Florida School Bus - Conference 2014 by DEL Communications Inc.

2014 Conference

The ToTAl CosT of ownership soluTion “As a Blue Bird customer for over 25 years, our district has a solid Blue Bird fleet of the Vision, All American and Micro Bird buses. We choose to standardize our fleet to solely Blue Bird because of the quality of the buses. Our Blue Bird school buses are dependable, our drivers love driving the buses and we receive excellent parts and service support from Blue Bird and our local dealer.” -Fred Paye, Director of Transportation Hilton Central School District Hilton, NY

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Communications Inc.

Published by DEL Communications Suite 300, 6 Roslyn Road Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada R3L 0G5 www.delcommunications.com

contents FAPT President’s Message..................................................................................

A career built from ‘serendipity’ Charlie Hood talks about his path to executive director of NASDPTS..............

6 School bus drivers: everyday heroes..................................................................8 Advantages of supplemental transportation models: ALC............................ 10 Quantum XXI’s GPS/AVL-integrated transportation solution......................... 12 The revolutionary becomes mainstream........................................................ 15 Helping to preserve paradise......................................................................... 20 How can districts stay up-to-date on evolving engines? LBS South has the answer...............................................................................

22 You better have an app for that!..................................................................... 24 Trust ACC Climate Control for your school bus air-conditioning needs ....... 26 Trapeze transportation technology solutions: more than just routing and scheduling...........................................................

27 Safety first with Rud’s ROTOGRIP ................................................................. 28 We get around: Bus Parts Experts.................................................................. 30 20 years of business: Rifled Air celebrates its 20th anniversary..................... 31 Matthews Buses: ‘A Legacy of Trust!’............................................................. 32 Common-sense reminders from E-Z-On........................................................ 34 ®

President & CEO David Langstaff Publisher Jason Stefanik Managing Editor Katrina A.T. Senyk katrina@delcommunications.com Advertising Sales Manager Dayna Oulion Advertising Account Executives Corey Frazer Ross James

Production services provided by S.G. Bennett Marketing Services www.sgbennett.com Art Director Kathy Cable Layout Dana Jensen Advertising Art Joel Gunter

© Copyright 2014. Florida Association for Pupil Transportation. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of the publisher. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in and the reliability of the

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source, the publisher in no way guarantees

ACC Climate Control, Inc............................... 26 American Cooling Technology & Espar.......... 21 American Logistics Company......................... 11 Bus Parts Experts............................................ 30 Cummins Power South..................................... 7 E-Z-ON Products Inc of Florida.....................IBC Florida Detroit Diesel Allison.......................... 28 Florida Transportation Systems Inc.....3, 18 & 19 LBS South Inc.................................................IFC

recommendations made by contributors

2014 Conference

Matthews Buses Inc.................................... OBC Quantum XXI, Inc............................................ 13 Redflex Traffic Systems Inc.............................. 17 Rifled Air Conditioning, Inc............................. 31 RUD Chain Inc................................................. 29 School Training Solutions.................................. 9 Transfinder Corporation.................................. 25 Trapeze Group................................................ 27

nor warrants the information and is not responsible for errors, omissions or statements made by advertisers. Opinions and or advertisers are not necessarily those of the publisher, its directors, officers or employees. Publications mail agreement #40934510 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: DEL Communications Inc. Suite 300, 6 Roslyn Road Winnipeg, MB R3L 0G5 Email: david@delcommunications.com

Printed in Canada 06/2014

FAPT

President’s Message By Richard Duckworth Stephen Covey, in his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, believes there are two circles within which people operate: a “Circle of Concern” and a “Circle of Influence”. The Circle of Influence represents those things a person can affect directly, while the Circle of Concern includes all those things a person cares about. He contends that when a person focuses on the Circle of Influence, they expand their knowledge and experience, build trustworthiness, and as a result, the Circle of Influence grows. Your Florida Association for Pupil Transportation is an excellent vehicle for focusing on your Circle of Influence. Your voice, through the FAPT, directly affects those agencies, both private and public, which impact our profession. The state legislative bodies derive information from the association through your input and expertise. Your knowledge, shared by all within the organization, drives the association’s efforts to change, or maintain existing statutes and codes that directly impact our students, schools, and districts. As a member, you extend your influence beyond the edges of your individual county to the entire state, and through our memberships in national organizations, to the entire country. Your association expands your knowledge and experience through shared activities, publications, and training opportunities. Some of my best training took place during the annual FAPT Midyear Directors’ Meeting and the summer conferences/symposiums. Exchanging ideas, solutions, and problems with other transportation professionals around Florida brings better answers to my dis-

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead trict, and consequently strengthens my trustworthiness among the district leadership. Lake Yale and the technicians’ workshops bring enhanced expertise to each district through continuing education of our team members. This publication showcases individual professionals within our ranks who make a difference, and shares how they make those differences with all of us. We see our private partners in the profession, and how they help us expand our knowl-

edge, and ability to provide crucial services to our students. The Florida School Bus is a strong example of how our membership in FAPT expands our Circle of Influence. I am proud to be a member of your organization, and to serve you. I look forward to continuing to expand my Circle of Influence through my association with each of you, and encourage you to continue to “change the world”. ✱ www.faptflorida.org

A career built from ‘serendipity’ Charlie Hood talks about his path to executive director of NASDPTS By Samantha Sommerfield If you ask Charlie Hood if he knew he wanted to be in the transportation business when he grew up, he’ll laughingly say, “I don’t think I know anybody in student transportation who always wanted to be in this field when they grew up... But at any rate, it is a very serendipitous action, certainly for me. It’s been a wonderful career.” Charlie Hood is retiring from his spot as director of school transportation at the Florida Department of Education (DOE), to make the move to a bigger desk. Starting on July 1st, Hood will be filling Bob Riley’s position as executive director of the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS). And as Hood says, the path to this new office was a series of events that he can only explain as serendipity for a man who was originally a line mechanic. “I was a certified automotive technician right after I got out of college. So it was kind of an ‘avocational’ interest [that] then became more vocational. Then I got into writing curricula for automechanics when I was under contract with Florida State University,” explains Hood. He adds that getting the call from Florida State was an exciting moment for the once aspiring teacher. Having his two interests of mechanics and education collide was an intriguing, exciting moment for Hood. “I enjoyed the chance. [It let me] get

2014 Conference

“Whether it’s business or government: you have to be effective, you have to be competitive, and you have to serve people’s needs.” more into the kind of work I do now, which is probably a little more suited to my particular skill sets: writing, abstract reasoning, and problem-solving in more of an academic way than just in a mechanical way.” Soon after writing curricula for Florida State, the DOE became interested in what Hood was doing and gave him a call. “Somehow they got hold of who I was, and [saw] what I could do, and they asked me if I wanted to come to work here at the DOE as a school bus maintenance specialist, even though I had no experience with school buses at the time. They gave me a chance and an opportunity, and I built on it from there,” he remembers.

Hood has had a long career, spanning 33 years with the DOE in Florida. “It is an interesting field; it is different every day. Makes you feel like you are doing work that needs to be done and it’s helping youth. It’s not exactly the same as if I’d become a classroom teacher, which was what my formal education was in, but I am still serving education and serving kids and that is rewarding,” he says. For Hood, it has been a career with many great memories – but to single out a specific one is hard, he says. Hood does remember his first day on the job, though. Laughing, he recalls, “I remember having to ask a lot of questions and pick a lot of brains. Essentially what I remember was it being somewhat of a humbling experience. At that point in my life, I was in my twenties and thought I knew way more than I did. So it was humbling, realizing how much I still had to learn.” Hood is quick to add, though, that he is still learning to this day: “It’s a lifelong learning occupation,” he states. After a little over three decades of work experience, Hood doesn’t want to readily retire. “I think it is vital to work in some capacity to stay active – and I might as well be doing something I enjoy while helping others.” So when Hood heard of Riley’s announcement to step down from execu-

tive director, Hood sent in an applica-

their way to Nashville for the interview

the other national associations and orga-

tion to start the process.

process, but ultimately Hood was chosen

nizations.”

Even with all the experience on his re-

Hood is excited to start on his new

to take Riley’s spot.

sume, Hood didn’t assume he had the job.

Hood says that Riley has started to fill

path. He is unaware of who will be filling

He modestly says, “Nobody is indispens-

him in on what to expect and has given

his spot at Florida’s DOE, but offers this

him some advice.

advice: “I hope whoever takes over has

able. There are many people who could do this job, and do it well. I was hopeful

“The main thing that [Bob Riley] and

the same mindset, whether it’s business or

that the opportunity would be available on

others have taught me, but Bob has done

government: you have to be effective, you

a competitive level, and it was.”

a stellar job in ‘living’ it, is the importance

have to be competitive, and you have to

of maintaining positive relationships with

serve people’s needs.” ✱

Along with Hood, many people made

Do you have a story idea our journalists should write about for the next edition of Florida School Bus; or would you like to share an article you’ve written with the publication?

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www.faptflorida.org

School bus drivers:

Everyday heroes By Brooke Neal, School Training Solutions

When many of us hear the word “hero”, our mind immediately turns to fictional characters such as Batman, Superman, Spiderman, etc. Most of us do not automatically think of school bus drivers. A hero is defined as “a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.” Similarly, an old proverb states, “A hero is a man who is afraid to run away.” Here are just a few examples of Florida school bus drivers who didn’t “run away.” • Students in Boca Raton credit their school bus driver with saving their lives, as she was able to safely stop her bus on a busy street following a brake failure. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, she did all of this while still maintaining order on the bus, reassuring the students, “Calm down, we’re going to be fine. Don’t worry.” No one was injured. • In Hillsborough County, students describe their school bus driver as a hero because she went back twice to clear their bus, which had caught fire on the way to school. All 64 children were safely evacuated. A Hillsborough County Schools spokesperson describes her to WTSP News, “She was amazing. For her to go back on the bus, which she knew was a dangerous situation, is just an amazing situation for her to put herself into, especially since the flames were there.” The bus driver stated that it was just something she had to do. • Dominique Charles, a bus driver in Palm Beach County, is another driver deemed “heroic” by many parents. He didn’t panic when his bus was struck by a van and veered off the road and came to rest suspended over a canal. He calmly and safely evacuated the 36 students. Charles told the Orlando Sentinel, “I did the best I could.” He remembered something he learned during his training: “Don’t ever let the bus control you. You have to control the bus.” • St. Johns County driver Billy Buckley received the Superintendent’s Award for his quick thinking, which Images © 2014 123RF 8

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saved the life of a six-year-old at his bus stop. As Buckley approached the child’s bus stop, he noticed a car speeding up to pass, instead of slowing to stop at the bus’s flashing lights. He quickly laid on the horn and alerted the child to stop. The child’s mother reported to The Florida Times-Union, “Without a doubt, he saved my son’s life.” These are just a few examples of heroic bus drivers who used their training and quick-thinking to save children’s lives. But when you stop and think about it—aren’t all school bus drivers heroes? Every day, they drive a 10-ton vehicle full of 50 to 80 of what we consider our most precious treasures. They do this through rain, snow, sleet, or shine into all kinds of traffic, all while maintaining control and order through a tiny rearview mirror. Regardless, each day our children are safely delivered to and from school. How many of us can actually say that we hold the lives of 50+ people in the palm of our hands each and every day? Most people don’t realize a school bus driver’s importance. School bus drivers develop a relationship with each and every child, and can make or break a student’s day, as they are often the first and last authority figure outside of the home children see each day. Bus drivers are sometimes the first line of defense for dangerous situations at school. Through these formed relationships, they can tell when something is out of the norm and alert schools to potentially threatening situations, such as fights, bullying, weapons, etc.

Recognized by the Florida Department of Education as meeting the requirements for the twenty hours of classroom instruction.

I once heard school bus drivers being compared to pilots. Can you imagine if pilots were required to fly a plane while also ensuring that passengers behaved appropriately, wore their seatbelts, and stayed in their seats? However, this is exactly what school bus drivers do each and every day. All of these drivers credit one thing in helping to keep our children safe: their training. School Training Solutions (STS) offers quality online training that is both affordable and convenient and designed to meet state mandated in-service requirements. Over 16 counties in Florida already take advantage of STS courses. Visit their website and see how STS can help you meet your driver training needs: www.schooltrainingsolutions.com. School bus drivers are more than just drivers. They are everyday heroes who also play an important role in the education equation. ✱

www.faptflorida.org

Advantages of supplemental transportation models ALC www.ALCShools.com An increasing number of school districts across the United States are turning to alternative forms of transportation to supplement traditional school bus services. The use of mini-vans, SUVs and sedans to assist in transporting McKinney-Vento, ESE/special needs, out-of-district students, hard-to-serve and multi-district trips is becoming more common as schools look to optimize their transportation services. This shift towards supplemental modes of student transportation is being driven by the need to improve efficiencies as transportation budgets continue to shrink. Districts across the country are finding that when smaller vehicles are used to service routes with seven or fewer students, they no longer have to pay for unused capacity, giving them flexibility to expand and contract their fleet as needed. Obviously when transporting eight or more students, the school bus still remains the most efficient mode of transportation. However, when transporting less than eight students, bus transportation costs increase exponentially and significant savings can be found when utilizing smaller vehicles for these routes. The most common programs already using supplemental transportation include those for McKinney-Vento and special needs students. Districts have found that they can meet the needs of these students in smaller vehicles, with greater efficiency, and at a much lower cost. Hard-to-serve and out-of-district trips have also largely benefited from smaller vehicles. While districts can spend hundreds of dollars each day on a bus to transport out-of-the-way students to and from school, many have realized that sending a smaller, fuelefficient vehicle to service the same trip costs much less. ALC, a national student transportation solutions company, understands these concerns, and has spent the past decade developing a unique supplemental transportation model that uses

2014 Conference

mini-vans, SUVs and sedans to supplement existing transportation programs offered by school districts. Because ALC works in conjunction with the district’s bus services, many districts have found that the combination of buses and smaller-capacity vehicles significantly reduces transportation costs and incentivizes the bus provider to route their buses as efficiently as possible.

The ALC Difference ALC is the only pupil transportation solutions company to be designated as a “Recommended Service” by the National Association of Pupil Transportation (NAPT). In addition to reducing costs and increasing the efficiency of student transportation programs, districts that partner with ALC can reap the following benefits: • Parent/guardian meeting – Prior to students being picked up for the first time, their parent/guardian will have the opportunity to meet with an ALC representative to discuss all aspects of their student’s transportation needs. These parent/guardian meetings allow ALC to cultivate relationships with students and their families. • Consistency – ALC’s unique model offers the same driver every day, enhancing communication with parents, and increasing the comfort level of the students. As a result, students spend more days in the classroom, providing students and parent’s stability, familiarity, security and trust. • Real-time accountability – ALC confirms, through GPS, the time and locations of each student’s trip events. Knowing where your students are, and when they arrived, provides an additional level of comfort and safety. • Matching the student with the right vehicle – Whether it’s a SUV or a special-needs van, ALC’s unique solution is

Serving School Districts in Florida and Nationwide

customized to meet the specific needs of each student – today, and as their needs change. ALC ensures that each assigned

ALC works with school districts across the country, several of which are located within the state of Florida, including Orange County, St. Lucie, Polk, Hillsborough and Miami-Dade. When asked about partnering with ALC, Cynthia Mendez, senior administrator, transportation for Orange County Public Schools said, “We are thrilled to have expanded our relationship with ALC. Their professionalism and flexibility, combined with the low cost of service, has been a welcomed change for us.”

vehicle best matches the needs of each student by first assessing their needs, and then matching them with the appropriate vehicle. • Student Transportation Guide – Available in English and Spanish, this guide provides an overview of what parents/ guardians can expect from ALC. • Service Assurance – ALC confirms that any driver providing transportation services is fully qualified and has met the state, local and district requirements. ALC also confirms that vehicles being used to transport students comply with1 all4/16/14 state, local 14ALC 005 FL School Bus Art_final.pdf 1:59 and district requirements.

To learn more about the ALC model for special transportation needs, please visit www.ALCSchools.com, or contact them at alc@alcschools.com. ✱

Serving Districts’ Transportation Needs C

CMY

• McKinney-Vento • Students with Special Needs • Hard-to-Serve Trips • Out-of-District • Multi-District Coordination

www.faptflorida.org

Quantum XXI’s GPS/AVL-integrated transportation solution By Rebecca Peters, Education Consulting, LLC All too often, change does not occur until something tragic happens—a plane crash, a terrorist attack, a lost child, or another tragic event. These events usually remind us of the need for improved technology to monitor and help improve safety, security, and management. Hopefully, it won’t take a tragic event for school divisions to realize that advanced technology can improve business management and student safety in the area of transporting the most precious cargo in America: its children. Quantum XXI, Inc. has developed a computer tablet technology for school buses and other fleets that is vastly improved over the old GPS/AVL firmware approach of the previous decade. In addition, they have worked directly with school districts in determining features that enhance student safety, driver accountability, and bring savings to districts. Quantum XXI’s tablet solution for school buses is unique in approach and flexibility. It is more than refreshing for school districts to learn that applications are all inclusive in the initial software package pricing. All features are built into the software and available whenever a customer is ready to use them. In other words, the school district can pick and choose what to use and when to implement with no “add-on” cost to the school district. Quantum XXI’s solution is a complete software driven transportation solution using its own GOLDBus software. It is significant that the solution is software-driven, as opposed to being firmware or hardware-driven. Why is that important? Because when hardware breaks or becomes out-of-date, normally, you would have to replace the hardware with the same (old) hardware or update by purchasing new hardware, and then (gotcha!) purchasing an upgrade to the software. Because Quantum’s solution is softwarebased, it is not dependent on any particular tablet or computer; it can be used on any Microsoft-based platform. Quantum XXI recommends the sturdy Fujitsu tablet for school buses. In Loudoun County, Virginia, the transportation department tested several tablets with the Quantum XXI software and found that the software worked flawlessly on all of the tablets, but that the Fujitsu tablet, which is built to military standards, proved to be the sturdiest for withstanding temperature changes, bumpy roads, dust, etc.

2014 Conference

The uniqueness of the Quantum XXI solution is in its GOLDBus software. The software is uniquely flexible, allowing for easy customization of features and reports. Its comprehensive, all-inclusive ready-to-go applications make it easy to use for a beginner while being sophisticated and robust enough to fit the needs of management and more advanced users of technology. With the Quantum XXI solution, a school district can expect all the GPS/ AVL features, as well as many more sophisticated ones that integrate seamlessly within the system, along with other software used in the district such as routing, fleet management, payroll, human resources, and student information. The following are included in the software and can be implemented whenever the user wishes, requiring no additional hardware or software (with the exception of RFID cards and readers if cards are desired). • GPS/AVL – Built into the hardware (tablet) and includes all the expected features such as real-time and historical data, including: – Location of buses – Speed of buses – Departure/arrival times of buses – Length of time at locations – Comparative analysis of actual versus planned times – Standard and customized reports of events – Other GPS/AVL features

• Report wizard – Allows the user to create customized reports to fit the needs of management. • Time and attendance – Seamlessly connects with payroll systems, and: – Allows for paperless timesheets; – Allows drivers/attendants to view hours, leave schedules, leave taken, etc.; – Allows managers to view hours, etc., in order to determine which employees are approaching overtime, which are available for additional hours without overtime, to approve leave-requests, etc. • Two-way communication – Data can be transmitted to as well as from the buses directly, without other buses receiving or hearing the exchange. • Real-time downloading of routes – Route changes can be sent directly to the tablet in real-time so that changes can be made whenever needed, even sent during a route if needed. • Real-time video streaming – Can be utilized with the built-in camera in cases of a bus emergency or other situation. For example, if you receive a call that a driver is texting while driving, a simple flip of the switch allows the supervisor to view, and record if desired, live video of the driver. The tablet can also connect to other inside and/or outside cameras. • Audio and visual directions – Derived from the routing software. Audio and visual directions include specific district directions used for routing, such as roadways, that may be prohibited to buses. Any last-minute changes, due to road closures, traffic, weather, etc., can be sent with routes and up-to-date audio/visual directions. • Customizable pre- and post-trip inspection checklists are included in the software. • Hardware agnostic – The system is not dependent on any particular tablet or computer. This allows the user to take advantage of advances in technology without changes to the software. Administrators can access software from any MSbased computer, laptop, or smartphone. • Student boarding/unboarding – Software includes ridership identification at no additional cost to the division or to the parent. Photo or icon boarding (touch picture) perfectly fits the needs for accountability of ridership for special needs students. With photo identification, even a substitute driver can accurately account for the ridership of a student without the need for a student to keep track of a card. If a card reader or biometrics identification system is desired by the district, the software is also already included. All that would be needed would be the cards and a reader. • Medicaid reimbursement reporting – Transportation reporting for Medicaid purposes is included in the standard reports and can be sent electronically to central administration for

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inclusion in district reporting. Reports are customizable to fit needs of the school district. • Engine diagnostics – Connections to bus engine are made using USB or Bluetooth and software is included in initial purchase. • Parent portal – Connection can be made through the transportation department or accessed through the district’s parent portal. Levels of access can be determined by the school district with parental password protection. Again, software is included with no additional cost to the school district OR to the parent. Initially, the tablet may be more expensive to purchase than simple GPS tracking hardware. However, the many advantages make it a practical choice for a long-term investment. These features include the ruggedness of the tablet; the fact that the system is software based operating on any Microsoft-based computer, which allows other tablets and upgrades to be used without changes in the software; and the fact that all software components that most companies sell separately are included in the price, without need to install additional hardware, firmware, or software. Quantum XXI expresses its appreciation to Loudoun County Public Schools’ transportation department director and GPS administrator for the opportunity to customize its product to meet the needs of their world-class transportation department. The transportation and IT departments in Loudoun benefit from progressive and strong leadership that is innovative in approach, and effective and efficient in operations. Attention to student safety through modern equipment, up-to-date techniques, meticulous maintenance procedures, and innovative use of technology make their transportation department and fleet management operations superior. The Quantum XXI solution is an important partner in this pro-active management and use of technology. For more information about Quantum XXI, please visit the website at: www.quantumxxi.com or contact Nick Grandy, vice-president, at 317-538-5708, or Richard Gallagher, CEO, at 317-446-7118. About the Author: Rebecca Peters is a retired superintendent of schools from Virginia, where she served as superintendent of schools in the city of Alexandria, right outside of Washington, D.C., and as superintendent of schools in Mecklenburg County, Virginia. Peters has also served in many other administrative positions in education, including director of technology and director of career and technical education in Fauquier County, Va. ✱

The revolutionary becomes mainstream By Chris Rustman, President, Florida Transportation Systems It’s with a twinge of remorse that I now witness the evolution of what used to be revolutionary and bold in its application, now becoming something that is much more routine and commonplace. It’s almost like the polish is off the apple a bit and such forward-thinking approaches are now “sound” and “pragmatic” compared to being earth-shattering a few years ago. The transformation I’m referencing is the adoption of alternative-fuel school buses, specifically propane-powered buses, as no longer being the story of trial and error or the incubator for new technology. Propane autogas technology is now the well-documented story of putting sound fiscal practices into place, which also result in a host of other benefits for the district, the students transported and the community served; one of the few win-win-win scenarios that benefit all parties involved. I love this quote from a new customer, Tad Kledzik: “It’s rather profound, yet uneventful, to say that this bus is unremarkable! It does what it is designed to do! The operator had little issues with the function, operation, or performance of the bus.” Kledzik, supervisor of transportation operations for Pasco County Schools, said this after a 30+ day pilot program with a propane-powered Vision school bus. Read his comments again to let it digest properly; there’s no magic behind this product and technology – it does what it is supposed to do. This is a “home run” for an industry that needs a workhorse to take it students to and from school. School buses need to work today, tomorrow and 10 years from now; these buses do just that, while also saving on

PROPANE AUTOGAS SCHOOL BUSES ARE MAINSTREAM

ropane autogas is the nation’s fastest growing transportation fuel in the school bus industry. The adoption of a domestically produced alternative fuel like propane autogas benefits schools and their community — saving taxpayer dollars and reducing harmful emissions in the air. Whether based on a rapid return on investment, community impact, energy security, carbon footprint, safety, serviceability or a combination of these, fueling with propane autogas is a versatile and readily available solution. Partners Blue Bird and ROUSH CleanTech offer the Type A Micro Bird and the Type C Vision fueled by propane autogas. This map shows deployment of these propane autogas school buses across the nation.

MANITOBA

ALBERTA SASKATCHEWAN

ONTARIO

QUEBEC

WASHINGTON MAINE

MINNESOTA

MONTANA OREGON

NEW HAMPSHIRE

WISCONSIN NEW YORK

MICHIGAN IOWA

NEBRASKA

NEVADA

PENNSYLVANIA OHIO

UTAH

ILLINOIS

COLORADO KANSAS

CALIFORNIA

ARIZONA

MISSOURI

NEW MEXICO

NEW JERSEY

INDIANA VIRGINIA KENTUCKY NORTH CAROLINA

TENNESSEE

OKLAHOMA

CONNECTICUT

ALABAMA

GEORGIA

TEXAS LOUISIANA FLORIDA

1-20 buses 21-50 buses 51-100 buses 101+ buses

fuel costs, saving on maintenance, and

undocumented in their successes back

running on near-zero emissions with do-

then. Vapor technology had been avail-

mestically produced propane autogas.

able for a number of decades, but in-

This alternatively fueled product was

volved a certain level of end-user exper-

revolutionary when it was unveiled to

tise and maintenance. Some people even

the pupil transportation industry back in

developed a bad taste for propane tech-

2007. Buses powered by liquid-injected

nology due to some shortcomings with the

propane autogas were new and largely

vapor technology. All of those previous www.faptflorida.org

vapor experiences and concerns SCHOOL are quickly put to ease with the PROPANE AUTOGAS introduction of liquid-injected engines. The technology has seen BUSES ARE MAINSTREAM

incredibly rapid adoption rates with public and private-sector ropane autogas is the nation’s fastest growing transportation fuel in the school industry. The adoption of a domestically produced alternative fuel like applications, alike,bus by organizations such as FedEx, UPS, Stupropane autogas benefits schools and their community — saving taxpayer dollars and reducing harmful emissions in the air. dent Transportation of America, Dish Network, DHL, Mesa Public Whether based on a rapid return on investment, community impact, energy security, carbon footprint,Broward safety, serviceability or a combination of these, fueling with propane Schools, Supershuttle, District Schools – and that’s a autogas is a versatile and readily available solution. highly abbreviated list. From Blue Bird’s manufacturing perspecPartners Blue Bird and ROUSH CleanTech offer the Type A Micro Bird and the Type C Vision fueled by propane autogas. This map shows deployment of these propane autogas school buses across the nation. tive, they have seen propane-powered buses reach up to 25 percent of their total production. That is the true mark of acceptance in the marketplace: customer orders. With propane autogas technology becoming mainstream, additional ALBERTA benefits are MANITOBA also being realized: SASKATCHEWAN ONTARIO QUEBEC • Existing and new diesel-powered engines are becoming cumWASHINGTON MAINE bersome MONTANA in their maintenance requirements. To comply with MINNESOTA OREGON NEW HAMPSHIRE WISCONSIN new EPA mandates, engines have diesel particulate filters, NEW YORK MICHIGAN CONNECTICUT diesel exhaust fluid requirements and more complex engine IOWA PENNSYLVANIA NEBRASKA NEVADA NEW JERSEY OHIO controlUTAHmodules to make certain ILLINOIS all these systems operate in INDIANA COLORADO VIRGINIA KANSAS MISSOURI harmony. These EPA-compatible engine features also require CALIFORNIA KENTUCKY NORTH CAROLINA TENNESSEE technicians to be more tech-savvy than ever before. The wrench OKLAHOMA ARIZONA NEW MEXICO is being replaced with a computerALABAMA as these diesel engines reGEORGIA TEXAS quire fine-tuned repairs and routine maintenance. PropaneLOUISIANA 1-20 buses FLORIDA powered engines are very similar to simple gasoline engines 21-50 buses in their operation and maintenance; they’re more 51-100 mechanicbuses buses friendly and don’t require the same sophisticated,101+ and often expensive, manpower to maintain. Gone will be the days of passive regenerations and expensive DPF cleaning to maintain EPA compliance. Propane autogas systems are a simpler and more effective technology. • The students – the passengers – also share in the benefits. The near-zero emissions from the tailpipe provide a cleaner ride and better environment for students to start and end their day. Loading zones are clean, free of the dirty, black puffs of diesel exhaust. The interiors of the buses are also cleaner from any potential diesel exhaust that can creep back into the passenger compartment. Diesel exhaust particles, which are known human carcinogens, can produce symptoms of allergies that can affect breathing pathways. Children’s sensitive airways have yet to develop fully and students with asthma or allergies can be subjected to difficult breathing environments. Aside from the better air for breathing, the students (and drivers!) benefit from a quieter ride. Operating at approximately 11 decibels quieter than diesel buses, students can have quiet conversations without shouting over diesel engine noise and are more able to hear their driver’s instructions or comments. • An unexpected, but most certainly appreciated, benefit of these buses is becoming evident in the public school transportation departments across the nation. Drivers are excited about going green in their daily practices and we’re seeing an increase in workplace morale and an improvement in recruitment efforts. While it certainly doesn’t hurt that these buses are new, these buses also allow drivers – and all those involved at the district level – to take a sense of pride and ownership in their work-

2014 Conference

NOW DEPLOYED IN THE U.S. TEXAS

1,324

CALIFORNIA

754

NEBRASKA

435

OREGON

260

NEW YORK

222

PENNSYLVANIA

155

WISCONSIN

139

FLORIDA

129

= 50 BUSES Map created April 2014

place’s efforts to improve the environment and their hometown community. Most individuals have recycling and reduction practices in place at their home or personal lives – why not encourage and carry that practice over to the whole department? • The community also benefits from these school district endeavors. By implementing these quieter operating buses, the early morning hours are no longer dominated with the sound of an old yellow diesel bus lumbering through the pre-dawn neighborhood. The significant savings on fuel will also resound with district budgets and taxpayers alike. Participating districts will pay roughly one-third the cost of diesel for propane autogas. These savings can offer an immediate impact to the district, with more money going back into the classroom. Even the Florida legislature is showing support by offering a 50-percent rebate on the alternative-fuel technology that is utilized (HB 579). This will minimize the capital investment required to obtain the cleaner buses and dramatically increases the return on investment (ROI). ROI is a term that taxpayers appreciate because it means, quite simply, that the district is providing financial payback for their efforts of improving efficiencies. As Kledzik states, “It’s rather profound, yet uneventful, to say that this bus is unremarkable! It does what it is designed to do!” Quite a refrain to summarize the positive impact propane-powered school buses can have for a district. And it’s an impact that affects much more than just the transportation department. Let the buses do their job while the district focuses on its classroom results. Go green and save green. It’s not the exception anymore – it’s mainstream. ✱

Yellow is the new Green. Discover the positive environmental impact and return on investment you can make with propane-powered school buses. Some school districts have logged savings of

37Â˘ per mile

with propane autogas

Tampa | Pompano Beach

800-282-8617 WWW.FTS4BUSES.COM

Broward County Chooses Propane Broward County Public Schools has joined Alachua, Indian River, Pasco, Polk and Putnam District Schools on the road to lowering their operating costs while improving the environment by switching to Propane Autogas. Propanepowered Blue Bird school buses can offer savings of up to 50% when compared to diesel fuel; and near-zero emissions means Broward County Public Schools is going the extra mile to protect the environment for our childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future.

A heritage of looking ahead.

Helping to preserve paradise The state of Florida offers an outstanding diversity of recreational opportunities, from the Atlantic and Gulf Coast beaches through the Everglades’ lakes and streams to the islands of the Keys. What does this have to do with air-conditioning, you may ask? Maybe not a lot, but little things do add up, including the importance of a well-installed and well-maintained school bus air-conditioning system. American Cooling Technology (ACT) continues to expand its product offerings and presence in the North American school bus market and as we do, we try to keep in mind the performance of the A/C systems during the life of the vehicle and any potential impact on the environment. It all begins with a quality installation of the A/C system into the bus during the bus build, or as an aftermarket install to add A/C to a completed bus. Most of the school bus OEMs have wellestablished A/C installation processes and documented procedures for handling the A/C refrigerant and oils during the system evacuation and charging, to control any refrigerant from being released into the environment. In addition to OEM A/C installations, there are also a number of off-line or aftermarket A/C system installations completed annually which provide customers system flexibility by offering options that may not be available as a factory A/C option. ACT is fortunate to work with dedicated aftermarket installers such as Kingmor Supply and TransArctic, two of the largest and most experienced A/C installers supplying the Florida school bus market. Since A/C installation is a large part of their daily operation, they have the fine-tuned the process, becoming highly skilled in the proper techniques of installation. In addition to the proper handling of the A/C system refrigerants and oils, suitable hose and harness routing and location, component selection, and securement to the vehicle are all important factors to ensure extended trouble-free operation of the bus’s A/C system.

Kingmor’s installation facility in Conway, Ark.

2014 Conference

While there are several lower-cost options for hose and fittings in the market, ACT prefers and promotes SAEJ2064 Type E due to the strong inner-hose liner and double O-ring fitting to hose connections. While the ozone-depleting environmental impact of refrigerants has been reduced by the progression from R12 and R22 to R134s, we still need to strive to reduce the potential release of refrigerant into the environment. Eaton Aeroquip offers an excellent product that ACT markets as “EZ Clip”. The Eaton Aeroquip G134a hose has extremely low-hose effusion rates, helping to keep the refrigerant and oil contained in the A/C systems. Some of the more recent product developments in advanced school bus air-conditioning have resulted in expanding the bulkhead mount evaporators and rooftop A/C choices available to bus operators and end-users. ACT offers a complete product line for any size school bus, from a smaller Type A to full-size conventional and Type D Transits RE and RE. The most popular split system consists of dual three-CS-3 fanskirt or CR-3 roof-mount condensers combined with a 60,000 btu/hour, in-wall or bulk-head-mounted EV-2 evaporator and dual TM-21 compressors. While split systems still make up roughly 80 percent of the current school bus A/C market, the application of rooftop airconditioning systems and components continues to increase. To satisfy the growing demand for roof-mount condensers, American Cooling Technology developed and is currently producing a complete line of roof-mounted condensers, including the CR-2, CR-3 and CR-4. The newer CR-3 and CR-4 units were designed using thermal-plastic Olefin or TPO as the exterior cover material. TPO is a thermoplastic polyolefin elastomer material that is used extensively in the automotive industry for exterior panels and covers. TPO has an exceptional combination of stiffness, impactresistance and dimensional stability along with UV resistance. The use of TPO required ACT to invest in water-cooled tooling to produce the covers, but since first introducing the CR-4 with a TPO in 2011, we have had excellent results. Having an A/C option on top a bus gives bus manufacturers more flexibility with the design, as well. Even a split system, in which the condenser is roof-mounted but the evaporator remains in the bus or in-wall, would allow schools more versatile use of space. More room is created for applications like wheelchair lifts and luggage compartments, which traditionally utilize space under a vehicle floor. While the line of CR rooftop condensers are still considered part of a standard split system, ACT has partnered with ESPAR Climate Systems (Eberspächer) to make complete rooftop A/C systems available to customers. These systems include the field-

AC-350 on a Type D RE school bus.

ACT CR-4 roof-mount condenser.

proven AC-310 for conventional school buses and the AC-350 for the larger RE transit-style buses. Initially designed and build at the EberspĂ¤cher facility in Renningen, Germany, ESPAR is now assembling both the AC-310 and AC-350 in North America to better serve the U.S. and Canadian markets. What does the future hold for school bus air-conditioning? One change that is on the horizon is a planned change from

R134a to HFO-1234yf refrigerant, which is another step toward a truly green refrigerant. HFO-1234yf, a non-ozone-depleting substance with a global warming potential (GWP) of fewer than 150, is an environmentally friendly refrigerant suitable for use in mobile air-conditioning systems. In comparison, the current refrigerant, R-134a, has a GWP of 1,430. It will be a few more years until it arrives on school buses, but work is currently being by done mobile A/C companies like ACT and Eaton Aeroquip to get ready for its introduction. Stay tuned for further details in an upcoming edition of Florida School Bus. For more information, please contact ACT at 877-228-4247 or online at www.actusa.us.com. And for ESPAR, phone 800-387-4800 or visit online at www.espar.com â&#x153;ą

ACT & Espar A ChAmpionship TEAm with an all-star lineup of HVAC products for the North American Bus Market!

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ACT, proAir & Espar Climate systems teamed up to offer the school, shuttle, Coach and Transit Bus markets a single point of contact for all their Bus hVAC sales and service needs.

Espar_Act_half_Mar14.indd 1

www.faptflorida.org 21 2014-03-31 10:52 AM

How can districts stay up-to-date on evolving engines?

LBS South has the answer offer our school transportation partners is technician training.”

Bringing Training to the School Districts

LBS South’s one-stop-shop facility located in Davie, Broward County.

Take a look around the typical school district’s bus lot and you’re likely to see an array of different buses. Depending on its transportation needs and the make-up of the surrounding area, districts will have a mix of school bus types, including the traditional Type C buses, the larger-capacity flat-front Type D buses, and a few smaller Type A buses. You’ll likely see different model years, too, with different features, and possibly even different manufacturers. Start opening up engine compartments and that diversity will only increase. “School bus technology has evolved a great deal in the past decade, especially when it comes to controlling emissions,” says LBS South president Mike Leonard. “That evolution is represented in how individual bus lines have changed and expanded, and in the diversity of fleets across the state.” Driving engine diversity are the everchanging emission standards, which

2014 Conference

have increased multiple times in the past 10 years, with new standards in 2004, 2007, 2010 and 2013. At the same time, brands and models are constantly being improved and expanded, like the recent addition of the Cummins ISB engine as an option in the IC Bus CE Series buses. All this fleet and engine diversity creates real challenges for districts’ maintenance teams, like how to keep up-to-date on all the different engines? How to handle the latest technology? And, with all these different buses, where does a district turn to for its other service needs? That’s where a distributor like LBS South steps in with solutions. “At LBS South, we have the know-how to service any make and model school bus,” says Leonard. “We also know it’s almost impossible for busy school bus technicians to keep up with all the changing technology and techniques. That’s why one of the core areas of support we

The team at LBS South knows a school district’s bus garage is a busy place, with technicians working under pressure to keep a school’s fleet running well. To address this, LBS South offers several training options. “We have many ways to make technician training work for our partners,” says LBS South sales director Frank Continetti. “Whether it’s with classes at our one-stopshop facilities, or online, or through our mobile ‘Educator’, we find a way to help our school transportation partners stay up-to-date on the latest techniques and changing technology.” One of those training methods has helped LBS South support school districts far from their brick-and-mortar “one-stopshop” facilities, and that’s the Educator. LBS South’s mobile Educator training and customer support vehicle takes all the knowledge needed to keep fleets running well right to school districts. Initially launched in October of last year, the Educator has been visiting districts across Florida for the past six months. “The Educator vehicle enables us to bring customer support to school districts in the panhandle and other locations,” explains Continetti. “And it’s not just for technicians. We can give drivers more confidence, technicians more know-how, and transportation directors greater peace-of-mind, knowing they have LBS South as a partner.” The Educator, combined with other

training, enables LBS South’s school district partners to understand their buses better, so they can take advantage of features, maximize efficiency, and know the right diagnostic steps and repair procedures. That’s part of the industry-leading support the team at LBS South commits to offer. Hillsborough County School District learned about this support just recently. Like anyone who works in the industry, with new technology and techniques developed regularly, the technicians at Hillsborough County School District needed an update on how to best service the Navistar VT365 engine. They turned to the team at LBS South. Working together, Hillsborough’s technicians received specialized off-site training and got on-site assistance from LBS South-certified trainers and technicians. “That’s teamwork,” says Continetti. “And that’s what partners do.” To further promote district technician training, LBS South recently launched a new program that offers training incentives by encouraging school bus technicians and transportation managers to successfully complete LBS South Customer Learning Management System (CLMS) training courses. This award program and all the other training opportunities shows LBS South’s commitment to providing school district partners with the best customer support in the industry, and the constant evolution of what it means to offer that support.

As School Buses Evolve, so too does LBS South One of the biggest changes in the school bus industry recently was the addition of the Cummins engine to the IC Bus CE Series. Since the fall, LBS South customers have been able to order CE Series buses with either the MaxxForce engines or the Cummins ISB engine. Now, school districts can also find the Cummins-

LBS South provides certified training professionals at all their facilities, as well as through their mobile training units like the Educator fleet-support vehicle. School districts from around the state attended LBS South’s most recent Customer Advisory Panel in Orlando, where they toured the Educator. Districts represented included Alachua, Brevard, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola and Volusia district schools.

powered version of the CE Series on the Florida Department of Education contract. “With these Cummins-powered IC Busbrand buses, we truly do offer the broadest range of clean-diesel engine options in the industry,” states Leonard. “We spent months preparing for the arrival of these Cummins-equipped CE Series. Now, districts can purchase these buses via the FDOE contract, and our award-winning customer support team is here to help keep them running at peak performance for years to come.” With new engine offerings from IC Bus, the LBS South team has also expanded the engine types it can service to include the entire line of Cummins engines, not just the Cummins ISB. Continetti adds, “The addition of the Cummins ISB6.7 means we can provide parts for any Cummins engine and perform service on any legacy Cummins product that is no longer covered under factory warranty. This is the sort of onestop-shop approach that saves districts time and money.” Looking around a typical school district bus yard, you will certainly see many bus types, makes and model years. Inside the engine compartments, there’s even more diversity. It can certainly be intimidating for school districts. But it doesn’t have to be. Working with a partner like LBS South, school districts have access to a “one-

stop-shop” capable of addressing all their service, parts, and training needs. LBS South’s award-winning team is trained to handle warranty repairs, engine service, chassis needs, body maintenance, and parts replacement – all under one roof. “We view our customers as partners and because of that, we strive to provide them the best support and advice possible,” says Leonard. “Our number-one priority is to ensure their school buses are safe and running clean, because at the end of the day, it truly is about the children who ride the school buses.” LBS South, LLC is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and is owned and operated by the Leonard family, a recognized leader in the distribution and support of quality, environmentally friendly school and commercial buses from America’s No.1 bus manufacturer, IC Bus, and Type-A buses from Trans Tech. In addition to LBS South, LLC, the Leonard family owns Leonard Bus Sales in New York and has nearly 50 years of experience providing unmatched fleet management and customer support services, having won the coveted IC Bus ™ “Eastern Region Dealer of the Year” award in 2011 and IC Bus’s 2012 and 2013 Pursuit of Excellence awards. LBS South has locations in Jacksonville and Davie. ✱ www.faptflorida.org

You better have an app for that! By Antonio Civitella, President and CEO, Transfinder Just a year and a half ago, I published

One of the great benefits of technol-

an article on how the mobile world is

ogy is it promises to help us be more ef-

here and how cloud computing is mak-

ficient. No more sifting through binders

ing data and applications easily acces-

and Post-It notes to find information. We

sible. Today, according to Pew Internet

may have eliminated the paper, but how

& American Life Project, 56 percent of

are we managing this vast amount of

Americans use a smartphone and 35

information that is essentially on digital

percent of Americans use a tablet com-

Post-It notes and in digital binders? How

puter, while the use of desktop computers

can we analyze, or even make informed,

are on the decline. Progress tells us that

educated decisions on the spot?

there really should be an app for everything.

DEL

Communications Inc.

In addition, there are many other factors school transportation departments

www.delcommunications.com

DEL Communications Inc. and You,

the key to success.

We offer outstanding personal service and quality in the areas of: CREATIVE DESIGN | ADVERTISING SALES | TRADE PUBLICATIONS | QUALIFIED SALES & EDITORIAL TEAM

2014 Conference

must be concerned about as they pro-

As a society, we have become ac-

effort to plan for what districts’ chal-

vide essential services to students. We

customed to fast information in the

lenges may be, and where technology

are experiencing increased environ-

palm of our hands. So it is expected

is going to help us create answers. We

mental and societal events, with regions

that the same should be true of school

believe the best decisions can be made

being impacted by more hurricanes and

districts or anyone to whom you’re talk-

and real challenges overcome when

mud-slides. Meanwhile, bullying among

ing. As far as student transportation is

we work together as a community.

students is on the rise. In addition, we

concerned, we have to be prepared to

Conference tradeshows can be used

have to manage navigating around

respond to questions and address the

as a great opportunity to do just this.

where sexual predators are located so

concerns of district administrators and

Vendors commit substantial amounts of

we can do our best to avoid having chil-

board members, as well as parents,

time and resources for the opportunity

dren within those proximities.

with accurate and immediate informa-

to interface on a real level with the

tion.

people who keep our businesses thriv-

Here is where districts should turn to their technology partners to say, “What

For these reasons, it is imperative that

ing. We take seriously the comments

are you doing to help us manage this?”

the dialog be open with vendor part-

we receive and services we provide

or “How can we have an action plan in

ners to find out how solutions can be

to help our clients provide safe and

place to respond quickly and effectively

developed, to help bring your informa-

quality transportation for our precious

to an emergency situation?” Technology

tion together from its various sources so

cargo. I expect this year will provide

is advancing quickly and there is no

you can make informed decisions. As

significant opportunity to grow our re-

reason why you shouldn’t be able to do

an entrepreneur and concerned parent

lationships and see what responsible

this from wherever you are.

myself, my company and I make every

minds can build together. ✱

VIEW

View and Adjust Routes, Anywhere, Anytime with Transfinder’s Infofinder mobile In Infofinder mobile, you can instantly view a route on the map with students assigned to each stop. You can then adjust the route as needed to add a stop or move a student to a new stop. 800.373.3609 | sales@transfinder.com | transfinder.com

www.faptflorida.org

Trust ACC Climate Control for your school bus airconditioning needs ACC Climate Control (ACC), with headquarters in Elkhart, Indiana, is a leading designer and manufacturer of advancedtechnology air-conditioning products for the school, transit, and commercial bus markets. ACC is pleased to announce the introduction of the new TC-80 Free-Blow Roof-Top Evaporator/Condenser combo unit. The TC-80 joins the TC family of freeblow rooftop units along with the TC-55 and TC70. The TC series of free-blow

rooftop units provide for 360 degrees of air flow, providing maximum air flow and cooling performance for your transportation needs. The internal air distribution plenum protrudes only 2 7/8 inches into the bus. Capacities as “stand-alone systems” are as follows: • TC-55 – Cooling capacity = 55,000 BTU; heating capacity is 75,000 BTU/ hour

TC series of rooftop units.

• TC-70 – Cooling capacity = 70,000 BTU/hour (cooling only) • TC-80 – Cooling capacity = 80,000 BTU/hour (cooling only) The physical size of the unit allows for a modular approach where two units can be added to double the capacity as two independent systems for large buses. In addition, ACC offers a series of front “in-wall” evaporators for school bus applications that provide direct air-flow to

When you need more than just another air conditioning supplier:

the driver. The front cover provides a duct that is routed behind the mirror, thus directing air on the driver; this duct is adjust-

ACC Climate Control, Inc. …...Solutions Providers for your transportation a/c needs!!!

ACC’s Unique Driver’s Cool Vent

25055 Roof Top Condenser

TC-70 Roof Top System

- Applications Solutions - Product Solutions - Customer Support Solutions

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The TC series of free-blow rooftop units provide for 360 degrees of air flow, providing maximum air flow and cooling performance for your transportation needs. able, should the driver desire to reduce the amount of airflow to the driver’s area. The “driver’s cool vent” system eliminates the need for a costly dashboard air system to be added for driver comfort. Call ACC Climate Control today for

ACC Climate Control—Providing Rock Solid Solutions with Rock Solid Results! ACC Climate Control, Inc., 22428 Elkhart East Blvd., Elkhart, IN 46514 1-800/462-6322

2014 Conference

more information on this very versatile family of air-conditioning products: 1-800-462-6322, or visit www.accclimatecontrol.com. ✱

Trapeze transportation technology solutions:

More than just routing and scheduling By Christopher Rotolo, Director of Sales, Trapeze Software Group It’s an exciting time here at Trapeze Software Group. Not only did we recently launch our new, true calendar-based routing and scheduling software, VEO Transportation, we are also now installing GPS-based hardware solutions, which we manufacture, on school buses throughout North America. In the summer of 2014, our latest AVL software will make its debut. Our one-of-a-kind OPS (operation management) software solution that is used by over 100 Trapeze transit authority clients is getting rave reviews from the school district personnel who have seen it… and a few have already signed on. When you add it all up, it’s a great time to be a Trapeze client. No other hardware or software provide in the school transportation space is truly a single-source provider. Our transportation technology solutions consider the full 360 degrees of your operations, bringing together and connecting you with the numerous sources of information you need to run an effective, efficient department without the need to bring in outside “partners.” For more than 30 years, Trapeze has been a leader in student transportation technology solutions. With new trends and emerging challenges every day, we make it our business to understand what keeps you up at night and then deliver the best possible suite of transportation products to help make your job easier. Our integrated approach provides a complete enterprise solution connecting the back office, operations and dispatching centers with your vehicles, as well as providing up-to-date transportation information to your organization and public. Trapeze’s modular approach to application design delivers an integrated product suite that enables you to build your transportation software system as needs dictate. Our products feature graphical-user interfaces, an open database architecture, browser-based applications and proven, best-practice algorithms. In developing technology for student transportation, we maintain a strong and consistent customer focus, working to thoroughly understand your goals and operational requirements and providing programs that exceed your expectations. We realize that implementing a transportation software pro-

gram is a significant investment in both time and money. Our goal is to provide you with affordable, flexible solutions that increase efficiencies and reduce costs while enabling safe, reliable student transportation within your district. Most importantly, we are committed to continuing to invest millions of dollars in our transportation suite of products so that you are ensured the most current technology and functionality for the long term. For further information, please call me at 216-539-1809, email chris.rotolo@trapezegroup.com or visit www.trapezegroup.com. ✱

Redefining

School Transportation Management

Tell us the challenges you face and we’ll deliver solutions that exceed your expectations. Routing & Scheduling GPS/AVL Software & On-board Driver Display Employee Management, Daily Dispatching & Timekeeping Redistricting Planning & Analyzing Tools Fleet Maintenance/Field Trip Management Optimize resources. Control costs. Improve services.

888.595.4696, Ext. *2 schoolsales@trapezegroup.com www.trapezegroup.com/school

www.faptflorida.org

Safety first with RUD’s ROTOGRIP®

THE

EXPERTS.

It’s time you demanded a better built transmission— like a Genuine Allison ReTran from the experts at FDDA. Only a ReTran is built to Allison’s own exacting standards, every one, every time.

Every quality Factory ReTran comes with:

•

Always 100% Genuine Allison parts • Built by factory trained technicians • Dynomometer report • 2-year unlimited miles warranty on school buses (888) 812-4440 • New Genuine Allison converters on Call for all your Allison needs. 1K/2K models www.fdda.com • Delivery and installation specials available

28 2014 FDDA_Alilson.indd 1

Conference

RUD Chain’s ROTOGRIP® traction device will make operating fleet trucks, buses and emergency vehicles safer under slick, icy, and snowy conditions. Our automatic traction device is permanently mounted to your vehicle suspension, and the chain wheels can be deployed in a matter of seconds from the driver’s seat. This is essential for emergency vehicles, because it is very important for emergency vehicles to reach their destination regardless of bad weather. Since the automatic tire chains can be engaged and disengaged from the driver’s seat, the vehicle can stay on schedule. RUD’s automatic chain system has the ability to work as well in reverse as it does in forward gear, providing excellent traction at speeds as low as three to four miles per hour, and is designed for a wide range of vehicles and suspensions. The RUD Automatic Tire Chain System features a patented chain-wheel design that can be installed on either side in six, eight-,10- or 18-strand wheels for a wide variety of vehicles. Tailor-made fitting kits, with replaceable contact rings, for the common makes of commercial vehicles substantially reduces fitting time, and is a superior design that is easy to install.

RUD’s automatic chain system has the ability to work as well in reverse as it does in forward gear, providing excellent traction at speeds as low as three to four miles per hour. RUD’s chain wheels are made up of three separate parts: the chain plate, the contact ring and the aluminum carrier wheel. A key advantage of ROTOGRIP® systems is that the wear parts can be quickly and easily changed as needed. ROTOGRIP® is easily adjusted to fit a wide range of vehicles due to its universal mounting system; the universal mounting system can be easily installed in approximately four hours. Best of all, ROTOGRIP® does not require a lot of effort in fitting or maintenance and RUD backs up their products with training and outstanding customer service.

4/30/2014 5:49:37 PM

ROTOGRIP® is easily adjusted to fit a wide range of vehicles due to its universal mounting system; the universal mounting system can be easily installed in approximately four hours. The ROTOGRIP® full-size system is the tried and tested basic version that is primarily used on heavy trucks with tire sizes 22.5 inches and up. The choice of six- or 18-strand chain wheels are the most common for these larger vehicles, and the 18-strand chain wheel provides smooth running and works well at lower speeds. ROTOGRIP® 3 is the compact solution, which commonly uses an eight-strand chain wheel, for vehicles with 19.5-inch and smaller-size tires. For operators who do not wish to install an air compressor on their vehicle, the ROTOGRIP® 3 offers a unique cable pull-down system which allows either air or electric activation powered by the vehicle’s 12-volt electric supply. Because RUD offers a wide range of solutions for a variety of emergency vehicles, it is the perfect choice for an automatic traction device. At RUD Chain, Inc., we provide training and outstanding customer service for our products, making fittings and maintenance quick and easy. Get ahead of the weather – call us

at (800) 553-7993 and ask for the ROTOGRIP® department, or visit www.rotogrip.us for more information on how RUD’s Automatic Tire Chain System can keep your drivers safe this upcoming season!

Media contact: Katie Eliason, Marketing and Public Relations Tel: 800-553-7993 Fax: 319-294-0003 Katie.Eliason@rudchain.com

Reader contact: RUD Chain, Inc. P.O. Box 367, Hiawatha, IA 52233 Tel: 800-553-7993 sales@rudchain.com www.rudchain.com ✱

www.faptflorida.org

We get around By Laura L. Thomas Bus Parts Experts (BPE) may be the “new kid on the block”, but with a combined working knowledge of more than 115 years, we’ve certainly been around that block more than a few times. Utilizing the World Wide Web (Internet), BPE has made ordering parts hassle-free. With the largest online catalog that’s expanding every day, you can easily cross-reference most bus-part numbers from air conditioning, bus accessories, engine parts, transmissions, and even complete engines! Our user-friendly website also has many helpful tools for those times when a part number is unavailable. Utilizing our search engine, photos, measuring tools – plus the ability to reach us any time by either telephone or email – makes locating the correct part as easy as “ABC” and “123”. The technology behind our website is only the beginning of what sets us apart from the rest.

Our experienced customer service and parts analyst staff are extremely knowledgeable about all our product lines, so when a question arises, you can be confident while talking with our customerservice team that you are speaking with a very knowledgeable and well-trained specialist. Bus Parts Experts is committed to getting you back on the road as soon as possible by stocking a complete inventory of parts and shipping out the same day. We’ve been in your shoes and want to help reduce the stress that comes with “bus down”. We stand behind all our parts 100 percent, with confidence that the customer has been supplied quality components at a fair price. In many cases by eliminating the middleman and buying OEM and aftermarket parts in bulk, we’re able to keep our cost down and pass the savings on to our

customers. Utilizing more than 10 warehouses nationwide and in most cases, shipping the same day, we’re able to cut our customers’ downtime substantially without any unpleasant surprises. When placing an order with Bus Parts Experts, you’re able to see all of the prices immediately! We have nothing to hide and are very proud of our “small company values”. We do our homework, so you don’t have to. We get to know the products we’re selling by visiting the many different plants producing our products and seeing first-hand the materials used in the production process. If there’s ever a question of quality or product integrity, then we continue the search for excellence to ensure we can always stand behind our products with pride 100 percent of the time. If Bus Parts Experts sells it, you can be assured that it’s the best quality and exceeds the highest level of standards. At Bus Parts Experts, it is our mission to have a level of integrity that keeps you coming back. We will always say what we do, and do what we say. Treating our customers fairly, with integrity and honesty, is the most important principle we have. We are committed to growing with our customers and acting on the priceless feedback they give us. We know we can achieve our goals by continuously improving quality and responsive customer service at all points. We strive to do the job right the first time, every time. Amaze yourself: visit www.BusPartsExperts.com. ✱

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20 years of business

Rifled Air celebrates its 20th anniversary 2014 marks 20 years in business for Rifled Air Conditioning (RAC). Founded in 1994, Rifled Air began in the transportation industry by installing air conditioning, wheel-chair lifts, video sys-

RACâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s BH-20 (60,000BTU/HR) bulkhead evaporator features a compact, recessed design with high cooling capacity.

tems and other aftermarket components. Recognizing a growing need for bus air-conditioning, RAC expanded its operations to include manufacturing. This allowed the company to be the first to bring grooved copper-coiled technology to the bus industry. The internal grooving on the coils of the system are similar to those of which are found in the barrel of a rifle, hence Rifled Air Conditioning. With over 80,000 air-conditioning systems built and installed, Rifled Air attributes its success to the quality A/C systems it builds in conjunction with the solid foundation of long-standing relationships it maintains with customers across the country. Rifled Air would like to thank its dealers, suppliers, employees, and most importantly, its customers. We look forward to another 20 years of providing you with great service, innovation, and cool airconditioning! Visit rifledair.com for updated content, system information and installation galleries. â&#x153;ą

www.faptflorida.org

Matthews Buses: ‘A Legacy of Trust!’

By Glenn Matthews, President, Matthews Buses Inc. It will be 10 years in November since Thomas Built Buses did what no other bus manufacturer has done to date – that is, to introduce a completely new, clean-sheet design school bus that is built from the ground up with drivers and technicians in mind. The C2 offers the largest onepiece structurally bonded windshield, safety-view windows for the driver to see the right-side danger zone, an open-view mirror system, structural adhesive technology for increased safety and strength, squared up roof design, one port diagnostics for both body and chassis, and large, powder-coated windows. Over the past 10 years, feedback from directors, drivers, technicians and even students has transformed what was viewed at the time as a radically new school bus design into a very reliable proven product that truly deserves to be in a class by itself. Even though the “out of the gate” base price for the technologically advanced

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C2 may be higher than other legacy designs, districts are enjoying the total lifecycle cost-savings of this great product, making it the least costly long-term solution. Thomas Built Buses recently backed this up by offering a standard three-year bumper-to-bumper warranty on the Saf-TLiner C2. Therefore, in the state of Florida, Matthews Buses, Inc. (MBI) now only needs to purchase two additional years of warranty, versus four years as part of our best-in-class standard five-year bumper-to-bumper warranty. These savings have been passed on to districts, as the base price for a 77-passenger C2 has decreased from ITB 2013-01 to ITB 2015-01. In addition to these savings, Allison’s “Fuel Sense” has been included as standard equipment on the C2, which can increase our already bestin-class fuel economy by up to 10 percent. Furthermore, this is in addition to the standard load-based shifting scheduling (LBSS) and six-speed trans-

missions already offered as standard equipment that improve fuel economy. Just as with the ITB 2013-01, the engine exhaust brake from Cummins is also offered as standard equipment for ITB 2015-01. As well as our natural gas engine options, lifecycle cost-savings can be realized with our new propane option. The GM eight-liter block used is designed as a true “medium-duty” engine that provides best-in-class fuel mileage when paired with a standard Allison automatic transmission. The range anticipated with this product is 300 miles per fill-up. Probably the most significant feature, supplemental to all the standard C2 benefits, is the fact that our team of mobile-service technicians can provide onsite service just as we do for our clean diesel and CNG-powered buses. Therefore, it is business as usual while operating our GREEN-powered buses. Further to all the new standard features available on ITB 2015-01, there

are also new options available, such as a 25-gallon DEF tank and a new lowcost, high-performance, three-compressor A/C system from Rifled Air Conditioning (RAC) with standard five-year warranty that we highly recommend as the best bang for your buck. The Thomas OEM Independent dash A/C system provides driver cooling without having to turn on the rear units. Even though ITB 2015-01 allows for Type C A/C hosing, we have chosen to continue offering the Type E hosing as standard equipment. MBI’s account managers, Cliff Clare, Jr. and Pete Fenderson, led by sales manager Don Ross, are available to explain our complete offerings for ITB 2015-01 and can make suggestions that best fit your needs. At Team Matthews, we realize how hard it is to find and retain good technicians. Thus in addition to the standard required training on ITB 2015-01, we offer no-cost training to our great customers on location by Rampartab, 2013 Thomas Trainer of the Year. Rampartab provides training to Florida districts for all systems on our buses including the Cummins engine, electrical, A/C and alternate-fuel technologies. At Team Matthews, we have a completely different business model and philosophy than our competition when it comes to service and warranty. Since it can be hard to find and keep good technicians, we send our technicians to you to

perform warranty work via our fleet of first-class mobile service vehicles. I am confident in saying that the Team Matthews mobile technicians are the best in the business. When it comes to warranty, we like to do the work for you and this is why we employ two full-time warranty specialists who process your CPWA claims and make sure your claims are filed properly. This frees your staff from chasing warranties with various suppliers. We sell you the entire bus and take 100-percent ownership of the products you buy from us! Our warranty staff works

regularly

with

Thomas,

Freightliner,

Detroit, Cummins, Ricon, Braun, Seon and Rifled Air Conditioning systems. In closing, everyone at Team Matthews is excited about Florida DOE ITB 2015-01 and the long-term cost-savings available for districts. Matthews Buses, Inc.: “A legacy of trust!” To learn more about our propane options, please contact Ali Rampartab at arampartab@matthewsbuses.com or call (800) 288-6287 ext. 417. ✱ www.faptflorida.org

Common-sense reminders from E-Z-On Save time; do it right for you and your passenger • The student’s school bus safety vest must be correct size and adjusted to fit tight, but not uncomfortable (tight replaces snug). • Before attaching securement strap(s) be sure the passenger’s bottom is against the bight of seat and their back is against the seat back. Adjust and tighten the securement strap(s) until the top of the seat has an indentation (a must when using the CamWrap).

Schedule routine inspections • Check each vest and securement for broken or missing hardware parts. • Check all webbing for cuts or fraying. • Check the stitch patterns for loose thread or broken stitches. • Check the closures (zippers, buckles). • Not sure about something? Call E-Z-On at 1.800.323.6598

Clean is good. Would you wear it? • Wash the vest in cold water; • Use mild detergent (i.e., Woolite) – never use chemical solutions; • Hang or lay flat to dry; never put in a dryer.

Over the coat, or under the coat? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says to place the vest under the child’s coat. Is that mandatory, suggested or recommended? E-Z-On wants you to adhere to NHTSA rules and regulations. E-Z-ON doesn’t want you to zip or button that coat above the chest strap on the vest. Never close it all the way to the neck. Tender, thin skin can be damaged and even cut by the web straps located on each side of the neck. Lateral collisions are more likely to cause more severe injury. E-Z-On vest and securement strap(s) have a unique “flow” during impact or sudden stop. That “flow” can be restricted by the coat (try wearing a coat over your own passenger restraint system and you’ll better understand the concept of “flow”). For further information, visit www.ezonpro.com. ✱

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