National Bus Trader July 2024 Volume XLVII No. 8 Issue
The Magazine of Bus Equipment for the United States and Canada
Prevost Celebrates 100 Years – Part II (by Larry Plachno)
This is the second and final part of the Prevost 100-year anniversary history We start off after the Volvo 9700 was added in 2009 and continue with Prevost’s current achievements including their many service centers, dominance in the conversion shell market and some recent large orders
The Impressive Spring Fling 2024 (by Dave Millhouser)
Once again the Museum of Bus Transportation has put together an impressive event bringing bus and bus people together Held at the museum location in Hershey, Pennsylvania, this gathering hosted approximately 400 bus people, numerous buses from the museum collection and several visiting buses from as far away as Minnesota
Company Identity and the Internet (by Dave Millhouser)
Today, the Internet provides a great way to both monitor what people are saying about your company and to offer your own answers and information. This new electronic age and the Internet can be either positive or negative for your company depending on how you use it.
Equipment News
Congestion Pricing Cancellation
W i t h l e s s t h a n a m o n t h t o g o p r i o r t o implementation, New York Gover nor Kathy Hochul announced on June 5 that she would indefinitely delay the star t of the Manhattan C o n g e s t i o n P r i c i n g p r o g r a m H o w e v e r, some of the legal people are saying that she may not have the authority to postpone or eliminate the program
At a press conference Gover nor Hochul s a i d t h a t i n s p i t e o f t h i s a c t i o n s h e i s s t i l l committed to a greener and more sustaina b l e f u t u re S h e s a i d t h a t t h i s d e c i s i o n i s about doing what is right for the people who make the city thrive it is about standing up for the hardworking men and women who get up ever y single day, do their jobs and j u s t w a n t a f a i r s h a k e S h e a d d e d t h a t f o r the little guy who thinks that no one is listening, we are here to say we are listening
However, it was mentioned that seniorlevel Hochul officials and staffers recently began floating the idea of delaying the congestion plan With a major election coming up, House Minority Leader Representative Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) was concerned with losing votes because of Congestion Pricing Hence, it appears that politics is taking priority over going green
The Congestion Pricing Plan is another version of robbing Peter to pay Paul As established, the Congestion Pricing area covers most of southern Manhattan from the south end of Central Park south to the Battery excluding the two river drives to the east and west Vehicles entering this area would be charged a fee It was expected that the resulting income would provide one billion dollars annually for the New York MTA, the organization running buses, rapid transit and commuter trains in the New York City area While congestion pricing tolls exist in Europe at London, Stockholm and Milan, this would have been the first such program in the United States
Private bus operators were unhappy with the plan because it treated public and private buses differently A bus operated by a government agency would be excused from p a y
reduced pollution and congestion However, a bus operated by a private company would be required to pay the Congestion fee This is different from cities in Europe with Cong e s
excluded form paying because they reduce pollution and congestion
Expectedly, there were different reactions to Governor Hochul’s announcement A rep-
In a surprising move, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has announced that she will indefinitely delay the start of the Manhattan Congestion Pricing Program less than a month before it was due to go into effect She said that her decision was based on what was best for New York residents, but numerous sources suggest that it was eliminated or postponed because of the coming major election Expectedly, her decision has elicited comments from both sides
the move “ a massive betrayal of several million public transit riders ” However, there had been substantial opposition to the program including at least eight lawsuits The latest from the Trucking Association of New York claims the Congestion Pricing Program unfairly and unconstitutionally targets the trucking industr y
New Jersey Gover nor Phil Murphy has strongly opposed the program He points out that New Jersey residents going to work in Manhattan would be victims of Congestion P
MTA which does not serve New Jersey Form e r N
York City has not yet recovered from COVID and that office occupancy was still at only 4
by several others including former President Donald Trump
MTA Chair man and CEO Janno Lieber e x p re
Congestion Pricing was set aside because of the lawsuits or other reasons The MTA is looking for money to improve an aging subway system and buy battery-electric buses at a time when ridership is down 29 percent f r o m p r e - p a n d e m i c l e v e l s H e w a s c o ncer ned that there was no “Plan B” beyond Congestion Pricing to fund the MTA Gover nor Hochul did mention the possibility of a n e w t a x o n b u s i n e s s i n N e w Yo r k C i t y However, it was mentioned that New York C i t y t a x p a y e r s a l re a d y h a v e s o m e o f t h e highest taxes in the countr y
S
the money that has gone down the drain to b
re are numerous meetings of various organizations as well as studies and engineering I
Passes on the vehicles entering the area to collect the tolls There are also people questioning whether Congestion Pricing will move ahead following the election so it does not negatively impact the election
It is an interesting question on where things stand right now While Governor Hochul has ordered Congestion Pricing set aside, there are several legal opinions suggesting that she may not have the authority to do this In par-
ahead Meanwhile, the “Elephant in the China
Shop” is a total of something like eight different lawsuits that may or may not have an impact on Congestion Pricing It only takes one injunction to halt everything
How will this impact other cities considering Congestion Pricing? It is obvious that other cities are watching what is happening i n N e w Yo r k b e f o re m a k i n g a d e c i
o n o n what to do next Considering the problems and troubles Congestion Pricing has caused New York, they may not be anxious to follow the same path
New MCI Coaches for Hawkeye Stages
M o t o r C o a c h I n d u s t r i e s ( M C I ) , a s u b -
s i d i a r y o f N F I G ro u p I n c ( N F I ) a n d N o r t h
A m e r i c a ’s
, 2 4 / 7 roadside assistance and par ts suppor t, on M a y 3 1 a n n o u n c e d t h e d e l i v e r y o f t w o coaches to Hawkeye Stages This deliver y, which included an MCI J4500 and an MCI J3500, completed an eight-coach order and coincided with Hawkeye’s 70th anniversary
Over the past two years, the Iowa operator purchased six 45-foot J4500 and two 35-foot J3500 coaches with custom interiors and luxurious passenger amenities The MCI clean-diesel vehicles featured plush seating from Amaya, an enhanced REI® sound system, a rear window for more natural light and B e n d i x ® W i n g m a n ® F u s i o n – a l e a d i n g A d v a n c e d D r i v e r A s s i s t a n c e S
e m s (ADAS) safety suite
Designed for curb appeal and with bestin-class legroom, the MCI J-Series coaches
Equipment News
’s strategy to keep a young, pristine fleet that is equipped with the latest safety options
“The new models have brought the age of our 19-coach fleet to the youngest we’ve ever had, allowing us to maintain a quality brand standard,” said Steve Tjossem, the
Stages along with his wife Kari “We are still a bit amazed to walk through the garage, seeing the stunning new MCI coaches and
they provide us ”
started with line-run service moved into charters, added tours and grew through strategic
service In 2006, Hawkeye Stages star ted a new business called Legacy Tour & Travel a
Now combined into Legacy Travel Group, the company has successfully provided a total travel experience under one umbrella for the past 10 years “
o re i n
l i n e w i t h w h o w e w a n t t o b e ” To d a y Legacy Travel Group members are Hawke y e ’s l a r g e s t c l i e n t s T h e c o m p a n y h a s a l s o m a i n t a i n e d l o n g - s t a n d i n g r e l a t i o ns h i p s w i t h L u t h e r C o l l e g e i n H a w k e y e
S t a g e ’s h o m e t o w n o f D e c o r a h , I o w a a n d
Wa r t b u r g C o l l e g e i n Wa v e r l y, I o w a t h a t
g o b a c k t o t h e c o m p a n y ’s e a r l i e s t d a y s
MCI recently delivered two coaches to Hawkeye Stages, completing an eight-coach order Shown here is their new J3500 Hawkeye Stages was founded in 1954, operates from three garages in Iowa and is now celebrating its 70th anniversary
With garages located in Decorah, New-
t o n a n d Wa t e r l o o , I o w a , t h e c o m p a n y h a s s e r v e d c u s t o m e r s f ro m a l l o v e r t h e s t a t e
Hawkeye purchased its first MCI coach i
most recent order “It feels right to resume and strengthen our par tnership with MCI,” said Tjossem “MCI’s post sales support has been excellent and provides reassurance we made the right decision Good relationships hold more value than ever ”
Brent Maitland, vice president of Sales and Marketing, MCI, echoed Tjossem’s sentiment “We are happy that Hawkeye chose MCI for their new coach purchase,” he said “We will continue to ear n their confidence b
service and suppor t to keep their fleet on the road ”
Tjossem has worked to make way for the fourth generation of leadership by including his children Kirsten and Tanner Tjossem in t h e b u s i n e s s H e h a s a
e employee teams by implementing a 36-hour work week and acknowledging the need for a healthy work-life balance
“ O
’s critical to have the right skill sets in place,” said Tjossem, who grew up working beside h i s f
experience to be a part of this business Our hope is that the next generation takes full advantage of the oppor tunity to lear n and benefit from the vast experience in our company and then offer their fresh perspective to make us an even better business We feel good about our future ”
MCI is North America’s public and private market motorcoach leader Products include the luxury J Series (an industry best-seller for more than a decade), the workhorse D Series and the brand new zero-emission luxury and commuter coaches: the battery-electric J4500 CHARGE™, D45 CRT CHARGE™ and D45 CRT LE CHARGE™ MCI also provides maintenance, repair, 24-hour roadside assistance, p
industry’s only Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) accredited and award-winning MCI Academy
Leveraging 450 years of combined experience, NFI is leading the electrification of mass mobility around the world With zeroemission buses and coaches, infrastructure a n d t e c h n o l o g y, N F I m e e t s t o d a y ’s u r b a n
National Bus Trader / July, 2024 • 5
demands for scalable smar t mobility solutions Together, NFI is enabling more livable c i t i e s t h ro u g h c o n n e c t e d , c l e a n a n d s u stainable transpor tation
With more than 8,750 team members in 10 countries, NFI is a leading global bus manufacturer of mass mobility solutions under the brands New Flyer® (heavy-duty transit buses), MCI® (motorcoaches), Alexander Dennis Limited (single- and double-deck buses), Plaxton (motorcoaches), ARBOC® (low-floor cutaway and medium-duty buses) and NFI Par ts™ NFI currently offers the widest range of sustainable drive systems available, including zero-emission electric (trolley, battery and fuel cell), natural gas, electric hybrid and clean diesel In total, NFI supports its installed base of more than 100,000 buses and coaches around the world
VDL Groep Acquires Par ts of Van Hool
VDL Groep is acquiring parts of the Flemish bus manufacturer Van Hool The familyowned industrial company headquar tered in Eindhoven, Netherlands is acquiring parts of the bankrupt Van Hool in Belgium VDL is also acquiring Van Hool’s production facility in Nor th Macedonia By acquiring these Van Hool plants, VDL Groep plans to further strengthen the activities of its Buses division The acquisition will immediately save around 1,600 jobs in the high-quality European bus industry The amounts involved in the acquisition are not being disclosed
Around 250 former Van Hool employees w i l l b e h i re d t o w o r k o n p a r t s p ro d u c t i o n , after-sales, procurement, development and fi n a n c e f o r t h e Va n H o o l p l a n t i n K o n i n gshooikt (Belgium) Agreement was reached with the unions on the ter ms of conditions of employment VDL Groep will also acquire all the intellectual proper ty, design rights,
Equipment News
software, product names, equipment and machines from Van Hool, as well as its coach factor y in Nor th Macedonia where around 1 , 3 5 0 e m p l o y e e s a re s t a t i o n e d F u r
more, VDL has reached a distribution agreem
the delivery of Van Hool buses and coaches in the United States and Canada The par tnership with ABC will enable both parties to strengthen their markets and product por tfolio
VDL Groep President and CEO Willem van der Leegte says: “We are delighted to announce that we have been able to acquire par ts of Van Hool These will add value to
our bus and coach activities and enable us to strengthen our position as a bus manufacturer The strategic par tnership with our American par tner ABC Companies makes it possible for us to further develop our international activities ”
VDL Groep will not yet be integrating the activities acquired from Van Hool in its bus and coach activities
BC Transit Gets 33 New Flyer Buses
New Flyer Industries ULC (New Flyer), a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc (NFI) and leading manufacturer of heavy-duty transit buses on May 17 announced a contract with BC Transit Corporation (BC Transit) for 33 nextgeneration Xcelsior CHARGE NG™ 40-foot, battery-electric buses (BEBs) The contract was added to New Flyer’s fir m backlog in the second quar ter of 2024
BC Transit oversees municipal transit services for more than 130 communities across the province of British Columbia and has an annual ridership of more than 47 million passenger trips In 2019, BC Transit announced its Low Carbon Fleet Program, which outlined the agency’s plan to expand its fleet and replace aging fleet vehicles with a focus on reducing greenhouse gases BC Transit’s current goal is to transition to an entirely electric fleet by 2040
said Erinn Pinkerton, president
6 • National Bus Trader / July, 2024
VDL has issued a news release indicating that they are taking over parts of the Van Hool production. Operations will continue in North Macedonia while 250 former Van Hool employees will be hired at the Koningshooikt plant in Belgium VDL has also made arrangements with ABC Companies to continue Van Hool coach sales in the United States
BC Transit in British Columbia, has contracted for 33 New Flyer CHARGE NG 40-foot battery-electric buses BC Transit covers a wide area including 130 communities with more than 47 million passenger trips annually More than half of the 1,100 buses in the BC Transit fleet come from NFI companies including New Flyer, Alexander Dennis and ARBOC
“With other active procurements underway a n d w o r k a d v a n c i n g o n c h a r g i n g i n f r as t r u c t u re d e s i g n s i n c o m m u n i t i e s , i t ’s a n exciting time for BC Transit, New Flyer and o u r p a r t n e r s
NFI and BC Transit’s par tnership spans m o r e t h a n 4 5 y e a r s , d u r i n g w h i c h t h e agency has operated a wide variety of vehicles from different companies under the NFI
u m b re l l a C u r re n t l y, m o re t h a n 6 0 0 o f t h e
v e h i c l e s o p e r a t i n g a s p a r t o f B C Tr a n s i t ’s fleet of more than 1,100 buses are from NFI subsidiaries, including New Flyer, Alexander Dennis and ARBOC
“New Flyer and BC Transit have a longstanding relationship and a shared dedication to taking bold steps in moving towards a z e ro - e m i s s i o n f u t u re , a n d t h i s X c e l s i o r C H A R G E N G p u r c h a s e b u i l d s o n b o t h , ” s a i d C h r i s S t o d d a r t , p r e s i d e n t , N o r t h
American Bus and Coach, NFI “The nextgeneration batter y-electric buses included in this purchase incorporate our latest technology advancements, but they also share a high level of commonality with the Xcelsior buses already operated by BC Transit which w i l l s t re a m l i n e t r a i n i n g a n d m a i n t
requirements as the agency transitions to a greener fleet ”
Equipment News
drive system with up to 90 percent energy
welcoming more than 9,000 industr y professionals for EV and infrastructure training
ABC and VDL Agreement
VDL Groep, coupled with a 10-year exclu-
Hool production capabilities and customer
buses and coaches, and its vehicles have
Today, NFI supports growing North American cities with scalable, clean and sustainable mobility solutions through its mobility solution ecosystem, which includes buses and coaches; infrastructure; par ts and service; technology; workforce development and training and vehicle financing NFI also o p
(VIC), the first and only innovation lab of its kind dedicated to advancing bus and coach technology and providing workforce development Since opening in late 2017, the VIC has hosted more than 400 interactive events,
Groep brings vast experience, capabilities and stability to the motorcoach market The Van Hool brand and its current models will join the existing VDL portfolio of motorcoach and transit/low-floor offerings
“The acquisition and continued par tnership with VDL Groep represent a pivotal evolution for ABC Companies, fortifying our mark e t o f f
industry leaders in supporting our customers and adapting advanced transportation technologies,” said Roman Cornell, CEO of ABC
C o m p a n i e s “ T h i s c o l l a b o r a t i o n n o t o n l y enhances our capabilities but also aligns with our commitment to innovation, customer service and quality, ensuring we meet the evolving needs of our customers ”
V D L G ro e p , c e l e b r a t e d f o r i t s c o m m i tment to innovation and sustainability, sees t h i s a c q u i s i t i o n a s a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o
e x t e n d i t s re a c h a n d i m p a c t i n t h e t r a n s -
p o r t a t i o n i n d u s t r y “ O u r m i s s i o n e x t e n d s
b
c
n e c t i v i t y a n d e n v i ro n m e n t
t h ro u g h o u r p ro d u c t s , ” e x p l a i n e d W i l l e m
v a n d e r L e e g
V D L G r o e p “ P a r t n e r i n g w i t h A B C C o m -
p a n i e s l e a d s t o s t re n g t h t h ro u g h c o o p e r -
a t i o n f o r b o t h c o m p a n i e s i n t e r m s o f m a rk e t s a n d p ro d u c t p o r t f o l i o s ”
As ABC Companies integrates the VDLowned Van Hool brand, it is focused on a seamless transition for all customers, maintaining business as usual while embracing the enhanced capabilites and innovations b r o u g h t b y V D L T h i s s t r a t e g i c a l l i a n c e underscores ABC’s resilience and adaptability, fur ther enhancing its ability to lead w i t h i n n o v a t i o n , q u a l i t y a n d a c u s t o m e rfocused approach
Coach USA Files Chapter 11 for Sale
C o a c h U S A h a s i n i t i a t e d c o u r ts u p e r v i s e d s a l e p ro c e s s e s f o r o u r b u s i -
n e s s e s t h a t p re s e r v e j o b s , e n s u re c o n t i nued service and maximize the value of our b u s i n e s s e s
Equipment News
ABC Companies recently signed a 10-year exclusive distribution agreement wiht the VDL Groep to continue selling Van Hool coaches This photo shows the contract signing with Willem van der Leegte, the president and CEO of VDL Groep, and Dane Cornell, executive chairman of ABC Companies Board of Directors in the back and Rémi Henkemans, the senior vice president of VDL Groep and Roman Cornell, the CEO of ABC Cpmpaneis at the table
We have proudly provided passengers and communities across North America with r e l i a b l e a n d a f f o r d a b l e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n services for decades, including cer tain of our routes that date back more than a century Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the company faced significant challenges, as ridership and demand in our industr y have remained well below pre-pandemic levels
As a result of ridership declines and other problems since the pandemic, Coach USA has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy This is a prelude to selling off major components including bus operations as well as other companies. The big-gest group will go to the Renco Group while AVALON Transportation will get a few Southern and Western operations
We conducted a thorough evaluation of s t r a t e g i c o p t i o n s w i t h t h e s u p p o r t o f o u r financial stakeholders and deter mined that initiating cour t-supervised sale processes provides time and flexibility for the company to maximize the value of our assets and is the best path forward for our people, communities and customers
Taken together, once completed, these proposed transactions will preserve thousands of jobs and ensure uninterrupted passenger transportation services to millions of passengers throughout the United States a n d C a
transpor tation network
Coach USA has commenced voluntar y Chapter 11 proceedings to facilitate these s a l e p r o c
The two purchase agreements include:
Asset purchase agreement with an affiliate of The Renco Group, Inc , Bus Company
Canada), Perfect Body, Rockland, Shortline (including Chenango Valley Bus Lines), Sub-
Certain assets of Community Coach Existing
operations
Equipment News
Asset purchase agreements with affiliates f o AVA L O N Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n , L L C , f o r : Lenzner, Kerrville, All West and ACL Atlanta
Continuing to pursue value-maximizing going concern sales for our remaining busin e s s s e g m e n t s a n d a s s e t s t h a t a r e n o t included in these agreements
Peter Pan Bus Lines and Trailways For m Strategic Par tnership
Peter Pan Bus Lines and Trailways, the largest and oldest network of independent m o t o rc o a c h o p e r a t o r s i n N o r t h A m e r i c a , have announced a new strategic par tnership effective immediately
The new alliance adds Peter Pan destinations to Trailways com and Trailways ca, and many Trailways destinations to PeterPanBus com, providing customers with even m o re re l i a b l e , c o n v e n i e n t a n d a ff o rd a b l e ground travel options
J u s t i n t i m e f o r t h e b u s y J u l y 4 h o l i d a y w e e k e n d , t h e c o m p a n i e s h a v e d e b u t e d o v e r n i g h t s e r v i c e c o n n e c t i n g m a j o r c i t i e s such as Toronto and Montreal with Boston, P ro v i d e n c e , H a r t f o rd , P h i l a d e l p h i a , B a l t im o re a n d Wa s h i n g t o n D C T h e a l l i a n c e
h a s a l s o s e e n t r a n s p o r t a t i o n r e s t o r e d
b e t w e e n r u r a l c o m m u n i t i e s f o r t h e f i r s t
t i m e s i n c e t h e C O V I D P a n d e m i c E n t i r e
r e g i o n s o f t h e N o r t h e a s t , s u c h a s t h e Adirondacks to Cape Cod, are now reconn e c t e d b y l i f e l i n e g ro u n d t r a n s p o r t a t i o n
a s a re s u l t o f t h e p a r t n e r s h i p
“ C o n n e c t i v i t y i s t h e l i f e l i n e o f c o m m u -
n i t i e s a c r o s s N o r t h A m e r i c a W e a r e s o p ro u d o f t h i s p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h P e t e r P a n and the quality service yet affordable prici n g i t w i l l b r i n g t o s o m a n y c i t i e s , ” s a i d A l e x B e r a rd i , p re s i d e n t o f Tr a i l w a y s c o m
a n d Tr a i l w a y s c a
“Few family-run, private bus companies, l i k e P e t e r P a n a n d Tr a i l w a y s , c o n t i n u e t o operate regular scheduled route services We are very pleased to have our companies working together to make travel throughout the Nor theast and Mid-Atlantic states more convenient and affordable for all passengers,” said Peter A Picknelly, chairman and CEO Peter Pan Bus Lines
Tickets are available now Customers looking for information about service, schedules, arrival and depar tures times, and fares are encouraged to visit PeterPanBus com, Trailways com or Trailways ca The new services are powered by technical integrations from Transcor Data Services of Jacksonville, Florida
BC Transit Orders Alexander Dennis Double-Deckers
local gover nments and operates 57 transit
The new Enviro500 will be built as par t of the partnership between Alexander Dennis and Big Rig Manufacturing They will be suppor ted in operation by Alexander Dennis’s own staff as well as through the wider NFI Par ts organization
BC Transit in British Columbia has ordered 29 Enviro500 double-deck buses from Alexander Dennis They will be built in the United States by Big Rig Manufacturing in partnership with Alexander Dennis BC Transit has now purchased more than 110 double-deck buses
Peter Pan Bus Lines and Trailways have announced a strategic partnership Each will include the other’s destinations to provide customers with additional travel options
The Peter Pan-Trailways partnership also includes overnight service connecting several major cities including Toronto and Montreal with Boston, Philadelphia and Washington
When the new buses are delivered next y e a r, t h e y w i l l m a r k t h e 2 5 t h a n n i v e r s a r y since BC Transit became an industr y innovator by placing the first double-deck buses into transit service in Nor th America as par t of the Victoria Regional Transit System BC Transit continues to use double-deck vehic l e s a s t h e i r h i g h - c a p a c i t y b u s o f c h o i c e a n d i n c l u d i n g t h e l a t e s t o r d e r, i t h a s n o t bought more than 110 double-deck buses
The upcoming vehicles will replace earl i e r A B C Tr a n s i t d o u b l e - d e c k b u s e s t h a t h a v e r e a c h e d t h e e n d o f t h e i r o p e r a t i n g lives, a process that began in 2021 This has already seen the very first Alexander Dennis d o u b l e - d e c k e r i n N o r t h A m e r i c a n re t i re d a n d r e p a t r i a t e d t o t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m , where it will be preserved as part of the manufacturer’s heritage fleet
B C Tr a n s i t P r e s i d e n t a n d C E O E r i n n Pinker ton said: “BC Transit is proud of our continued partnership with Alexander Dennis This new order of 29 Alexander Dennis
E n v i ro 5 0 0 b u s e s w i l l h e l p e n s u re w e a re able to keep our essential transit services running efficiently for our valued customers
Transit ridership continues to grow in British C o l u m b i a , a n d w e l o o k f o r w a r d t o t h e s e buses going into service next year ”
S t e p h e n Wa l s h , v i c e - p re s i d e n t N o r t h
A m e r i c a f o r A l e x a n d e r D e n n i s , s a i d : “ B C
Tr a n s i t m a d e h i s t o r y i n 2 0 0 0 w h e n i t i n t ro -
d u c e d t h e f i r s t d o u b l e - d e c k b u s e s i n t o
t r a n s i t s e r v i c e i n N o r t h A m e r i c a We a re
e x t re m e l y p ro u d t o h a v e b e e n p a r t o f t h i s
j o u r n e y f ro m d a y o n e a n d t o c o n t i n u e t o
w o r k i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h B C Tr a n s i t w i t h
t h i s l a t e s t o r d e r f o r m o r e E n v i r o 5 0 0
d o u b l e - d e c k e r s ”
Including BC Transit, Alexander Dennis has now confirmed orders from transit agenc i e s i n C a n a d a a n d t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s f o r more than 110 Enviro500 and Enviro500EV double-deck buses since the restart of production was announced
MCI Suppor ts The National Limousine Association
T h e N a t i o n a l L i m o u s i n e A s s o c i a t i o n (NLA) – an organization responsible for and dedicated to representing the interests of t h e p r e a r r a n g e d g r o u n d t r a n s p o r t a t i o n i n d u s t r y a t t h e g l o b a l , n a t i o n a l , s t a t e a n d local levels – held its 24th annual advocacy event in Washington, D C on May 15 Sixtysix members met with 68 legislators spanning 23 states, discussing policies impacting small business owners throughout the industr y, as well as the interests of the corporate traveler
“Ninety-seven percent of our membership are small business owners; it could not have been more fitting to host this year’s Day
Equipment News
on the Hill during Small Business Month,” said NLA President Brett Barenholtz “This i s o n e o f t h e N L A’s m o s t i m p o r t a n t a n d impactful annual events, especially during a n e l e c t i o n y e a r I w o u l d l i k e t o t h a n k t h e m a n y e l e c t e d o f fi c i a l s a n d p o l i c y m a k e r s who took the time to meet and engage in a productive dialogue about the critical issues affecting our industry and businesses across the countr y ”
Sixty-six NLA members met with 68 local senators, representatives and staff members to address three top policy issues: Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act (H R 7024); Airpor t Access and Fair ness at the Curb and Congestion Taxes
The NLA was honored to have longtime i n d u s t r y s u p p o r t e r, U S S e n a t o r ( D - N e w Hampshire) and chair of the Committee on S m a l l B u s i n e s s a n d E n t r e p r e n e u r s h i p Jeanne Shahee, meet with members while preparing for Day on the Hill visits
This year also marked the association’s second annual scholarship program, which c o v e re d e x p e n s e s f o r e i g h t m e m b e r s t o attend Day on the Hill for the first time and have their voices heard
More Than 500 Brake Violations Inspectors in 47 jurisdictions throughout C a n a d a , M e x i c o a n d t h e U S c o n d u c t e d 4,898 commercial motor vehicle inspections in one day as part of the Commercial Vehicle S a f e t y A l l i a n c e ’s ( C V S A ) b r a k e - s a f e t y inspection and enforcement event
Each year, CVSA law enforcement jurisdictions are invited to par ticipate in a oneday unannounced brake-safety inspection a n d re g u l a t o r y c o m p l i a n c e e n f o rc e m e n t event On that day, CVSA-certified commercial motor vehicle inspectors conduct their ro u t i n e ro a d s i d e i n s p e c t i o n s w i t h a f o c u s
provide brake-related inspection and violation data to CVSA
This year’s Brake Safety Day data found t h a t o f
have any brake-related out-of-service violations – 88 4 percent of the total number of
motor
were traveling on roadways with brake-related critical inspection item vehicle violations Those vehicles were
vehicles that
Left: Brent Maitland, MCI’s vice president of Private Sector Sales and Marketing, joins Chip Thompson, the owner of Atlantic Transportation Services in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, and Candace Wise, the second generation of family-owned A Wise Choice Limousine Service based in northwest Indiana, for the National Limousine Association’s (NLA) 2024 Day on the Hill event
Equipment News
The Pacific Bus Museum’s annual open house will be held on Sunday, August 18 in Fremont, California Numerous historical buses will be on display with flea market and a lunch opportunity for those interested
until the critical violations could be properly addressed
I n s p e c t o r s i d e n t i fi e d 3 3 0 c o m m e rc i a l motor vehicles with 20 percent brake violat i o n s ; m e a n i n g 2 0 p e rc e n t o r m o re o f t h e vehicle’s (or combination of vehicles) service b r a k e s h a d a n o u t - o f - s e r v i c e c o n d i t i o n resulting in a defective brake That was the top brake Safety Day violations, accounting for 57 9 percent of all brake-related out-ofservice violations
Inspectors found other brake violations o n 2 5 6 ( 4 4 9 p e rc e n t ) o f t h e c o m m e rc i a l motor vehicles inspected Examples of other b r a k e v i o l a t i o n s i n c l u d e w o r n b r a k e lines/hoses, broken brake drums, inoperative tractor protection system, inoperative low-air war ning device, air leaks, hydraulic fluid leaks, etc
Seventy-three commercial motor vehicles had steering-related brake violations – 12 8 percent of all brake-related out-of-service violations
This year, emphasis was placed on brake liin/pad health and safety Brake lining/pad i s s u e s m a y r e s u l t i n v i o l a t i o n s o r o u t - o fservice conditions and may affect a motor carrier’s safety rating Inspectors found 108 p o w e r u n i t s a n d 6 6 t o w e d u n i t s w i t h lining/pad violations
A total of 114 brake lining/pad violations w e re d i s c o v e re d o n p o w e r u n i t s T h e t o p brake ling/pad violation on power units was for contamination, with 48 violations
Seventy-one brake lining/pad violations were identified on towed units Twenty-three of the violations were for cracks/voids in the linings/pad – the top brake lining/pad violation on towed units
A major attraction at the Pacific Bus Museum’s open house will be their recently restored PD4501 Greyhound Scenicruiser along with several other restored and historical coaches owned by the museum and others
Pacific Bus Museum’s Annual Summer Open House August 18
C o m e t o t h e P a c i fi c B u s M u s e u m ’s annual Open House on Sunday, August 18, 2024 The event will feature vintage buses on display, a flea market of bus memorabilia and bus related merchandise, a BBQ luncheon and raffles
The open house will be held at the Pacific B u s M u s e u m a t 3 7 9 7 4 S h i n n S t r e e t , Freemont, California on Sunday, August 18, 2024 from 11 a m until 3 p m Admission is free In addition the museum’s operational bus fleet as well as some visiting buses will be on display
See them up close and experience the glor y and magnificence of these machines a n d l e a r n h o w y o u c a n b e a v i t a l p a r t o f ensuring that they are not lost to time Members and guests are encouraged to bring buses to display and should plan to arrive at the bus yard star ting at 9 a m the day of the event to allow adequate time for parking each bus
Tables will be available at the Flea Market for bus memorabilia and bus related merchandise One table is free to a PBM member Non-members and extra tables are $25 Flea market setup will star t at 9:45 a m
B e
BBQ will be serving your choice of a ham-
Additional information is available on the museum’s Web site at pacbus org or on the m u s e u m ’s F a c e b o o k p a g e a t f a c e b o o k c o m / P a c i fi c B u s M u s e u m T h e m u s e u m i s l o c a t
Freemont CA 94536 All proceeds from this e
) 3 organization
Daimler Truck Nor th America Selects Proterra Batter y Technology
Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) and Proterra, a leading innovator in commercial v
B u i l t Buses’ next-generation, all-electric, Saf-TLiner C2 Jouley school bus and Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation’s (FCCC) allelectric MT50e last-mile delivery truck using Proterra’s batter y technology
“We are delighted to renew our par tners h i p w i t h D a i m l e r Tr u c k N o r t h A m e r i c a t o power electric school buses and last-mile delivery vehicles with Proterra battery techn
a r g e o u r m i s s i o n i n 2024, par tnership is key to help power the s h i f t t o e l e c t r i fi c a t i o n We l o o k f o r w a rd
leaders like Daimler Truck Nor th America to electrify commercial vehicles and industrial applications with our premium batter y technology
We a re
standing proven partnership we have developed with Proterra and welcome their new
tickets for each of the raffles will go on sale at 11 a m
Thomas Built Buses and FCCC “Since the
Jouley, our customers have seen great suc-
cess with the integration of their battery solution in both Thomas Built and FCCC electric vehicles This success continues to play out as more milestones are surpassed, including m o r e t h a n 1 , 0 0 0 J o u
a n d nearly four million EV miles driven ”
Since 2018, Proterra and Daimler Truck North America have collaborated to electrify commercial vehicles utilizing Proterra’s bat-
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ter y technology Together, the companies h
s Built Buses electric school buses and FCCC MT50e last-mile deliver y vehicles to school d
America, powered by Proterra’s battery technology
United States, Proterra’s innovative batter y
platform offers industry-leading energy density, durability, performance and safety systems enabling Proterra EV batteries to be the premium choice for commercial vehicles and industrial equipment
Basque Orders Irizar Electric ie Tram Buses
It continues the great transborder advent
e Basque Countr y and Irizar e-mobility The
vehicles The model chosen is still the Irizar ie tram, which is known as the Tram’bus in t h
signature for the region They have ordered seven 18-meter-long vehicles and four 12-
A great transborder adventure, the 100 percent Basque Tram’bus, which was manufactured in Gipuzkoa, was inaugurated in Bayonne-Anglet-Biarritz in 2019 As of today, i t h a s t r a n s p o r t e d a re c o rd n u m b e r o f 1 2 m i l l i o n p a s s e n g e r s “ T h i s i s t h e s t o r y o f a m o d e l t h a t s h o w s i n d u s t r i a l a n d e n v i ro nm e n t a l i n n o v a t i o n c a n w o r k t o g e t h e r, ” a c c o rd i n
iconic objects from the Basque Countr y
, Gipuzkoa in the first electromobility factor y in Europe, the Tram’bus is the outcome of a n o r d e r b y t h e C o m m o n w e a t h e r o f a g g l o m é r a t i o n d u P a y s B a s q u e f ro m t h e Basque company Irizar e-mobility The elect r i c b a t t e r i e s t h a t p o w e r t h e v e h i c l e s a re manufactured on site, and the factor y also s u p p l i e s a l l t h e i n f r a s t r u c t u r e s y s t e m s n e e d e d f o r c h a r g i n g , d r i v e s y s t e m s a n d energy storage All of those things are assets t h a t a t t r a c t e d t h e C o m m u n a u t é d’agglomération Pays Basque, an institution c r e a t e d i n 2 0 1 7 a n d t h a t h a s c h o s e n t o make the Tram’bus spearhead their mobility policy
These new vehicles are added to the 18 ie trams that have been on the road in this French region since 2019
The transpor t union of the Communauté d’agglomération du Pays Basque has made this new order in the framework of the expans i o n o f
increase of frequency of line T1
The route of the T2 line, which is currently 8 5 kilometers, connects Tar nos with Bayhonne and has traffic light priority and preferred lanes With this new order, the line is planned to increase five kilometers to 13 5 k m , a n d t h e t o w n o f B a s s u s s a r y w i l l b e included Road construction began in spring 2 0 2 4 , a n
Daimler Truck North America has announced that their Thomas C2 Jouley battery-electric school bus will be powered by Proterra battery technology Following its recent bankruptcy, the Proterra battery operation was acquired by the Volvo Group Thomas has already delivered more than 1,000 batteryelectric school buses
The Basque area of Southwest France has again opted to buy ie Trambuses from Irizar This region has had 18 trambuses in service since 2019 These buses are built by Irizar just across the border in Spain
parking areas on the edges of town for 670 vehicles
O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e ro u t e o f t h e T 1 line, which is 12 kilometers long, serves Bayonne, Biarritz and Anglet Currently, its frequency is 15 minutes and it will increase to 10 minutes star ting in Januar y 2025
The new vehicles have new features and safety improvements The new GSR2 ADAS s t a n d a r d s h a v e b e e n i n c l u d e d , w h i c h cover cybersecurity for vehicles Fur thermore, they have a renewed generation of 470 kWh batteries of onboard energy, with lower consumption and a longer range In addition to carr ying more energy onboard, the new batteries are compatible with the quick charging infrastructure available on the current grid Another new feature is the n e w d r i v e s y s t e m t h a t , w i t h a l i g h t e r a n d more compact design, weighs 26 percent l e s s I t a l s o h a s a n e w d i g i t a l H M I t h a t i s highly personalizable
Orleans has also put their trust in Irizar e-mobility’s electromobilty solutions They did so in June of last year, when they made their second order of seven ie trams to their public transpor t fleet Thir ty-six Irizar trams are on the road in the city today
As always, the Irizar ie trams stand out because of their avant-garde design, which is similar to a tram It is a design that fits into moder n cities that are committed to more h a b i t a b l e a n d e n v i r o n m e n t a l l y - f r i e n d l y environments
The foreign press has praised its features and design That success is now moving to l a r g e E u ro p e a n c a p i t a l s l i k e L o n d o n a n d Madrid
Busworld Turkey 2024: A Record-Breaking Event
The 10th edition of Busworld Turkey, held a t I s t a n b u l F u a r M e r k e z i f ro m M a y 2 9 - 3 1 , has concluded successfully, marking it as the largest bus and coach event in Turkey The event was completely sold out, featuring 159 exhibitors from 16 countries and attracting a record-breaking 12,366 visitors, including 1,881 inter national attendees from 96 countries The exhibition covered a 9,975square-meter area, showcasing 56 buses and coaches from prominent manufacturers, as well as a variety of mini and midi buses and numerous component, accessor y and service suppliers
Busworld Turkey 2024 featured a wide array of buses and coaches displayed by leading manufacturers:
• Anadolu Isuzu: Anadolu Isuzu’s offer for the 2024 show was based on four models for urban and short-distance service These include the Cityport 12 Diesel Euro 6, Novoc-
Equipment News
The 10th edition of Busworld Turkey set new records with 159 exhibitors from 16 countries and a recorbreaking 12,366 visitors. This took place in Istanbul from May 29-31 where 56 buses and coaches were on display Busworld Turkey is next scheduled on June 17-19, 2026
needs with advanced features and awardwinning designs
• BMC: BMC based its offer for Busworld on two lines: Procity and Neocity The Procity line includes 100 percent electric, 12-meter b
routes
• Bozankaya: Bozankaya presented a 1 2 - m e t e r, l o w
s w i t h advanced design and third-generation batt e r y t e c h n o l o g y, o ff e r i n
n g e o f m o re than 300 kilometers and a charging time of approximately two hours
• C R R C M N G : S h o w c a s e d t h e i r n e w electric vehicle, demonstrating cutting-edge technology and innovation
• HABAȘ: Featured the Common City H2 fuel cell bus with a range of 800 kilometers and the fully electric Alfa Lux-e coach with a range of up to 400 kilometers
• K a r s a n : P r e s e n t e d a c o m p l e t e a l lelectric and zero-emission portfolio, includi n g t h e e - A t a 1 2 h y d r o g e n b u s , t h e autonomous e-Atak urban midibus and the popular eJest
• Otokar: Displayed four models including t h e S u l t a n G i g a m i d i b u s , t h e C e n t ro c i t y buses in diesel and electric versions, and the large electric bus e-Kent C
• IVECO BUS: Showcased models such as E-way, Crossway and Daily, which can be powered by Diesel, Biomethane or electric engines, along with the versatile Evadys for regional and national routes
Turkey is renowned for its leadership in m i n i b u s d e s i g n a n d p ro d u c t i o n , a n d t h i s w a s p ro m i n e n t l y s h o w c a s e d a t B u s w o r l d Turkey 2024 The event highlighted mini and midi buses from top Turkish manufacturers, u n d e r s c o r i n g t h e c o u n t r y ’s re p u t a t i o n f o r innovation and quality in this segment: AYB, A k t e p e , B a ş e r O t o m o t i v, B u r - C a n , E m i r VIPP, Erduman, Mercus-Bus, Öncü Luxury C a r D e s i g n , P a l m i y e D e s i g n , S t y l e b u sGürsözler, Yüksel and Uğur Karoser.
T h e e v e n t a l s o b o a s t e d a n i m p re s s i v e s e l e c t i o n o f c o m p o n e n t , a c c e s s o r y a n d service suppliers, all with visually appealing booths ZF was among them, showcasing t e c h n o l o g i e s s u c h a s a u t o m a t e d d r i v i n g , interactive safety, motion control and electromobility, all aimed at the decarbonization of transpor tation
A s i g n i fi c a n t i n t e r n a t i o n a l t r a d e p re s s d e l e g a t i o n w a s p r e s e n t , r e fl e c t i n g t h e event’s global significance and its impact on the bus and coach industr y
Busworld Turkey 2024 drew an impressive number of visitors, setting a new record for attendance and inter national par ticipation This success underscores the event’s importance as a hub for industry professiona l s t o n e t w o r k , e x p l o re n e w t e c h n o l o g i e s and foster business oppor tunities
The next edition is programmed to take p l a c e a t t h e s a m e v
M e r k e z i f r o m J u n e 1 7 - 1 9 , 2 0 2 6 a n d promises to continue the tradition of excellence and innovation
Euro Bus Expo 2024: Free Trade Registration Now Open
R e t u r n i n g t o t h e N E C , B i r m i n g h a m o n November 12-14, Euro Bus Expo promises
t o b e a m u s t - a t t e n d f o r o p e r a t o r s , l o c a l authorities, community transpor t organizations, transport planners and municipalities from across the UK and Europe
With strong demand for stands seeing the show more than 80 percent sold, the event is set to showcase the full breadth of the industry More than 200 exhibitors are expected from across the supply chain Visitors will have the oppor tunity to explore the latest coaches, buses and mini vehicles, along with innovative products and services designed to enhance passenger transport operations
C o n f i r m e d v e h i c l e d e a l e r s a n d m a n uf a c t u r e r s i
D
n i s , AYATS, BASE, BYD, Coach Traders/UNVI, E V M , G M C o a c h w o r k , H a r r i s G r o u p , I l e s b u s , I
K a
s
H
, Mellor, Minibus Options, Noone Turas, Peli c a n B u s a n d C o a c h / Y u t o
M
T B C C o n v e r s i o n s
Along with show par tner, the Confederation of Passenger Transpor t (CPT), retur ni n g c o m p a n i e s i n c l u d e : A T I n d u s t r i e s , Alcolock UK, Alfatronix, All Service One, BeGe Seating, Camira Fabrics, Centrad, Cummins, DriveTech, First Travel Solutions, Gallagher, Geotab, Kiel Seating, Lloyd Morgan, N a v a h o Te c h n o l o g i e s , M i X Te l e m a t i c s , Optibus, Pride and Joy Clothing, PSV Glass, Roeville, TruTac and Zeelo
Equipment News
There is no shortage of exhibitors making their debut at Euro Bus Expo, including lighti n g s o l u t i o n s p r o v i d e r s A s p ö c k U K a n d Luxvisdion, Brist Axle Systems, C9 Recruitm e n t , D F J A u t o m o t i v e , e l e c
i c l e charging providers EO Chargina and Ekoene r g
solutions provider Envevo
O t h e
lighting provider Everlux, GTG Engineering
demand transport and autonomous driving technologies provider ioki GmbH, passeng e r c
s GmbH and Metric Tristarinc, safety systems provider Snapxit, software developers Sopra Steria, Vattenfall Networks and more
Euro Bus Expo has been helping to launch thousands of new vehicles and products into the market since 2006 The line-up of regular exhibitors and a host of new names means it will once again be the place to find out what is new and next in the industry
Busworld Southeast Asia 2024: A Triumph of Innovation and Networking
B u s w o r l d i s t h r i l l e d t o a n n o u n c e t h e resounding success of the third edition of Busworld Southeast Asia, held from May 1516 The event has once again cemented its position as the premier platfor m for the bus and coach industry in the region, showcasing groundbreaking innovations and fostering invaluable connections
The 2024 edition was held over a 6,500 sqm area, featuring 48 exhibitors from six countries, including six vehicle exhibitors and 42 suppliers of components and accessories The event drew 4,582 visitors from 33 countries, reflecting the growing global i
builder presented a diverse range of buses
The 2024 Euro Bus Expo is scheduled to take place on November 12-14, 2024 at the National Exhibition Center in Birmingham in the UK Space is already 80 percent sold out and more than 200 exhibitors are expected Exhibitors will include Alexander Dennis, BYD, Irizar, Karsan and Scania
The third edition of Busworld Southeast Asia was a resounding success It featured six vehicle exhibitors and 42 suppliers while drawing 4,582 visitors from 33 countries The next event is planned for 2026
( M e rc e d e s c h a s s i s ) a n d t h e f i f t h g e n e r ation of the Jetbus series Adiputro received t h e C o a c h S u s t a i n a b i l i t y Aw a rd f o r t h e i r
E u r o 5 c o m p
d o m i n a n t l y E u ro 4
Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024, N e w A r m a d a s h o w c a s e d fi v e v e h i c l e s , including the premier of the Vision 8 Touring with a unique single glass design and the Aero8SLR sleeper bus They won the Coach Design Award for their innovative Skylander series
Known for their dedication to safety, Laksana p re s e n t e d a 1 2 - m e t e r e - b u s d e v e loped with Hyundai and a new half sleeper, h a l f e x e c u t i v e c l a s s m o d e l T h e i r L e g a c y SR3 Suites Combi ear ned them the Coach Safety Award
Tentrem, a family-owned business introduced the Velocity W5 designed for the Transjakar ta BRT line, and the luxurious Avante H8 Grand Captain coach The Velocity W5 won the Bus Technical Achievement Award
Golden Dragon (SAG) showcased three electric buses, including the six-meter All Star for urban last-mile operations and the 12-meter E-Bus Low Entrance, which won the Bus Design Award
Petrosea t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e Universitas Indonesia highlighted their diesel bus conversion into an LFP battery EV bus, demonstrating a commitment to sustainable transpor t solutions
T h e e x h i b i t i o n a l s o f e a t u re d a d i v e r s e
a r r a y o f c o m p o n e n t s a n d a c c e s s o r
a d v a n c e d s e a t i n g s o l u t i o n s , s
s y s t e m s a n d i n n o v a t i v e f i re e x t i n g u i s h i n g
s y s t e m s w i t h l e a d i n g c o m p a n i e s s u c h a s
S O N G Z p re s e n t i n g t h e i r b e s t - s e l l i n g b u s air conditioning system, the LMD-VI, which b o a s t s b o t h a h e a t p u m p a n d e l e c t r i c
c o o l i n g s y s t e m
The event also highlighted ultra-luxurious seats, designed to provide exceptional comfor t, echoing the “BUSiness class” level of comfor t found in premium buses with feat u re s l i k e e r g o n o m i c d e s i g n s , o c e a n s o f space, high-quality materials and advanced adjustability
Busworld Southeast Asia demonstrated t h e i m m e n s e p o t e n t i a l o f t h e I n d o n e s i a n b u s m a r k e t , p a r t i c u l a r l y i t s f o c u s o n c o mfor t, safety and sustainability The success of this edition underscores the impor tance
o f p a r t i c i p a t i o n , w h e t h e r a s a n e x h i b i t o r
o r v i s i t o r T h e n e x t e d i t i o n w i l l b e o r g a -
n i z e d i n 2 0 2 6
Equipment News
Eindhoven Gets Acquainted With New Generation Citea
Hermes Public Transport B V presented i t s b r a n d n e w g e n e r a t
yment of the first 32 of a total of 64 new generation Citeas from VDL Bus & Coach, Herm e s i s n o w i n p o s s e s s i o n o f t h e e n t i r e l y new generation of zero-emission buses in N o r t h B r a b a n t
Her mes is happy to be replacing its old buses for these brand new and state-of-theart buses, which will make a positive contribution to reducing its carbon footprint Traveling by public transpor t has thus become even more environmentally-friendly than it already was The buses deployed by Hermes in the southeast Brabant region are equipped with a variety of technological specifications, including the so-called “Brainport” package This includes safety systems such as Forward Collision Warning and a Blind Spot Detection system With an all-electric powertrain, where batter y packs are installed in the floor and motors are integrated into the wheels, there is room for up to 92 passengers on board these new buses In addition, the improved passenger comfort is clearly felt through the unique interior design and special lighting, which contributes to a very positive passenger experience
Martijn Mentink, regional director of Herm e s : “ W i t h t h e s e n e w z e ro - e m i s s i o n c i t y buses, we are taking the next step towards a
east Brabant The development is also fully
Brabant It is good news both for them and for the residents of our region It fits seaml e s s l y w i
y emission-free bus transpor t by 2030 And in doing so, our traveler is the main winner b e c a u s e w e ’ re c o n v i n c e d t h a t t h e s e n e w buses will contribute to an even finer travel e x p e r i e n c e
The driver has also been considered A lot of time and attention was paid to creating the optimal driver environment when designing the bus, with no concessions made to ergonomics, ease of operation, comfort and safety
Richard van den Dungen, CCO VDL Bus & Coach: “We are extremely proud that our n e w g e n e r a t i o n C i t e a s w i l l b e fi l l i n g t h e streetscape of Eindhoven and the surrounding area Hermes and Eindhoven have therefore achieved a first in the Netherlands The traveler and the driver are going to experience an extremely comfortable travel experience, also in the knowledge that this journ e y i s m o re e n v i ro n m e n t a l l y - f r i e n d l y t h a n traveling with the previous generations of buses ”
Hermes will deploy its new buses on city lines in Eindhoven and neighboring municipalities Hermes is happy to invite residents o f E i n d h o v e n t o t r y o u t t h e c o m f o r t o f t h e new buses A free “zero-Emission off-peak day card” can be requested via a specially s e t u p We b s i t e T h i s a l l o w s a d a y o f f re e
Hermes Public Transport B V recently acquired the first of 32 of a total of 64 new generation VDL Citea buses for operation in North Brabant in the Netherlands These new buses have several special features including forward collision warning and a blind spot detection system VDL is headquartered in Eindhoven in the Netherlands
b u s t r a v e l f ro m 9 a m , o n c e t h e m o r n i n g rush hour is over Participating lines are city lines, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 114 The promotion runs until June 30
The next 32 new buses ordered by Hermes will follow later this year These regional buses will be able to cover greater distances and therefore start becoming visible outside Eindhoven
Jour nalists Explore Yutong’s EV Laborator y
On May 27 a group of journalists from 23 Europe-based news organizations embarked on a two day tour at Yutong Bus Brand Experience Center, New Energy Manufacturing Base and Engineering Test Center, one of the topnotch labs globally dedicated to elevating and evaluating bus performance, safety and technological innovation The visit allowed t h e m e d i a d e l e g a t i o n t o h a v e a c l o s e - u p experience with Yutong’s world-class EV innovation, state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, electric vehicle solutions, autonomous driving, charging technology and EV fleet management system that features intelligent bus dispatching and parking, which has refreshed standards in the public transportation sector
“We invite European media professionals and industry partners to experience Yutong’s innovative green transport solutions firsthand, opening up discussions about the future of city traffic as we aim to create more sustainable urban transport to benefit all Europeans,” said Jack Li, CEO of Yutong Europe
Equipment News
During the showcase, Yutong’s e-mobility solutions aced a series of tests conducted in extreme conditions, proving their exceptional safety per for mance and stability in30ºC cold weather, then a rapidly spreading 1300ºC fire and two meters underwater The solutions that wowed the audience included: Yutong’s industr y-first nitrogen protection system, which is designed to ensure the batter y pack is safeguarded by nitrogen The three-layer fire protecton bolsters the battery’s capabiltiy to resist external flames and prevent spreading in a 1300ºC/2h environment, substantially lowering the probability of batter y fires and explosions in the event of accidents
e-mobility solutions, Yutong, with its global position booted by a new vehicle engineering technology center that is backed by a
0 electric buses, a reduction in carbon emis-
hectares Yutong equips its EV fleets with
ciency, including the silicon carbide power domain controller, new generation electric drive axle and ultra-low temperature heat pump, coupled with an intelligent cloud platfor m that allows users to achieve life-cycle management With a consistent investment o
Yutong aims to persistentlyconcentrate on
May 27 saw a group of European journalists visit the EV Laboratory at Yutong in China Included in the tour was EV innovation, manufacturing facilities, electric vehicle solutions, autonomous driven and charging technology The visitors also witnessed tests involving both very cold and very hot temperatures
achieving breakthroughs in essential technologies for new energy commercial vehicles, facilitating the transportation industry’s move towards sustainability
Three Alexander Dennis Autonomous Electric Buses for Cambridge Connector
Group Inc , one of the world’s leading independent global bus manufacturers, on May 16 announced that it has joined the consor-
Enviro100AEV autonomous buses
Backed by Innovate UK, the Connector
Automotive, dRISK and Gamma Energy It i
Autonomous Vehicles
A l e x a n d e r D e n n i s a n d i t
c h n o l o g y par tner Fusion Processing Ltd , a leading provider of automated drive systems, have j o i n e d C o
Enviro100AEV electric autonomous buses a s p a r t o f
services in Cambridge
The Alexander Dennis Enviro100AEV is a version of the next-generation Enviro100EV that has been fitted with autonomous vehicle technology
A
L t d a n d S t a g e c o a c h
i n u e t o d
m o nstrate their joint exper tise with the world’s most advanced and complex SAE Level 4 a u t o n o m o u s b u s s e r v i c e i n t h e C AV F o r t h project in Scotland The Connector project will build on this and previous experience to adapt the vehicle and its technology for services at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, the largest center of medical research and health science in Europe
Group engineering Director for Alexander Dennis Chris Gall, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen to join the Project Connect
A E V autonomous electric bus This is a fantastic opportunity to further the development of this technology with our partners as we continue t o e x p
buses can improve operational efficiency and add flexibility to transport networks ”
Connector will be built later in 2024 and are expected to enter service in 2025, following a
autonomous bus professionals who will act a
supervision
Jim Hutchinson, CEO of Fusion Process-
Equipment News
Drive System will provide the sensors, control modules and software that will allow the
Alexander Dennis will build three autonomous buses for the new Cambridge Connector project in Cambridge The three buses will be the Alexander Dennis Enviro100EV model that incorporates autonomous vehicle technology in a popular Alexander Dennis model The buses are expected to enter service in 2025
HERE, IT’S ALL
project vehicles to drive autonomously on the Cambridge routes, showcasing a safe a
system ”
Clir Elisa Meschini, chair of the Greater Cambridge Par tnership’s Executive Board, said: “For Cambridge to thrive now and in the future, the area needs the infrastructure and mass public transport systems to cope w
are one par t of this solution It will be really exciting to see what was once considered t
our roads giving people choice in how they
Andy Williams, chair of the GCP Smar t Working Group, said: “It’s great to welcome Alexander Dennis and Fusion Processing Ltd to the Connector project Their expertise a
bringing innovative self-driving bus service to greater Cambridge as part of this project We’re committed to delivering safe, efficient and important public transport solutions for people who live, work or visit Cambridge The inclusion of these two new par tners, to an already strong consor tium, allows us to move forward with confidence and deliver real benefits to our community ” q
Enjoy entertainment catered to all ages and interests
• Slots, Tables & Other Gaming
• Vegas-Style Sportsbook
• Gaming Riverboat
• Outdoor Water Park
• Event Center for Concerts, Conferences & more
• Luxury Lodge Accommodations
• Full-Service Marina & Fishing
• RV Park
• Nearby Golf Courses & Hiking
• Food Court with Pizza Station, Homestyle Mini Cream Shop
• On-Site Convenience & Liquor Store
• Luxury hotel tower with amazing room views
Bus Equipment People
NFI
NFI Group Inc (NFI), a leading independ e n t b u s a n d c o a c h m a n u f a c t u re r a n d a leader in zero-emission electric mass mobility solutions, has announced the selection of John Proven a s t h e n e w p re s i d e n t o f N F I
P a r t s a n d A R B O C S p e c i a l t y Ve h i c l e s
( A R B O C ) Proven s t a r t e d h i s n e w ro l e o n June 3, reporting directly to NFI’s president and chief executive officer Paul Soubry
Proven s u c c e e d s
B r i a n D e w s n u p , who became NFI’s chief financial officer on February 29
P r o v e n b r i n g s
t o N F I m o r e t h a n 20 years of experience in global mark e t s a n d l e a d e rs h i p o f
g e o g r a p h i c a l l y d i v e r s e o p e r a t i o n s
i n m a n u f a c t u r i n g environments Most recently, he served as president and chief executive officer of CEL Group of Companies (CEL) CEL is based in Winnipeg, and its brands Conviron and Argus Control Systems Ltd are global leaders in the design and manufacture of plant growth chambers, rooms and environmental control systems Proven joined Conviron in 2 0 1 0 a s c h i e f o p e r a t i n g o f fi c
n g Argus Controls and establishing after-market o f f e r i n g s t o d r i v e r e c u r r i n g r e v e n u e H e started his career in media and venture capital industries, including the position of vice p re s i d e n t , I n v e s t m e n t s f
Wo
k s Capital
“ I a m p r o u d a n d p l
a s e d t o w e l c o m e John to NFI’s executive leadership team as we continue into our next chapter of recovery a n d g r o w t h H i s i n n o v a t i v e m i n d s e t a n d proven track record will be critical to advancing NFI’s Nor th American after market business and our market leading low-floor cutaway and medium-duty bus offerings,” said Paul Soubr y, president and chief executive o f fi c e r, N F I G ro u p “ John i s a p i l l a r o f t h e Winnipeg business community, and his track record of translating business strategy into growth and results through engaging and developing talent will be a huge asset for NFI as we continue to transfor m our global business ”
“I want to thank Brian Dewsnup and his team for their significant contributions to NFI
Par ts and ARBOC Their effor ts have truly s
financial results and increased offerings to customers,” Soubr y added
Proven holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in Finance and Marketing from the University of Manitoba and obtained his Char tered Accountant (CA) designation in 1994 He is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors and a graduate of the ICDR
( C D D ) Proven
community as a director of Cerebra Medical I
Major Donor Cabinet, and he is a past chair of the Associates of the I H Asper School of Business
ABC Companies
ABC Companies, a leading provider of motorcoach, transit and specialty passenger transpor t equipment and industr y leader in e
Canada, has announced several significant leadership transitions within its senior executive team
Chuck Har ms, the chief financial officer (CFO) and member of the ABC Companies’ Board of Directors, will be transitioning to an advisor y role as he prepares for retirement While he will be stepping down from his CFO duties this summer, ABC is pleased to announce that he will continue to serve as a strategic business advisor through the end of 2024
Kelly Klein, who has been with ABC Com-
financial officer His leadership and dedication have continued to grow throughout his tenture at ABC, and the company looks forward to his future contributions
Jay Oakman has been promoted to chief operating officer With 20 years at ABC Companies, his leadership and dedication have been vital to ABC’s operational success Oakman will oversee operations to ensure efficiency and excellence across all departments John Gillis h a
h a s b u i
t s t a n d i n g
l e a d e r s o u t s c o r e s o u r c o m m i t m e n t t o
e x c e l l e n c e , c u s t o m e r s e r v i c e a n d i n n ovation at ABC Companies Their exper tise
a n d d e d i c a t i o n w i l l b e c r u c i a l a s w e c o n -
t i n u e t o e v o l v e a n d e x p a n d o u r o ff e r i n g s
w h i l e e n s u r i n g t h e h i g h e s t l e v e l o f c u s -
t o m e r s u p p o r t I a m e x c i t e d a b o u t t h e
f u t u re a n d c o n f i d e n t t h a t o u r s e n i o r e x e c -
u t i v e t e a m w i l l c o n t i n u e t o u p h o l d o u r t r a -
d i t i o n o f e x c e l l e n c e a n d l e a d A B C C o m -
p a n i e s t o n e w h e i g h t s , ” s a i d R o m a n
C o r n e l l , c h i e f e x e c u t i v e o f f i c e r o f A B C
C o m p a n i e s
Kelly Klein, Jay Oakman, John Gillis
John Proven
Mike Middaugh Family
For weeks the bus industr y has offered p r a y e r s f o r t h e M i k e M i d d a u g h f a m i l y f o l -
l o w i n g a t r a g i c a c c i d e n t i n W y o m i n g We are happy to repor t that by mid-June, Mike
w a s s t i l l i n t h e h o s p i t a l b u t s i t t i n g u p a n d on the mend In 1990, Mike began working w i t h C u s t o m C o a c h i n C o l u m b u s , O h i o
I n 2 0 0 4 h e f o u n d e d C o a c h Q u a r t e r s , a company based in the Columbus area that
o p e r a t e d c o n v e r t e d c o a c h e s f o r s p e c i a l
e v e n t s a n d e l e c t i o n c a m p a i g n s
Mike, his wife Fran, plus some children
a n d g r a n d c h i l d re n , w e re r i d i n g i n a n RV
w h i l e d r i v i n g t h ro u g h t h e B i g H o r n m o u n -
t a i n s o n U S 1 4 o n M a y 3 1 M i k e w a s d r i -
v i n g w h e n h e s u f f e r e d a s t r o k e a n d l o s t
c o n s c i o u s n e s s O n c e F r a n re a l i z e d w h a t
h a d h a p p e n e d , s h e u n b u c k l e d f ro m h e r
s e a t a n d w e n t t o g r a b t h e s t e e r i n g w h e e l
T h e v e h i c l e c r o s s e d t h e o p p o s i n g l a n e ,
h i t a w o o d e n r
c l e u p r i g h t , t h u s s a v i n g t h e l i v e s o f h e
c h i l d
k i l l e d i n t h e c r a s h
Mike was unconscious and was airlifted to the Billings Clinical Hospital in Billings, Montana Other passengers survived with-
Bus Equipment People
out major injuries As indicated earlier, Mike is now doing better and we continue to pray for his speedy recovery and hope to see him at future bus events q
Be prepared before the next power outage.
Mike Middaugh (left) is shown at a recent trade show taking a break in the NATIONAL BUS TRADER booth next to Larry Plachno, the editor of NATIONAL BUS TRADER
Prevost Celebrates 100 Years
Part II
by Larry Plachno
Photos courtesy of Prevost unless otherwise indicated
Prevost has an enviable reputation for being a leader in new technology and improved safety features. Some of the more obvious items include Electronic Stability Control, Tire Monitoring, Aware Adaptive Cruise Braking and the Prevost Prime system. In addition, Prevost also offered customers its new Liaison System, the Sentry Package and the Prevost Action Service System
This is the second part of the two-part Prevost history. We start after the Volvo 9700 was added in 2009 and continue with Prevost’s current achievements
Prevost reached a milestone in 2011 with the production of their 15,000th vehicle An H3-45, Prevost’s flagship model, was showcased at the American Bus Association Mark e t p l a c e i n J a n u a r y. T h e m o d e l h a d b e e n newly redesigned with a new front end, a new profile and several new features
From this point forward we will look at more current developments and where Prevost is a leader today.
Industry-Leading Technology
In recent years, Prevost has led the industry in developing and offering state-of-theart electronics, systems and technology for its coaches One of the first of these was Electronic Stability Control International studies, confirmed by the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, showed that Elec-
tronic Stability Control reduces crashes by 35 percent. As a result, Prevost developed their new Prevost Electronic Stability Program to enhance passenger and driver safety Based on the Automatic Braking System (ABS), this new Electronic Stability Program will apply the brakes automatically if it senses that a bus may lose control if driving around a curve too fast It became a standard feature on the H series coaches in 2007 and was initially optional on the X3-45 models
Another of the early technology developments was the Tire Monitoring System t h a t w a
coaches in 2008. Tires have always been a serious concern for companies and drivers b
This new system allowed drivers to check tires from the dash without the need to walk around the coach with a tire gauge. The dash display not only showed the deviation from your set air pressure on each tire, but it also could display the tire pressures or temperatures This system went a long way in mak-
ing the driver ’s job easier while reducing tire concerns and improving safety.
By 2009, Prevost was offering its new Liaison System, the Sentry Package and the Prevost Action Service System (PASS) The Liais o n S y
s
standard telematics system in the industry and the first truly integrated telematics syst e m f or co a ch e s. I t t a k e s a
coach multiplexing system to monitor several coach systems Prevost was the first coach manufacturer to develop their own telematics system specifically for their coaches
improve bus operations. It can monitor an entire fleet and provide information on driver techniques, fuel usage and idle time It
before they get worse Prevost’s Action Service System receives information from Sentry and sends fault codes to Prevost’s Action
S e r v i c e a n d Te c h n i c a l S e r v i c e G r o u p t o determine what is happening on your coach and what action, if any, is needed. It can then n o t i f y t h e c o a c h o w n e r o r d r i v e r a n d i f immediate action is necessary, it will direct t h e d r i v e r t o a s e r v i c e c e n t e r L e s s u rg e n t items can be rectified when the coach returns to its home garage.
At the UMA Expo in 2012 in Long Beach P re v o s t i n t ro d u c e d L i a i s o n 2 . 0 , t h e l a t e s t version of its Liaison telematics system The new system improved signal reliability by using a cellular network It offered more relia b l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s , m
a transfer and easier to use Interface.
Prevost’s Aware™ Adaptive Cruise Braki n g S y st e m b u i l ds u p o n t h e e x i st i n g El e ctronic Stability Program It uses a radar sensor mounted on the front of the coach that sends out a radar signal up to 500 feet ahead During normal driving without cruise cont r o l , t h e s y s t e m w i l
t s e n s e s a p o t e n t i a l h a z a rd a h e a d I f c
s e control is on, the system will reduce speed, t
ahead The system became an option on Prevost coaches in 2012
One of the more impressive technology innovations was the Prevost PRIME System With concerns on both fuel costs and pollution, Prevost developed PRIME to decrease the load on the engine and hence reduce fuel c o n s u m p t i o n Tr a d i t i o n a l l y, b o t h t h e b u s alternator and the air compressor are driven off the engine and hence cause a parasitic load requiring the engine to use more fuel.
W h a t P
e
compressor when the engine is in a negative torque condition This normally occurs when going downhill, when the driver takes his or her foot off the accelerator or when braking During these times there is no fuel being fed to the engine so the electricity from the alternator and the air from the compressor comes without wasting any additional fuel Some people have equated this to regenera
generate electricity from the braking process.
There are two side notes to this One is that Prevost went to AGM (Absorbed Glass-
Mat) batteries instead of the traditional leadacid batteries The AGM batteries are sealed a
without being damaged This allows PRIME to do a better job The second note is that the system will connect the alternator and air compressor during other times if required t
and air system up PRIME became an option on Prevost’s seated 2014 models and standard equipment on 2014 conversion shells.
What might be considered an extension of Prevost PRIME was Prevost’s Electric Fan Drive As with alternators and air compressors, the traditional fan cooling system used a b e l
reduced fuel efficiency. Even if the fan were off, the belt and other components were still causing a load on the engine
Prevost engineers changed things around to create a side-by-side aluminum radiator system for both the engine radiator as well as the Charge Air Cooler Adjacent electric fans now replaced the belt-driven fan. As a result, the engine cooling system is no longer an ongoing parasitic load Since the fans take their power from the alternators and batteries, the PRIME System works to generate as much of this power as possible during negative engine torque. This, in turn, makes the engine more efficient and reduces pollution
Support and Service
If you ask a group of Prevost owners why they are loyal to the Prevost brand, you will
repeatedly and over many years is the Prevost commitment to parts and service Pre-
The Prevost Aware Adaptive Cruise Braking System builds upon the existing Electronic Stability Program The system uses a radar sensor mounted on the front of the coach that can detect objects as much as 500 feet ahead. This became an option on Prevost coaches in 2012.
The Prevost PRIME system used technology to reduce fuel consumption and pollution. When possible, the system turned on the alternator and air compressor when the engine was in a negative torque condition In addition, Prevost went to AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) batteries to make the system more efficient.
vost owners say that they can feel secure in the availability of numerous locations to serv i c e t h e i r c o a c h e s a n d t h e a v a i l a b i l i t y o f parts for their own technicians
A d m i t t e d l y, P re v o s t i s i n a s o m e w h a t unique situation because in addition to commercial coach operators, numerous Prevost coaches are on the road as entertainer and private coaches. Many of these operators are t o o s m a l l t o h a v e t h e i r o w n m a i n t e n a n c e f a c i l i t i e s a n d h e n c e d e p e n d o n P re v o s t ’ s multiple service locations. I think that the best way to show how extensive the Prevost parts and service network is to simply list them
USA
• California - Bay Area, 28702 Hall Rd , Hayward, CA 94545; (510) 745-7515
• California - Southern, 3384 De Forest Circle, Mira Loma, CA 91752; (800) 421-9958
• Q u e b e c - M o n t re a l , 1 2 7 5 B o u l e v a rd Hymus, Dorval, QC H9P 1J5; (514) 687-6741
Parts Distribution Centers and To Order Parts
• Prevost Canada Parts Customer Service, 2955-A Avenue Watt, Quebec City, QC G1X 3W1; (800 )463-8876
• P re v o s t U S P a r t s C u s t o m e r S e r v i c e , 2 0 1 S o u t h Av e n u e , S o u t h P l a i n f i e l d , N J 07080 Eastern Region – (877) 279-1224; Cent r a l R e g i o n – ( 8 7 7 ) 2 7 9 - 1 2 4 5 ; We s t e r n Region – (877) 279-1219.
State-of-the-Art Coaches
The earlier list makes it obvious that Prevost puts a great deal of effort into keeping up with and even running ahead of the techn o l o g y c u r v e S o m e p
y w a n
point out that the Prevost “X” model has a heritage going back to the introduction of the LeMirage model in 1977 and the Prevost “H” model dates back to the H5-60 of 1985 H o w e v e r, P re v o s t o w n e r s k n o w t h a t t h e c o m p a n y i s c o n t i n u a l
coaches with new technology and safety features almost annually In addition, the Prevost engineers periodically re-engineer and update the various models every few years to make sure that Prevost owners have the very best and latest safety features and technology. Here are some recent improvements to current models
In January of 2019, Prevost introduced s e v
9 7 0 0 model at the United Motorcoach Associa-
Lauderdale,
In addition to a bright and airy interior design, the new 9700 fea-
Florida
• National Bus Trader / July, 2024
Since many Prevost owners do not have their own maintenance facility, Prevost has numerous service facilities in the United States and Canada This shows a coach on a lift at Prevost’s Nashville location. NBT
Prevost Service Centers can be found at several locations throughout the United States and Canada Many also provide parts and have plug-ins for Prevost owners with converted coaches that need service.
Prevost parts are easy to source. Service centers can provide parts to local customers. In addition, Prevost also offers Parts Customer Service phone numbers in both the United States and Canada for those who wish to order parts by phone and have them delivered. NBT.
a v a i l a b l e w a s a E u r o p e a n - s t y l e s e c o n d
d o o r i n c l u d i n g a re s t ro o m a t t h e m i d d l e
s t a i r s I t w a s n o t e w o r t h y t h a t t h e r e w a s room to house a wheelchair lift beneath the s t a i r w e l l . C u s t o m e r s w e re a l s o g i v e n t h e option of lower American-style mirrors in a d d i t i o n t o t h e o r i g i n a l h i g h E u r o p e a nstyle mirrors
At that same show in 2019, Prevost introd u c e d t h e i r r e d e s i g n e d X 3 - 4 5 m o d e l f o r 2020 Changes included reshaping the entire front fascia to improve airflow and visibility. Fuel consumption was improved with aerodynamic tweaks that included added slant t o t h e t w o - p i e c e w i n d s h i e l d a n d a f l u s h w i n d s h i e l d g a s k e t U s e o f t h e Vo l v o D 1 3 engine and the Prevost electric fan system also reduced fuel consumption
Other improvements included integrating the headlamps into the bumper for ease of maintenance Enlarged windows and losing the top curvature eliminated two panes per s i d e , re d u c
u m b e r o f p
t s a n d improved passenger visibility by 15 percent Drivers appreciated the inward-slanted windshield and considerably narrower posts to reduce blind spots and improve safety There also was a new scissor operated sunshade to protect the driver from the glare of the sun
January of 2023 saw the United Motorcoach Expo unfold in Orlando A major highlight of that show was the introduction of t h e A
N
worthy was the new exterior redesign with an aerodynamic shape that causes the H34
fuel efficiency and makes the driver ’s area 5 0 p
both wider and brighter because the stair width has been increased by seven percent w
out Passenger safety is improved with an updated handrail and 300 percent more area lighting
D
intuitive dash that features a full-color digital and analog instrument cluster plus a pushbutton start. The new HVAC system is 20 percent more powerful and defrosts 37 percent faster Passengers appreciated the new window layout plus 50 percent more lighting with an RGB lighting system Maintenance was easier because interior lights were now all LED with brighter lighting during a cleaning mode The front junction box was now larger and has an interior door, while there are now three standardized passenger windows and blind sizes to help with inventory and maintenance
Conversion Shells
No history of Prevost would be complete without mention of Prevost dominance of the conversion shell market. As mentioned earlier, Prevost first got into the conversion s h
LeMirage conversion shell in 1978.
In the following years Prevost grew to d o m
helped a great deal that Prevost’s extensive service network supported the converted coach market where owners had only one or a few coaches and did not have their own maintenance facilities Today, Prevost is the
coaches, private RV converted coaches and corporate conversions for various purposes
Prevost’s X3-45 VIP Entertainer model is g
, including bunk coaches. Prevost also offers their H3-45 VIP and X3-45 VIP models for a
At the United Motorcoach Association (UMA) Expo in January of 2019, Prevost introduced several improvements on the Volvo 9700 model. New features included adjustable seat tracks, an optional European-style center door and room for a wheelchair lift under the center stairwell Customers were also given the option of lower American-style mirrors.
Prevost has dominated the conversion shell market for decades This conversion was turned out by Liberty Coach, one of the oldest and largest of the Prevost conversion partners.
Not all converted coaches have a motor home interior Converted by Featherlite, this coach has an interior designed more for executive transportation with tables and leather seats.
wide range of conversion applications from p e r s o n a l i z e d m
o s p e c i a
i z e d corporate interiors. All of these coach shells offer the same safety features and technology as the seated coaches but can be customized in many different ways by Prevost’s conversion partners
Larger Orders
In recent years Prevost has received some very substantial orders for coaches. Grey-
hound placed several orders with Prevost for coaches The result is that quite a number
o
P
hound fleet over the years
Noteworthy were two orders in Decem-
ropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)
Over the years, Prevost has received several large orders Shown here is one of numerous coaches built for Greyhound Lines. Prevost has also received several major orders from the New York State Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) including a recent one that is the largest order in Prevost’s history GREYHOUND
Prevost’s 100th anniversary prompted members of the Prévost family to move ahead with a dream to recreate that first Prevost bus of 1924. This was a labor of love involving finding a suitable REO chassis and then building the bus by hand Now named Clarisse after Eugène Prévost’s wife, the bus is now on a tour of the United States and Canada celebrating Prevost’s 100th anniversary.
Anniversary December of 2023 saw a contract from the MTA that is the largest order in Prevost’s history. It includes a firm order for 250 coaches to be delivered in 2025 and 2
not have come at a more appropriate time
100 Years and Clarisse
Prevost entered their 2024 anniversary year with a great deal of pomp and circumstance At both major trade shows at the start of the year they displayed an attractive H345 model with a large number 100 on its side, thus making sure that everyone around was aware of this unique anniversary But it was Prevost family members who turned heads with their special project
turing company moved out of the Prevost
remained involved in different ways Some work with and for the company while others were proud to see their family name on t
the transportation industry. With the comp
some of the Prevost family members were looking to do something special. For years, André Turmel, one of Eugène’s grandsons, dreamed of recreating the very first Prevost b u s e v e r m a d e T h e d re a m b l o s s o m e d i n t o a c o l l
e endeavor and a testament to Eugène’s values of unity and collaboration It was a family project beginning with a search for the same truck chassis Eugène used The group ended up in Tampa Bay, Florida, where they found a period REO chassis and brought it back to Canada It turned out to be a labor of love because all they had to work from was a single photograph They decided to model the replica in three dimensions and began working from that. M o s t
T
w o o d e n i n t e r i o r w a s h a n d v a r n i s
f a m i l y t e a m i n c l u d e d g r a n d c h
, t h
w n . T h
rently employed at Prevost. André’s wife, F
Finally,
of the Prevost
100-year celebration, Clarisse will be
Hershey and the Anniversary Rally during t
The Impressive Spring Fling 2024
Spring Fling 2024 is now “in the books” as one of the best ever.
Approximately 400 bus enthusiasts and industry veterans made the pilgrimage to the Museum of Bus Transportation/AACA Museum in Hershey, Pennsylvania for this annual event In recent months the AACA
Museum is being redefined as “America’s Transportation Experience” and this year ’s Fling met that standard
reunion for bus people, this year was a celebration of Prevost’s first century of serving the bus industry Prevost brought a new Prevost H3-45 demonstrator and a shell coach to help replica Clarisse celebrate Prevost’s
The annual Spring Fling at the bus museum in Hershey, Pennsylvania was held on May 31 and June 1. Thirty of the museum buses were on display and joined by 38 visiting buses. As usual, the event combines a reunion of bus people along with a chance to see numerous buses on display. STEFAN ALEO
tional bus flea market Tables were set up on the lower level of the museum and offered
event.
REO chassis Named Clarisse, she still runs
This is the first Fling where a manufacturer brought a shell, just as they come from the factory It offered an opportunity for folks to see what a motor home looks like before the converter works their magic. Since Eagle’s departure from the shell market in the mid 1990s, Prevost has dominated the field with a product specifically designed for converters and nationwide web of service facilities
In addition to the new buses, Clarisse was joined in front of the museum by ex Annett and Passaic Valley Coach Prevost Mirages that are part of the museum collection Pas-
saic Valley is the oldest continuous operator of Prevosts in the U S
This past year the committee that organizes Spring Fling made a concerted effort to listen to members, and make some additions and changes to the traditional format
and (showing off a bit here) demonstrated
able Moving the buses, as well as cleaning
deal of effort by 26 volunteers in more than
museum’s main campus In addition, Fling offered regular transportation to the annex for those who wanted to see the rest of the f l e e t
climb on approximately 95 buses ranging from a 1910 White Transit to several brand new coaches The White, on loan from Martz Company, is the oldest operable transit bus in the U S
highlighted the 100th anniversary of the first Prevost bus Clarisse, the replica
Another new wrinkle was a tent, provided Pennsylvania Bus Association, next to the outdoor display area. In addition to an ideal spot for the annual museum “Town Meeting,” it provided a cool place for people to gather all day PBA supplied a similar tent last years, and it was so well received they repeated
S a t u r d a y m o r n i n g ’ s “ To w n M e e t i n g ” was very well attended, perhaps because of timing, and the tent’s proximity to the buses. A l a rg e c ro w d w a s o n h a n d t o h e a r a b o u t the state of the museum, and future plans from Tom McCaughey and John Bailey Fleet Chair Randy Wilcox thanked the volunteers who worked so hard all year (and went into overdrive for Fling)
Wilcox also presented a surprised Wilmajean Leister with the museum’s “Volunteer
o f t h e Ye a r ” a w a rd S h e s h o u l d n o t h a v e been surprised Wilmajean is known for seizi n g e v e r y o p p o r t u n i t y t o h e l p o u t – a n d works hard the whole time.
Former Museum of Bus Transportation
P r e s i d e n t To m C o l l i n s a n d F o u n d e r B o b
S m i t h w e re h o n o re d f o r t h e i r d e c a d e s o f dedicated service to the bus industry and the Museum of Bus Transportation. Sadly, n e i t h e r c o u l d a t t e n d b e c a u s e o f f a m i l y responsibilities. It was a bit of a letdown to honor them at a distance, because both have meant so much to the museum and each not o n l y h e l p e d p r e s e r v e b u s h i s t o r y, b u t i n many ways made it
This years Bus Memorabilia Marketplace occupied 23 tables (about the same as in the past). This year the tables were paid for by an anonymous (but generous) donor, hopefully making the day more fruitful for the vendors
S p r i n g F l i n g ’ s s u c c e s s , i n l a rg e p a r t , i s due to substantial bus industry support Five m a n u f a c t u r e r s c o n t r i b u t e d a g r e a t d e a l (ABC, Irizar, MCI, Prevost and Temsa) In a
sort of Bad News/Good News situation –
months If you are going to have a problem, that is a good one
Mike LoPresti of Fuel and Tire Saver Systems, in addition to supporting the museum all year, helped sponsor and brought donuts If this is an effort to win friends, it is working
Wolf Bus Lines continued their tradition o f o p
museum and the annex A valued supporter
effort. Pennsylvania Bus Association (itself j
Michaud Bus Services were major contributors, not just of resources, but planning and e ff o r t U M A’ s K e n P
d Bus Association’s Mary Presley both were seen at the annex Friday working on buses
One valued Fling tradition has been the bus procession at the end of the event Four awards are voted on by attendees, and the winners drive through the museum portico for a presentation and photo shoot
Model 15 Eagle. The best Demo coach award went to Prevost’s H3-45, while the best Mode r n C o a c h a w a r d w a s g i v e n t o Ve
Tours’ H5-60 articulated Prevost
Stan Holter, and the BusBoys Collection drove off with two prizes – Greatest Distance Traveled and Best Antique with their GM Buffalo “Milit ary Police” b us. They made the trek all the way from Minnesota and the crowd appreciated it The lights and siren were a hit I
stayed around for the “parade,” perhaps gett
Philadelphia, etc This year it felt like more had stayed for the finale Perhaps it was the f i n e w e a t h e r, b u t w
made for a fitting end to a great day
Many of the attendees were impressed with the wide range of makes, models and ages of the buses on display. Photographers were delighted to be able to take photos of models no longer seen in regular service This front row contained several GM transit buses
Prevost brought a new conversion shell so people could seee what they look like when they arrive at a conversion company. With the possible exception of the driver ’s seat and area, the interior is pretty much bare. Note the slide-out on the street side that gives the coach more living space when parked.
Stan Holter from Minnesota won two awards – one for coming the great-
Holters operate buses in Minnesota and have their own impressive historical bus collection.
Company Identity and the Internet
by Dave Millhouser
We were sitting in the Transportation
O ff i c e w h e n t h e H A M c a l l e d . N o mammal is more dangerous than a Hot Angry Mom, so the boss listened quietly for what seemed an hour, and then said “Yes
Ma’am – we’ll fire that hot dog ”
T h e h o t d o g w a s m e , a n d t h e M o m h a d
g o t t e n a c a l l f ro m h e r k i d w h o s a t b e h i n d the driver ’s seat for hundreds of miles look-
i n g o v e r m y s h o u l d e r H e s a i d I h a d n e v e r d ro p p e d b e l o w 8 0 m p h t h e w h o l e w a y H e was right, but on old GMs the air gauge and
s p e e d o m e t e r w e r e s i d e - b y - s i d e a n d t h e
s a m e s i z e T h e b u s h a d n e v e r d r o p p e d b e l o w 8 0 P S I .
Tragically for our industry, the boss fibbed I was not fired.
I n Ye O l d e n D a y s i t w a s p r e t t y e a s y t o keep track of what folks were saying about your company They called, or wrote, letting you know how they thought you were doing
T h e s e m e t h o d s re q u i re d a b i t o f e ff o r t a n d lacked anonymity, so often comments were useful. Most operators have a wall covered with the nice letters (and personnel files full of nasty ones)
The digital age has added a dimension to this that we all need to consider because the implications can be dramatic.
For a good time, go to www yelp com and do some searches for well known bus companies This, along with many other sites and b l o g s ,
k s t o express their opinions about all sorts of services – often anonymously For an edgy time, do some searches for your own company It can be scary. Some Internet people are a bit crazed when they think they have a Harry Potter Invisibility Cloak, and we live in times w
“make a difference
What to do? Since this is a new phenomenon, we are all learning as we go, but I have stolen a few ideas that might help.
Years ago it could have been possible for a passenger to mix up a speedometer and an air pressure gauge on a bus dash In years past, the air pressure was more important and rated a larger gauge and sometimes even an overhead warning. Today with electronic dashes, it would be less likely.
F i r s t , k e e p y o u r e y e o n t h i n g s S o m e
s e a rc h e n g i n e s o ff e r a u t o m a t e d s e a rc h e s
t h a t s e n d y o u a n e - m a i l w h e n a s p e c i f i e d
t o p i c i s m e n t i o n e d S t i c k y o u r c o m p a n y ’ s
n a m e i n ; i n f a c t c h e c k u p o n c o m p e t i t o r s t o o I t i s t e m p t i n g t o a s s i g n t h i s t o a n employee, but this may be something you w a n t t o d o y o u r s e l f .
When ugly stuff turns up, do not overre-
a c t . T h e f ru i t c a k e s u s u a l l y
and the public “gets it ” Conversely, your Web persona can be a real help, or hindrance,
to business A pattern of false information can hurt If a significant incident happens while stuff is floating out there, it can make things exponentially worse In cases like that, you may want to be proactive, responding thoughtfully, or encouraging loyal clients to do so
A
employee behavior With all sorts of social
reflects on both you, and them Companies s
digital behavior. The law is evolving here,
Just as you do not want a uniformed driver drinking a beer in public, even when off duty, it is safe to say you do not want any of y
your company look bad, or frivolous
It is important to understand that, once p u b
reflecting on either your company or your
the time could bite you in the event that you have a real problem in the future. Electrons are forever If you are inaccurately portrayed,
journalists and lawyers who do not know you, may assume the picture is accurate, and use it to form judgments.
My nephew will never be President He is a bearded 220-pound hockey player with
work ethic There is this one photo of him on Facebook, wearing a satin gown, singing into a microphone
That picture is out there forever q
Your company image is important. You can see what people are saying about you and other bus companies on Yelp and other Web sites. Building a good online reputation is a positive factor with sales NBT
Employee behavior is also a big factor in company identity. Staff training and a formal company policy goes a long way towards making your company look good Bear in mind that once some negative comments are put on the Internet, they may be there forever.
Sur vival and Pr osperity
by Ned Einstein
Controlling Cars: The Last Frontier of Public Transportation
B y n o w w e s h o u l d a l l k n o w a b o u t t h e two last-ditch efforts to improve transit –by deterring automobile traffic: The recent “ v e t o ” o f L o w e r M a n h a t t a n ’ s c o n g e s t i o n pricing program, and the mandating speedwarning system proposed for the installation of all non-emergency vehicles in California – in half these vehicles by 2029 and in all by 2032. At the time of this article’s writing, the New York City measure was squashed by politics; the California measure may have been as well
T h e s e m e a s u r e s r e fl e c t our failures to do anything t o i m p r o v e a n y f o r m o f public transpor tation.
B e f o re d e s c r i b i n g t h e s e m e a s u re s a n d their failures and potential success, respectively (again, at this time), it is worth noting that these measures reflect our failures to do a n y t h i n g t o i m p r o v e a n y f o r m o f p u b l i c t r a n s p o r t a t i o n . M a n y f o r m s o f i t n o t o n l y get worse and worse, but some of the most heinous are mirroring the worst characteristics of the others At least one non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) brok e r, a c q u i r e d b y y e t a n o t h e r non-transportation conglomerate 2½ years ago, is beginning to reshape part of its structure to resemble that of TNCs. (More about that in an installment down the road ) Talk about the worst of both worlds
Manhattan and Congestion Pricing
After enormous amounts of money were spent on creating infrastructure to facilitate the operation of a congestion pricing program in roughly a 1,000-square-block area of Manhattan – including $507 million paid to a Nashville company – New York Governor Kathy Hochul effectively withdrew her support for the program several weeks before it was about to go into effect Eight serious protests – including some huge lawsuits – were part of the impetus Hochul’s excuse was that cancellation of the program was crucial in light of the lingering effects o f t h e c o
families and New York City’s economy (New York Times, June 5, 2024); I am guessing she failed to also mention the lingering effects of the Great Depression
immune to lies and preposterous nonsense
could have said almost anything. Closer to
• There was obviously no demand for a fleet this size, and a few thousand vehicle o w n e r s m i g h t h a
equally as far (a fleet now frozen at roughly 13,500, as it has been for years (TNCs paying no medallion fees stopped taxi growth in its path, and the owners cannot sell their medallions at bargain basement rates, since they must compete with TNC’s paying nothing, w
available, and thus better/shorter response times).
one from the New York Trucking Associat
would have received some push-back from J
Making New York City a laughingstock among public transportation professionals, Hochul claimed that without the estimated $1 billion that would have gone to the city’s
d quickly fall into crisis (New York Times, June 5, 2024) How anyone sane could not consider the city’s transit system already deep in crisis is hard to imagine The notion that $1 billion could cure it is even more preposterous In terms of city spending:
Last Year the city capped the number of
allowed to dribble into the city in the early 2
https://transalt com/article/bad-regulations-and-worse-responses-part-1-introduct i o n / ; h t t p s : /
tive-branch-responses/; https://transalt com/article/bad-regulations-and-worseresponses-part-6-industry-and-associationresponses/ and https://t ransalt com/article/bad-regulations-and-worse-responses-p a r t - 7 - c o n c l u s i o n s / ) – w i t h o u t p a y i n g t h e going rate of taxi medallion (then roughly $ 1 1 m i l l i o n ) , a n d d e s t
n g t h e l i v e
o f thousands of taxi drivers and their extended f a m i l i e s i n t h e p r o c e s s ( s e e h t
gion/nyc-taxis-medallions-suicides html)
• A decade ago, the New York/New Jersey Port Authority spent $4 billion upgrading the World Trade Center PATH station –quadrupling the time from the street to the t
rail, through six countries – including all the branch lines and all the stations
• About two years ago, this same Port Authority spent $16.4 million adding lanes and widening approach lanes to the tunnel’s Armada of EZ Pass booths – a project that did not add a single car ’s worth of capacity to the tunnel, and thus had no impact on tunn
merging time for the great number of vehicles now approaching the tunnel from more lanes) or reducing traffic congestion.
The point is that in this context, gouging motorists entering Lower Manhattan (below 60th Street) by at least $15 (for a simple car) w h e re t h e y a l re a dy p a y a b o u t $
(round trip) in bridge and tunnel fees, and where parking costs are typically $70 for a full day (and nearly $50 for a 90-minute stay) makes the Boston Tea Party sound like a high school prom The city’s income tax rate tops out at 3 876 percent, and the state’s tax rate at 10.9 percent. Of course, those people who earn serious money do not pay these rates It would seem that the city – unable to craft a coherent public transportation system –has few choices other than more regressive taxes – none more harmful to public transp o r t a t i o n t h a n c h a r g i n g 5 7 - p a s s s e n g e r motorcoaches bridge and tunnel fees (my biggest pet peeve as a former New Yorker for 23 years)
Enforceable Speed Limits
A t t h e o t h e r e n d o f t h e s p e c t r u m o n e might think these measures already exist Other than in small communities and in Hol-
lywood movies showing a high-speed chase on a freeway, they do not Never mind that the serious problem California’s newly proposed measure (see https://www nytimes com/2024/06/06/us/california-cars-speeding-technology html (New York Times, June 9 , 2 0 2 4 ) i g n o re s i s t h e e x c e s s i v e s p e e d i n g coupled with merging and weaving without signaling – a behavior that could effortlessly and cheaply be picked up by a skyful of lowflying drones, with no danger to police officers chasing perpetrators or causing them to endanger other motorists by their evasive movements Instead, California’s milquet o a s t m e a s u r e w i l l p r e s u m a b l y d e t e r motorists from exceeding any speed limit by five or 10 m.p.h.
Instead of mounting such equipment in the operating environment, the California measure (if passed) will require all vehicle manufacturers to install this equipment into 50 percent of all vehicles (except emergency vehicles) produced by 2029, and in 100 perc e n t o f t h e m p ro d u c e d b y 2 0 3 2 . O n c e t h i s speed limit is reached, the car ’s interior will beep and flash – presumably encouraging the motorist who has not quickly purchased s h o o t i n g - r a n g e - q u a l i t y n o i s e - d e a d e n i n g h e a d p h o n e s a n d d a r k s u n g l a s s e s t o s l o w d o w n o r s u ff e r t h i s c o n s t a n t l y - a n n o y i n g beeping-and-flashing environment
As one might expect, such technologies have been used in the European Union for years Their installation in new cars became a requirement this July, 2024. A small measure, perhaps, in the broad scheme of things (I suspect it would encourage more weavi n g ) I t w i l l l i m i t a d a n g e ro u s e x c e s s , t h e installation costs should be moderate, and enforcement should be effortless since the d a t a w i l l a u t o m a t i c a l l y b e s e n t t o l a w enforcement agencies There should be no way to defend oneself against the evidence the perpetrators receive in the mail
U n l i k e c o n g e s t i o n p r i cing, this measure will produce no revenue
Unlike congestion pricing, this measure w i l l p r o d u c e n o r e v e n u e J u s t t h e s a m e , opposition is mounting, and opposing parties want more “study” before this measure is implemented. Senate Bill 961, which lost passage by a narrow margin last month, is n o w b e f o re t h e S t a t e S e n a t e , w h i c h m u s t m a k e a d e c i s i o n o n i t s p a s s a g e b e f o re t h e e n d o f t h i s A u g u s t . I n t h e “ c a r c o u n t r y, ” m o t o r i s t s w a n t t h e f r e e d o m t o k i l l a n d maim They do not want their exposure to
l o u d r o c k - a n d - r o l l c o m p r o m i s e d b y “ n o stinking alarms ”
Getting Serious
It is clear from all these experiences that, a s i n t h e p a s t , A m e r i c a n s d o n o t w a n t t o make any compromises to safety – just as no public transportation modes (with the except i o n o f s c h o o l b u s s e r v i c e , a n d s o m e t a x i s and limousines) want any interference with what they doing – including electronic logs actually contributing to their trips’ safety, since unlike the shenanigans exercised with paper logs, electronic logs will hold motorcoach drivers accountable A
knowing the difference between a rear axle and the neck of a giraffe, but not much more Many are smart and learn what they can “on the job ” Among what they learn is that the majority of constituents do not want change of any type They do not want any rights or freedoms constrained Their political representatives know this too well, and keep this a g e n c y ’ s d e c i s i o n m a k e r s o n a r o p e
length of a key chain T
innovations one can add to manufacturers and converters that will add to safety Last year a NATIONAL BUS TRADER installment defined the characteristics of a much more comfortable (at least) motorcoach that could compete with many mid-distance flights at a f r a
https://transalt com/article/survival-andp
peanuts as their cheap, lazy lawyers settle cheaply and easily – because many or most
e y s – a n d t h e y h a v e
l e a r n e d t o a v o i d m e H a v i n g w o r k e d o n what must be 700 lawsuits by now (includi n g a t l
none of which I ever lost), I have no doubt
Knowing this – as many motorists do –and aware that their insurance carriers will p
d
c e p t i o n s ] , t h e w o r s t t h a t c a n h a p p e n t o m o s t o f t h e s e motorists is paying higher premiums, often w i t h d i ff e re n t c o m p a n i
s a n d l e s s c o v e ra g e O c c a s i o n a l l y a d r i v e r o r m o t o r i s t –operating a personal vehicle, bus, coach or
deploy them (see https://transalt com/article/survival-and-prosperity-part-1-magicc
manufacture vehicles
enough for almost any juror to understand – even without an expert, personnel rarely
Perspective without Patience
should have little or no hope that their transportation systems will become safer in any way (other than new technologies that keep the vehicles safer)
T h e s e d y n a m i c s a r e rarely political issues.
These dynamics are rarely political issues. Those appointed to the highest positions at U S D O T o f t e n b e
safety, reduce costs and possibly raise reve n u e f
motorist’s trip that also would likely bring the total trip cost to more than $100 when factoring in bridge and tunnel tolls and parking costs is not likely to be adopted
Interestingly, this innovation may have a legitimate c h a n c e o f s u
dynamics
Interestingly, this innovation may have a legitimate chance of success in a few cities with different characteristics and dynamics
T h e s e c i t i e s w o u l d n o t l i k e l y r e q u i r e
motorist to cross a bridge or a tunnel to enter it Parking costs might only be a few bucks This would be nice to see, and could provide encouragement for the idea to spread Do not expect this to happen in New York City, or any other major cities with high parking fees and bridges or tunnels Put U S transport at ion in perspect ive, and monit or t he d y n a m i c s i n t h e “ c a r c o u n t r y. ” A
t h i n g positive that happens in public transportation here is simply be a nice surprise I doubt
Sur vival and Pr osperity
any enlightened or wishful traveler can do anything to bring it about
As readers of any newspaper or magazine with the goal of providing some actual journ a l i s m k n o w, i t i s b e c o m i n g h a r d e r a n d harder to write about anything without dragging in politics The same is true for the mainstream newspapers of major cities to find the positive stories that dominated these institutions 50 years ago (although the really large print size was usually saved for stories about “bad guys” and tragedies). This is not fair to transportation magazines who go far out on a limb to promote almost anything positive or promising – a new tire, a new fuel source, new seat cushions, almost anything. I am still waiting for the regulations for car colors to not be the same as the pavement, the dark forests in many rural areas or even the dirty buildings in most urban areas – making the vehicles opaque against their operating environments I suspect I will wait a long time for most of these things, and a very long time for the latter of them.
Innovation in America – apart from rapidly increasing forms of more subtle and sophisticated forms of corruption – is becoming rarer and rarer This is a shame in transportation, where there is enormous opportunity for it
NATIONAL BUS TRADER and I are simply cheerleaders for it Otherwise, I (at least) continue to watch us fade into a Chinese colony For evidence of this likelihood, one need look no further than the ruses – NEMT brokers, TNCs –that have exploded onto the public transportat i o n s c e n e i n t h e p a s t t w o d e c a d e s Ye t inescapable hard traditions – like charging motorcoaches bridge and tunnel fees – and innovations involving little hardship (in many cities) and involving marginal efforts never seem to get off the ground Beijing is inching closer by the day.
The opinions expressed in this article are that of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of National Bus Trader, Inc or its staff and management. q
Ned Einstein is the president of Transportation Alternatives (www transalt com [1]), a p u b l i c t r
. Einstein (einstein@transit com) specializes in catastrophic motorcoach accidents
Number 307 of a Series
“ T h e C u r i o u s C o a c h o w n e r ” i s a q u e s t i o n
a n d a n s w e r c o l u m n t h a t p ro v i d e s s i m p l e
a n s w e r s t o s i m p l e q
shor t to warrant a full ar ticle or inclusion in one of our regular columns We will accept re a s o n a b l y s i m p l e t e c h n i c a l o r h i s
o r i c a l questions on coaches, buses or even conver ted coach shells by letter, fax, e-mail or phone If our staff is unable to answer them, w e w i l l c a l l u p o n o u r p a n
p e r t s Names and addresses should be submitted w i t h y o u r q u
n a m e s f r o m p u b l i c a t i o n o n r e q u e s t W e reserve the right to modify questions to make them more useful to our readers
Q W h e r e c a n I g e t p a r t s f o r m y C A I O coach?
–– Josh Cox, New York bus operator
A The CAIO buses were sold in the United States by Alliance for several years They were on display at some of the trade shows But I do not think that the company is around any more
We went down to Brazil in 2013 to visit the CAIO plant and met several of their staff By reaching out to these people we were able to deter mine that CAIO par ts are still available in the United States You can send an e - m a i l t o p a r t s s o u t h e a s t @ m o d e l 1 c o m o r phone (888) 993-5040
Q. Are there any more updates on the VDL acquisition of Van Hool?
–– Several Readers
A Production continues at the plant in North Macedonia VDL and ABC Companies have s i g n e d a 1 0 - y e a r c o n t r a c t f o r c o n t i n u e d s a l e s o f Va n H o o l c o a c h e s i n t h e U n i t e d States
However, at the plant in Koningshooikt, Belgium, VDL is only retaining 250 employees
T h e y w i l l w o r k i n t h e p ro d u c t i o n o f s p a re parts and for after-sales, purchasing, development and finance depar tments
Complete buses will no longer be manufactured there since VDL plans on using other locations for bus production Although we have not seen an official announcement, it appears that VDL will reduce of eliminate Van Hool transit bus production in favor of its own Citea transit bus line Several people have noted that over the years, bus produc-
The Curious Coachowner
tion has been moving out of western Europe t o e a s t e r n E u ro p e l o c a t i o n s w h e re l a b o r rates are lower and more competitive
Q. Are there any further developments on New York Congestion Pricing?
–– Several Readers
A This month’s News section repor ted that on Wednesday, June 5, New York Governor K a t h y H o c
indefinitely delay or postpone the program This expectedly led to a round of comments a
about whether she had the power to do this
Of course, there is still the problem of the p e n d i n g l a w s u i t s a g a i n s t t
Pricing Program The recent federal repor t has been requested by the MTA to be used against these multiple lawsuits
T h e re
at least part of the problem is that too many o
portation has been moving from fixed route to a one-seat ride for more than 100 years While the MTA’s ridership has declined 29 p e
the past decade One has to question how t o d e a
postponement But it was deter mined that
There have been numerous comments and complaints about all of the time and effor t that went into planning the Congestion Pricing program only to have it abruptly ter minated by the gover nor
Some of the biggest complaints are coming from Janno Lieber, the chief executive and C E O o f t h e M TA H e i s t r y i
MTA funding without the Congesting Pricing income
Lieber said that he would work to do various things to keep the system from falling apar t by emphasizing basic stuff He mentioning t h a t t h e g o v e r n o r ’s d e c i s i o n w o u l d s h r i n k the MTA’s budget and could impact day-today operations H
next phase of the Second Avenue Subway l i n e T h e M TA
e t o fi n
w a y s t o hold on to the $3 2 billion federal grant that would help pay for extending the line
Lieber also mentioned that he would tr y to avoid making service cuts that would cause the system to become dysfunctional as had happened in earlier years
However, on June 14 federal officials appare n t l y p u t t h e i r b l e s s i n g o n t h e M a n h a t t a n Central Business District Congestion Pricing Plan noting that it would reduce congestion by 17 percent This still leaves the final decision up to the gover nor
Q Is it true that private companies are able to predict where accidents will happen?
–– Illinois Reader
A Yes, there are several private companies including Cambridge Mobile Telematics and Arity, an Allstate company, that collect information on distracted driving and can determine which locations are more likely to have accidents
Expectedly, they have found that distracted driving, and particularly cell phone use, lead to hard braking, speeding and more accid e n t s T h
between cell phone usage and hard braking events
According to statistics, distracted driving increased 30 percent from 2019 to 2024 with 3 , 5 2 2 f a t a l i t i e s a n
injuries in 2021 They also discovered that i n a d d i
driving and accidents
S t a t e
include Hawaii, New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island The sates with the least distracted drivers are Montana, Missouri, New Mexico and Wyoming
They have also found that among cities, New York City is the worst for distracted driving F
county in Florida and Cook County in Illinois that includes Chicago
are provided by Larry Plachno
equipment that may be of special interest to our r eader s Please, include a list explaining what
interesting.
Since Coach USA is in the news with b a n k r u p t c y a n d s a l e , w
t h o u g h t w e could run some appropriate photos of their coaches this month
Right: A Megabus Van Hool TD925 was photographed near Los Angeles Union Station. These Van Hool double-decks b e c a m e v e r y p
routes. Based on court documents, ABC C o m p a n i e s i
double-decks for about $16,000 each
Below: A Van Galder Coach USA J4500 departs from the Rockford, Illinois, terminal on a run to downtown Chicago. Van Galder also runs extensive service from southern Wisconsin and Rockford to O’Hare International Airport. Coach USA was hurt by the pandemic, particu l a r
into New York City.
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1 – BUSES
WANTED
Seeking 102D3 converted by Custom Coach Prefer motor home interior with side aisle or semi-side aisle
Please provide details by e-mail to safety@busmag com or phone Larry at (815) 946-2341
6 – MOTOR HOMES FOR SALE
MCI MC5A ’67 (shell) 8V-71, 4-speed For sale to highest bidder Call (928) 358-6415 or (505) 71
AZ I
1991 Hawkins motorcoach 3208T CAT, 35 ft with all awnings Alcoa wheels, landing/docking lights, heated m
r o r s , d u c t e d h e a t , l e v e l e r s , t w o a i r c o n d i t i o n e r s , propane generator, exhaust brake Always stored indoors
Asking $15,000 Contact Dallas in MI at (269) 591-2564 I 1956 Flxible coach – old conversion Phone (802) 9482886 in VT for details I
Please mention National Bus Trader when answering adver tisers
10 – PARTS AND EQUIPMENT
6V-92T Detroit Diesel engine Fresh overhaul In storage Spent $4,700 Make offer Phone (815) 262-0587 in IL I
11 – BUS SERVICES
Busbound is a platform that offers party and chartered bus rental services in the USA, catering to a wide range of transportation needs for groups of different sizes For more information email seo2elitetransfer@gmail com q 14 – NOTICES
Visit our 45+ vintage bus collection most Saturday morn-
Transport Heritage Center ($30 annually) See/learn: www friendsnjthc org I
Down The Road
Coming events of interest to readers of NATIONAL BUS TRADER Submissions for the department should be directed to the editor. Unless otherwise indicated, events are not open to the general public
The next. The future. It’s here, now. The All-New H3-45.
