-house graphic and technical design team overseen by civil and structural engineers, Enseicom constantly designs and develops products with superior quality, durability and serviceability, all the while maintaining state-of-the-art designs.

It manufactures a wide array of products which include: bus shelters, rapid transit shelters, parking booths, benches, newspaper boxes, waste containers, bike racks, billboards, street level advertising columns, interior signage, and outdoor signage. With over 100,000 square feet of combined manufacturing and storage facilities, Enseicom is equipped to handle projects of any size across North America and the Caribbean. 18 _______EURAMTEC CORPORATION______

Email: solutions@enghouse.com Website: www.enghousetransportation.com Products: With over 30 years experience, Enghouse Transportation offers a suite of software solutions that serve the public and private transportation markets. This includes: Sched21Fixed Route Scheduling, BusLine-Fixed Route IVR, HandyLine-Paratransit IVR, TeleDriverWorkforce Management, CrewLine-Operator IVR, FareLine-Fare IVR, CoachWorks-Motorcoach Management, and TourManager-Tour Management. 16 ____________ENSEICOM, INC.____________ 225 Norman Montreal, QC H8R 1A3 CANADA 514-486-2626 Email: info@enseicom.com

29650 Grand River Ave., Farmington Hills, MI 48336 USA 248-473-8660 Email: contact@euramtec.com Website: www.euramtec.com Products: For over 30 years, Euramtec has provided European-styled accessories for transit buses and coaches. At the cutting edge of technology, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prepared to meet all interior accessory needs. Accessories include air diffusers, interior lighting, seating accessories, stop request systems and more. 16

EverBank Commercial Finance, Inc. 5 River Rd., #315, Wilton, CT 06897 USA 203-761-1414 Website: www.everbankcommercialfinance.com Products: Financial services and leasing. 14

_____FOGMAKER NORTH AMERICA____

150 Gordon Dr. Exton, PA 19341 USA 866-312-6820 Website: www.usscgroup.com/fogmaker-fire-suppression/ Products: Fogmaker North America fire suppression technology has become a market leader for transit and coach bus fire protection. Fogmaker provides superior protection to conventional fire suppression systems. It is environmentally friendly and utilizes water mist technology (no Hazmat). It is safe and non-toxic. The system provides a longer duration discharge than dry powder systems and requires no electrical power for protection. The system is designed to rapidly reduce the heat from a fire in seconds. With a network of dealers and distributors in the U.S. and Canada, Fogmaker North America patented technology is rapidly becoming the approved system of choice.

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Forest River Bus Website: www.forestriverinc.com Products: A wide variety of bus options for the transportation marketplace. 18

Freedman Seating 4545 W. Augusta Blvd.

Chicago, IL 60651 USA 773-524-2440 Website: www.freedmanseating.com Products: A supplier of passenger and driver seats for buses and motorcoaches. 18 FREIGHTLINER CUSTOM _______CHASSIS CORPORATION________

SEE AD ON PAGE 3 552 Hyatt St., Gaffney, SC 29341 USA 864-487-1700 Website: www.freightlinerchassis.com Products: By working directly with OEM partners, FCCC crafts purpose-engineered commercial buses with performance and reliability in mind. 16

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_______________GERFLOR_______________ 595 Supreme Dr. Bensenville, IL 60106 USA 877-437-3567 Website: www.gerflortransport.com Products: Tarabus by Gerflor is a world leading non-slip transit flooring, dedicated to bus and coach applications. At Busworld 2017, Gerflor

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launched its 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 its 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 include the self-adhesive solution, where the flooring is delivered with an acrylic adhesive and protective layer on the back of the flooring, as well as, pre-cut and pre-welded kits. 18

Gillig LLC 451 Discovery Dr. Livermore, CA 94551 USA 510-264-5000 Products: A wide variety of buses, including Gillig’s new 40-foot battery electric bus model. 18 Glaval Bus, Div. of Forest River, Inc. 914 CR #1 N, Elkhart, IN 46514 USA 800-445-2825 Website: www.glavalbus.com Products: Offering safety, quality and after-market service. Glaval has been a longtime participant in providing paratransit and senior friendly vehicles.

Options include ADA-compliant equipment and floor plans that seat up to 45 passengers. 10 Goshen Coach 25161 Leer Dr., Elkhart, IN 46514 USA 574-970-6300 Website: www.goshencoach.com Products: Goshen Coach is a manufacturer of small to mid-sized shuttle buses. 16 GRI Pumps 180 Hines Ave. Bellville, OH 44813 USA 419-886-3001 Email: GRIsales@gripumps.com Website: www.gripumps.com Products: Circulation pumps. 18

Hanover Displays Inc. 1601 Tonne Rd., Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 USA 773-334-9934 Website: www.hanoverdisplays.com Products: Destination signs, on-board next stop signs, bus stop signs, automatic voice announcement systems and infotainment systems. 17

Hart Plastics 2907 Park Six Ct. Elkhart, IN 46540 USA

574-264-7060 Email: contactus@hartplastics.net Website: www.hartplastics.com Products: Thermoformed components, dashes, visors, A-pillars, B-pillars, seat backs, door, floor and window trims, and switch housings. 18 ________HENDRICKSON BUS_________

800 S. Frontage Rd. Woodridge, IL 60517 USA 630-910-2800 Email: businfo@hendrickson-intl.com Website: www.hendrickson-intl.com Products: Hendrickson is a leading manufacturer and supplier of premium bus chassis components to global bus markets. Its legacy embodies over 100 years as the leading innovator and manufacturer of suspension systems and components for the global transportation industry. Utilizing world-class design, testing and validation capabilities, Hendrickson provides robust solutions that feature the ride quality, vehicle handling and stability required for bus applications around the world. Products include: air suspensions, steer axles, steel leaf springs, bumpers, brakes and wheel-ends. 18 ___HOMETOWN MANUFACTURING___

SEE AD ON PAGE 11 P.O. Box 185 Crandon, WI 54520 USA 715-301-0149 Email: hi@hometown-mfg.com Website: www.hometown-mfg.com Company Officers: Kristina Pence-Dunow, CEO/ President; Joey Dunow, Chief Engineer; Dustin Pence, COO; and Jessica Pence, Marketing Products: A family-owned and operated, DBE-certified manufacturing business. Hometown vehicles have been delivered to satisfied customers for the past three decades. They are “American-Made” and custom-built by skilled craftsmen, to the specifications of customers. The company can produce a trolley or bus to accommodate all levels of transportation, ranging from small private touring companies to major city transportation needs. Options include front-engine, rear-engine, heavy-duty, straight-rail, low-floor, full electric and CNG. Vehicles are produced on gas, diesel and alternativefuel chassis, ranging from 16 to 42 passenger models, with every transit option and component available. Hometown is committed to continually improving the quality of its products to exceed customer expectations, and provide top customer service for the life of each vehicle produced. 18

________HUDSON RIVER CORP.________ SEE AD ON PAGE 37 551 Observer Hwy., #15N Hoboken, NJ 07030 USA 201-420-3311 Email: lavdump@yahoo.com Website: www.lavdump.com Products: Lavatory dump hopper for contractor installation at customer garage to facilitate emptying the bus restroom holding tank. See detail drawings at company website. 17

iDrive, Inc. 249 N. Turnpike Rd. Santa Barbara, CA 93111-1928 USA 805-308-6094 Website: www.idriveglobal.com Products: In-vehicle camera systems for motorcoach fleets. iDrive provides multiple solutions like video event recorders, continuous recording surveillance, fleet management software and/or live GPS tracking all with one system to better manage fleets. 17

INA Bus Sales 4490 Business Center Way Las Vegas, NV 89118 USA 702-431-0707 Website: www.inabussales.com Products: INA Bus Sales is the exclusive U.S. distributor for the Irizar i6 56 passenger, 45-foot motorcoach, along with all parts and services dedicated to pride of ownership. 18

Indbus NA LLC 4802 W. Colonial Dr., Orlando, FL 32808 USA 800-330-1175 Email: indbusna@gmail.com Website: www.indbusna.com Products: The Indbus Inovo offers an integrated body-on-chassis coach with an integrally welded stainless steel structure, a composite exterior, and full underbody luggage. It is built on a Freightliner S2 chassis, with a passenger capacity of up to 45 (42 with a lavatory), and it features European design. 16 _INFANTI BUS & COACH UPHOLSTERY_

SEE AD ON PAGE 23 1153 W. Elizabeth Ave. Linden, NJ 07036 USA 877-874-8593 Email: mycoach@infantibusandcoachupholstery.com Website: www.infantibusandcoachupholstery.com Products: Bus and motorcoach upholstery products and services. 17 InterMotive Vehicle Controls 12840 Earhart Ave. Auburn, CA 95602 USA 530-823-1048

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Email: tlong@lgs-group.com Website: www.intermotive.net Products: Idle reduction and vehicle safety products include EcoStar, IdleLock and Idle Timer Controller. 18 ISR Corporation 1502 Joh Ave., Suite #170 Baltimore, MD 21227 USA 410-536-9989 x302 Email: ron@isrfleettrack.com, sales@isrfleettrack.com Website: www.isrfleettrack.com Products: ISRFleetTrack® Transit Fleet Management System: real-time route and location tracking, hard braking and local speeding alerts, with options for ELD, passenger counting and more. 18 Irizar Zumarraga bidea, 8. 20216 Ormaiztegi, Gipuzkoa SPAIN (+34) 943 80 91 00 Email: irizar@irizar.com Website: www.irizar.com Products: Motorcoach manufacturer. 18

____KELDERMAN MANUFACTURING____

SEE AD ON PAGE 41 2686 IA-92 Oskaloosa, IA 52577 USA 641-673-0468 Email: rich@kelderman.com Website: www.kelderman.com Products: Located in Oskaloosa, IA, Kelderman Manufacturing builds air suspension systems for late model, 3/4 ton and larger vehicles. The company’s product offerings are designed to improve ride comfort and towing capabilities. Its product lineup ranges from stock height systems to fully adjustable air suspension lift kits. 18

Kiel NA, LLC 2009 Middlebury St. Elkhart, IN 46516 USA 574-293-3600 Email: office@kielna.com Website: www.kielna.com Products: Kiel NA, LLC is part of the international Kiel Group, a manufacturer of transit passenger seats for commercial vehicles and public transportation, including seating solutions for buses and motorcoaches. Kiel operates globally with production plants in the USA, Germany

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Kirk’s Automotive, Inc. 9330 Roselawn, Detroit, MI 48204 USA 800-321-5989, 313-933-7030 Website: www.KirksAuto.com Products: Complete line of remanufactured air conditioning motors and circulation pumps. Products include alternators, starters, pumps, hydraulics, air conditioning motors and steering gears. 13 Kismet Rubber Products Corp.

215 Industrial Blvd., Blue Ridge, GA 30513 USA 706-426-0400 Email: sales@kismetrubberproducts.com Website: www.kismetrubberproducts.com Products: Extruder of rubber, silicone, TPE and flexible vinyl. 17

574-206-4769 Email: info@lazzerini.us Website: www.lazzerini.us Products: Lazzerini was founded in 1967 as a manufacturer of a full line of passenger seats for motorcoaches, buses, minibuses, luxury transit seating, basic transit seats and specialty seats. Specialty products are easily installable to meet the needs of people with disabilities, and for any type of seat movement, folding chair fold down seat back, and rotating base. 18 __________LIQUIDSPRING LLC__________

LANCER INSURANCE COMPANY

J&J Bus Sanitation Products P.O. Box 614 Crawford, GA 30630 USA 800-345-3303 Email: info@jjchem.com Website: www.jjchem.com Products: Sanitation equipment and supplies. 17

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(world headquarters), Poland, France, the Netherlands, and Turkey. 17

SEE AD ON PAGE 26 370 West Park Ave., P.O. Box 9004 Long Beach, NY 11561 USA 516-431-4441 Email: soshea@lancerinsurance.com Website: www.lancerinsurance.com Company Officers: David P. Delaney, Jr., President; Timothy D. Delaney, Executive Senior Vice President; and Timothy H. Delaney, Senior Vice President Products: Since 1985, Lancer Insurance Company has been a leading provider of commercial automobile, physical damage and general liability coverages to bus and motorcoach companies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. All Lancer policyholders, regardless of fleet size, receive a wide array of traditional and electronic products and services to supplement their driver training, loss prevention and accident mitigation efforts. 18 Lantal Textiles, Inc. 1300 Langenthal Dr., Rural Hall, NC 27045 USA 336-969-9551 Website: www.lantaltextiles.com Products: Lantal designs, produces and distributes seat upholstery fabrics to the motorcoach, transit and para-transit companies. Made in North Carolina, all of its products meet the Buy America directive. Lantal offers custom seat upholstery. 16 ______LAZZERINI CORPORATION______

1011 Herman St. Elkhart, IN 46516 USA

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4899 East 400 South Lafayette, IN 47905 USA 765-474-7816 Email: sales@liquidspring.com Website: www.liquidspring.com Products: LiquidSpring provides a premier suspension for the transit industry. CLASS® (Compressible Liquid Adaptive Suspension System), a rear suspension for Ford, RAM, GM, International, and Freightliner chassis; is designed to improve ride and handling for transit vehicles, while providing increased operator and passenger comfort and safety. 18 _____MARATHON BRAKE SYSTEMS_____

SEE AD ON PAGE 22 125 Old Mill Rd. Cartersville, GA 30120 800-223-5201 Website: www.marathonbrake.com Products: Marathon’s OE-approved KVT brake linings and DiscStar Transit Premium air disc pads are proven performers for transit and coach lines across the country. KVT and DiscStar are quiet, long life materials that are friendly to drums and rotors.

KVT Transit Brake Linings - OE Transit Approved KVT is specifically formulated to handle the high heat of multiple stopping of a city bus and the heavy-duty demands of a motorcoach. KVT is an organic, non-asbestos brake lining that combines dependable stopping power and quiet operation with a long lining life. KVT is rated for 28,660 lb. axle loads.

DiscStar Transit Premium Air Disc Pads Marathon now offers a high performance air disc pad, DiscStar Transit Premium (DSTP). Designed specifically for air disc brakes, Marathon's DiscStar disc pads were created to handle the extreme conditions of transit bus and coach applications. For-

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mulated using Marathon's service ceramic expertise, DiscStar disc pads provide dependable stopping power, a long pad and rotor life, and noise reduction. 17 March Networks The Pinnacle Bldg., 500-3455 Peachtree Rd., NE Atlanta, GA 30326 USA 800-563-5564 Email: sales@marchnetworks.com Website: www.marchnetworks.com Products: Transit hybrid video recorders; mobile IP video cameras; video management software with wireless video downloading and CAD/AVL integration. 17

MGM Brakes 8530 Cliff Cameron Dr., Charlotte, NC 28269 USA 704-547-7411 Email: mail@mgmbrakes.com Website: www.mgmbrakes.com Products: For over 50 years, MGM Brakes has been providing air brake actuators to the commercial vehicle market, with the addition of MGM’s advanced Electronic Brake Monitoring Systems (e.STROKE) for drum and air disc brake applications. 14 ______MICRO BIRD COMMERCIAL ____

SEE AD ON PAGE 34 3000 Girardin St. Drummondville, QC J2E 0A1 CANADA 855-628-6287 Email: commercial@microbird.com Website: www.mbcbus.com Products: Micro Bird Commercial designs and manufactures a complete line of buses for up to 28 passengers. All Micro Bird Commercial buses, which offer durability and comfort, are also available with special needs options. A North American dealer network allows the company to offer parts and service support. 18

Midway Specialty Vehicles, LLC 2940 Dexter Dr., Elkhart, IN 46514 USA 574-264-2530 Website: www.mymidway.com Products: Midway has designed the Pinnacle Bus to accommodate all passengers. The Pinnacle Bus is designed to transport riders economically and in an environmentally-friendly manner. Offers passengers comfort, security, and panoramic views at a reasonable cost. Engineered to accommodate up to 17 passengers and able to comfortably transport physical-challenged riders, the bus has extra wide entry doors and a steel case construction. Structurally sound (Altoona tested) with a Mercedes diesel engine and an average 20 mpg.

Offers seating and luggage rack options. Other models and OEM chassis are available. 17 ____MIDWEST BUS CORPORATION_____ SEE AD ON PAGE 25 1940 W. Stewart St. Owosso, MI 48867 USA

989-723-5241 Website: www.midwestbus.com

Products: Remanufacturer of transit buses, sale of aftermarket parts, sales and leasing of transit buses, and sale of Byk-Rak bike racks. Field service projects and repower projects are also available. 16

Mile-X Equipment, Inc. 801 North 2nd St. Coldwater, OH 45828 USA 800-837-3818, 419-678-3818 Email: sales@mile-x.com Website: www.mile-x.com Products: Mile-X Equipment, Inc. has been doing business since 1979. It’s a distributor for automotive, bus, and truck tools and equipment. The company offers lifts, vises, floor jacks, tire changers, jack stands, auto dollies, grinders, motorcycle lifts, shop presses, metal and woodworking tools, engine stands, wheel balancers, filter crushers, air compressors and diagnostic tools. There are over 5,200 items listed on the company website, with the capability of getting thousands more. 14 _________MJM INNOVATIONS_________

SEE AD ON PAGE 14 6300 Blair Hill Ave., Suite 301 Baltimore, MD 21209 USA 410-664-0700 Email: info@mjminnovations.com Website: www.mjminnovations.com Products: MJM Innovations improves transportation programs using web software, mobile apps, card solutions and trip management. 18

Mobile Climate Control 17103 State Rd. 4 East, Goshen, IN 46528 USA 905-482-2750 Email: jwan.sagman@mcc-hvac.com Website: www.mcc-hvac.com Products: Mobile Climate Control specializes in custom engineered HVAC systems. Its climate control systems can be found worldwide in all types of commercial vehicles, from buses and off road machines to utility and defense vehicles. The company supplies custom designed solutions, from single system components to complete climate systems. With its engineering staff with many years experience, Mobile Climate Control creates and supplies optimal solutions for the best climate comfort. 18 MobilityTRANS 42000 Koppernick, Ste. A-3, Canton, MI 48187 USA

800-496-4280 Email: info@mobilitytrans.com Website: www.mobilitytrans.com Products: Commercial passenger and paratransit vehicle convertor. The company builds and supplies paratransit, hotel/airport shuttle, executive transport and prisoner transport vans and small buses. 17

Mohawk Lifts P.O. Box 110, 65 Vrooman Ave. Amsterdam, NY 12010 USA 800-833-2006 Email: info@mohawklifts.com Website: www.mohawklifts.com Products: Mohawk Lifts offers environmentally safe, above ground lifts ranging from 7,000 to 240,000 pound capacities, including two post, four post, mobile column and parallelogram lifts as well as many lift accessories. 18

Monochem (Worldwide Monochem) 1713 Hur Industrial Blvd.

Cedar Park, TX 78613 USA 512-267-5190 Website: www.worldwidemonochem.com Products: Chemicals for cleaning bus interiors, odor control, toilets; upholstery cleaning; and sanitation equipment and supplies. 14 _____MOTOR COACH INDUSTRIES_____

SEE AD ON PAGE 2 200 E. Oakton St. Des Plaines, IL 60018 USA 866-MCI-COACH Email: marketing@mcicoach.com Website: www.mcicoach.com Company Officers: Ian Smart, President; Patrick Scully, Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing; David White, Executive Vice President of Supply Management; Patricia Ziska, Vice President of New Coach Sales; Mitch Guralnick, Vice President of Pre-Owned Coaches; Jim Macdonald, Vice President of Quality and Customer Service Products: Motor Coach Industries, MCI, is a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc., formerly called New Flyer Industries Inc. (“NFI Group”), the largest transit bus and motorcoach manufacturer and parts distributor in North America. MCI designs and builds high-quality, fuel-efficient, low-cost-ofownership models, including the industry’s bestselling MCI J4500 and D-Series coaches.

MCI recently unveiled its next generation MCI D45 CRT LE Commuter Coach that features a patent-pending low-entry and vestibule seating for unprecedented accessibility for all passengers including those using mobility devices. The MCI J3500, also unveiled this year, has the styling and comfort hallmarks of the J4500, with seating for

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40 to 44 passengers, a turning radius of under 33 feet and a rear window and lavatory option. The all-electric J4500e coach is on schedule for January 2020 production, and MCI will also apply its battery-electric platform to the D45 CRT LE Commuter Coach, followed by the electric MCI J3500, giving operators the most comprehensive choices in purpose-built, all-electric coaches.

MCI supports its coaches with aftermarket services including in-field, online and on the phone technical support, parts availability, along with maintenance and repairs available at MCI Sales and Service Centers located in key markets, such as its new flagship San Francisco Bay Area location in Hayward, CA. The MCI Academy, meanwhile, holding the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) accreditation, offers technical training and system qualification certificate and diploma programs tailored to the specific needs of the motorcoach industry. 18 ___MOTOR COACH TIRE SALES, LLC___

SEE AD ON PAGE 30 1133 4th St. Columbus, GA 31901 USA 678-463-4110 Website: www.motorcoachtiresales.com Products: Motor Coach Tire Sales, LLC, was created to provide tires for the motorcoach and tour bus industries. The company partners with Toyo Tires. 14

Motorcoach Manager, Inc. 3517 Marconi Ave., Suite 207 Sacramento, CA 95821 USA 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 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, uti-

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lization 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

Motorcoach Safety Training Co. 5611 Hudson Dr., Suite 100 A Hudson, OH 44236 USA 855-963-3900 Website: www.mcstco.com Products: Motorcoach driver training programs.

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National Bus Sales, Inc. 8649 S. Regency Dr., Tulsa, OK 74131 USA 800-475-1439, 918-224-1049 Website: www.nationalbus.com Products: National Bus Sales offers sales, leasing, rental, financing, service and parts. The company provides new, used, and refurbished school and shuttle buses, as well as motorcoaches. 13 NATIONAL INTERSTATE ________INSURANCE COMPANY________

3250 Interstate Dr. Richfield, OH 44286 USA 800-929-1500 Email: public.transportation@natl.com Website: www.natl.com Company Officers: Tony Mercurio, CEO; Steve Blankenship, Vice President of Passenger Transportation; George Skuggen, Senior Vice President Truck and Passenger; Jim Parks, Chief Underwriting Officer; Steve Winborn, Senior Vice President Claims and Risk Management Products: National Interstate, a provider of insurance and risk transfer solutions to the passenger transportation industry, can tailor a program built around a customer’s business. The company offers coverages to fit specific needs including: traditional first-dollar coverage, small and large deductible programs, self-insured retentions, workers’ compensation, physical damage, cyber liability, and alternative risk transfer, or captive programs, for those seeking an innovative solution to risk management. A.M. Best consistently rates National Interstate’s financial stability as A (Excellent). Contact Michelle Wiltgen at 800-9291500 x 1213 for more information. 18 New Flyer Industries Inc. Headquarters/Winnipeg Facility 711 Kernaghan Ave. Winnipeg, MB R2C 3T4 CANADA 204-224-1251

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Website: www.newflyer.com Products: North American transit bus and motorcoach manufacturer and parts distributor. 17 _________NORSE SYSTEMS, INC.________

SEE AD ON PAGE 46 245 Sage Hollow Rd. Guilford, CT 06437 USA 800-769-8468 Email: norse@norsesys.com Website: www.norsesys.com 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 32 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 from Norse are designed to run on the 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

Nova Bus 260 Banker Rd., Plattsburgh, NY 12901 USA 518-566-6682 Email: novabus.sales@volvo.com Website: www.novabus.com Products: Designs public transit buses that meet different needs. Its value-added offer includes an extensive list of standard features engineered to provide the best in terms of safety, accessibility and life cycle cost. Nova Bus’ entire line of vehicles is based on a single proven platform that requires minimal maintenance and far exceeds APTA’s White Book crashworthiness requirements. 15 __ONSPOT AUTOMATIC TIRE CHAINS__ SEE AD ON PAGE 43 1075 Rodgers Park Dr. North Vernon, IN 47265 USA 800-766-7768, 812-346-1719 Email: onspot@onspot.com Website: www.onspot.com

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Company Officers: Eric Jones, Global Sales Director

201-252-3010 Website: www.papost.com Products: Transportation insurance. 16

______________PREVOST_______________

____________PACCAR PARTS____________

Products: Onspot Automatic Tire Chains allow the operator to engage and disengage tire chains at the flip of a dashboard switch, without stopping, to enhance traction and reduce braking distance on snow and ice in forward or reverse.

Onspots are available as a factory option from over 200 builders, or for retrofit of existing vehicles from 1/2 ton to Class 8 tractor trailers. 18 __ON YOUR MARK TRANSPORTATION__

P.O. Box 292851 Nashville, TN 37229-2851 USA 615-504-6275 Email: info@onyourmarktransportation.com Website: www.onyourmarktransportation.com Products: A consulting service to the ground transportation industry, bringing resources to all areas of ground transportation, including limousine, school bus, transit and motorcoach. Services include, but are not limited to: event transportation planning and logistics; marketing, including websites, social media, trade show representation and sales training; surveys, including employee, ridership or customer surveys; human resources, including recruiting, hiring, training and company specific policy handbooks and procedures; grant writing; 5311(f) programs; DOT and DOD safety system audits; research; and school bus planning and implementation. 18 ______________OURBUS_________ _____

SEE AD ON PAGE 13 79 Madison Ave. New York, NY 10016 USA 844-800-6828 Email: pr@ourbus.com Website: www.ourbus.com Products: OurBus is a charter bus service in New York, NY. The company’s mission is to offer an affordable option that gives people time back to enjoy life outside the commute. OurBus is a technology platform that provides a better public transportation alternative for commuters traveling to and from suburban areas and cities. 18 P.A. Post Agency, LLC One International Blvd., Suite 405 Mahwah, NJ 07495 USA

SEE AD ON PAGE 21 750 Houser Way North Renton, WA 98057 USA 425-254-4139 Website: www.paccarparts.com, www.trpparts.com Products: TRP parts for trucks, trailers and buses are distributed exclusively by PACCAR Parts, a division of PACCAR, Inc., and are available globally through authorized retailers that include TRP Stores as well as DAF, Kenworth and Peterbilt dealerships. Supported by a worldwide network of parts and service professionals, TRP also offers aftermarket products.

PACCAR Parts operates a network of parts distribution centers that offer aftermarket parts sales support to DAF, Kenworth and Peterbilt dealerships and TRP Stores around the world. PACCAR Parts also distributes TRP parts for all makes of trucks, trailers, buses and engines. 17 PennTex Industries, Inc. 202 Plaza Dr., Manchester, PA 17345 USA 717-266-8762 Email: sales@penntexusa.com Website: www.penntexusa.com Products: Manufacturers of high efficiency alternators and mobile electronic devices. 18 ______PETRO STOPPING CENTERS_____

SEE AD ON PAGE 63 I-39 & Hwy. 38, Exit #99 900 Petro Dr. Rochelle, IL 61068 USA 815-562-3716 Email: petro59@rochelle.net Website: www.ta-petro.com Products: Full service travel plaza offering regular diesel, biodiesel, regular gas, E85 and E15.

RV services include dump station, water, propane, pull-through parking and separate fueling island.

Amenities include two restaurants, two stores, clinic, game arcade, showers, coin laundry, ATM, fax and copy service, UPS, FedEx and U.S. mail dropboxes. Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Buses welcome, please call ahead if eating (815562-5840). 18

SEE AD ON PAGE 5 35 Gagnon Blvd.

Sainte-Claire, Quebec G0R 2V0 CANADA 418-883-3391 Email: prevostcar@volvo.com Website: www.prevostcar.com Company Officers: Francois Tremblay, Vice President/General Manager; Guy French, Vice President/General Manager Services; and Jack Forbes, Vice President, North American Sales Products: North American manufacturer of passenger coaches as well as conversion coaches for high-end motorhomes and specialty conversions.

The Prevost H-Series provides tall, high-deck coaches with panoramic views and under-floor storage capacity of 470 cubic feet. The Prevost X-Series offers low overall height for the premium coach market, while maintaining a floor-toceiling height of 80 inches and a wheelbase of 334.5 inches. The Volvo 9700 offers quality, performance, economy, comfort and safety. The powertrain takes advantage of the coordination between the Volvo D13 engine and I-Shift transmission. This integration results in better performance and engine management, fuel savings and easier service scheduling. 18

Prevost Parts Email: prevostparts@volvo.com Website: www.prevostcar.com Online Parts Ordering: www.prevostcar.com/content/online-parts-ordering Prevost U.S. Parts Customer Service Center 2200 Point Blvd., Suite 100, Elgin, IL 60123 USA Toll Free: 1-800-799-9938 Admin., 1-800-6215519 Coach, 1-877-999-8808 Transit Phone: 1-847-844-7680 Prevost Canadian Parts Customer Service Center 2955-A, Watt Ave., Quebec, Quebec G1X 3W1 Toll Free: 1-800-463-8876 Phone: 1-418-654-0174, 1-418-653-0948 Products: Prevost offers 24/7 emergency parts ordering and shipping, and 24/7 online parts ordering with a special discount. Prevost parts warehouses use RF barcode technology for quick shipment of parts, and offers same-day shipping of stock parts anywhere in the United States and Canada for orders received before 2 p.m. Prevost’s computerized parts catalog provides immediate access to all coach assemblies, subassemblies and components. Prevost Parts provides replacement parts for all makes and models of coaches and transit buses, and is the exclusive distributor of Prevost, Volvo Bus and Nova Bus certified parts and components. The Prevost Parts and Service Network consists of 14 Prevost Parts and Service Centers, 55 mobile service vans, and more than 150 Prevost-trained and certified service providers. The service network is the industry’s exclusive provider of certified service for Prevost vehicles, Volvo engines and Volvo I-Shift transmissions. The service providers are strategically located throughout

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Canada and the United States and offer service for every make and model of coach, motorhome and bus. 18 ______________PROAIR, LLC____________

2900 County Rd. 6 W Elkhart, IN 46514 USA 574-264-5494 Email: info@proairllc.com Website: www.proairllc.com Company Officers: Dennis Mitchell, President; Jeff Armstead, Vice President of Sales & Marketing Products: ProAir manufactures air conditioning, heating and defrost systems for all types of buses and shuttle vehicles. The company specializes in climate control systems for driver and passenger areas, and also stocks a complete line of related parts. ProAir is a ISO 9001:2008 certified company that has been in operation since 1978. ProAir works very closely with customers to ensure that its products and processes are compliant with their requirements. ProAir is involved with the OEM’s on many levels, from providing industry feedback to various projects, testing of products, advance notification of changes and involvement in problem solving. All these and more pay back in superior products and service. ProAir also has a satellite operation, located in Ontario, CA, which serves as a warehouse and sales office for customers in the western United States. 18

ProFusion Industries 822 Kumho Dr., Fairlawn, OH 44333 USA 330-668-7694 Website: www.profusionindustries.com Products: U.S. manufacturer of heavy-duty flooring and entry step components. Supplier to original equipment manufacturers. Offers full line of rubber-type marbled rib and smooth flooring products, and slip resistant European-type flooring products for shuttle and transit products.

Flooring is available as a prewelded assembly for a complete bus floor, in all rib, all smooth, or with a rib center aisle. Standard width rolls are also available for pieced installation. Widths range from 79 to 114 inches. ProFusion also offers entry treads, nosings, and standee lines, including replacement parts for all shuttle and transit brands.

Proprietary processes provide for short lead times.

17

Protective Insurance Company 111 Congressional Blvd., Suite 500 Carmel, IN 46032 USA 800-644-5501 Website: www.protectiveinsurance.com Products: Protective Insurance Company, A+ rated by A.M. Best, specializes in providing insurance for the transportation industry. It’s licensed in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and all Canadian provinces to provide comprehensive insurance programs (including, but not limited to, auto liability and workers’ compensation options) for motorcoach operations and limousine services. 16

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Proterra 1815 Rollins Rd., Burlingame, CA 94010 USA 864-438-0000 Website: www.proterra.com Products: Catalyst® battery-electric transit buses. 18 Q’Straint/Sure-Lok 5553 Ravenswood Rd., Ste. 110 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 USA Email: info@sure-lok.com Website: www.qstraint.com Products: Safety and lift equipment. 14

RBS - RELATIONAL BUS SYSTEMS, INC.

SEE AD ON PAGE 27

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 browser-based system, manages tour reservations, itineraries, receivables and payables, and produces customer documents and management reports for group and retail tours. The RBS cloudbased system 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 REI 6534 L St. Omaha, NE 68117. USA 800-228-9275 Email: info@radioeng.com Website: www.radioeng.com

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Products: Entertainment and monitoring systems for motorcoaches and transit buses. 18

Resorts Casino Hotel 1133 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ 08401 USA 800-772-9000 Website: www.resortsac.com Products: Casino, hotel and restaurants, including the Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville entertainment complex. 17

REV Group 1441 Brickell Ave., Suite 1007 Miami, FL 33131 USA 786-464-8986 Website: www.revgroup.com Products: REV (NYSE: REVG) is a designer, manufacturer and distributor of specialty vehicles and related aftermarket parts and services.

It serves a diversified customer base primarily in the United States through three segments: Fire & Emergency, Commercial and Recreation.

REV provides customized vehicle solutions for applications including: essential needs (ambulances, fire apparatus, school buses, mobility vans, and municipal transit buses), industrial and commercial (terminal trucks, cut-away buses and street sweepers) and consumer leisure (recreational vehicles “RVs” and luxury buses).

The REV brand portfolio consists of 27 established principal vehicle brands. Several of these brands pioneered their specialty vehicle product categories and date back more than 50 years. 17 RLI Transportation 9025 N. Lindbergh Dr., Peoria, IL 61615 USA 800-331-4929 Website: www.rlicorp.com Products: Insurance for the bus and motorcoach industries. 17

Rotary Lift 2700 Lanier Dr. Madison, IN 47250 USA 800-640-5438 Email: userlink@rotarylift.com Website: www.rotarylift.com Products: Rotary is a manufacturer of lifts designed to improve technician productivity and fleet uptime. 17 RouteMatch Software 1201 W. Peachtree St., NW, Ste. 3300 Atlanta, GA 30309 USA 404-876-5160 Email: sales@routematch.com Website: www.routematch.com Products: Software systems for schedule and route optimization, reporting and compliance. 14

______RRL INSURANCE AGENCY_____ 4450 W. Eau Gallie Blvd., Suite 115 Melbourne, FL 32934 USA 800-407-4077 Email: lovep@rrl-ins.com Website: www.rrl-ins.com Products: RRL Insurance specializes in commercial insurance and Risk Management Services located in Florida and Ohio. Its professional team has

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built a solid reputation with years of in-depth knowledge in the transportation industry, and are constantly enhancing contacts with insurance companies and insureds. In 2014, RRL became partners with Acrisure. RRL has 300-plus agency partners located in most states, with $10 billion plus in sales. RRL works with well-regarded companies that are very competitive in the marketplace. RRL is responsive to clients’ needs and offer a comprehensive insurance program which makes it a partner in reducing accidents and premiums. The RRL goal is to provide clients with cost effective insurance and risk management solutions, combining competitive rates with superior service and to exceed expectations.

All RRL clients have a personal account representative to handle their standard requests, such as certificates, vehicle changes, filings, etc. Clients have total access to RRL’s management team, who can provide assistance for risk management needs 24/7. RRL is here for its clients on the go, with access to clients’ insurance and requested documents instantly online or from a smartphone or tablet.

With solid insurance industry relationships, dealing with market representatives who understand the issues at hand, keeps RRL ahead of the curve. RRL works to place its customers’ operations with a strong market that will be a partner with each customer, at a cost-effective rate. There is a reason why RRL customers do not leave once they are with the company. With top-notch service and knowledge, the rest just falls into place. Give RRL a call. It is available to become a loyal partner in securing all insurance needs. 18

RUD-Chain, Inc. 840 N. 20th Ave., Hiawatha, IA 52233 USA 800-553-7993 Email: sales@rudchain.com Website: www.rotogrip.us Products: RUD is a leading manufacturer of traction devices and a solution based company committed to providing traction solutions for the safe operation of motor vehicles under slick, icy and snowy road conditions. ROTOGRIP® CS, RUD’s Automatic Tire Chain System for low profile vehicles, permanently mounts to the vehicle suspension assuring that any operator is well equipped for all road conditions. 17 ___________SAFETY STEP__________

SEE AD ON PAGE 43 Website: www.safetystep.net

Products: Safety Step’s line of light-weight, all aluminum steps are designed to handle constant usage by passengers. All Safety Steps feature antitip and anti-slip designs. Rubber leg tips help secure passengers on all surfaces and during any weather conditions. With various platform sizes, heights and powder coat finishes, Safety Step has the step to improve every passenger travel experience. 18 __________SAFETY VISION___________

6100 W. Sam Houston Pkwy. N. Houston, TX 77041 USA 800-880-8855 Email: masstransitsales@safetyvision.com Website: www.safetyvision.com Company Officer: Lucius McCelvey Products: Safety Vision’s new 8400 RoadRecorder® helps enhance city-wide operations and expand surveillance coverage with open platform hardware and software. Scalable to a level never offered to mass transit, users can integrate their onboard and existing IP-based fixed cameras and enable cross-agency sharing to help their cities become safer and smarter. 18

Sanicoach 938 E. Swan Creek Rd., #241 Fort Washington, MD 20744 USA 301-257-6714 Email: sanicoachdc@gmail.com Products: 24-hour mobile bus dumping services in the Washington, D.C. area. 18 __________SANUVAIRE, LLC__________

6435 W. Quaker St. Orchard Park, NY 14127 USA 888-611-6660 Email: sales@sanuvaire.com Website: www.sanuvaire.com Company Officers: Chad Sleiman, CEO; Keliann Argy, COO Products: SanUVAire is the Leading provider of indoor air quality products specifically designed and developed for the transit industry. SanUVAire uses “New Ultraviolet Germicidal Technology” with a patent license for public transportation vehicles. Our premier product is the Breathe-Safe System™, which implements UVGI air purification technology into vehicle HVAC units providing maximum protection from daily exposure to health problems in transit ridership while reducing many vehicle related maintenance and fuel cost savings averaging about $2,200.00 per vehicle annually.

Each time the vehicle’s air passes over the newly patented high intensity ultraviolet system, over 99% of harmful microorganisms are killed by destroying their DNA. The Breathe-Safe UV Germi-

cidal system sterilizes the microorganisms so they are no longer able to reproduce, thus becoming micro-biologically dead and harmless. In typical transit vehicle applications, the air passes through an HVAC unit every two to four minutes in either the cooling or heating mode, which makes for very clean and healthy air. Clean indoor air means cleaner indoor interiors from a reduction in contaminant residues as well.

Other products include S-MT™ 1.0 Mobile Tower used for surface sterilization of vehicle interiors and transit facilities and the S-WAND™ for easy, quick hand-held disinfection of surface spills and spoils. SanUVAire carries a full line of smart, indoor air quality monitoring devices and UV sensors and meters for measuring the effectiveness of UV systems. Additionally, SanUVAire's line of safety solutions includes our Flashing S.T.O.P. Alert™ sign to increase awareness and reduce accidents, as well as our CurbAlarm™, a collaborative transit agency effort to reduce tire and wheel damage along with associated financial ramifications. 18 _SARDO BUS & COACH UPHOLSTERY_

503 S. Main Ave. Minneola, FL 34715 USA 512 W. Rosecrans Ave. Gardena, CA 90248 USA 800-654-3824 Email: sandy@sardobus.com Website: www.sardobus.com Company Officers: Lou Sardo, President; Sandy Follis, President of Sales; Kathy Cruse, National Sales Manager Products: Sardo is a leading provider of upholstery and flooring replacement/refurbishment to the motorcoach industry. From a single replacement seat cover, to complete interior refurbishments for multiple coaches, Sardo has a solution for any need. Its upholstery products include seat covers, sidewalls, center headliners, modesties and more. Sardo uses only the finest quality fabrics. It offers a wide variety of innovative styles, color combinations and patterns utilizing the finest quality wood, polyester blends, vinyl and leathers.

For any flooring needs, Sardo can install a brand new complete floor, and in most cases can provide some repairs on existing flooring. It offers installation at the company’s LA factory or provides expert installation from Sardo’s professional Mobile Road Crews at customer facilities. Its crews travel across the nation and do the installation at customer locations, minimizing down time and providing customers the opportunity to give attention to every detail. Sardo also has an excellent mail out service with easy installation instructions if customers prefer to do the work themselves. Call today and experience how Sardo’s unique customer service and quality craftsmanship have made the company an industry leader. 18

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Saucon Technologies 2455 Baglyos Circle Bethlehem, PA 18020 USA 484-241-2514 Website: www.saucontds.com Products: GPS tracking, reporting options and dispatch tools for various types of transportation providers. 16

Scalabros S.r.l.

Via Caduti di Sabbiuno 83/C -Loc. Bazzano Valsamoggia, BO 40053 ITALY +39 051 832587 Email: info@scalabros.it Website: www.scalabros.it Products: Bus components including manual and motorized sunshades, escape roof hatches and floorservice hatches. 17 __SERVICE INSURANCE AGENCY, LLC__

SEE AD ON PAGE 44 6850 Catawba Ln. Richmond, VA 23226 USA 800-444-0205 Website: www.serviceins.com Products: Service Insurance Agency, Inc. has been providing insurance and related products to the passenger transportation industry since 1952. Its professional staff is trained to provide the highest quality customer service and offers solutions for the unique insurance needs of its passenger transportation customers. An independent company, Service Insurance writes insurance for motorcoaches, limousines, vanpools, city transit buses, airport shuttles and school buses. 07 SHRIVER TRANSPORTATION ______INSURANCE AGENCY, LLC______

1 Oakbrook Terrace, #209 Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181 USA 630-833-0480 Email: michael@shriverinsurance.com Website: www.shriverinsurance.com Products: Shriver Transportation Insurance Agency has specialized in public transportation since 1963. Company representatives listen to what their customers want in order to taylor a policy to meet each of these customer needs.

Shriver works with customers from coast to coast on any size account. The company is extremely happy to announce the acquisition of an insurance agency in California that will help Shriver’s West Coast customer base, and to be able to work with other West Coast-based operators. 18 SLEC, Inc. 23 Fontana Ln., Suite 109 Baltimore, MD 21237 USA 443-730-1023

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Email: slec@slec.com Website: www.slec.com Products: SLEC is American owned, and manufactures vehicle lifts in the United States. Over the past 10 years, it has developed an active market for factory rebuilt lifts. 16

SmartTray International, LLC 15100 N. 78th Way, Floor 2 Scottsdale, AZ 85260 USA Email: railandbus@thesmarttray.com Website: www.thesmarttray.com Products: Tray table solutions including patented personal electronic device management features for buses and motorcoaches. 18

Specialty Vehicles (SVI, Inc.) 440 Mark Leany Dr. Henderson, NV 89011 USA 800-SVI-TRAM Website: www.specialtyvehicles.com Products: New and used trolleys, trams, electric shuttles, and other types of people movers. 16

Starcraft Bus 2367 Century Dr., Goshen, IN 46528 USA 800-348-7440 Website: www.starcraftbus.com Products: Starcraft Bus is a North American shuttle bus manufacturer. Services markets including hotels, churches, retirement centers, tour operators, and all aspects of public and private transportation. 15

Stertil-Koni 200 Log Canoe Circle Stevensville, MD 21666 USA 800-336-6637, 410-643-9001 Email: lifts@stertil-koni.com Website: www.stertil-koni.com Products: In business for more than 50 years, delivering high-precision, quality, safe and durable lifting systems. Supplier to companies and transit agencies, municipalities, state agencies, the U.S. military, school districts, ports and more. Serving the North American market via distributors who provide global reach with local expertise. Suited for all bus types. Product range includes mobile column lifts, platform lifts, inground lifts, 2-post and 4-post lifts.

The in-ground telescopic piston DIAMOND LIFT is electronically synchronized for safety and convenience and has a capacity of up to 105,000 lbs. in three-piston configuration. The in-ground scissor ECOLIFT provides universal access to all sub-components including brakes and wheels, has an ultra-shallow design—recommended for high ground water or bedrock and is relocatable. The platform SKYLIFT, with a lifting capacity between 62,400 and 78,000 lbs., is a clear floor lift with no crossbeams or obstructions between the lifting legs or runways. The 4-post lift offers the safety of a platform lift and a lift capacity ranging from 30,000 lbs. up to 132,000 lbs.

Mobile column lifts are shipped as standard with a full-color, high-resolution and 7” touch screen control panel. Portable lifts can be used indoors or outside and have lifting capacities from 14,000 lbs. to 40,000 lbs. per column. 17

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STEWART & STEVENSON POWER ___PRODUCTS-ATLANTIC DIVISION___

SEE AD ON PAGE 29 180 Route 17 South Lodi, NJ 07644 USA 201-489-5800 Email: r.weberjr@ssss.com Website: www.atlanticdda.com Company Officers: Peter Cataford, President; Richard Weir, Vice President Operations; Robert Mangs, Vice President Parts; Kenneth Gurian, Controller Products: Detroit Diesel engine and Allison automatic transmission distributor; Mercedes-Benz diesel engines; Freightliner Custom Chassis; Mobile Climate Control; Thomas Built Buses, Parts and service dealer; complete diagnostic and repair services; Allison-hybrid electric propulsion and related components; filters; batteries; diesel emission and retrofit solutions. 18 ________SUTRAK CORPORATION_______

SEE AD ON PAGE 32 6899 East 49th Ave. Commerce City, CO 80022 USA 303-287-2700 Website: www.sutrakusa.com Products: ISO 9001 Certified. Heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems for light rail vehicles, people movers and buses, including school buses. 10

Sys2K 528 Northlake Blvd., Ste. 1000 Altamonte Springs, FL 32701 USA 407-358-2000 Email: marketing@sys2k.com Website: www.sys2k.com Products: Infinity Business Management Software is a Windows-based business solution. Selected by an international General Motors team for implementation at GM’s Chinese parts and service outlets. Daimler Corporation uses Sys2K for its North American Setra tour bus plant. 15 Teknoware 120 Wampus Ln. Milford, CT 06460 USA 203-878-8567 Website: www.teknoware.com/en/vehicle-lighting Products: Outstanding lighting design for public transport vehicles. Teknoware provides high quality lights and lighting systems for new vehicles as well as for refurbishment and LED upgrading projects. It offers lighting solutions that are inte-

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grated with the other decor of the vehicle and provide sufficient and pleasant lighting. 17 Temsa USA/CH Bus Sales, LLC 1645 Lyndale Ave., North, Suite 102 Faribault, MN 55021 USA 507-331-7911 Website: www.chbussales.com Products: The Temsa TS30 and TS35E models are fully integral mid-size coaches that provide the same comfort, ride and drive as a full-size coach but are more appropriate for smaller groups. The TS45 full-sized coach, meanwhile, has top safety features as standard options. All of the U.S. Temsa coaches are constructed from stainless steel for extra durability and safety, and are tested to ensure the highest standards. 17 Thermo King Corp.

314 W. 90th St. Minneapolis, MN 55420 USA 253-686-4284 Website: www.thermoking.com Products: Bus/motorcoach air conditioning and heating parts and systems. 14 TIB - TRANSPORTATION ________INSURANCE BROKERS________

425 W. Broadway, Suite 300 Glendale, CA 91204 USA 800-248-2877 Email: jmcanany@tibinsurance.com Website: www.tibinsurance.com Company Officer: Jeff McAnany, Vice President of Sales Products: A brokerage firm dedicated to the transportation industry, offering auto and general liability, physical damage, workers’ compensation and bonds. Specializing in, and committed to the transportation industry. Offices from Los Angeles to New York. Focusing only on the transportation marketplace. 18 _____TRANS/AIR MANUFACTURING____

480 East Locust St. Dallastown, PA 17313 USA 717-246-2627 Website: www.transairmfg.com Products: Trans/Air Manufacturing 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 factory-owned operations or a network of distributors throughout North America. 18

________TRANSIGN LLC_________

SEE AD ON PAGE 42 281 Collier Rd. Auburn Hills, MI 48326 USA 248-623-6400, 855-535-7446 Email: sales@transignllc.com Website: www.transignllc.com Products: Transign®, a market leader in passenger information systems and vital transit solutions, will soon celebrate 60 years in the transit industry. For the past six decades, Transign® has provided the transit industry with durable, innovative and high-quality passenger information systems that has changed how the transit industry delivers advanced services to riders.

Transign® products have been widely adopted in North America, helping to boost public transportation services across the continent. It offers transit agencies an affordable solution to increase ridership, improve service and communication, and run more efficiently to optimize revenue. The products help greatly in modernizing the way people travel and access information while they reach their destinations conveniently. Transign® assists transit operators in offering their passengers with the best-in-class services.

Transign® continues its industry-leading innovation with the company’s newest smart bus solution, the LED Destinator EnCompass™. This hands-free fleet management solution combines GPS-based message progression with Transign’s existing high-quality LED Destinator™ signs, route boxes, backup cameras, complete stop request systems, interior LED displays, automated voice announcements, automatic passenger counting, smart phone mobile apps, real time bus tracking, and location-based advertising opportunities. Transign® is a U.S. manufacturer of roller curtain signs and meets ongoing demands, which provides superior graphic solutions to enhance branding.

Transign® has been a leading provider of LED destination signs, run number boxes, roller curtain signs and passenger information systems since 1959. Transign® currently serves hundreds of agencies and private shuttle operators alike, in both the United States and Canada and prides itself on being one of the most highly recommended and endorsed transit sign providers in the industry today. 18 Transit & Paratransit Company (TAPTCO) 5601 Hudson Dr. Hudson, OH 44236 USA 630-235-4457 Website: www.taptco.com Products: Training programs for transit and paratransit bus drivers. 14 Transit Sales International 1863 Service Ct. Riverside, CA 92507 USA 951-682-2557 Email: sales@transitsales.com Website: www.transitsales.com

Products: Provides quality, used transit buses to customers in the United States, Canada, Mexico and beyond. 14

Transit Bus Technical Advisors 1577 Havenwood Dr. Oceanside, CA 92056 USA 607-240-8067 Email: johnlula1@att.net Products: Assistance to transit authorities and manufacturers regarding diesel, CNG, hybridelectric, fuel cell and EV buses. 18 _________TRANSITWORKS_________

SEE AD ON PAGE 38 4199 Kinross Lakes Pkwy.

Richfield, OH 44286 USA 855-337-9543 Email: guy.hanford@transit-works.com Website: www.transit-works.com Products: Commercial shuttles, transporters and mobility vans for all types of people moving needs on Ford, Mercedes, and RAM chassis. 18

Translite Enterprises - Bus Glass Distributors 107 Trumbull St., K Bldg., Elizabeth, NJ 07206 USA 800-934-3450 Email: info@transliteent.com Website: www.translitebusglass.com Products: Windshields and side glass for coach, school bus and transit. 17

Transportation Information Systems 5435 Cahuenga Blvd., Ste. D. North Hollywood, CA 91601 USA 818-563-2839 Email: info@tisfleet.com Website: www.ifleeteld.tisfleet.com Products: iFleetELD software and hardware items that allow for full compliance with federal electronic device (ELD) requirements, as well as provide additional benefits to drivers and fleet managers. 18 TriMark Corp.

500 Bailey Ave., New Hampton, IA 50659 USA 800-447-0343 Website: www.trimarkcorp.com Products: Designer and manufacturer of handles, latches, complete door access systems and related components. 18

Turbo Images 1225 107 E. Rue Saint Georges, QC G5Y 8C3 CANADA 888-219-8872 Email: info@turbo-images.com Website: www.turbo-images.com Products: Fleet design and graphics. The company provides creative design services, leading edge digital printing, bus wraps, onsite installation across North America, installation at the factory prior to delivery, removal services, and an after-sales online parts reordering system. 18

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Turtle Top Inc. 67819 State Road 15 New Paris, IN 46553 USA 800-296-2105 Website: www.turtletop.com Products: The Turtle Top family of buses feature sophisticated styling and offer luxurious travel amenities for the mid-size coach market segment.

17 United Motorcoach Association (UMA) 113 S. West St., 4th floor Alexandria, VA 22314 USA 800-424-8262 Email: info@uma.org Website: www.uma.org Products: UMA is an association of motorcoach owners and industry suppliers, with over 1,000 members located in North America. 16 United States Warranty Corporation (USWC) 6150 Parkland Blvd., Suite 200 Mayfield Heights, OH 44124 USA 800-233-9878 Email: cgoebel@uswceagle.com Website: www.uswceagle.com Products: Extended warranties for new and used vehicles from mini-vans to buses. 18 ___________USSC GROUP___________

150 Gordon Dr. Exton, PA 19341 USA 866-312-6820 Website: www.usscgroup.com Products: United States Seating Company (USSC) designs and engineers world-class seating and ADA securement systems for transportation markets throughout North America. As a top seating manufacturer, it continues to develop the most durable and ergonomically-designed seating for public transportation. United States Seating has

comfortable seating options for passengers and operators of buses, subways, and light-rail systems. It focuses on four things in the design of any seating solution. They are: comfort, durability, cost-effectiveness, and maintainability. The company’s aim is to provide customers with the best seating products at the lowest life cycle cost.

Specific to operator seating, the goal at United States Seating is to design products that minimize fatigue and pain associated with the whole body vibration. Each seat is designed for customizability and support, ensuring the most comfortable base of operations. United States Seating leads the way in ADA securement solutions that are designed to maximize independence and minimize securement times. Its ergonomically designed, slim profile seating provides maximum aisle width for maneuverability within ADA zones. 18 ____________VAN HOOL N.V.____________

SEE AD ON PAGES 17 & 67 Bernard Van Hoolstraat 58 Lier (Koningshooikt) 2500 BELGIUM 00-32-3-420-21-94 Email: sales.bc.usa@vanhool.be Website: www.vanhool.be Products: Van Hool is an independent Belgian manufacturer of buses, coaches and utility vehicles. 17 _____________VANNER, INC.____________

SEE AD ON PAGES 6 & 39 4282 Reynolds Dr. Hilliard, OH 43026 USA 800-ACP-OWER (800-227-6937)

Website: www.vanner.com Products: Hybrid Beltless Alternators™ (HBA) are high efficiency DC to DC converters for Allison H40/50EP Hybrids. Eliminates alternators and associated components. Enough capacity to power variable speed electric radiator fans while running cool and efficiently. Also, VANN-BUS Electrical Systems transmit accurate information about the 12/24v vehicle batteries with analysis and monitoring 24/7 with state of health, over and under voltage, battery imbalance and temperature, J1939 communication with MUX and telemetry systems. Enables state-of-charge management lengthening battery life. Also can work in a closedloop manner with the Hybrid Beltless Alternator™.

Vanner also offers battery equalizers for MBBM battery monitoring. StartSentry Ultracapacitors also provide short bursts of energy and eliminate jumpstarting, reduce operational cost and downtime, reduce damaging drain on 12/24v vehicle batteries, and will start a vehicle with a dead battery. Vanner inverters and AC Power systems can power 110v AC outlets at passengers’ seats in buses and coaches. Battery chargers provide high performance 3-stage battery charging for 24v DC battery banks for buses and coaches. 11 VAPOR BUS INTERNATIONAL ________- A WABTEC COMPANY________

1010 Johnson Dr. Buffalo Grove, IL 60089 USA 847-777-6400 Email: vaporbusinfo@wabtec.com Website: www.vapordoors.com Products: Door equipment supplier to the North American bus industry, offering products for transit and commuter buses, intercity and motorcoaches, shuttle and commercial vehicles. Offers complete automatic door systems as well as individual components such as actuator devices, door controls, door panels, seals, and door accessories. Rugged, high performance actuators

BYD Motors President Honored For Business Leadership

Senior Vice President of BYD Company Limited and President of BYD Motors Inc., Stella Li, was honored with the Business Leadership Award at Project Sunshine’s annual benefit celebration. The gala, now in its 15th year, was held in New York to celebrate the supporters, volunteers, patients and families of Project Sunshine.

Project Sunshine is a non-profit organization that provides free creative educational and recreational programs for children in hospitals in the U.S. and overseas, including China.

“Ms. Li has risen quickly through the corporate ranks at BYD since joining the Shenzhenbased company as a marketing manager in 1996.

Under her leadership, BYD opened an electric bus factory in Lancaster, CA, four years ago. The facility is the largest electric bus factory in North

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Joseph Weilgus, founder of Project Sunshine, presents the award to Stella Li, of BYD.

July/August 2018

America and currently employs 800 locals. To date, BYD has invested about 300 million USD in the United States,” according to BYD. “She believes that her own story of moving up in the business world can provide a lesson in how women can shatter the glass ceiling in business. She added that values such as environmental protection and gender equality could be fostered through greater bilateral cooperation between U.S. and Chinese businesses.”

Li said, “Just like Project Sunshine’s founder Joseph Weilgus, we too care about our children’s future. Through the development of clean energy sources, we hope to mitigate air pollution, thereby creating a better living environment for them.”

Visit www.byd.com for more information.

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available in electric or pneumatic configurations.

Door control options range from simple electromechanical devices to high-capability, microprocessor-based systems. 15

Vehicle Inspection Systems, Inc. (VIS) 6317 McCoy Rd., Suite 110 Orlando, FL 32822 USA 407-206-3615 Email: info@vischeck.net Website: www.vischeck.net Products: The manufacturer and distributor of the VIS-Polish, VIS-Shine, and Squirrel wheel safety device. VIS has been serving the heavy-duty vehicle, truck, and bus industry since 1994. 16 Virginia Transit Association 1108 E. Main St., Ste 1108 Richmond, VA 23219 USA 804-643-1166 Email: lguthrie@lmg-llc.net Website: www.vatransit.com Products: The Virginia Transit Association is recognized as the voice of public transportation in Virginia. The non-profit trade association represents over 30 transit providers, plus businesses, organizations, and individuals. 18

Voith Turbo 25 Winship Rd., York, PA 17406 USA 717-767-3200 Website: www.voith.com Products: Voith’s DIWA.6 automatic transmission is lowering fuel consumption, while bringing optimum performance through state-of-the-art technology. 17 Voltabox Of Texas, Inc. 1500 Volta Dr. Cedar Park, TX 78641 USA 512-814-3700 Website: www.voltabox.com Products: Designs, develops and manufactures high-performance lithium-ion battery systems.

18

Volvo Group North America 7900 National Service Rd. Greensboro, NC 27409 USA 336-393-2000 Website: www.volvogroup.com Products: A global manufacturer of buses, trucks, construction equipment and drive systems. 16 ____WEH TECHNOLOGIES INC.___

24903 Laguna Edge Dr. Katy, TX 77494 USA 832-331-0021 Website: www.weh.us Products: WEH offers an extensive range of CNG refueling products. For dispensers, this includes nozzles, breakaways, hoses and filters. For vehicles, this includes receptacles and check valves. 16 Welch Industries 650 Red Oak Rd., Stockbridge, GA 30281 USA 770-474-1150 Website: www.welchindustries.com Products: Compressors, condenser coils, hoses, expansion valves, and other air conditioning parts.

17

Wheeler Bros., Inc. 384 Drum Ave. Somerset, PA 15501 USA 800-842-7285 Email: info@wheelerfleet.com Website: www.wheelerfleet.com Products: Brake components, body/lighting, filters, starters, alternators, mirrors, belts/tensioners, wiper components, exhaust, batteries, fluids/ chemicals. 17

Willingham Inc. 20008 244th Ave. S.E., Maple Valley, WA 98038 USA 425-432-9867 Website: www.willinghaminc.com Products: Seatcovers, complete interiors, floors, step tread kits, parcel rack door and bay door pistons, foam rubber replacement kits, net pockets, cup holders, grab handles and accessories. Seat parts for all models. 12

XALT LLC 2700 S. Saginaw Rd., Midland, MI 48640 USA 989-486-8501 Email: powerup@xaltenergy.com Website: www.xaltenergy.com Products: Leveraging proven lithium-ion chemistry, XALT Energy is a leader in the development of lighter, smaller and more powerful energy solutions for commercial fleets. It unites scalable large-format cell technology with manufacturing expertise, commercial market knowledge and a range of strategic partners. The company’s goal is to help fuel customer innovations in commercial transportation and other industries. 17

Zenith Motors 204 Vine St. . Wilder, KY 41076 USA 800-630-9833 Email: sales@zenith-motors.com Website: www.zenith-motors.com Products: Electric-powered van manufacturer. 18

ZF Openmatics 777 Hickory Hill Dr., Vernon Hills, IL 60061 USA 847-478-6840 Website: www.zf.com Products: Telematics, vehicle diagnostics, infotainment and entertainment systems, as well as axle and transmission systems for the bus and motorcoach industries. 18

ABC Companies Has New Vice President Of Marketing

served in various marketing roles ABC Companies has named including director of brand manThom Peebles as its new vice agement for Hyster-Yale Materipresident of marketing. Ashley als Handling, Inc., and director of Cornell, who has served as marbusiness development, as well as keting lead for the past three brand marketing director at years, will move to a new role as Michelin North America. vice president of strategic acHe now oversees all aspects of counts where she will focus on ABC Companies’ brand marketsupporting existing accounts and ing, digital, and media communideveloping new employee-shuttle cations. Peebles is a graduate of programs throughout the NorthTexas A&M University, and ern California market region.

Thom Peebles served as an officer in the United Peebles joins the company from JCB, a UK-based manufacturer of con- States Army. He is the father of two sons, and is struction and agricultural heavy equipment, relocating with his wife to Florida.

About ABC Companies where he was vice president of marketing, North “ABC Companies is a provider to the transAmerica. For more than 20 years, Peebles has

portation industry with product and service offerings that cover operational needs including new and pre-owned full-size highway coach equipment, transit and specialty vehicles.

“ABC supports customers with an after sale service network for service and repairs, collision services, OEM and aftermarket parts needs for transit, motorcoach and heavy-duty equipment from 10 strategically placed locations throughout the U.S. and Canada. Private and municipal financing and leasing options are available through the company's financial services group,” according to the company.

July/August 2018

For more information, contact ABC Companies at 800-222-2875 or visit www.abc-companies.com.

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MICRO BIRD COMMERCIAL

MICRO BIRD COMMERCIAL

CT-Series

CTS-Series

Offered in gas or diesel, recent tests demonstrate an impressive dayto-day fuel economy of up to 38 percent compared to other shuttle bus chassis. The transit chassis also offers an encased capless fuel filter and an improved engine compartment layout, in both 3.2 diesel and 3.7 gas litre engines, that are proven worldwide.

In addition to many of the Micro Bird body benefits such as the reinforced structure and the superior insulation, the CT-Series wide center aisle creates more room for passengers enhancing the comfort. The design offers optimised driver ergonomics, and the overall look of this vehicle is comtemporary and stylish.

Micro Bird Commercial designs and manufactures a complete line of commercial buses built with superior durability. The CTS-Series delivers exceptional safety and stability, making this bus an excellent choice for special needs applications.

This bus is ready to be equipped with a variety of options to suit the needs of any passenger, disabled or not. The CTS-Series (CT-Series) offers more visibility and a more comfortable driver’s area, with easy access to controls. The double-leaf wheelchair doors offer protection on both sides of the lift, thus adding to passenger safety, while offering superior weather seal and door strength.

Micro Bird Commercial 3000 Girardin Street Drummondville, Quebec J2E 0A1 855-628-MBUS (6287) Fax: (819)475-9633 Email: commercial@microbird.com www.mbcbus.com Sales Contact Person: James Mansell

Micro Bird Commercial 3000 Girardin Street Drummondville, Quebec J2E 0A1 855-628-MBUS (6287) Fax: (819)475-9633 Email: commercial@microbird.com www.mbcbus.com Sales Contact Person: James Mansell

Model.....................................................................................................CT-Series Seating Capacity............................................................Up to 17 passengers Length ............................................................................................................273” Width ................................................................................................................86” Height .............................................................................................................106” Engine........................................................................3.7L V6 or 3.2L I5 Diesel Transmission ......................................................6 speed AOD w/Selectshift Chassis ..................................................................................Ford Transit T350 Air Conditioning........................................................................Up to 55K BTU Steering.........................................................................................Tilt-Standard Suspension......................................................................................Leaf Spring Wheelbase......................................................................................................156”

Model ..................................................................................................CTS-Series Seating Capacity ............................................................Up to 11 passengers Length ............................................................................................................273” Width ................................................................................................................86” Height .............................................................................................................106” Engine........................................................................3.7L V6 or 3.2L I5 Diesel Transmission ......................................................6 speed AOD w/Selectshift Chassis ..................................................................................Ford Transit T350 Air Conditioning........................................................................Up to 55K BTU Wheelchair lift.....................................................................................Standard Steering.........................................................................................Tilt-Standard Suspension......................................................................................Leaf Spring Wheelbase......................................................................................................156”

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MICRO BIRD COMMERCIAL

MICRO BIRD COMMERCIAL

D-Series

DS-Series

The D-Series is a dual-rear wheel bus, made of six longitudinal structural beams, combined with one-piece galvanized steel roof bows that enhance safety and rollover protection. This mid-size bus can be built to accommodate various types of configurations, seating up to 28 passengers (Ford chassis).

Micro Bird buses are purpose built for tours, assisted living, public transit, shuttle markets and many more. Several options such as luxury seats, extra wide rearview window, flat screen TV, and panoramic windows, are offered to enhance a rider’s experience. Propane and electric systems are also available.

The DS-Series, a dual rear wheel special needs vehicle, delivers superior safety and a smoother ride because of the energy absorbing blocks that absorb the road vibration. Micro Bird’s recessed wheelchair tracks, Slide N’Click or floor pocket anchorages, offer safe and secure transportation for special needs passengers.

The double-leaf wheelchair doors offer protection on both sides of the lift, thus adding to passenger safety, while offering superior weather seal and door strength.

Micro Bird Commercial 3000 Girardin Street Drummondville, Quebec J2E 0A1 855-628-MBUS (6287) Fax: (819)475-9633 Email: commercial@microbird.com www.mbcbus.com Sales Contact Person: James Mansell

Model.......................................................................................................D-Series Seating Capacity...........................................................Up to 28 passengers Length..................................................................................From 257” to 346” Width.................................................................................................................96” Height..................................................................................................111” or 113” Engine.............................................Ford 6.2L and 6.8L gas or GM 6.0L gas Transmission ................................................................................6-Speed AOD Chassis.............................................Ford E350 & E450 or GM 3500 & 4500 Air Conditioning........................................................................Up to 82K BTU Steering.........................................................................................Tilt-Standard Suspension....................................................Leaf Spring - Mor/Ryde or Air Wheelbase ............................................................................From 138” to 216”

Micro Bird Commercial 3000 Girardin Street Drummondville, Quebec J2E 0A1 855-628-MBUS (6287) Fax: (819)475-9633 Email: commercial@microbird.com www.mbcbus.com Sales Contact Person: James Mansell

Model ....................................................................................................DS-Series Seating Capacity...........................................................Up to 22 passengers Length...................................................................................From 283” to 315” Width.................................................................................................................96” Height ..............................................................................................................118” Engine.............................................Ford 6.2L and 6.8L gas or GM 6.0L gas Transmission ................................................................................6-Speed AOD Chassis.............................................Ford E350 & E450 or GM 3500 & 4500 Air Conditioning........................................................................Up to 82K BTU Wheelchair Lift....................................................................................Standard Steering.........................................................................................Tilt-Standard Suspension....................................................Leaf Spring - Mor/Ryde or Air Wheelbase.............................................................................From 158” to 177” July/August 2018

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ARBOC Specialty Vehicles

ARBOC Specialty Vehicles

Spirit Of Equess

Spirit Of Independence Ford

Presenting the ARBOC Spirit of Equess, a low-floor rural transit bus built on an ARBOC Specialty Vehicles, LLC, purpose-built chassis. The Spirit of Equess can accommodate up to 33 seated passengers or 6 wheelchair passengers. This bus truly displays “Equal Access for All” passengers, with no steps throughout the bus and a fully flat floor.

ARBOC’s advanced technology exceeds ADA guidelines with a 1:8 ramp slope and 39-inch door opening for passengers in need of extra assistance and wheelchair accessibility. This 10-year bus utilizes heavy-duty ZF axles, which allow plenty of GVW for extra standees.

ARBOC Specialty Vehicles 51165 Greenfield Pkwy., Middlebury, IN 46540 574-825-1720 Website: www.ARBOCsv.com

Model ........................................................................................Spirit of Equess Seating Capacity.........................Up to 33 ambulatory or 6 wheelchairs Length................................................................................................29’, 32’, 34’ Width...............................................................................................................100” Height .............................................................................................................102” Engine ....................................................Cummins ISB 6.7L Diesel/6.7G CNG Type of Fuel ......................................................................................Diesel/CNG Chassis...................................................................ARBOC Specialty Vehicles Air Conditioning..................................................................Spheros by Valeo Wheelchair Lift Option.................................................................Braun ramp Suspension..............................................................4-corner air suspension Page 60

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July/August 2018

The Spirit of Independence is available on the Ford Transit cutaway chassis. This vehicle is built with a 96-inch wide body and features dual rear wheels with rear wheel drive.

With a GVWR of 10,360 pounds, and an available passenger capacity of up to 14 ambulatory or 5 wheelchairs, the Ford Spirit of Independence is ideal for transit agencies that are looking for smaller low-floor buses.

Backed by the reliable Ford dealer network, the Ford Spirit of Independence touts convenience and ease of serviceability.

ARBOC Specialty Vehicles 51165 Greenfield Pkwy., Middlebury, IN 46540 574-825-1720 Website: www.ARBOCsv.com

Model ..............................................................Spirit of Independence - Ford Seating Capacity..........................Up to 14 ambulatory or 5 wheelchairs Length..........................................................................................................23’ 9” Width.................................................................................................................96” Height .............................................................................................................104” Engine................................................................................3.7L Gas/3.2L Diesel Type of Fuel..................................................................................Gas or Diesel Chassis.................................................................Ford Transit T350 Cutaway Air Conditioning..................................................................Spheros by Valeo Wheelchair Lift Option.................................................................Braun ramp Suspension ...............................................................OEM spring suspension

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ARBOC Specialty Vehicles

ARBOC Specialty Vehicles

Spirit Of Independence RAM ProMaster

Spirit Of Mobility

The Spirit of Independence is available on the RAM ProMaster cutaway chassis. This bus offers a low cost of ownership, while maintaining the safety and dependability that is expected from ARBOC. The 80-inch wide body allows for easy maneuverability inside the vehicle, for both ambulatory and wheelchair passengers. With an available passenger capacity of up to 12 ambulatory or 2 wheelchairs, the Spirit of Independence is perfect for use as a hotel shuttle, airport parking shuttle, in non-emergency medical transport or in the assisted living market.

The RAM chassis features single rear wheels with front wheel drive. With a GVWR of 9,350 pounds, this bus requires 3 point seatbelts and features a smaller 21-foot body, which handles with ease. Occupants will appreciate the absence of steps or a ramp inside the vehicle and the superior headroom.

ARBOC Specialty Vehicles 51165 Greenfield Pkwy., Middlebury, IN 46540 574-825-1720 Website: www.ARBOCsv.com

Model ............................................Spirit of Independence RAM ProMaster Seating Capacity ..........................Up to 12 ambulatory or 2 wheelchairs Length...........................................................................................................21’ 8” Width ................................................................................................................80” Height .............................................................................................................103” Engine .....................................................................................................3.6L Gas Type of Fuel ....................................................................................................Gas Chassis ..........................................................RAM ProMaster 3500 Cutaway Air Conditioning..................................................................Spheros by Valeo Wheelchair Lift Option.................................................................Braun ramp Suspension ...............................................................OEM spring suspension

The ARBOC Spirit of Mobility is built on a conventional GM cutaway with all passengers entering through the same 39-inch wide door opening. The interior offers theatre seating for better viewing for all riders.

The Spirit of Mobility low-floor bus offers a full air-ride suspension with a beneficial kneeling feature, allowing for an entrance of less than 5-inches from the curb without deploying the ramp.

The Spirit of Mobility provides a single, non-discriminatory angled and accessible entranceway. Riders of all abilities no longer need to contend with steps in the most accessible cutaway bus in the industry today. Now every passenger, including wheelchair riders and those in power scooters, can experience what true random access really means.

ARBOC Specialty Vehicles 51165 Greenfield Pkwy., Middlebury, IN 46540 574-825-1720 Website: www.ARBOCsv.com

Model.......................................................................................Spirit of Mobility Seating Capacity..................................................................................Up to 22 Length................................................................................................24’, 26’, 28’ Width.................................................................................................................96” Height ..............................................................................................................110” Engine.....................................................................................................6.0L Gas Type of Fuel......................................................................................Gas or CNG Chassis ....................................................................................................GM4500 Air Conditioning..............................................Spheros by Valeo, Trans/Air, Thermo King or ACT Wheelchair Lift Option.................................................................Braun ramp Suspension..............................................................4-corner air suspension July/August 2018

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ARBOC Specialty Vehicles

ARBOC Specialty Vehicles

Spirit Of Freedom

Spirit Of Liberty

The Spirit of Freedom, built on the GM4500 cutaway chassis, utilizes only General Motors’ standard suspension to create a low-floor, ADA compliant bus capable of a 1:5 ramp angle; all with an exceptional ultra-low price point.

With a spacious 39-inch entry opening and low step height, this is an ideal bus for airport, hotel, and resort shuttles as well as transit agencies.

Utilizing the GM suspension has the added benefit of impressively driving down maintenance costs over the life cycle, making it comparable to any standard floor cutaway. The Spirit of Freedom continues to aggressively enter new markets for today and beyond.

The ARBOC Spirit of Liberty is a low-floor, medium-duty 30- to 35-foot rear engine shuttle bus. The Liberty features an open floorplan with no steps throughout the passenger area. Standard wheelchair zones are a spacious 54 x 30 inches. Passengers enter on a 34-inch wide, 1:8 ramp (rated at 1,000 pounds) to a 37-inch pass-through between front wheelhouses.

The Liberty incorporates lightweight technologies and proven ARBOC construction, resulting in best-in-class curb weight of 19,500 pounds. With a GVW of 25,990 pounds, the Liberty has the capacity to carry up to 37 passengers plus standees. Power is supplied by a 6.7 liter Cummins ISB diesel engine, coupled to an Allison B220 six-speed transmission on a proprietary chassis supplied by Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation.

ARBOC Specialty Vehicles 51165 Greenfield Pkwy., Middlebury, IN 46540 574-825-1720 Website: www.ARBOCsv.com

Model .....................................................................................Spirit of Freedom Seating Capacity..................................................................................Up to 23 Length................................................................................................24’, 26’, 28’ Width.................................................................................................................96” Height ..............................................................................................................115” Engine.....................................................................................................6.0L Gas Type of Fuel ..........................................................................................Gas, CNG Chassis ....................................................................................................GM4500 Air Conditioning..............................................Spheros by Valeo, Trans/Air, Thermo King or ACT Wheelchair Lift Option.................................................................Braun ramp Suspension ...............................................................OEM spring suspension Page 62

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ARBOC Specialty Vehicles 51165 Greenfield Pkwy., Middlebury, IN 46540 574-825-1720 Website: www.ARBOCsv.com

Model ........................................................................................Spirit of Liberty Seating Capacity..................................................................................Up to 37 Length .......................................................................................................30’, 35’ Width...............................................................................................................100” Height .............................................................................................................120” Engine.......................................................................Cummins ISB 6.7L Diesel Type of Fuel................................................................................................Diesel Chassis.....................................................................................Freightliner XBA Air Conditioning .......................................Spheros by Valeo, Thermo King Wheelchair Lift Option.................................................................Braun ramp Suspension..............................................................4-corner air suspension

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ABC Companies

Home of the Best Full-Service Travel Plaza in Northern Illinois Featuring…

Seating for 175, Homestyle Cooking, Daily Specials, Buffet, Soup & Salad Bar, Full Menu, Carry-Out

Van Hool CX35 The Van Hool CX35 was created to meet the diverse needs of customers, further demonstrating ABC Companies’ commitment to the North American market. The Van Hool CX35’s user-friendly design integrates many full-size coach features including: spacious inner cabin, optional 2nd door, expanded luggage capacity, seamless driver experience from the CX45, comprehensive safety package, and easy serviceability.

The Van Hool CX45 and the CX35 share a nearly identical design with many commonly used parts and components that can drive some highvalue benefits to operators. A dramatic reduction in spare parts investment is an obvious advantage, but for operators who already run the Van Hool CX45 in their fleet, the need for driver and mechanic training is greatly mitigated. With many exclusive features unique to the small coach segment, the Van Hool CX35 delivers some added benefits in addition to the durability, comfort and reliability operators expect from Van Hool.

ABC Companies; 1506 30th Street, NW; Faribault, MN 55021 USA; Phone: 800-222-2875; Fax: 507-334-0246 E-mail: abcinfo@abc-companies.com Website: www.abc-companies.com

Seating Capacity......................................................................38 Passengers Overall Length ................................................................................................35’ Overall Width.................................................................................................102” Overall Height .............................................................................................11’ 6” Engine.......................................................Cummins ISL 9 (345HP) EPA 2013 Transmission........................................Allison B500 Six-Speed Automatic (Gen5) Chassis.................................................Stainless Steel Chassis, Windshield & Side Window Frames Air Conditioning ....................................................Integrated HVAC System Wheelchair Lift Option .......................Mid-Ship Position Wheelchair Lift w/2 Tie-Down Positions

(815) 562-5840

Super Salad Bar by-the-pound!

Stromboli, Pizza, Pasta & more!

Hand-Dipped Ice Cream!

(815) 561-9595

Designated Bus Parking and Pull-Thru Fueling Island

Bus Drivers & Tour Guides Eat free!

Mini-Mall — 2 Stores with over 5,000 sq. ft. of shopping!

ATM, Major Credit Cards accepted.

I-39 & Hwy 38, Exit 99 Rochelle, IL

OPEN 24 HOURS

Please call ahead!

July/August 2018

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The Martz Group Adds 41 2018 MCI Coaches

Motor Coach Industries (MCI), the U.S. subsidiary of New Flyer Industries Inc., said The Martz Group has updated its 205-coach fleet with the delivery of 41 new MCI 2018 coaches — 23 MCI D4505s and 18 MCI J4500s.

The Martz Group not only provides tour and charter services, its commuter service offers 52 daily coach trips to New York City. Martz has terminals in Wilkes-Barre, PA, Scranton, Mount Pocono, Delaware Water Gap, Philadelphia and New York City. The company also operates in Virginia, New Jersey, Maryland and Florida. Its Washington, D.C., area service features hop on/off transportation and scheduled-shuttle to Dulles International Airport. Its brand portfolio includes Gold Line, Gray Line, National Coach Works, First Class Coach and Martz Trailways.

John Henry, 26, director of communications/marketing, continues to work with his father, Scott, who is Martz’s chairman, and his grandfather, Frank, who is chairman emeritus and an advisor. After working for a time in New York City in sales positions, John Henry, a Bucknell University business graduate, returned to the family business three years ago, starting in company’s traditional 18-month training program. He worked in the garage, dispatch, sales and IT before shifting to an opening in marketing.

For its new 2018 models, Martz ordered the programmable interior color lighting, Wi-Fi and power outlets, the new rear window option and seating for 60 on its J4500 coaches.

“We are pleased that Martz has once again turned to MCI and trusts our models for reliability, style and easy service,” said Patricia Ziska, MCI vice president of New Coach Sales. “Their option choices demonstrate their leadership and desire to put passenger safety and comfort first.

We’re proud to be able to offer Martz these advances and proud of workADVERTORIAL

Introducing The OurBus Partnership Program

While many small-to-mid-sized charter bus operators are facing strong headwinds, The OurBus Partnership Program is a revenue driver, giving charter buses the opportunity to own and operate OurBus routes, leveling the playing field to compete with the Megabuses and Greyhounds of the world.

By partnering with us, charter bus companies can gross up to $400,000 a year, per bus (when operating seven days per week).

Our new partnership program will drive a reliable revenue stream to charter buses, and widen their footprint in the U.S., by offering intercity and charter line runs.

Leave the heavy lifting to OurBus! We'll handle customer service, marketing, PR and branding initiatives to support new routes, under the partnership program.

We take a flexible, creative and swift approach to ensuring that our bus partners will have consistent ridership on their buses. For example, we use crowdsourcing to determine where we can serve transportation "deserts" (locations with limited or no intercity transportation options), plan "pop-up" routes for special occasions and offer seasonal and fun promotions for groups and frequent riders.

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ing with them for nearly 40 years.”

Today, 90 percent of Martz’s fleet is MCI – the company also operates a smaller van and bus service. All together, Martz serves well over a million passengers annually, and sees ridership increasing, in part due to a new smartphone app that rings up passenger rewards points while eliminating paper ticketing.

Martz has offered a corporatewide safety and environmental program for all environments – in the office, in the garage and on the road. The company has specific rules on idling as well as moving record keeping and passenger service to digital solutions — as much as possible.

Martz team members also make regular appearances at MCI Academy’s on-site training center in Louisville, KY, sending two to three technicians a year for specific hands-on training.

Drivers also qualify for annual bonuses based on safety and idling achievements.

Martz Lines was started in 1908 in Plymouth, PA, by John Henry’s great-great-grandfather, Frank Martz Sr., under the original name of White Transit. The company carried coal miners to their jobs. Martz Lines was one of the founding members of Trailways, and remains with that system today.

Frank Martz Sr. supervised the construction of a 1912 white bus that is still displayed at parades and special occasions in Pennsylvania. When the founder died in 1936, his son, Frank Martz Jr., took over the company, and when Martz Jr. died in a helicopter accident in 1964, in-law Frank Henry, John’s grandfather, took over the company.

Today, Martz employs over 500 people. For more information, visit www.mcicoach.com, or www.martzgroup.com.

BUSLINE

July/August 2018

Moreover, we're offering bus companies access to our technology platform, which we license out, and can be tailored to their individual needs. The platform offers dual applications for drivers and customers; real-time tracking of buses for passengers and an app to help drivers navigate!

There are several bus companies that we've recently welcomed to the OurBus Partnership Program. We have partnered with bus companies on the East Coast and Florida, for the following routes: Miami - Fort Myers - Tampa New York - White Plains - Boston White Plains - Stamford - Boston New York - Syracuse We tailor our partnerships to fit each individual bus company. No company is quite the same, and each company has different objectives and goals to meet. We work closely with the bus company to agree on metrics to determine success of the program, by taking into account the number of riders and the growth of the route.

For more information, visit www.OurBus.com

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Prevost® Sends Tim McCullagh On NASCAR® VIP Weekend For Two

Tim McCullagh, director of operations for Kincaid Coach, Lawrence, KS, was the winner of the drawing for a NASCAR VIP Weekend for Two during the recent Ride and Drive 2018 event in Hagerstown, MD. “As the official luxury motorcoach of NASCAR, Prevost coaches are instantly recognizable fixtures at every stop on the circuit. Prevost continues its partnership with NASCAR, building on the close relationship with the nation’s leading spectator sport that has spanned nearly 30 years. In addition to the many Prevost operators, who bring thousands of NASCAR fans to the raceways, Prevost coaches serve as homes-away-from-homes for drivers and families, as well as work stations for team owners and NASCAR officials, manufacturers and sponsors,” said Prevost.

Prevost won the award in the ‘Outstanding Performance Outside Quebec’ category at the Pleiades Gala organized by the Levis (Canada) Chamber of Commerce.

Tim McCullagh, Kincaid Coach, left, was the winner of Prevost’s NASCAR VIP weekend.

“Our association with NASCAR only increases our visibility from an influential and vibrant cross-section of American business,” said Prevost Vice President and General Manager Francois Tremblay. “Prevost motorcoaches continue to play key roles in the transportation and staging of high-quality NASCAR events across the country.”

Prevost said it is fitting that its customers have an opportunity to reap a few benefits and enjoy the perks of its NASCAR connection.

McCullagh’s NASCAR VIP Weekend for Two will include: • HOT passes at a race of his choice that also includes a one-night hotel accommodation near the raceway; access to active areas of the race, including the infield garages and pits, and possibly a ride in a pace car during morning practice; •A meet and greet with NASCAR drivers and team owners, and a personalized tour of the garage and viewing of the cars as they go through pre-race inspection; •Attendance at the pre-race driver/owner meeting, and he will have an on-field pass for driver introductions; •Visiting the garage area as drivers line up for the race, and viewing the start of the race from the hubbub of Pit Row; and, •Access to the NASCAR suite and hospitality areas — and a possible photo op with the winning driver in Victory Lane.

Prevost Wins Pleiade Award

“Prevost won the award in the ‘Outstanding Performance Outside Quebec’ category at the Pleiades Gala organized by the Levis (Canada) Chamber of Commerce. The distinction underscores the years of effort and promotion across Canada and the United States that enabled the Quebec manufacturer of upscale commercial coaches to carve out an enviable place in the North American market,” according to a press release.

“Prevost's market share has grown considerably in the United States over the last year, in part due to its strategy of fostering the commuter market in California. Wi-Fi-equipped Prevost coaches make it possible for riders from California's tech companies to work as they commute. Customer service is also part of this success. In 2017, four more service centers opened their doors, for a total of 14 service centers strategically located across North America. Prevost's dedication to improving its vehicles and maintaining the highest brand standards was a deciding factor in the jury's decision.”

Emmanuelle Toussaint, vice president of legal, regulatory and public affairs said, "We are very proud to receive this prestigious distinction, all the more since it comes from Quebec, where our plant has been located for more than 90 years. Besides, nothing compares to local recognition when it comes to driving reach beyond our borders. This prize confirms that the strategy to promote Quebec expertise in coach manufacturing is a success.”

Prevost is a manufacturer of premium intercity touring coaches and is a producer of conversion coaches for high-end motorhome and specialty conversion. For more information, visit www.prevostcar.com.

Washington, D.C.

Capitol Hill Motorcoach Industry Fly-In

American Bus Association President/CEO Peter Pantuso and United Motorcoach Association President/CEO Stacy Tetschner said that the first ABA and UMA joint Bus and Motorcoach Industry Flyin on Capitol Hill attracted 116 members of the organizations, who met with more than 150 congressional offices the week of April 12, to discuss industry priorities and issues.

July/August 2018

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