School Bus Fleet - All

NSTA names new executive director

Fri, 1 Jun 2012 0:00:00 PST

Ronna Sable Weber will step into her new role on June 26. She previously worked with the association on legislative and regulatory affairs as a senior associate with Prime Policy Group.

Bus driver honored for service to special-needs students

Thu, 31 May 2012 0:00:00 PST

Ford Thompson of First Student receives the 2012 Charlie Parnell Memorial Award from Minnetonka (Minn.) Public Schools. The award recognizes a school professional who goes above and beyond to touch the lives of these students.

4 more complete NAPT special-needs training

Thu, 31 May 2012 0:00:00 PST

Pupil transportation officials at operations in Tennessee, Colorado, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire have completed the association’s Special Needs Transportation Training Program. The program has a curriculum that consists of six special-needs courses in a variety of settings, and it is supplemented by two courses of elective instruction from the NAPT Professional Development Series Program.

Ill. bill would set new rules for awarding bus contracts

Thu, 31 May 2012 0:00:00 PST

The General Assembly passes House Bill 4029, which would require that school districts award school bus contracts by first considering the bidder most able to provide safety and comfort for students, and stability of service. Then price may be considered. The legislation now awaits approval or veto from Gov. Pat Quinn.

88% of Mo. school buses approved in annual inspection

Thu, 31 May 2012 0:00:00 PST

The Missouri State Highway Patrol's Motor Vehicle Inspection Division inspects 11,934 school buses, 10,538 of which receive approval. A total of 256 districts are awarded the distinction of Total Fleet Excellence for approval ratings of 90% or higher.

Espar heater controller is programmable

Thu, 31 May 2012 0:00:00 PST

Espar's Multi-Max 1000 controller for its E-Guardian Series of bus heaters features a maximum run-time setting so that it will not run continuously when the heater is started manually. A programmable “set and forget” timer enables the heater start/stop sequence to be set in accordance with the fleet schedule.

New bus camera captures crisp images

Thu, 31 May 2012 0:00:00 PST

Seon Design's CHW high-definition bus camera can capture the license plates of cars that illegally pass a stopped bus across a wide field of view, and when used as a front-facing camera, officials say it allows for a detailed image to assist in accident reconstruction. The camera can be used in conjunction with the company's new MX-HD five-channel DVR.

N.J. agency issues school bus classification change

Wed, 30 May 2012 0:00:00 PST

Effective July 1, school buses traveling on the Garden State Parkway will be classified as either B2 or B3 vehicles depending on the number of axles. Officials say school bus operators will be able to continue paying Class 1 toll rates on the parkway by signing up for the New Jersey Turnpike Authority’s school bus discount.

Another Ga. district to deploy stop-arm safety solution

Wed, 30 May 2012 0:00:00 PST

Newton County Schools and American Traffic Solutions partner to equip the district's buses with CrossingGuard, which mounts purpose-built cameras on the side of the school bus to capture video of the stop-arm violation and still images of the vehicle's license plate. Carroll County Schools in Carrollton, Ga., in April announced its intent to equip its buses with CrossingGuard.

Birnie Bus adds over 200 units with new contract

Wed, 30 May 2012 0:00:00 PST

The Rome, N.Y.-based company will start work on a new school transportation contract in Duval County, Fla., in August. The pact will increase Birnie's fleet by about 221 large buses.

Proposed bus fees concern district’s board of trustees

Tue, 29 May 2012 0:00:00 PST

Kamloops-Thompson School District No. 73 in Kamloops, British Columbia, is considering charging the fee to address a $300,000 to $500,000 budget shortfall. The suggestion leads trustees to call for outreach to area members of the legislative assembly to push for a review of the province’s formula that is used to determine busing needs, which they say is hurting their constituents.

John Barrington joins Blue Bird dealership

Tue, 29 May 2012 0:00:00 PST

The industry veteran is named transportation business manager for MacAllister Power Systems, where he will lead the school bus sales team, in addition to MacAllister’s on-highway parts and service sales. Barrington most recently served as vice president of sales and compliance for the U.S. at Lion Bus.

Nelson Bus Service to assist in police training event

Tue, 29 May 2012 0:00:00 PST

The company, which is a provider of school and commercial buses, will loan two school buses for use during police training exercises at the irTactical Active Shooter Training in June. Officials say the buses will provide officers with a “realistic training environment” for shooting scenarios that could occur on school buses.

Bear spotted at Fla. bus stop

Tue, 29 May 2012 0:00:00 PST

Florida Fish and Wildlife officials believe the bear is young and in search of new territory. Residents say the bear was walking down the street in the morning and, if it had been a school day, children could have been in danger.

Driver shortage at Texas district leads to busing changes

Tue, 29 May 2012 0:00:00 PST

Vacant routes and driver absences lead the Katy Independent School District board of trustees to alter the district's transportation eligibility requirements to half a mile for elementary students and approximately one mile for junior high and high school students, up from the current three-tenths of a mile.

STI honors military employees and families

Tue, 29 May 2012 0:00:00 PST

The contractor asks its more than 9,000 employees to recognize those at the company who have served in the armed forces or are in active duty as part of Military Appreciation Month. The recognitions will continue throughout the year.

Transporte Sonnell brings 40 new buses to Puerto Rico

Tue, 29 May 2012 0:00:00 PST

The company replaces older buses in its fleet with new Trans Tech Bus units. Hernan Burgos, vice president of operations, tells SBF that Transporte Sonnell is "the first school bus contractor company that brought new buses here in Puerto Rico."

When they don't go yellow

Tue, 29 May 2012 0:00:00 PST

As a school transportation director, you may not be able to mandate that school buses be used for activity trips, but you can help ensure that safe motorcoach carriers are selected.

Collins' Kent Tyler to lead E-ONE Inc.

Thu, 24 May 2012 0:00:00 PST

Tyler, who serves as president of school bus manufacturer Collins Bus Corp., is appointed president and CEO of E-ONE, which provides first responder apparatus. Officials say Tyler will continue his role at Collins for the immediate future alongside his new responsibilities at E-ONE.

Ohio district maintains county’s EMS vehicles

Thu, 24 May 2012 0:00:00 PST

Gallipolis City School District partners with Gallia County Commissioners to service the county’s five EMS vehicles and one rescue truck. Troy Johnson, the district’s transportation/safety director, tells SBF that the partnership is saving the county approximately $30 a work hour, and the technicians work in staggered shifts so that it doesn’t interfere with their school bus-related duties.