0115 busline magazine

Busline Transit Feature

HoustonMetroHarris County, TXPresident/CEO Thomas Lambert

UMA EXPOHeads To New Orleans

0115Busline.FINAL_Layout 1 12/19/14 3:09 PM

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Specifications are subject to change without notice. Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation is registered to ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001:2004. Copyright © 2014 Daimler Trucks North America LLC. All rights reserved.Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation is a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, a Daimler company.

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EDITORIAL & CORPORATE OFFICES

Rankin Publishing Co., Inc.Don Rankin and Linda Rankin, Publishers

204 E. Main Street • P.O. Box 130Arcola, IL 61910-0130, USA

Email: [email protected]: www.rankinpublishing.com

(800) 598-8083 (U.S.) • (217) 268-4959Fax: (217) 268-4815

Editorial: Harrell Kerkhoff, EditorRick Mullen, Associate Editor

Design: David OpdykeReception: Misty Douglas

AdvertisingContact Kevin Kennedy @ 623-434-8959

Email: [email protected]

Don Rankin @ 800-598-8083Fax: 217-268-4815


C A L E N D A R O F E V E N T SJANUARY 2015

January 10-13American Bus Association(ABA) Marketplace

St. Louis, MOInfo: 202-842-1645

January 16-18International Motorcoach

Group (IMG) Maintenance & Safety

ForumNew Orleans, LA

Info: 888-447-3466

January 18-22United MotorcoachAssociation (UMA)

Expo At Travel ExchangeNew Orleans, LA

Info: 800-424-8262

MAY 2015May 3-6APTA Bus &

Paratransit ConferenceFort Worth, TX

Info: 202-496-4800

May 30 - June 3Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) Annual Conference

Winnipeg, MBInfo: 416-365-9800

May 31 - June 5Community

Transportation Association of America (CTAA) Expo 2015

Tampa, FLInfo: 800-891-0590

JULY 2015July 18-22

National School Transportation Association(NSTA) Annual Meeting

& ConventionMinneapolis, MN

Info: 703-684-3200

SEPTEMBER 2015September 28-30BusCon 2015

Indianapolis, INInfo: 800-576-8788

OCTOBER 2015October 4-7APTA

Annual MeetingSan Francisco, CA Info: 202-496-4800

Busline Magazine is published 6 times a year by Rankin Publishing, Inc., 204 E. Main, P.O. Box 130, Arcola, IL 61910-0130.Publisher assumes no liability whatsoever for content of any advertisement or editorial material contained herein. Copyright 2015Rankin Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written con-sent of Rankin Publishing, Inc. Subscription Rates in United States: 6 issues $25. Single Copy rate: $10 including postage/handling;Buyer’s Guide $15 including postage/handling. International rates: 6 issue annual Air Mail Subscription $60 U.S. dollars net

RAPID RESPONSE ..................................Page 6INDUSTRY NEWS.................................0

ON THE COVER:Roxanne and Joseph Gillis focus on high-end tour/travel and corporatetransportation as owners of Northwest Navigator Luxury Coaches,

based in Portland, OR. See page 8.

Busline Vehicle Showcase

MOTORCOACHES58 – 64

Page 4 BUSLINE January/February 2015

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015Published by

Rankin Publishing, Inc.

www.buslinemag.comM A G A Z I N E

IN THIS ISSUE

Northwest Navigator Luxury CoachesSpecializes In High-End Tour/Travel ...........8

Houston Metro Serves 1,303 Square Miles With 1,250 Buses....24

UMA Expo Heads To New Orleans .................................................36

CON

TEN

TS

Busline Buyers Guide ToSeating & Fabrics

50

Busline Buyers Guide ToVehicle Lifts

55

Visit Busline At UMA Expo

Booth #1203UMA Motorcoach Expo Booth Numbers

Current As Of 12/18/14, courtesy of www.motorcoachexpo.com.

0115Busline.FINAL_Layout 1 12/19/14 3:09 PM Page 4

INCREASED FUEL EFFICIENCYISN’T MARKETING.IT’S AN UNDERSTANDING.

While other brands may tout increased fuel economy, only Prevost has the reputation to back it up. No gimmicks here, just the innovations that are known for making our motorcoaches run as efficiently as possible. These include features like the PRIME Energy Management System, which keeps operation costs down by using engine negative torque to generate “free” electricity, thus increasing fuel economy. And the Volvo D13 engine with 2014 engine technology gives improved fuel efficiency, even over last year’s engine. Pair that with the I-Shift transmission, and you have the formula for optimal operational efficiency. Safety features, such as AWARE Adaptive Cruise Braking and the Electronic Stability Program, also help you avoid costly downtime by avoiding incidents and keeping your vehicles where they belong—on the road.

www.prevostcar.comSee us at UMA Expo Booth #401


Company Website Page # Company Website Page #

5Star Specialty Programs www.5starsp.com 19ABC Companies www.abc-companies.com 14Alexander Dennis www.alexanderdennis.com 7Amaya-Astron Seating www.amaya-astron.com.mx 37American Cooling Technology, Inc. www.actusa.us.com 43ARBOC Specialty Vehicles www.arbocsv.com 29Atlantic Detroit Diesel-Allison www.atlanticdda.com 28Bauer’s Intelligent Transportation www.bauerscertifiedpreowned.com 30Bergen Auto Upholstery Co., Inc. www.bergenseat.com 52Bitimec www.bitimec.com 18Bitzer www.bitzerus.com 33Bridgestone www.bridgestonefirestonemileagesales.com 20Chestnut Ridge Foam www.chestnutridgefoam.com 51CMI Enterprises www.cmi-enterprises.com 22De Leo Transportation Fabrics www.deleotf.com 50Distinctive Systems www.distinctive-systems.com 38Dixie Electric Ltd. www.dixie-electric.com 48Espar Climate Systems www.espar.com 39Euramtec www.euramtec.com 42EverBank Commercial Finance www.everbank.com 40Freightliner www.freightlinerchassis.com 3Glaval Bus www.glavalbus.com 23Handi-Hut, Inc. www.handi-hut.com 49idrive www.idriveglobal.com 11Kirks Automotive, Inc. www.kirksauto.com 47LaFrance Industries www.mvmills.com/lafranceindustries 53

Lancer Insurance www.lancerinsurance.com 27Lantal Textiles www.lantaltextiles.com 52Marathon Brake Systems www.MarathonBrake.com 31Midwest Bus Corporation www.midwestbus.com 26Mile-X www.mile-x.com 46Mohawk Lifts www.mohawklifts.com 55Motor Coach Industries (MCI) www.mcicoach.com 2National Interstate Insurance www.natl.com 15Onspot www.onspot.com 46PEX German O.E. Parts LLC www.pexna.com 48Prevost Car www.prevostcar.com 5, 68Protective Insurance Company www.protectiveinsurance.com 17Relational Bus Systems www.rbs2000.com 12RRL Insurance www.rrl-ins.com 45Safety Step www.safetystep.net 49Sardo Bus & Coach Upholstery www.sardobus.com 25, 47Service Insurance www.serviceins.com 49Shriver Insurance Agency www.shriverinsurance.com 66Sutrak www.sutrakusa.com 10TEMSA www.temsa.com 21Transit Sales International www.transitsales.com 9Turtle Top www.turtletop.com 13UMA Motorcoach Expo www.motorcoachexpo.com 41Vanner Power www.vanner.com 16, 32Vehicle Inspection Systems www.VISCheck.net 34Willingham Inc. www.willinghaminc.com 44

Read or Download Complete Issues Of Busline Magazine Online At: www.buslinemag.com

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015Published by

Rankin Publishing, Inc.

www.buslinemag.comM A G A Z I N E

BUSLINE January/February 2015

MOTORCOACHESAAAO HR HAO ORM RR ESSH SESEHHM EEC AOACR CC HEC SM CHTMOMMM TT ROT RBusline Vehicle Showcase:

Prevost .................................58 Motor Coach Industries......60 ABC Companies ..................62

Glaval Bus ............................63 Temsa ...................................64

Visit Busline At UMA Expo

Booth #1203UMA Motorcoach Expo Booth Numbers

Current As Of 12/18/14, courtesy of www.motorcoachexpo.com.


0115Busline.FINAL_Layout 1 12/22/14 11:11 AM


resh ideas, new equipment and a strong emphasis on old-fashioned customer service havepaved the way for steady growth at Northwest Navigator Luxury Coaches, a Portland,OR-based transportation company where industry good will is also stressed.

Although a young company that started in late 2008, Northwest Navigator has growninto a leading transportation provider in Oregon and other western states. The company

specializes in high-end tour/travel and corporate transportation. It also provides bus shuttle andexecutive car services.

Owned and operated by Joseph and Roxanne Gillis, the married couple founded the compa-ny on the principles that the customer always comes first, and that active involvement in thebus/motorcoach community leads to an overall strong industry.

“Joseph and I came from other industries. We operated different types of companies in thepast, and have always been entrepreneurs,” Roxanne Gillis, who is president & CFO ofNorthwest Navigator, said. “Our parents also owned their own companies, so it was a greatmatch when Joseph and I met. Coming from family members who were accustomed to beingtheir own bosses, we never expected to work for anyone but ourselves.”

Prior to starting Northwest Navigator, the couple owned and operated several businessesincluding a jewelry store, a mortgage company and an advertising company. They were look-ing for a change, however, which led them to the transportation industry thanks to some guid-ance from a family member.

“My sister is Gladys Gillis, owner and operator of Starline Luxury Coaches, in Seattle, WA.Gladys told Roxanne and I that a bus company in Portland was going out of business, and thatit might provide a good opportunity for us,” Joseph Gillis, who is the CEO of NorthwestNavigator, said. “I was not too sure about entering the bus industry, but Roxanne saw the pos-sibilities. She worked at putting together a business plan and said, ‘It actually looks like a goodoption for us.’ I responded, ‘OK, you can be 51 percent owner.’”

Roxanne Gillis soon visited the Portland business, interviewing personnel and learning aboutthe operation.

“I wanted to make a determination of whether there was anything there (at the company) thatwe were interested in, and how it compared to Gladys’ company in Seattle,” Roxanne Gillissaid. “In the end, we felt that with great mentorship, and having a family member (GladysGillis) who is already successful in the industry, we could make it work with a lot of changes.”

After purchasing some of the former company’s assets, Roxanne and Joseph Gillis decided tostart from the ground level and open a completely new company, one that included a new name.

—Specializes In High-End Tour/Travel—

By Harrell KerkhoffBusline Magazine Editor

Gladys Gillis

Joseph Gillis RoxanneGillis

f


The Birth Of Northwest Navigatorwhat’s in a name? The answer from Roxanne and Joseph Gillis is“everything,” as the couple has spent a majority of their profes-sional careers involved in marketing.

“We are branders. That is what we do. We had a great time naming ourpast companies, so we embraced the changing of this company’s name,”Roxanne Gillis said.

Due to her strong history of being involved with boating, RoxanneGillis looked toward the water when thinking of new names for the cou-ple’s motorcoach operation.

“I have enjoyed a long history with boats and being on the water. I loveeverything nautical, so we came up with the compass logo and the word‘navigator.’ Both can be seen on the side of our vehicles,” she said.

Joseph Gillis added that a strong Christian family background also ledthem to the name “navigator.” Being located in Oregon, the word “north-west” was also seen as a good fit for the company.

“Roxanne and I both had legal pads full of names and then picked themapart until we narrowed it down to two or three. We eventually felt that‘Northwest Navigator’ conveyedthe best connotation for ourcompany,” Joseph Gillis said.

Another important step forthe couple was overseeing thedirection of the company as ashuttle, executive car and motorcoach provider. Although they didn’thave a background in transportation, Roxanne and Joseph Gillis were vet-eran business owners and knew the importance of customer service whilekeeping a close eye on finances.

“At first, we felt the lack of a bus driving background was going to putus at a disadvantage. Roxanne and I were not bus drivers. We now seethis as one of the reasons for our success,” Joseph Gillis said. “We wereable to focus more on the customer experience and reach out to high-end

clientele. This demands quality equipment and service. “Today, our main business is providing high-end, over-the-road multi-

day tour trips. Corporate work is also very popular at NorthwestNavigator.”

“Our business is seasonal due to Oregon’s whether,” Roxanne Gillisadded. “Tourism travel is heavy from April through October. We workwith great companies that bring groups into Oregon and want to travel allover the Pacific Northwest, down to California and up into Canada.

“For the winter months, a lot of our focus is centered on school-relat-ed travel such as transporting sports teams. This includes local univer-sities. Meanwhile, our corporate work is conducted throughout the cal-endar year.”

Finding The Right Customers although new to the bus/motorcoach transportation industry them-selves, Roxanne and Joseph Gillis had the advantage of startingNorthwest Navigator with a strong business acumen. This was due

to their past experiences as company owners. Above all else, the couple

knew the value of keeping expenses down, and to not be afraid to chargeenough so that they could make money on a trip.

“We saw how other bus companies were fighting over clients by low-ering their prices, and said to ourselves, ‘We aren’t going to play thatgame,’” Joseph Gillis said. “Instead, we wanted to create new businessthat delivered a high-end experience.”

This led the company to offer corporate transportation and coin thephrase “moto-meetings.”


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“We went to corporate professionals and said, ‘How would you like to take yourtop 50 customers and have a captive audience for three hours as we drive you toa casino or some other attraction?’... We call this a ‘moto-meeting.’” — Joseph Gillis


“We went to corporate professionals andsaid, ‘How would you like to take your top50 customers and have a captive audiencefor three hours as we drive you to a casinoor some other attraction? You can discusswhat is new about your company whiletreating these customers to a fun experi-ence,’” Joseph Gillis said. “We call this a ‘moto-meeting.’ It can includesuch trips as Christmas parties onboard our vehicles, where company rep-resentatives hand out bonuses and talk about the past year while beingdriven to an attraction.”

Since its inception in 2008, having a strong program in place that pro-vides high-end services and charges the right amount for these trips haspaid off at Northwest Navigator.

“Roxanne and I decided, when we first started, that the only time weare willing to lose money is when a vehicle is setting in a bus yard,”Joseph Gillis said. “We will not provide an actual trip if it means losingmoney.”

To help start Northwest Navigator in 2008, contact was made withexisting customers of the bus company the couple had considered pur-chasing. This was done with the help of a safety manager from the previ-

ous company who was hired by Roxanne andJoseph Gillis.

“We made it a point to get in touch with everysingle one of those past clients and ask, ‘Do youneed a transportation option? Can we help you?’”Roxanne Gillis said. “We were able to reach a lotof people who were part of this past client base.This led to a great launch for NorthwestNavigator.”

Roxanne and Joseph Gillis have sought totruly understand the Northwest Navigator cus-tomer experience. This includes actually takingpart in some of their company’s trips.

“Joseph and I came from multiple businessesthat were customer-service centric. This has ledus to focus heavily on the client experience andprovide customer satisfaction with a high degreeof professionalism,” Roxanne Gillis said.“Therefore, we have traveled with some of ourgroups in the hope of experiencing what it feelslike to be on the motorcoach, see what our cus-tomers see out the windows, and try to relate tothe overall client perspective. Gaining this per-spective from the back seat has been huge.”

Roxanne Gillis also meets with her staff on aweekly basis to further discuss “the customerexperience.”

“Many of our staff members have been withNorthwest Navigator since its beginning. Theyare very loyal and take personal pride in thegrowth and success of the company,” RoxanneGillis said. “They know they are essential to ourcompany’s growth, and have helped us shape avision for the company that has led to its currentsize. We have a great team.”

Employees Make The Differencenorthwest Navigator employs approximate-ly 54 people to fill a variety of positionssuch as sales and marketing, mechanics,

wash crews, and of course, drivers. “We created a position called ‘DOC,’ which

stands for Dispatch, Operations and Compliance.This person is in charge of overseeing drivers,and making sure we are compliant with safetyregulations, hours of service, etc.,” RoxanneGillis said. “We also have a safety trainer whooversees driver logs and some complianceissues.”

The company employs approximately 32 driv-ers who, Joseph Gillis said, fall into four distinct



“... we have traveled with some of our groups in the hope of experiencingwhat it feels like to be on the motorcoach, see what our customers see

out the windows, and try to relate to the overall client perspective. Gainingthis perspective from the back seat has been huge.” — Roxanne Gillis


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3250 Interstate Drive

Richfield, Ohio 44286

800-929-1500

www.natl.com

NATIONAL INTERSTATE:

IMPROVEOPERATIONS. IT’S WHAT OUR

PERSONAL RISKMANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS DO.

It’s out with the audit and compliance-based approach

to risk management, and in with what you really need:

A proactive safety consultant. By focusing on three main

competencies – reducing hazards, limiting risk exposure,

and modifying safety behaviors – our program goal is to

help you cut down on the frequency and severity of losses.

We look beyond rules and regulations to find ways to

change dangerous, accident-causing behaviors. At National

Interstate, we’re proactive rather than reactive. That’s how

we build an insurance experience around you.

“National Interstate works with us to develop a

safety conscious company. I am amazed with the

access to staff at National Interstate. They are

knowledgeable and extremely helpful, working

diligently to answer our questions and

help us through whatever problems we

may be experiencing. Their expertise

is extremely valuable as we direct the safety

culture of our company.”

JOHN, CIT Charters

“I’ve been in National Interstate’s alternative risk

program since its inception. And I am always

astounded by the safety programs

they’ve conducted over the years.

For example, we recently attended a tire and

safety session which demonstrated the incredibly

destructive power of faulty tires. Educational

programs like that have helped minimize our

exposure to risks and better control costs.”

DAVID, BRT Charter Service

groups: those involved in the com-pany’s executive car service, shut-tle drivers, over-the-road tour andcharter motorcoach drivers, andmotorcoach drivers who transportpassengers on short runs.

“Our core group of drivers hasbeen critical to our success,”Joseph Gillis said. “We preach toeverybody in our company that wecan be great marketers, and havebeautiful high-end equipment, butit all comes down to drivers at theend of the day.

“If a driver is not part of a greatexperience, then we may never see that client again. Our drivers look likepilots. They wear high-end pilot shirts, with logos and shoulder boards.They also provide service in a professional manner.”

One of the challenges Northwest Navigator, and many otherbus/motorcoach transportationcompanies, have faced over theyears is finding quality drivingcandidates. There are plenty ofpeople who can drive a large vehi-cle, but not everybody is suited totransport human beings with cus-tomer service in mind. Because ofthis challenge, Joseph Gillis said his company has changed its focus in therecent past when it comes to finding good bus/motorcoach drivers.

“In the past, we always looked for candidates who had at least two

years of driving experience.Unfortunately, this makes it a lotharder to find good drivers,” hesaid. “Lately, we have decided it’sbetter to hire people with the rightattitudes and personalities, andthen train them to be a good driv-er. It’s all part of a new revision atour company.

“After safety, we feel customerservice is the most important skillset to have as a driver. We cantrain people to be safe and gooddrivers.”

Another trait to being a goodbus/motorcoach driver is following company policies. This includesthe willingness to faithfully finish the required paper work that goeswith the job.

“A driver must always complete driver logs correctly and be on timefor clients,” Roxanne Gillis said.“They must be conscientious ofthe company’s policies. For exam-ple, we tell drivers that if they arerunning out of hours to be on theroad, then it’s important to informour dispatch immediately. Failureto do so can result in termination.”

Joseph Gillis added, “Federal regulations say you can drive for 10hours and then must take eight hours off between shifts. We feel this doesnot go far enough. At Northwest Navigator, our goal is to stop driving



Shown, left to right, are Northwest Navigator Safety Trainer Milan Lawrence and DOC (Dispatch, Operations and Compliance) Officer Ron Douglas.

“...our goal is to stop driving after eight hours.So, we will use two drivers for a 10-hour trip.

Also, we make sure drivers have 10 hours offbetween their shifts.” — Joseph Gillis


3250 Interstate Drive

Richfield, Ohio 44286

800-929-1500

www.natl.com

NATIONAL INTERSTATE:

IMPROVEOPERATIONS. IT’S WHAT OUR

PERSONAL RISKMANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS DO.

It’s out with the audit and compliance-based approach

to risk management, and in with what you really need:

A proactive safety consultant. By focusing on three main

competencies – reducing hazards, limiting risk exposure,

and modifying safety behaviors – our program goal is to

help you cut down on the frequency and severity of losses.

We look beyond rules and regulations to find ways to

change dangerous, accident-causing behaviors. At National

Interstate, we’re proactive rather than reactive. That’s how

we build an insurance experience around you.

“National Interstate works with us to develop a

safety conscious company. I am amazed with the

access to staff at National Interstate. They are

knowledgeable and extremely helpful, working

diligently to answer our questions and

help us through whatever problems we

may be experiencing. Their expertise

is extremely valuable as we direct the safety

culture of our company.”

JOHN, CIT Charters

“I’ve been in National Interstate’s alternative risk

program since its inception. And I am always

astounded by the safety programs

they’ve conducted over the years.

For example, we recently attended a tire and

safety session which demonstrated the incredibly

destructive power of faulty tires. Educational

programs like that have helped minimize our

exposure to risks and better control costs.”

DAVID, BRT Charter Service



after eight hours. So, we will use two drivers for a10-hour trip. Also, we make sure drivers have 10hours off between their shifts. It’s hard to drive backto the yard after a trip, drive home, sleep and eat, takea shower, drive back to work and then start anothertrip all in eight hours. They need the extra two hoursto get all of this done and still be safe.”

The Northwest Navigator core team has alsorecently made the decision not to operate a vehicle forovernight runs due to safety concerns.

“There are clients who try to use a motorcoach likeit’s a hotel room. They want us to leave some place at11 p.m. and drive all night to the destination. We havedone these types of runs in the past, but have recentlymade the decision to stop due to safety,” Joseph Gillissaid. “You keep hearing about accidents where thecoach rolls over at 7 a.m. as the sun is coming up. Wejust put out a statement, sent to all of our customers,that Northwest Navigator will no longer drive past 2a.m. and will not start trips before 5 a.m.

“Even if a driver has two or three days off fromwork, it’s very hard for him/her to get acclimated tonight driving if he/she is not used to it on a regularbasis. It changes a driver’s sleeping habits.”

Joseph Gillis said the reaction the company hasreceived from customers regarding the new hours hasbeen positive.

“What we are telling customers through this policychange is that Northwest Navigator is not willing to put the safety of pas-sengers, drivers and equipment at risk for a trip,” he said.

The company has taken steps toward becoming asafer transportation provider in other ways as well.Employees at Northwest Navigator participated lastyear in an emergency response simulation that wasspearheaded by the company’s insurance provider.

“We spent the day staging a bus crash. It was veryrealistic, so much so that I think our entire staff wasshaken by the experience,” Roxanne Gillis said.“However, it was such a value to our company that weplan to soon conduct another simulation.”

High Level Services Require Quality Equipmentwith 17 full-size motorcoaches, 3 minicoaches,

6 vans and 6 executive cars, NorthwestNavigator has steadily grown its fleet since

the company’s first bus purchase in January 2009. Thefleet includes 5 Prevost H3-45 motorcoaches, 2 ofwhich are recently purchased 2015 models.

“Northwest Navigator has experienced what Iwould call ‘explosive growth,’ which scares somepeople. We sought several manufacturers and havefound success working with Prevost,” Joseph Gillissaid. “Our Prevost representative, Ward Hicken,looked at what we were doing as a company andhelped us purchase some new coaches. We have hada great relationship with Prevost.”

Roxanne Gillis added, “Prevost invited us into dis-cussions on design and planning. I think it’s really great that they care somuch about what their carriers need in a motorcoach.”


Ron MoorePresident

Mark MooreGeneral Manager

Matthew MooreExecutive Vice President

Success depends on strong partnerships, and Burlington Trailways has a strong relationship with Protective. It’s like we’ve added a new member to our family-owned company. The staff is always there to help. They have extensive experience in the bus industry and understand our needs and concerns.

— Ron Moore, President, Burlington Trailways

FOR COVERAGE THAT REVOLVES AROUND YOU, CONTACT STACY RENZ:(800) 644-5501 ext. 2570 | protectiveinsurance.com


Northwest Navigator Lead MechanicDavid Castellanos, top photo, and

Mobile Mechanic Allan Halvorson helpmaintain the company’s fleet.


Ron MoorePresident

Mark MooreGeneral Manager

Matthew MooreExecutive Vice President

Success depends on strong partnerships, and Burlington Trailways has a strong relationship with Protective. It’s like we’ve added a new member to our family-owned company. The staff is always there to help. They have extensive experience in the bus industry and understand our needs and concerns.

— Ron Moore, President, Burlington Trailways

FOR COVERAGE THAT REVOLVES AROUND YOU, CONTACT STACY RENZ:(800) 644-5501 ext. 2570 | protectiveinsurance.com



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The five PrevostsH3-45s are mostlyused for NorthwestNavigator’s tour andtravel runs.

“We have tourgroups coming in fromall over the world tosee Oregon and otherparts of the WestCoast. We provide thisservice with the Pre -vosts. They featureWiFi, high-end seatswith seat belts, andmany other amenities that satisfy our customers,” Joseph Gillis said.“Electrical outlets by each seat are particularly important to our cus-tomers. It doesn’t matter if a passenger is 15 or 70 years old, chances arehe/she has a cell phone and/or a computer pad that needs to be chargedand running. They want to keep in touch with parents or the grandkidsback home.

“It’s important that the interiors of our Prevosts include all the creaturecomforts that make a trip a good experience.”

He added many first-time customers are amazed at how luxurious top-end motorcoaches have become.

“A big part of our sales process is to show these people what our vehi-cles look like. This helps sell the trip,” Joseph Gillis said.

Keeping the company’s equipment looking good before, during andafter a trip is also an essential part of doing business for high-end clientele.

“When a motorcoach pulls up to the curb, the decision is already beingmade by the client on how the day is going to go,” Joseph Gillis said. “If

that vehicle is dirty, with black exhaust coming out the back, then passen-gers are not going to be very excited about starting a trip.

“Therefore, it’s critical to take into account what the customer isexperiencing when entering a motorcoach. That vehicle has to lookclean and smell good. We tell our drivers that every time a group leavesa bus/motorcoach, they should go through the vehicle and clean it thebest they can. If only 10 or so minutes are available, then start in thefront and work toward the back. That front area of a bus can make orbreak a trip.”

After a Northwest Navigator motorcoach has been cleaned by the com-pany’s wash crew, a checkoff list is placed on the driver’s seat. When see-ing this list, the driver knows the vehicle is ready to go.

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The Northwest Navigator fleet includes 17 full-size motorcoaches. Distinctive lettering and a compass logo give these coaches a custom look.


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enough time to properly clean that vehicle. In these cases we make it apoint to tell the customer in advance, ‘You are not going to get the trueexperience that we normally sell in a motorcoach, but we will provide thisvehicle to you because it’s an emergency.’”

He added that the team at Northwest Navigator also doesn’t like tosend out vehicles with small dents and scratches. Every effort is made tofix these things prior to service.

When it comes to the exterior of the vehicles owned by Roxanne andJoseph Gillis, there is no confusion over which transportation provider isoperating the equipment. The word “Navigator” in big green cursive scriptcan be seen on the sides of each vehicle, along with a big compass logo.

“Our look is a little unorthodox for the bus industry. That ‘N’ inNavigator is 15 feet tall. Again, we are a branding company, and themotorcoach is a billboard,” Joseph Gillis said. “You don’t see smallgraphics on a billboard. Our vehicles are no different.”

Roxanne Gillis added, “We wanted our coaches to look different.When Joseph and I first looked at this industry, we didn’t know if wewanted to be in the bus business. However, when we first started lookingat luxury motorcoaches, we liked what we saw. It reminded us, in a way,of our jewelry business. We were used to working with clients who likednice things and wanted quality service. This resonated with us. We want-ed to provide a luxury motorcoach company that treated customers witha great time. Our branding had to follow suite.”

And it has worked. Both Roxanne and Joseph Gillis said their compa-ny’s motorcoaches are getting noticed for all the right reasons.

“We want people to think that a rock band is picking them up whenthat coach arrives,” Joseph Gillis said. “Recently, one of our motor-coaches arrived at a big event in Spokane, WA, that included hundredsof motorcoaches. As our coach entered the facility, a parking lot atten-dant ran up to it waving his arms. The guy comes up to our driver and

says, ‘That is the coolest bus I have ever seen.’“We want people to remember us, which leads to customer retention.

They know our coaches say ‘Navigator,’ and have a huge compass logoon its sides.”

Oregon The Beautifulwhen it comes to nature, few places on earth are as diverse and sce-nic as Oregon. It’s a state that includes a long Pacific coastline,the Cascade mountain range, abundant waterfalls, dense ever-

green forests and a high desert sprawling across much of its eastern front.It’s also a place where people love to visit and revisit.

Perhaps Roxanne Gillis sums up the state’s appeal best, “This place isreally gorgeous.”

She added that tourism keeps growing in Oregon as people are attract-ed to such famous places as Mount Hood, and world class skiing foundon Mount Bachelor.

“There are winter sports and endless outdoor summer activities avail-able in the state as well as nearby places such as Mount St. Helens inWashington. Many people enjoy exploring the rich history that can befound along the Lewis & Clark Trail,” Roxanne Gillis said.

Another popular tourist destination is the annual Oregon ShakespeareFestival in Ashland, which Joseph Gillis said draws a large followingfrom all over the country and world.

“The Oregon coast is also amazing and includes many lighthouse tours.We have it all: the snow, the coast line, cities and no sales tax,” RoxanneGillis said. “People from all over like to travel to Oregon and shopbecause they don’t have to pay a sales tax.”

The state is also becoming a popular wine producer, which bringsalong with it more tourism dollars.

“A lot of wine companies are moving to Oregon and buying smallerwineries. The growth of our state’s wine industry has been incredible,”





Joseph Gillis said. Roxanne Gillis added, “Oregon is at the same latitude as some of the

best wineries in France. There are a lot of groups coming to our state formultiple trips. We bring in a lot of people from Canada and California. Wealso cater to many tourists from China.”

Oregon, however, is not the only destination that Northwest Navigatorservices. The company is licensed to work in 11 western states and Canada.

“Most of our business can be found in Oregon, California, Washington

and Canada. We also take groups, such as sports teams, to such states asIdaho, Montana and Nevada,” Joseph Gillis said.

Northwest Navigator provides it various services from several loca-tions in Oregon. Two facilities for executive car and bus shuttle servicesare located in Beaverton, while the main office of the business is locatedin Portland. There is also another facility in Redmond.

Among recent Northwest Navigator accolades and achievementsinclude that of being named one of the top 100 fastest growing companiesin Oregon for three years in a row. Other achievements, according to thecompany, include:■ Green certified continuously since 2010;■ Named a top private fastest growing company in Portland;■ Named a top woman-owned business in Portland;■ Received certification for sustainable transportation; and

■ Named the first green certified motorcoach company on the WestCoast.

Being green and sustainable remains an important part of doing busi-ness for Roxanne and Joseph Gillis. For example, the company took partin a University of Vermont pilot program that eventually led to the uni-versity’s eRating Vehicle Certification and driver training offering.

“One of our goals as a company is to find out what needs to be done tohelp set motorcoach transportation apart from other industries when it

comes to being green,” RoxanneGillis said. “We get the word outthat there is nothing greener intransportation than a motorcoach,except a bicycle. A lot of peopledon’t think about this part of ourindustry. Ninety percent of ourvehicles at Northwest Navigator

run on clean emissions. We also have a recycling program in place at thecompany. The whole culture of our company is based on being green andsustainable.”

Joseph Gillis said he also works hard at showing potential customersthe savings in time, money and carbon footprint that can be achieved bytaking a motorcoach rather than flying short distances to various places inthe Pacific Northwest.

“When it comes to being green, a big motivator for a lot of our cus-tomers is knowing that they can save money as well. Big corporationsthat we service also want us to help them improve their own carbonfootprint,” Joseph Gillis said. “Using a bus/motorcoach helps themachieve their environmental goals.”

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Continued On Page 39

“When it comes to being green, a big motivator for a lot of our customers isknowing that they can save money as well. Big corporations that we service

also want us to help them improve their own carbon footprint. Using abus/motorcoach helps them achieve their environmental goals.” — Joseph Gillis


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By Rick Mullen, Busline Magazine Associate Editor

Serving the transportation needs of the greater Houston,

TX, region, the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris

County (METRO), covers 1,303 square miles, operating an

extensive network of bus routes and park and ride facili-

ties. METRO also offers 13 miles of light rail service in the

downtown Houston area.

“METRO is truly a multi-modal system,” said METRO

President/CEO Thomas Lambert, during a recent inter-

view with Busline Magazine at the 2014 American Public

Transportation Association (APTA) Annual Meeting &

International Public Transportation EXPO in Houston.

METRO hosted the APTA event at the George R. Brown

Convention Center.

“We opened an extension of the Main Street Line in

December 2013 (the Main Street Red Line light rail service

began in 2004),” Lambert said, “but the bus will always be

the backbone of our system. Ridership on our commuter

bus network is up about 4.8 percent. We have about 1,250

buses and we expect that number to grow in the future.

“In addition, METRO has experienced a 12.1 percent hike

in rail ridership the past year and we are hoping that trend

will continue because trains have a direct correlation to

our bus service. We want to expand ridership as much as

possible.”

System Reimagining

The city of Houston anchors METRO’s vast service area. It is themost populous city in Texas, as well as the largest city in theSouthern states. Houston is also the fourth largest city in the

United States, with an estimated population of just under 2.2 million peo-ple as of 2013 (behind New York, Los Angeles and Chicago), accordingto quickfacts.census.gov. The Houston metro area has a population of 6.3million, making it the fifth largest metro area in the United States, oneplace behind the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro area, according towww.houstonchronicle.com in a story published in March of this year.

“We have a very large service area with our principle city of Houstonlocated in Harris County,” Lambert said. “However, we also have 14smaller cities that we serve. It is a vast area that is going through tremen-dous growth. We are seeing about 100,000 people a year move into thisarea.

While Houston and the surrounding region has experienced massivegrowth and significant change in recent times, the city’s public transporta-tion network has not.

“If you look at the existing METRO bus network, you are, essentially,looking at the Houston streetcar system of about 1929,” Lambert said.“We really haven’t changed it that much. We’ve added some extensionsto routes, and modified routes over the years, but we really haven’t donea real refocusing of the bus network. We are engaged in that right now andit is going to be one of the most transformational things we do in thiscommunity.”

METRO is calling this new effort to rework and refocus the bus net-work “System Reimagining.” According to a METRO news release datedSept. 25, 2014, The METRO Board of Directors approved, in principle,the revamping of the local bus system that day.

“The goal of System Reimagining is straightforward: make the systemeasier to use, easier to understand and easier to access,” the news release

HoustonMetro

Serves

1,303Square

Miles

With

1,250Buses


said. “METRO took on the chal-lenge of rethinking its bus net-work last summer. It was a multi-step process that included defin-ing goals, drafting a plan based onthe goals, and a public outreachperiod that generated more than1,100 comments that led to theplan’s refinement.”

Lambert added: “Part of whatwe are doing is looking at wherethe population growth and job cre-ation have occurred since 1929, aswell as other areas, such as educa-tional and entertainment centers— where people are living andtraveling.

“What we want to do is build ahigh frequency, high quality busnetwork. Houston is a 24/7 cityand people need access to highquality, frequent transit service 7days a week, not 5 days a week(METRO currently operates 7days a week, but only offers highfrequency service for 5 days).

“The board, in principle,approved this new network. Wewill be implementing the firstphase in June 2015. It is a five-year plan.”

METRO breaks down the effort under threegeneral categories:

n Customer service, which will include sim-plifying routes and better connections;

n More service, which will include high fre-quency weekend service and improving trips tokey activity centers; and

n Better service, which includes developinga sustainable system as it grows into the future.

According to METRO, the 5-year plan will include color-codednetworks. The “Red Network” willbenefit customers who can dowithout a schedule, with servicerunning every 15 minutes or better.With the “Blue Network,” cus-tomers can expect a bus every 16-30 minutes, while the “GreenNetwork” would provide serviceranging from 31-60 minutes.

Under the modified project plan,94 percent of METRO’s currentcustomers will still be able toaccess the same bus stop they usetoday, according to METRO.

“The end result of SystemReimagining will be a networkthat gets 1 million people close to1 million jobs,” Lambert said. “Itestablishes a 15-minute high fre-quency network, 7 days a week

during the peak of the peak. It allows peoplemore travel choices to go where they need togo. The plan is also network-based, meaningthe bus system and the rail system will connectand work together. As we continue to grow, we


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METRO President/CEO Thomas Lambert

“It is really back to basics with me. You take care of the little things.

You take care of the people and they will take care of the organization.”


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will continue to look at prioritycapital projects to build uponthat network.

“System Reimagining is reallytransformational in nature. It willchange the way people travelthroughout this community. Ifyou look at what we do today, oursystem forces about 88 percent ofour riders to come downtown.Most of them don’t want to godowntown, but we are forcingthem to travel downtown totransfer. The new network will bemore of a grid system that willnot require most customers totransfer downtown.

“Today’s route system will be changing inJune toward a system that will result in traveltime savings, more travel choices and a highercustomer service experience.

“The value we bring this community is anessential public service. We have an opportunityto make a positive impact or a negative impacton the quality of life of the people who use oursystem. We have a very fundamental responsi-bility that when people use our system they willreceive very high quality service. We want ourtransit to be safe, clean, reliable and a serviceriders can count on. It is back to the basics.

“It is making sure our day-to-day

service is a quality service. Before we doanything else, we need to make sure weare taking care of the daily details,which is an awesome responsibility.”

One such effort to enhance the quality of thepassenger experience when riding METRO isup and running and called METRO 360.

“It is a program that is very fascinating, and Iwant to compliment the METRO staff becausethey came up with this out of our marketingcommunications group and our IT group,”Lambert said.

METRO 360 is a tutorial that can be accessed

at www.ridemetro.org/metro360.It is designed to familiarizepeople with the system, evenbefore a customer ever rides aMETRO bus.

“People can go to METRO360 and learn how to board abus and see the amenities thatexist at our stops,” Lambertsaid. “A person can learn howto pay the fare and how to useticket vending machines. If acustomer is planning to be anHOV (high occupancy vehi-cle) lane user, he or she canlearn how to access the lane.

“All of our buses are GPSequipped. We know where they are locatedfrom a fleet management standpoint, but nowwe are getting that information out to cus-tomers. This means before a person leaveshome, he or she can go online and see in realtime when the bus is going to arrive, withinthree minutes. If it takes that person five min-utes to go from home to the stop, he or shecan better pre-plan that trip because he or shewill know when the bus is coming.

“The more you can make the busexperience more comfortable, the morepeople will ride.”

Local METRO buses enter the Acres Homes Transit Center in Houston.


January/February 2015 BUSLINE

System Reimagining isalso coming along at atime when Houston is, notonly undergoing massivegrowth, but also is, and hasbeen, changing in manysignificant ways culturally.Houston is attracting Mill -ennials looking for a dif-ferent quality of life thanolder generations andBaby Boomers, lookingfor a good place to retire.Lambert alluded to

remarks made by StephenL. Kline berg, Ph.D., whogave the keynote address— “The Changing Face ofHouston: The Prospects for Walkable Urbanismin a Car-Centered City” — during the APTAannual meeting’s opening general session.Klineberg is co-director of the Kinder Institutefor Urban Research, Dep artment of Sociology,Rice University, Houston.“Dr. Klineberg gave a presentation on the atti-

tudinal and demographic changes that are hap-pening in the Houston region,” Lambert said.“What we are seeing is more people are request-ing more and more public transit. Attitudes arechanging. For example, younger folks, 19 to 25years old, are not getting drivers licenses as earlyas previous generations. As a result, they areseeking more travel choices.“Therefore, we know there is going to continue

to be a stronger customer base among youngerriders. In addition, we are aging as a population,and the older generation is also looking more fortransit to meet their travel needs.”Lambert said the more public transportation

is developed and the more people are educatedto view it as a viable travel choice, the morethey will want to ride the bus and/or the train.

“A vibrant public transportation sys-tem is an institution that much econom-ic growth is often centered around.”

“For example, we built the Main Street(rail) line in 2004. Since then, we have seenabout $9 billion of public and private invest-

ment within about a quar-ter of a mile of the line,”Lambert said. “More andmore people are develop-ing transit-oriented com-munities, where peoplecan live, walk, use transit,cycle, etc., to get wherethey need to go and have aquality of life environ-ment whereby everythingthey need is proximate totheir lives. We are seeingthis take place in Houstonas well.“As we continue with

System Reimagining, weproject in the next couple

of years we are going to see about a 20 percentincrease in ridership. Houston today is not theHouston of 46 years ago. This city is moving24 hours a day, 7 days a week. People needtravel choices 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.“When comparing travel time today to 15

years ago, we would have peak travel cominginto the city in the morning, but there wouldbe free flow going out. That doesn’t existanymore. It is just as congested coming in andgoing out. On the one hand, it is a blessingbecause it means the economy is good.People are making work trips, discretionarytrips, travel trips, etc., and we must be part ofthe tool kit that helps move people in thisregion.”

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Hiring New Employees A Challenge

Keeping the massive METRO networkoperating safely and efficiently, whileoffering high quality customer service,

falls to the system’s more than 3,700 employ-ees. Lambert has some thoughts on how tomotivate employees to buy into public trans-portation and the important changes the systemis undertaking.

“We have to foster commitment to the agency.I learned a long time ago, if people know youcare about them, they are going to care about theorganization,” Lambert said. “We want peopleto know we care about them and value what theybring to the table. We tell employees we wanttheir input to make a better system.

“It will never be utopia, but we work veryhard to let our employees know we value whatthey bring to the organization. In turn, our peo-ple will then embody how we want to deliverthe service on the street.”

Lambert and other METRO officials haveattempted to create a corporate culture thatallows people to grow into a career at theagency, even if it means making a mistake ortwo along the way.

“Let me put this in the proper context,”Lambert said.

“If an organization really wants to

empower employees to get engaged, thenemployees must be allowed to have somediscretionary decision authority.”

“At METRO, we make sure we set up param-eters where if a person makes a mistake,nobody gets hurt. If a person is trying to get bet-ter at doing things, then he or she is going tomake mistakes along the way. What we are try-ing to create is an environment and culture inthe organization that says, ‘We want commit-ment. We want people to have independentthought within established parameters.’”

While generally a booming economy is agood thing, Houston’s is making it tough forMETRO to bring new people into the organiza-tion, especially maintenance personnel such asdiesel mechanics.

“The economy in Houston right now isextremely good and there are a lot of job oppor-tunities out there,” Lambert said. “Our chal-lenge is to invest in training and career oppor-tunities, so when we bring in new people wecan retain them.

“Diesel mechanics are a good example. Theoil and gas industry in Texas is booming and itis looking for good diesel mechanics. The com-petition is the compensation they are paying inthe private sector. Therefore, we must makesure we are paying a competitive wage andoffering competitive benefits.

“Beyond pay and benefits, there is also valuein developing people to take on more responsi-bility and more skill sets to allow them toprogress in the organization.

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“Our maintenance staff has developed acertification program to continue to train ourmechanics in different skill sets. Each time amechanic moves up, he or she receives appro-priate compensation. This is career develop-ment. It is enhancing people’s capabilities tosee their jobs as a career in which they areappropriately compensated, whether it issalary, health benefits and retirement — thewhole package has to be part of the equation.”

METRO also works closely with unionleadership. The system’s workforce is union-ized with the Transport Workers Union ofAmerica.

“We make sure the union is very muchengaged in what we are doing,” Lambert said.

In On The Ground Floor

In 1973, the Texas State Legislatureauthorized the creation of local transitauthorities. In 1978, Houston-area voters

created METRO and approved a 1-cent salestax to support the system. METRO opened forbusiness in January 1979. About nine monthslater, Lambert was in Houston looking for ajob.

Lambert, a Houston native born and raised,had moved to Austin, TX, while in his junioryear of high school. After spending some timewith the Austin Police Department and attend-

ing college part time, he resigned and wentback to school full time and completed hisdegree.

As a result, he was back in Houston inSeptember 1979 interviewing for risk man-agement jobs when, between interviews, hedecided to stop in a downtown departmentstore’s coffee shop.

“I went in to have a cup of coffee and theplace was jam-packed,” Lambert remem-bered. “There was a bus driver sitting at atable by himself and I asked for the opportuni-ty to join him. His name was Willie Mitchell,and he went on to operate a bus for about 31years.”

Mitchell told Lambert if he was interestedin joining an organization that was new,METRO might be a good choice. Mitchellsaid METRO was going to create its ownpolice force, which would be the first of itskind in Texas. Lambert found this prospect“fascinating” and applied for a job.

“I got an interview and was offered a posi-tion and had the opportunity to come in initial-ly as a security investigator,” Lambert said. “Iworked with internal security while we weredeveloping the police program. I had theopportunity to work with some very talentedpeople in this effort.

“I was the METRO police chief for about28 1/2 years and then had the opportunity to

become the chief administrative officer, exec-utive vice president, interim president, andthen president in March (2014).”

Lambert’s rise in leadership was not byaccident. Early on during his METRO career,he made it a point to gain an in-depth under-standing of the transit system.

“When I first started here, we only had oneoperating garage and the dispatching centerwas on the second floor,” Lambert said. “Iknew nothing about transit and I felt like Icould better serve if I understood how itworks.”

A dispatcher Lambert had befriended toldhim if he really wanted to learn, talk to the busdrivers.

“The opportunity was to understand whatbus drivers go through and to understand howto support them from a security standpoint,”Lambert said. “It is the same principle in run-ning an agency. It is really back to basics withme. You take care of the little things. You takecare of the people and they will take care ofthe organization.

“I would have never dreamed back then Iwould be the president/CEO, but opportunitypresented itself. The Board of Directors gaveme the opportunity to do the job and I amgoing to do my best. I was the interim presi-dent/CEO for about 14 months and I havebeen permanent since March 1 (2014).”




METRO Aids Motorists, Helps Fight Traffic Congestion

METRO’s total ridership for fiscal year2014 in all modes was 110 millionand 81 million for fixed-route buses

during the same time period. METRO operateswith 29 park and ride lots, 20 transfer centersand 9,805 bus stops.

The system’s 29 park and ride lots includemore than 33,000 parking spaces. Direct non-stop service to downtown, the Texas MedicalCenter and other major employment centers isavailable. The lots also serve as staging areasfor vanpools and carpools.

METRO’s 20 sheltered Transit Centers arewaiting areas where bus routes and/orMETRORail converge. The centers serve as“hubs,” allowing bus and/or METRORail ridersfrom various locations to assemble and takeadvantage of express trips or other route-to-route transfers.

According to METRO, Transit Centers fea-ture a mix of park and ride and local bus serv-ice, as well as limited METRORail service,with limited parking — about 2,400 spaces —available at select locations.

METRO’s ADA (Americans withDisabilities Act) paratransit service is calledMETROLift. It serves people with disabilitieswho cannot board, ride or disembark from a

regular METRO fixed-route bus, even if thatbus is equipped with a wheelchair ramp or lift.METROLift is a curb-to-curb service, withassistance beyond the curb provided whenneeded. During FY 2014, the paratransit serv-ice recorded 2 million trips for 16,500 riders.The system has 151 METROLift vans andcontractor-owned and operated accessibleminivans.

“METRO is also very involved in coordinatingwith partner agencies on managing issues andtraffic conditions on the roadways. In this effort,we sponsor the Motorist Assistance Program(M.A.P.), which helps stranded motorists onHouston-area freeways,” Lambert said.

According to www.ridemetro.org, uniquelymarked M.A.P. trucks and vans are equipped tohandle minor automotive emergencies such asoverheating, flat tires and jump-starts. Since1989, M.A.P. operators from Harris CountySheriff’s Department and from METRO haveassisted more than 100,000 motorists.

As one of the major metro regions in theUnited States, the Houston area is in an ongoingbattle to manage traffic congestion. One of theways public transit agencies have sought tolessen traffic congestion is by establishing busrapid transit (BRT) or similar networks.METRO has established HOV lanes in associa-tion with “HOT” lanes to help give some relieffrom traffic congestion.

“A lot of people talk about BRT these days,but we have been doing that for about 30years,” Lambert said. “With our HOV service,we have a bus leaving a parking lot about every3 minutes. It then accesses a dedicated fixedskyway through a T-ramp that feeds into aguideway. This is a very dependable operationthat serves about 33,000 people a day.

“We have recently expanded the HOV serv-ice to include HOT lanes as well to give singleoccupant car drivers the opportunity to travel onthe enhanced system during certain hours.”

The barrier-protected HOV lanes areaccessed via freeway or facility ramps and arereversible to accommodate commuters duringpeak periods of traffic flow. Users must observeoccupancy requirements, rules of the road andhours of operation, according to METRO.People driving solo in cars have the option topay a toll to use the HOT lanes.

“We are implementing a truly multi-modal approach in this community.This involves transit working in cooper-ation with freeways, managed lanes, tollroads, signal systems — anything wecan do to move people where they needto go because of the phenomenal growththe Houston area is experiencing,”Lambert said.




“How can we get people accessing our system? By cycling? Bywalking? It really must be a multi-modal approach. For example,we carry about 22,000 bicycle users on our system.

“Many people in this community are saying, ‘We cannot contin-ue building our way out of congestion.’ There are limits to howmuch more freeway expansion can be done. Right of way costs aregetting more expensive, and there are air quality and other issuesto be considered. Can METRO solve all the problems? No, it can-not. Can we have a very important role to play? Yes, we can, butwe must have a public transportation network that is safe, reliable,dependable and gets people where they need to go.”

Indeed, when considering Houston, there are as many as eightmajor activity centers where millions of people work and visit.According to Lambert, these areas include downtown Houston,Uptown District, the Texas Medical Center, sports complexes, theenergy corridor, uptown Galleria, Greenspoint Mall and GreenwayPlaza.

“We have to see how we can maximize the movement on publictransit in those areas similar to what happens in downtownHouston,” Lambert said. “About 38 percent of people coming todowntown Houston today get there by transit. We have to continue togrow that travel choice for all these other options. That will be a chal-lenge, but it is something we have to work to accomplish.”

Clean air issues are also associated with high traffic congestion andMETRO is doing its part in lowering carbon fuel emissions by runningalternative fueled vehicles in its fleet.

“We have about 443 hybrid-diesel buses that we are using today,”Lambert said. “We also have 150 compressed natural gas (CNG)buses on order. We expect to have another 50 CNG buses delivered thenext year, 2016, and 100 the following year.

“I’m also fascinated by some of the electric buses I am seeing rightnow. We don’t have any on order, but electric buses used in the right cor-ridor and in the right operating environment seem to be something goodthat we ought to look into. Therefore we are going to continue to look atelectric powered buses, particularly since I have been hearing about thefast-charging capabilities that are available.”

Contact: Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, 1900 Main St., Houston, TX 77002. Phone: 713-635-4000.

Website: www.ridemetro.org.


Pictured is one of 70 METRO 60-foot articulated buses.



The Big Easy, otherwise known as New Orleans, LA, is home to theUnited Motorcoach Association’s (UMA) Motorcoach Expo2015 at Travel Exchange. For the third year in a row, the UMA

Expo will coincide with the National Tour Association (NTA) AnnualConvention. The two organizations will be co-locating their events onJanuary 18-22, 2015, at theErnest N. Morial ConventionCenter.NTA’s education sessions and

the NTA Mall are open to allUMA Motorcoach Expo partici-pants at no additional cost.Meanwhile, UMA’s educationsessions and Expo floor are alsoopen to all NTA convention par-ticipants at no additional cost.Joint events are open to all partic-ipants as well. NTA’s Exchange appointments on Wednesday, January 21,and Thursday, January 22, are open to UMA Expo participants for anadditional fee. On Sunday, January 18, UMA Expo registration will be open from

10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hall D lobby. Additionally, the UMA StateAssociation Summit is scheduled from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday as well asNTA Education Sessions during the same time period. Sightseeing tourswill also take place from 8 a.m. to noon.From 3 to 4:45 p.m. on Sunday a “Speed Networking” event with NTA

attendees is open to UMA participants. This will be followed by the UMA

Chairman’s Welcome Reception in the Acadia Room at the New OrleansMarriott (third floor) from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday’s events will conclude with “The Big Party in the Big Easy,”

taking place at Mardi Gras World from 7 to 10 p.m. The night will includelocally-themed music, food and drink, with views of the Mississippi

River and an insider's look at thefamous Mardi Gras parade propsand floats — now located on thesouth end of the ConventionCenter.Monday, January 19 starts

with UMA registration scheduledfrom 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Ajoint UMA/NTA opening cere-mony and breakfast is scheduledfrom 8 to 9:15 a.m. on Monday atthe convention center’s Great

Hall. Anthony “Tony” Avery Simmons, president/CEO of McIlhennyCompany, maker of TABASCO brand products, will be the keynotespeaker. This will be followed by the UMA Active Member Meeting and

Legislative & Regulatory Update, scheduled from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Alsostarting at 9:30 a.m., and running until 4:30 p.m., is the UMAMaintenance Interchange. Motorcoach owners, operators and mainte-nance personnel are invited to openly discuss maintenance issues at thisevent.The first group of several UMA Concurrent Solution Sessions is sched-

UMA EXHIBIT HALL HOURSJanuary 19 - January 21

Monday, Sneak Preview, 6 - 9 p.m.

Tuesday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Wednesday, 9 a.m. - Noon



uled from 11 a.m. to noon on Monday. They are: n Selecting the Right Electronic Logging Devices (Operations);n Choosing the Right Marketing Mix (Marketing);n Evaluating Customer Profitability (Finance); n How All the Pieces Work Together - Part I (Travel Exchange); and,n Session 1 - Business 101: How Much Should I Be Charging;

Insurance (Small Fleet Operator).A Broadway Luncheon is set for 12:15 to 1:45 p.m. on Monday at the

Great Hall, and will be followed by the second group of UMA ConcurrentSolution Sessions, scheduled from 2 to 3 p.m. They are:

n Increasing Your Revenue with Public Private Partnerships(Operations);

n Sports Marketing (Marketing);n The Anatomy of High Performers (Finance); n How All the Pieces Work Together - Part II (Travel Exchange); and, n Session 2 - Safety Management Cycle; ADA; Charter Service Rule

(Small Fleet Operator).The third group of UMA Concurrent Solution Sessions on Monday is

slated for 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. They are: n Fatigue Management (Operations); n Diversifying Services (Marketing); n Impacting Results Through Leadership (Finance); n Motorcoach Best Practices Part I - Mastering Your Online Presence

(Marketing); and, n Session 3 - Military Bus Agreement; Equipment Maintenance; Filing

for Tire and Fuel Tax Refunds (Small Fleet Operator). The fourth group of UMA Concurrent Solution Sessions on Monday is

slated for 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. They are: n Smart Driver Training (Operations); n Motorcoach Best Practices Part II - Social Media Mastery for

Motorcoach Operators (Marketing); n Alcohol - What is Your Liability? (Finance); and,n How to Work Best with Tour Operators (Travel Exchange). A major event on Monday will be the UMA Expo Exhibit Hall Sneak

Preview, taking place from 6 to 9 p.m in Halls C & D. Exhibitors willgive demonstrations and showcase their latest industry products and serv-ices during the sneak preview. Also scheduled for 6 to 9 p.m. on Monday is the first day of the

Motorcoach Marketing Council’s silent auction, along with a live auctionstarting at 7:30 p.m. Go Riteway Transportation Group (Richfield, WI)CEO Ronald Bast will serve as the auctioneer during the live auction.Both events will take place at Booth No. 132. Immediately following the Sneak Preview Party will be the “Go

Motorcoach First Annual Fundraiser-Motorcoach Mardi Gras” at Razzooon Bourbon Street. Proceeds of this event will be used for the GoMotorcoach Campaign, which helps increase public awareness on thepositive aspects of motorcoach travel.A number of NTA events will also take place on Monday. These

include the NTA Mall being open from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. as well asNTA education sessions and pavilion appointments. The UMA Motorcoach Expo at Travel Exchange on Tuesday, January

20, will begin at 7:30 a.m. with the UMA Maintenance Competition. Thisevent will last until 11 a.m. and provide participants with a chance tocompete against each other to solve different maintenance-related issues. Tuesday’s UMA Expo registration is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A group of UMA Concurrent Solution Sessions on Tuesday is slated for8:45 to 9:45 a.m. They are:

n Getting Involved in Local Politics and PAC (Operations); n Motorcoach Best Practices Part III - Mastering Analytics

(Marketing);



n Tax Planning - Thinking of Selling? (Finance); and,n How All the Pieces Work Together - Wrap Up (Travel Exchange).The UMA Expo Exhibit Hall will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on

Tuesday, allowing attendees to visit a wide variety of vendors. Lunchwill be served at the Exhibit Hall from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on this day. Also taking place on Tuesday will be several UMA Education Sessions

at the Exhibit Hall. Topics include:n The Critical Issues Related to Managing an Accident or Incident -

How Prepared Are You and Your Drivers? (from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m.); n OSHA Violations Repeatedly Found in the Motorcoach Industry

(from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.); and,n Digital Media - Technology & the Motorcoach Experience (from

2:45 to 3:30 p.m.).The Motorcoach Marketing Council’s silent auction will take place for

its second day, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday. Meanwhile, membersof the National Association of Motorcoach Operators (NAMO) will meetfrom 2 to 3 p.m. Also on Tuesday will be several NTA events, including education ses-

sions and pavilion appointments. The NTA Mall will be open from 8 a.m.to 5 p.m. Tuesday’s final event will be the UMA Leadership Awards Celebration,

scheduled from 6:30 to 11 p.m. at the Great Hall. This will include areception, dinner, a presentation of awards and cigars/cordials.

The final day that the Exhibit Hall will be open for the 2015UMA Motorcoach Expo at Travel Exchange is Wednesday,January 21. Show floor hours are 9 a.m. until noon, with registra-tion beginning at 8 a.m. A luncheon is scheduled to start at 12:15 p.m.at the Great Hall. Also on Wednesday will be several UMA Education Sessions at the

Exhibit Hall. Topics include: n Reduce Downtime and Save Money with the Use of Nickel Carbon

Capacitors (from 9:15 to 9:45 a.m.);n CVSA Inspection Demonstration (from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m.); n How to Make the Most of Your UMA Membership - Part 1 (from 10 to

10:45 a.m.); and, n How to Make the Most of Your UMA Membership - Part II (from 11

to 11:45 a.m.).The UMA Member Bus Operations Site Visit is scheduled from 2 to

3:30 p.m. at the nearby Hotard Coaches Inc., facility. Meanwhile, from 2to 4 p.m. will be the UMA Pit Day/Vehicle Test Drive. Attendees candrive vehicles as seen on the UMA Expo floor. Many NTA-sponsored events will also take place on Wednesday,

including education sessions and exchange appointments. The NTA Mallwill be open from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday will conclude with a joint UMA/NTA event “Tourism

Rocks” from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at the Hard Rock Café New Orleans.All motorcoach operators attending UMA Motorcoach EXPO are invitedto attend the event free as guests of the sponsors.The UMA 11th Annual Ray Dupuis Memorial Golf Tournament is

scheduled for Thursday, January 22. The event is scheduled for noon to 6p.m. at the English Turn Golf & Country Club in New Orleans.A number of NTA events will also take place on Thursday. These

include the NTA Mall from 8 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., exchange appointments,a luncheon and an evening event from 7 to 10 p.m. Visit www.motorcoachexpo.com for more information. Dates, times

and events are subject to change. A complimentary shuttle service will beavailable between the Louis Armstrong New Orleans InternationalAirport (MSY) and Travel Exchange hotels.





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We Are All In This Together t here is strength in numbers when it comes to operating a business.Both Joseph and Roxanne Gillis recognize the importance of beingactive in industry associations and working with other motorcoach

operators whenever possible. Joseph Gillis recently completed a term as president of the Northwest

Motorcoach Association. Meanwhile, both Roxanne and Joseph Gillishave been active participants in a Spader Group, which consists of differ-ent motorcoach company officials working together on best practices. “We look at the other operators in our group as mentors, because they

have been in the business longer, and most of them run larger compa-nies,” Roxanne Gillis said. “It’s great to have ongoing help as our com-pany grows; to be with a group of other motorcoach operators who areopen to sharing their ideas. Joseph and I have been able to provide someideas to the group as well. “It’s good to be able to partner as we are not direct competitors in the

group. We are all trying to build a better industry with healthy and safecarriers.” Joseph Gillis also stressed the importance of participation in such

industry organizations as the American Bus Association and the UnitedMotorcoach Association. “If you, as an operator, don’t pay attention to all that is going on in the

industry through different associations and publications, then you are introuble. It’s going to catch up with you sooner or later,” he said. “We areconstantly looking ahead as a company, moving and changing to makesure we meet and exceed customer expectations.”Keeping up with government regulations and other activities is also

important in today’s motorcoach industry, according to Joseph Gillis.This includes the tough safety inspection practices being performed bythe Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and its stateand local law enforcement partners.“I have been a proponent of being inspected regularly. We didn’t know

the industry well enough when we got started, so we wanted to talk withthe experts and have the experts instruct us,” Joseph Gillis said. “Throughthe process of working with the Oregon Department of Transportation(ODOT) and FMCSA, we found out early about (the FMCSA) SafetyManagement Cycle. We started building systems and procedures to meetwhat is required with this safety tool. “Therefore, Northwest Navigator now has a completely new mainte-

nance program in place. We brought in people from Prevost and other car-riers, along with the best mechanics in the area, and put together a com-prehensive preventative maintenance schedule based on specific vehicles,manufacturers and models that are part of our fleet.”The safety team at Northwest Navigator has also put together a new

comprehensive driver file system for the company, and has been workingon a revised driver training program. Joseph Gillis has been instrumental as well, along with ODOT and the

Northwest Motorcoach Association, in setting up quarterly inspectionsfor the benefit of area bus and motorcoach operators.“Dates are scheduled every quarter to help operators get their vehicles

Northwest Navigator: Continued From Page 22

“I believe it’s important operators are willing to helpeach other for the benefit of the entire industry.”

— Joseph Gillis


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EverBank Commercial Finance, Inc. is a subsidiary of EverBank and is not itself a bank or a member of the FDIC. © 2014 EverBank. All rights reserved. 14ECF0179.01

LEASING SERVICE AND SOLUTIONS THAT GO THE DISTANCEOUR MOTORCOACH SPECIALISTS CAN HELP KEEP YOUR BUSINESS MOVING FORWARD TODAY AND LONG DOWN THE ROAD

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inspected. This has helped reduce the inconvenience to traveling motor-coach passengers via illegal roadside inspections,” he said. Roxanne Gillis added that it’s important customers understand the

value of riding with a safe bus/motorcoach operator, and of all the stepsthat these operators have to take in order to remain safe and compliant. Another initiative Joseph Gillis launched, with the help of ODOT, is

the Trusted Carrier license plate program for bus/motorcoach operators.A special “license plate” on an approved vehicle serves as a visual cue tolaw enforcement personnel that the carrier is of good standing.Previously, this program was only available to the trucking industry.

“This is something that can help good carriers and make it a lot easierto spot bad carriers,” Joseph Gillis said. He added that these types of programs help the bus and motorcoach

industry grow throughout the country with safe operators.“Our industry already provides the safest, greenest and cheapest way to

travel,” Joseph Gillis said. “I believe it’s important operators are willingto help each other for the benefit of the entire industry.”

Contact: Northwest Navigator Luxury Coaches, 6309 NE Columbia Blvd., Portland, OR 97218.

Phone: 503-285-3000. Website: www.nwnavigator.com.

A Trusted Carrier plate, at right, indicates a company is of good standing.

From Lancer Insurance Company:Loss Recovery Program

“Lancer Insurance Company offers a free policyholder benefitthat allows insureds to keep 100 percent of monies recovered ontheir behalf versus paying a vendor a 30-50 percent fee for recov-ering money. “As a policyholder, the Lancer claims team will assist in recov-

ering monies from other insurance companies for out-of-pocketexpenses and downtime expenses, including your deductible, whenothers are at fault for your loss,” said company spokespeople.The process begins when a claim is reported. A Lancer claims

examiner will investigate the claim, identify the adverse party andset up a damage and downtime claim, on the insureds behalf, withthe other insurance company. This step allows insureds to avoid asubrogation audit and provides the opportunity to give an earlynotice of "loss of use" of the affected vehicle.According to Lancer, “Our claims professional then documents

the claim and guides the insured through the process including:• Sending estimates and photographs for you, providing loss of

use documentation; • Obtaining an agreed cost of repair;• And, getting the vehicle back on the road.” Since 1985, Lancer Insurance Company has been a provider of

commercial automobile, physical damage and general liability cov-erage to bus and motorcoach companies in all 50 states and theDistrict of Columbia.

For more information about Lancer Insurance,visit www.lancerinsurance.com.


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During the United Motorcoach Association’s (UMA) MotorcoachExpo 2015 at Travel Exchange, Idrive will present its Idrive X2, a com-pact video event recorder featuring newtechnology. It offers simultaneous recording of

both triggered events and continuousrecording events in two separate videostreams. As well as triggered events,users can now download additional timebefore and after an event as needed, uti-lizing stream video. This can also bedone remotely via Wi-Fi. “Safety managers can select resolu-

tions from .3 megapixels to full HDevents. Another feature is the ability toselect the memory size of the camera,ranging from standard 8GB to 64GBoptional memory cards. The memorysizing options allow customers to choose the amount of space they needfor capturing events, depending on how long their vehicles are on theroad,”said company representatives. To help with memory space, each brand new Idrive X2 event goes

through a new video compression routine, making the events smaller andfaster to download without resolution compromise.“The Idrive X2 case was redesigned with new plastics and mounting

brackets that provide a variety of movements for an optimal, yet sturdy,hold. Utilizing glass, both inside and outside lenses were redesigned tocapture better light in videos and wide angle views. A combination of thenew lenses and new proprietary Bright Night® infrared lighting system,

located below the lens, allows for bright night videos,” said the company. New Serial and USB ports on the camera allow for external Idrive-

approved system integrations. It comes with available external Live GPStracking module and includes Visual Telematics® for 3 seconds of liveview of a vehicle in real time on demand (service agreement required). Idrive said, “The Idrive X2 also has an optional Driver ID application. It’s

connected to the camera to identify drivers with their own identifications. Itcan identify drivers in events, reports with no effort from safety managers,and allows for the individual DriveScore® driver safety ranking.”UMA will be the first time the Idrive X2 will be shown in the United

States. It will be available at the Idrive booth, No. 1200. [email protected] for more information.

Eden Prairie, MN’s SouthWest Transit Awarded Certificate Of Achievement For Excellence In Financial Reporting

For the eighth consecutive year, the Government Finance OfficersAssociation of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has awarded theCertificate of Achievement For Excellence In Financial Reporting toSouthWest Transit, of Eden Prairie, MN, for its comprehensive annualfinancial report (CAFR). It is recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial

reporting. SouthWest Transit provides transit services to the residents of

Chanhassen, Chaska and Eden Prairie as well as surrounding cities.SouthWest Transit motto is, “Quality Ride – Quality Time.”

Visit www.swtransit.org for more information.

From Idrive: The New X2 Video Event Recorder




Prevost recently sent its second mobile service truck into operation inthe Montreal area. The second service truck allows Prevost to offer moreservices to customers in Montreal, and for those traveling through or vis-iting Montreal, said company representatives.

Prevost also provides emergency roadside service or scheduled main-tenance/repairs at a customer’s location. Each mobile service vehicle is afully-fitted mobile repair unit which allows for rapid response times,especially in the case of emergency roadside diagnosis and repair. The second mobile service truck is operated by a Prevost service tech-

nician who is certified for bumper-to-bumper maintenance and repair forall Nova Bus, Prevost and Volvo vehicles, including engine and transmis-sion. In addition, technicians can repair most brands of motorcoaches ina customer’s fleet, says the company.The second service truck joins 33 other Prevost mobile service trucks

within North America, located throughout the United States and Canada.

Prevost Delivers 7 New Volvo 9700s To Stylus Transportation

Prevost recently delivered four new 2014 Volvo 9700s and threenew 2015 9700s to Stylus Transportation Inc., an Orlando, FL-based company. All three 2015 coaches have GPS, cameras, E-logs,and IFTA tracking along with satellite TVs.Stylus has been operating in the Orlando area for 45 years. The

company provides charter and bus services across the country andspecializes in the South American, Canadian and domestic markets.Stylus, with 23 employees, serves school, sporting, and corporateclients as well as group planning and multi-day trips.Glen Cook, general manager, said the company will use its

newest 9700 coaches for a variety of clientele including studentyouth travel as well as school and university functions, casino char-ters, port transfers, leisure activities such as theme park transporta-tion, and tours throughout major cities within the United States,Canada and South America. Visit www.prevostcar.com.

Prevost Now Has Second Mobile Service Truck In Montreal Area


Silverado Stages, Inc. and Silver State Coach, Inc. have entered into amerger agreement combining the two motorcoach companies into onecompany within the transportation industry. Jim Galusha, Silverado CEO, said, “We are extremely pleased that

Tony Fiorini and his motorcoach company have agreed to join Silveradoand help grow our combined operations in the western region of theUnited States. Our plans are to consolidate operations where possible,take advantage of best practices and efficiencies, and to extendSilverado’s proven operational model.”

“I’m excited about the opportunity and challenges ahead,” said Silver

State President and Owner Tony Fiorini. “Silverado is an employee-owned company; the ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) is a greatbenefit and reward for our loyal employees. The combined companiesprovide breadth and depth in the California and Nevada markets, allow-ing us to better serve all of our clients.”Silver State Coach, Inc., a Nevada corporation, was founded in 1986.

With operating authorities in Nevada and California, Silver State main-tains a fleet of 40 motorcoaches from terminals in Placentia, CA, and LasVegas, NV. Silverado Stages, Inc., a California corporation, was founded in 1987

and provides transportation across the western states from terminals inSacramento, San Luis Obispo, Bakersfield, Santa Barbara, OrangeCounty, Pomona, and Las Vegas. Services include charters, tours, sched-uled fixed-route service, commuter and campus shuttles, and convention

and event services aboard large motorcoaches,shuttles and vans.

Visit www.SilveradoStages.comfor more information.

Cincinnati Metro NamesDwight Ferrell

As CEO & General Manager

The Southwest Ohio Regional TransitAuthority has appointed Dwight Ferrell asMetro’s chief executive officer and general man-ager, effective Jan. 5, 2015. Ferrell most recently served as the County

Manager of Fulton County, GA.For four years, he served as deputy general

manager and chief operating officer of theMetropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority(MARTA), managing day-to-day operations.Ferrell has held leadership positions at publictransportation systems including Austin, Dallas,New Orleans, and Philadelphia. He has also been actively involved with the

American Public Transportation Association, theConference of Minority Transportation Officials,and the Transportation Research Board. He participated in the Eno Center for Transit

Leadership Executive Development Program andis a graduate of Leadership Atlanta.

Ferrell holds a Bachelor of Arts degree inBusiness Administration in Management fromHuston-Tillotson University, in Austin, TX.

Metro is a non-profit, tax-funded publicservice of the Southwest Ohio Regional TransitAuthority, providing about 17 million rides peryear.

Visit www.go-metro.comfor more information.

BUSLINE January/February 2015Page 44 BUSLINE January/February 2015


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Silverado Stages And Silver State Coach Announce Merger


PEOPLE


Mike Whittaker Joins ABC Companies As Parts And Service Marketing Manager

ABC has hired Mike Whittaker to develop and execute all marketingfor ABC’s Parts and Service brands.

With a background in the automotive supplyindustry, Whittaker has been a senior level mar-keting professional for global brands, with dutiesincluding brand development, market analysis,product development, communication and publicrelations both in the United States and abroad.“This is a new position specifically designed

to support two key business areas within ourservice offering,” said Dan Leo, director of mar-keting, ABC Companies. Whittaker overseesday-to-day marketing activities from ABC’sFlorida location.

Whittaker has an MBA and a BBA in marketing, as well as numerousmarketing and professional development certifications.Contact ABC Companies at 800-222-2875 or visit www.abc-compa-

nies.com for more information.

Stertil-Koni Names Robyn Collier Warranty Coordinator

Stertil-Koni has named Robyn Collier war-ranty coordinator, in addition to her current roleas receiving manager.Collier has been with the company for 9 years.

Previously, she was with Stanley Black &Decker for more than 20 years, reaching a ware-house management position on the Eastern Shoreof Maryland.Stertil-Koni President Dr. Jean DellAmore

said, "Robyn has an extensive depth of experi-ence working with Stertil-Koni products, distrib-

utors and customers. She is a true get-it-done professional and a very

warm, customer-centric manager who consistently makes a significantcontribution to our company's growth and success."

Visit www.stertil-koni.com for more information.

Laura Clark Joins Distinctive Systems

Distinctive Systems Inc., supplier of software to motorcoach, bus andtour companies in North America, has hired Laura Clark, as a support andimplementation specialist. She has worked with transportation companies such as Horizon Coach

Lines, Coach America, Coach USA and Evergreen Stage Line/Gray LinePortland. Her primary roles with these companies was support and imple-mentation of software systems.

“She has been directly involved with supporting executive team mem-bers in a role created to help analyze, identify, weigh and prioritize busi-ness metrics that advanced her employer’s missions, values and focus,”said Distinctive Systems spokespeople.Clark said, “I have been supporting Distinctive Systems products for

my previous employers for the past 10 - plus years and have always beenimpressed with the software, the support services and the integrity of thecompany. I am very excited to be joining an organization that shares mypassion for outstanding customer service and am looking forward tointeracting with a variety of companies; assisting them in maximizing thebenefits of Distinctive Systems software functionality.”Don Greenglass, president of Distinctive Systems Inc, said, “Laura

possesses an incredible ability to support the end-user, a skill we havewitnessed firsthand in her many years as a client of Distinctive Systems.We are confident, and very excited, that Laura will help to enhance allDistinctive Systems clients’ experiences with our software products.”Contact Clark at [email protected].


MICHAEL ROCHETTEPrevost former Vice-President

of Marketing & Sales MichaelRochette, age 71, passed awayDecember 4, 2014, at the LavalHospital in Quebec. He was the son of Mrs. Mary

Christine Murphy and the lateRaymond Rochette.Michael Rochette was with

Prevost from 1983 until hisretirement in 2005, and wasinstrumental in successful prod-uct introductions to the develop-

ment of new markets in the conversion segment. He is survived by his wife Johanne, children Barbra (Charles

Chartier), Susan (James Fequet), Laurie (Jonathan Burns); his grand-children Daphne, Maggie; and his sisters, Mary (Livio Paronuzzi),Leanne (Michael Jeffrey), Fire Marion Mercier and several nieces andnephews. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Canadian Cancer

Society, website: www.cancer.ca.

O B I T U A R Y


Onondaga Buys New MCI J4500

Mike Oster of Onondaga Coach said, “Whatkeeps me in the industry is the customers and

the knowledge that it’s a business you can takeanywhere there’s business. With most business-es, you can’t. With a bus industry, you canalways move to where the customers are.” Oster’s family has been in the coach business

since his grandfather started a bus company incentral New York. The family purchasedOnondaga Coach in the 1960s. The company’sfleet includes 13 coaches and operates depar-ture locations from Auburn, Syracuse andCortland.Oster became the third generation in the busi-

ness in 1981 and his son, James, joined thecompany in 2006.

The Auburn, N.Y.-based tour and chartercompany was founded in 1953. Oster said, “Werely on wheelchair lifts, which in the wrongcoach, can create space problems. (The J4500)is designed not to lose any baggage space whileaccommodating wheelchairs and that makes abig difference.”

Visit www.onondagacoach.com for more information.

United Coach And Tours Has 6 New MCI J4500s

United Coach and Tours, Morgantown, KY,has taken delivery of six new MCI J4500s.The coaches replace five, 2009 J4500s andrepresent the company’s entire fleet.UCT’s newest coaches have chrome mirrors

and a black-and-white exterior motif. Inside,the coaches offer 110-volt outlets and curtainsfor passenger privacy; UCT added its own Wi-Fi and satellite DirecTV system.Williams said that replacing all of his coach-

es at once gives him a leg-up with customers-because it eliminates the potential for disap-pointment should a customer request the com-pany’s newest vehicles when those vehicleshave already been allocated to another group.Williams has over 50-plus years in the trans-

portation industry, with a career that started in1962 when he moved from his native Indianato Chicago to take a job with Delta Airlines.He learned the tour-and-charter business at asmall travel agency, and in 1992 he boughtUnited Coaches from Vandalia in St. Louis. He

purchased his first new coach, an MCI D4500,in 1994. D-Series coaches, E4500s and J4500sfollowed. UCT serves the Kentucky and Tennessee

area with transportation to local events, con-vention shuttle, and charters for schools anduniversities. The company’s tour business,which includes wholesale and retail multi-daytrips across the United States and Canada isgrowing. Kelli Phelps is United Coach’s tour operat-

ing manager.Visit www.unitedcoachandtour.com.

Visit www.mcicoach.comfor more information.


Companies Purchase MCI J4500s


Transit agencies should prepare for ridershipincreases when gasoline prices increase.However, the net effect varies depending on thetransit mode, the range of gasoline prices andresponse time. That is the conclusion of theMineta Transportation Institute’s latest peer-reviewed research report, Net Effects OfGasoline Price Changes On Transit RidershipIn U.S. Urban Areas. The study focused on 10 U.S. census urban-

ized areas from 2002-2011 and providedinformation that could help transit agenciesprepare to accommodate higher transit travelneeds through pricing strategies, generalfinancing, capacity management, and opera-tions planning of transit services during timesof substantial gasoline price increases.Principal investigator was Hiroyuki Iseki,PhD, working with Rubaba Ali, both from theUniversity of Maryland, College Park. Thefree report can be downloaded fromhttp://transweb.sjsu.edu/project/1106.html.“While previous studies have been pub-

lished, this report improved on the four speci-fications of panel data regression analysis andother factors to obtain more robust results thatcan be generalized,” Dr. Iseki said, “A rider-ship increase may be good news for transitagencies during the off-peak periods, but evena small percentage of ridership increase canrequire a substantial increase in service supplyand facility capacity during the peak periods,when the service level is at or near the maxi-mum supply capacity. If transit agencies cananticipate when and at what levels those rider-ship increases could reach, they can plan theirservices more accurately.”The results of this study suggest that transit

agencies should prepare for a potentialincrease in ridership during peak periods thatcan be generated by substantial gasoline priceincreases over $3 per gallon for bus and com-muter rail modes, and over $4 per gallon forlight rail.The two main variables analyzed in this

study are: (1) monthly average gasoline pricesbased on weekly prices of three different typesof gasoline – regular, midgrade, and premium– collected from the U.S. Energy InformationAdministration, and (2) monthly unlinked pas-senger trips obtained from the Federal TransitAdministration's National Transit Databasefrom January 2002 to December 2011 forBoston, Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Houston,Los Angeles, Miami, New York, SanFrancisco, and Seattle. In addition to severalimportant variables related to transit service

and demographics, the research team accountedfor factors that were not comprehensivelyincluded in previous studies, such as the effectsof number of recent immigrants, highway miles,and unemployment rate. This study also examines the endogeneity

problem in regression analysis that potentiallyarises from the simultaneity issue between tran-sit service supply and ridership, and estimates

the short- and long-term effects of gasolineprices as well as the threshold effects of $3 and$4 marks on transit ridership for bus, light rail,heavy rail, commuter rail and these modes com-bined.The 125-page report, including 10 figures

and 25 tables, is available for free, no-registra-tion download at http://transweb.sjsu.edu/pro-ject/1106.html. The Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI)

conducts research, education, and informationtransfer programs regarding surface transporta-tion policy and management issues, especiallyrelated to transit. Congress established MTI in1991 as part of the Intermodal SurfaceTransportation Efficiency Act.

Visit www.transweb.sjsu.edu.



From The Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI):

Effects Of Gas Prices On Transit RidershipVary By Mode, In Combination With Price Ranges And Response Time




Sun Metro Opens Rapid Transit System In El PasoSun Metro, of El Paso, TX, recently cele-

brated the grand opening of its 8.6-mile RapidTransit System (RTS) along the Mesa Corridorin El Paso. The new BRT system, which pro-vides a high-capacity transit service to El Paso

for the first time, begins at the DowntownTransfer Center, travels along Santa Fe,Franklin, Oregon, Glory Road and Mesa, end-ing at the Westside Transfer Center. “We have dedicated nearly 6 years to ana-

lyzing, designing and building what webelieve will revolutionize public transporta-tion in our community,” said Sun MetroDirector Jay Banasiak. “Mesa Brio is just the

beginning of what’s to come for El Paso. Ourongoing objective is provide a first-class trans-portation system that moves our family,friends and neighbors to get to work, toschool, to visit each other and back. It is also a

system that supports our economic develop-ment, reduces our traffic congestion and helpsimprove our community’s air quality.”Known as the Sun Metro Brio, the new BRT

system uses modern, rubber-tire, high-capacityvehicles, improved fare collection systems andcontrolled traffic signals. 60-foot articulatedbuses with low-floor boarding will transportmore than 70 passengers between the terminal

stations every 10 minutes during peak periodand 15 minutes during off‐peak period for 14hours a day, Monday-Friday. Passenger amenities include an integrated

intelligent transportation system (allows busesto pass quickly through trafficlights), an audio/visual system toprovide destination and next stopinformation inside and outside vehi-cles, bicycle racks, Wi-Fi connec-tions and wheelchair accommoda-tions. The corridor also includes 22BRT transit stations about a mileapart. The station areas include twobus shelters at each stop, street light-ing, landscaping, bike racks,ADA‐accessible ramps and stationplatforms, and reconstructed side-walk at all approaches.

The Mesa Corridor is the first of four RTScorridors approved by the city of El Paso. Thesecond corridor will be in Alameda. Con -struction on Alameda is tentatively scheduledto begin in spring 2015 with completion in2016. Dyer and Montana, the third and fourthRTS corridors, are tentatively scheduled to beoperational in 2017 and 2019, respectively.

Visit www.sunmetro.net.


Wisconsin Badger Purchases 7 Van Hool CX45s

Badger Bus recently purchased 7 Van HoolCX45s. Badger has facilities in Madison andMilwaukee, WI, and runs scheduled service,charters and tours as well as a large schoolbus division. The fleet ranges from 81 passen-ger Van Hool TD925 double deck coachesthrough mini-buses and vans.

ABC Companies is Van Hool's exclusiveNorth American distributor and AccountManager John McFarlane said, “The Meierfamily is passionately committed to provid-ing quality transportation and their cus-tomers recognize it. Badger's phenomenalhistory and growth rests on that foundation.

They're an awesome family-owned businessand all of us at ABC are delighted to be partof their success.”

4 New Van Hool TX45s For Roadrunner Charters

Irving, TX, based Roadrunner Charters rec -ently took delivery of four Van Hool TX45coaches. CEO Ron Wills said this purchase is

part of the company's (www.roadrunnerchar-ters.com) expansion, which also includes a newsix-acre, 20,000 square-foot office and mainte-nance facility in Ft. Worth, and the acquisitionof HME Executive Coach. This is Roadrunner'sfifth acquisition since 2008, and its fleet hasgrown to 80 coaches.

Bob Holloway, senior account manager forABC Companies, said, “Ron is very knowl-edgeable about the charter industry and has anexcellent staff headed by his son, Allen, inoperations. He has an excellent sales team andRoadrunner is a pleasure to deal with. They'vepurchased 25 new Van Hool’s in the last 3years. All of us at ABC are excited about beingpart of their growth.”

Contact ABC Companies at 800-222-2875 or visit

www.abc-companies.comfor more information.


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Safety Steps full line of transportation steps are designed specifically for the transportation industry

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To view all our transportation steps or to order online,

visit our website:www.safetystep.netor call (888) 448-4237

SAFE, STURDY & DURABLESafety Step will meet all your transportation needs…

Companies Purchase Van Hools



Amaya-Astron SeatingSee Ad On Page 37Pirules 16E, Complejo Industrial CuamatlaCuautitlán Izcalli, 54730MEXICO +52(55)5881-2007E-Mail: [email protected]: www.amaya-astron.com.mxCompany Officers: Donovan Albarran, ExportSales Director; Rosario Arellano, Sales andCustomer ServiceProducts: Passenger seats for buses and coaches,

with three-point seat belts. Seat models Torino GPlus and A-2TEN offers the latest in three-pointseat belt technology for the North American mar-ket, plus well known ergonomic design and theadditional knee room provided in all Amaya-Astron seats. 15

American Seating401 American Seating CenterGrand Rapids, MI 49504 USA616-732-6600 E-Mail: [email protected]

Website: www.americanseating.comCompany Officers: Dave McLaughlin, VicePresident of Sales; Deb McDermott, VicePresident of MarketingProducts: American Seating has a long history ofresearching, designing, and manufacturing prod-ucts that meet the ever changing needs of cus-tomers. The company manufactures passengerseating for city service bus, rail, motorcoach andmobility aid securement. These products are onthe road and rail each day in every major NorthAmerican city. 15



Bergen Auto Upholstery Co., Inc.See Ad On Page 52375 North StreetSecaucus, NJ 07094 USA201-457-9100 FAX: 201-457-9103E-Mail: [email protected]: www.bergenseat.comProducts: Seat replacement and complete interiorrefurbishing, including seat covers, ceilings, side-walls, lav area, under racks, dash, entrance door.Parts distributor for American, National andAmaya seat parts with large inventory in stock.Bergen offers a complete cleaning service, seatcover shampooing, seat frame cleaning, cleaningof sidewalls and A/C ducts, and shampooing ofany carpeted surface. Bergen road crew is avail-able to install on location. 14

Camira (Holdsworth Fabrics)2476 Waldorf Court, NWGrand Rapids, MI 49544 USA616-288-0655 FAX: 616-288-0656E-Mail: [email protected]: www.camirafabrics.comCompany Officers: Steve Bullas, Chairman andCEO; Andrew Schofield, Group Sales andMarketing Director; Nick Brown, FinanceDirector; Rune Akselberg, President, CamiraGroup Inc.; Terry Colbert, Director of SalesProducts: Camira, formerly known asHoldsworth Fabrics, offers total fabric solutionsfor passenger transport interiors. Camira’s manu-facturing ex pertise covers not just the traditionalplush wool moquettes, but also lighter weightpile fabrics with added design and texture, con-temporary flat weave fabrics for seating, and awide range of ancillary interior trim fabrics forother surfaces within motorcoaches.The Elements collection is a modern twist on

traditional wool moquettes available to order withjust a four week leadtime for a 55 yard minimumorder quantity. Added fabric protection comesfrom Defender, Camira’s triple action long-last-ing fabric treatment, an invisible protective shieldmaking fabrics anti-bacterial, anti-fungal andanti-stain. Camira is represented by Wagner & Associates

(tel 919-552-4466) and BusTex Corp (tel 303-404-0890). 15

Chestnut Ridge Foam, Inc.See Ad At Right 443 Warehouse Drive, P.O. Box 781Latrobe, PA 15650 USA724-537-9000 FAX: 724-537-9003E-Mail: [email protected]: www.chestnutridgefoam.comCompany Officers: Carl Ogburn, President;George Romanish, Vice President, OPS; RobertBologna, CFO; Anthony Tomasello, Sales ManagerProducts: SAFGUARD XL fire-resistant seatcushioning complies with F.T.A. fire safety crite-ria. SAFGUARD XL eliminates the profuse burn-ing and known fire hazards associated withFMVSS 302 cushioning if exposed to open flame

ignition sources. Provides the fire performanceneeded in today's environment. The use of F.T.A.fire performance criteria helps avoid the potentialfor individual and transit authority liability. Thisfire-resistant cushioning is available to all seatingmanufacturers for O.E.M. vehicles. SAF-GUARD XL represents major advancements inseat cushioning durability and comfort. A DVD isavailable showing comparative fire performancetests of completed bus seats. This DVD is an edu-cational tool demonstrating how fire may impactbus interiors when seats are exposed to a minorignition source. CR SAFGUARD XL can easilybe added to new vehicle seating specifications. 15

CMI EnterprisesSee Ad On Page 22 13145 NW 45th Ave.Miami, FL 33054 USA574-226-2977E-Mail: [email protected]: www.cmi-enterprises.comProducts: Bus/coach upholstery, fabric. 14

De Leo Transportation FabricsSee Ad On Page 5053 Dwight PlaceFairfield, NJ 07004 USA973-439-6801 FAX: 973-439-6815E-Mail: [email protected]: www.deleotf.comCompany Officers: Ismail Arslan and Craig DeLeo

Products: De Leo Transportation Fabrics offershigh quality velvets for bus, motorcoach andlight rail fabrics to public and private transporta-tion industries. Partnered with Epengle, a lead-ing European transportation fabric manufactur-er, the combined companies have over 100 yearsof experience. De Leo offers polyester, acrylicand wool blends. Customers can expect shortproduction lead times, excellent New Jersey-based customer service and on-time deliveries.15

Fabric Services103 Hinsdale Farms RoadBristol, IN 46507 USA574-848-5100 FAX: 574-848-1776Website: www.fabserv.comProducts: Fabric Services is a provider of manyfabrics, leather, coated fabrics and flat-woventextiles for shuttle bus and motorcoach seating aswell as interior trim applications. Other value-added services include custom cutting and lami-nation. 13

Freedman Seating Company4545 W. Augusta Blvd.Chicago, IL 60651 USA773-524-2440 FAX: 773-252-7450E-Mail: [email protected]: www.freedmanseating.comProducts: Freedman Seating is a seat producer


Call for specifications. Easily added to seatingrequirements within vehicle bid packages.

Think FMVSS 302 Protects Passengers and Equipment?

Think FMVSS 302 Protects Passengers and Equipment?

SAFGUARD™ XL Fire-Resistant Cushioning…• Complies with advanced F.T.A. fire safety criteria.• Minimize risk and liability related to vehicle

fire safety.• O.E.M. and maintenance seat retrofit applications.

Telephone: 800-234-2734Fax: 724-537-9003e-mail: [email protected]

F.R. Cushioning(meets FMVSS 302)

CR SAFGUARD™ XL Fire-Resistant Cushioning

Both seats above were subjected to BS 5852 Source 2 Ignition.



for all types of buses. It designs, tests and buildsseats for every type of bus, coach, van and schoolbus. Freedman offers integrated 3-point seat beltsfor buses and coaches.The company offers the “GO” seat, a thinner,

customizable, modular seat; and Sanitized®anti-microbial Grab Rails. Freedman Seating isalso a partner with USSC/4One as a supplier ofseats to the heavy-duty bus and BRT market.Within Freedman is the FSTL testing facility.FSTL is an A2LA accredited lab, capable of in-vehicle testing and safety evaluations. 12

Holdsworth Fabrics (Camira)2476 Waldorf Court, NWGrand Rapids, MI 49544 USA616-288-0655 FAX: 616-288-0656E-Mail: [email protected]: www.camirafabrics.comCompany Officers: Steve Bullas, Chairman andCEO; Andrew Schofield, Group Sales andMarketing Director; Nick Brown, FinanceDirector; Rune Akselberg, President, CamiraGroup Inc.; Terry Colbert, Director of SalesProducts: Camira, formerly known asHoldsworth Fabrics, offers total fabric solutionsfor passenger transport interiors. Camira’s manu-facturing expertise covers not just the traditionalplush wool moquettes, but also lighter weight pilefabrics with added design and texture, contempo-rary flat weave fabrics for seating, and a wide

range of ancillary interior trim fabrics for othersurfaces within motorcoaches.The Elements collection is a modern twist on

traditional wool moquettes available to orderwith just a four week leadtime for a 55 yard min-imum order quantity. Added fabric protectioncomes from Defender, Camira’s triple actionlong-lasting fabric treatment, an invisible protec-tive shield making fabrics anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-stain. Camira is represented by Wagner & Associates

(tel 919-552-4466) and BusTex Corp (tel 303-404-0890). 15

LaFrance IndustriesSee Ad On Page 53290 Old Anderson RoadLaFrance, SC 29656 USA864-646-3213 FAX: 864-646-4235E-Mail: [email protected] Officers: Judson Boehmer, President;Jeff Goldwasser, Sales ExecutiveProducts: U.S. made seating fabrics for all transitand motorcoach requirements. 15

Lantal Textiles, Inc.See Ad Bottom RightP.O. Box 965Rural Hall, NC 27045 USA905-823-9427Website: www.lantal.com

Products: Lantal Textiles is a Swiss companyspecializing in the weaving of high-quality, well-designed velvet pile fabrics for the bus industry.Though Lantal has been in business in Europe forover 68 years, the company first introduced thesevelvet pile fabrics to North America in 1997.Lantal is a supplier of upholstery and companionfabrics to bus and seating manufacturers. 11

National Seating Co./CVG200 National Dr.Vonore, TN 37885 USA800-222-7328 FAX: 423-884-4859Website: www.cvgrp.comProducts: Motorcoach driver and passengerseats. New 4210 passenger seats feature all thecomfort and durability long associated withNational Seating with the added safety of 3-pointseat belts. All National Seating products are pro-duced in the company’s Vonore, TN, facility. 13

RECARO North America4120 Luella LaneAuburn Hills, MI 48326 USA248-484-3203 FAX: 248-364-3806E-Mail: [email protected]: www.recaro-automotive.comCompany Officers: Elmar Deegener, VicePresident of Seating; Markus Kussmaul, VicePresident of Commercial Seating; Emil Kreycik,

Bergen Auto Upholstery Co., Inc.375 North Street, Suite U, Teterboro, NJ 07608Toll Free: 800-732-8750 Phone: (201) 457-9100Fax: (201)457-9103e-mail: [email protected]: www.bergenseat.com

Call, fax or e-mail us today for a quick quote, and see for yourselfwhy Bergen Auto Upholstery is your seating headquarters.

r TeterborBer r

If Your Seats Are Not Becoming To You,They Should Be Coming To

BERGEN AUTO UPHOLSTERY

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General ManagerProducts: RECARO has been manufacturingseating products for over 100 years. RECARO isan industry leader in the manufacturing of highquality, ergonomically correct seating that willsupport customers through the long demandinghours of operation they perform. RECARO prod-ucts are designed to optimize comfort and reducefatigue by offering superb support. 15

Sardo Bus & Coach UpholsterySee Ads On Pages 25 and 47503 S. Main AvenueMinneola, FL 34715 USA800-654-3824

FAX: 352-242-9290Website: www.sardobus.comProducts: Sardo Bus & Coach Upholstery’scraftsmanship and customer service havemade it an industry leader in motorcoach andtransit refurbishment. Sardo’s ProfessionalMobile Road Crew provides experienced, on-site installation service at customers’ facili-ties. This minimizes down time, and givescustomers personal attention to every detail.Sardo also manufactures custom fit seat cov-ers for mail out service with instructions andseat cover liners for installation. With seatcovers, sidewalls, flooring and more, Sardohelps with all interior objectives. Sardo offers

warranties and guarantees its workmanship foras long as a customer owns its coach. 14

Willingham Inc.See Ad On Page 4420008 244th Ave. S.E.Maple Valley, WA 98038 USA425-432-9867 FAX: 425-432-3668Website: www.willinghaminc.comProducts: Seatcovers, complete interiors,floors, step tread kits, parcel rack door and baydoor pistons, foam rubber replacement kits, netpockets, cup holders, grab handles and acces-sories. Seat parts for all models. 12

Cardinal Buses AddsTemsa TS 45

Cardinal Buses, Inc., located inMiddlebury, IN, has been operating as afamily-owned charter company since1923. The company started with a five-passenger Model T touring car, but overthe years has expanded service andgrown its fleet to 45 vehicles.

The company now operates threefacilities: Middle bury, IN, Mishawaka,IN, and Holland, MI. According to DanShoup, Cardinal Buses vice president,the company offers transportation serv-ices for company parties, group travel,airport shuttles, and university andschool trips in a variety of seating capac-ities. In 2009, Cardinal took delivery ofits first Temsa TS 35 mid-size coach. InNovember 2014, Cardinal took deliveryof its first Temsa TS 45 full-size coach.The Temsa TS 45 is equipped with

110V plugs, USB ports, an auxiliarypreheater, a cordless mic, an A/V sys-tem, side & driver shades, and wood-grain rubber flooring. For more infor-mation on Cardinal Buses, visitwww.cardinalbuses.com.CH Bus Sales, Inc. is the exclusive

distributor of Temsa motorcoaches inthe United States and Canada. It is aprivately owned corporation. Temsa isa fully owned subsidiary of SabanciHolding, a financial and industrialgroup in Turkey.

Visit www.chbussales.comfor more information.




By Steve Perlstein, Sales/Marketing Manager, Mohawk Lifts

The vehicle lifts that are supporting the tour, transit and specialty vehi-cles in your garage can represent one of the most productive tools in yourshop, or potentially one of the most dangerous pieces of equipment yourtechs use, if not used and maintained properly. Garage lifts are productivemachines to help you to repair and diagnose vehicles faster, yet lifts, likeyour buses, have specific inspection and maintenance requirements.

If there is an incident in your garage involving a vehicle lift, OSHA asksthree questions: What did you know? When did you know it? What didyou do about it? No shop manager wants to be on the receiving end ofthese questions; therefore, complying with the American NationalStandards Institute (ANSI), Occupational Safety and HealthAdministration (OSHA), and Public Employees Occupational Safety andHealth (PEOSH) requirements ensures vehicle lifts are kept at the highestpossible safety level, hefty noncompliance fines are avoided and techni-cians are kept safe.

1. BUY CERTIFIED LIFTS & OPTIONSThere’s one and only one nationally recognized safety standard for vehicle

lifts: ANSI-ALI/ALCTV, administered by theAutomotive Lift Institute (www.autolift.org). The Automotive Lift Institute, working though

ETL testing procedures, involves rigorous third-party testing verifying lift manufacturers meet andcomply with current ANSI requirements for liftsas defined by the International Building Code,which mandates that lifts be third party tested tomeet these safety requirements. Most every state

has building code rules that shops have to follow. To verify equipment status,look for the gold ALI/ETL certification tag next to the lift’s controls. Beware that using an uncertified option voids the lift’s certification. It’s sim-

ple; if the optional accessory isn’t certified then the lift isn’t certified.ANSI/ALI standards for Operation, Inspection, and Maintenance (ALOIM 8.Replacement Parts) as well as Installation and Service (ALIS 6.2.6 RepairService Parts) require all accessories, such as rolling jacks, truck adaptors,lighting for runway lifts, and special lifting pads, to be ALI/ETL certified. Although certification is good for the life of the lift, older models may not

meet the most current standards, which typically change every five to sevenyears. Some lifts and options that were certified in 2000 wouldn’t pass the2011 standard.

2. NO LOCKS = LIABILITYYou’ve heard the phrase, “Never use a jack

without a jack-stand.” The same is true forvehicle lifts. Always raise the vehicle and thenlower it onto the lift’s mechanical locks as sug-gested by the manufacturer and required byANSI. Refer to the ALI safety manual Lifting itRight or the manufacturer’s operating instruc-tions for detailed information. When you’re walking through the shop,

make sure techs are using the proper procedure.An easy way to visually verify the locks arebeing used is to include a weight gauge on yourlift. The weight gauge must be made by thesame manufacturer so it will be properly calibrated to the lift cylinder size. When you walk by a lift and the weight gauge reads anything but “0”, the

tech in that bay hasn’t lowered the lift onto the mechanical locks.

3. IT’S EASY TO OVERLOADManufacturers of the most common lift —

two-post, side-by-side lifts — mandate thatnone of the four swing arms be overloaded. Unfortunately, overloading of lifts happens

more than realized. For example, some maythink that a 12,000 pound-rated lift that’sloaded with a 10,500 pound paratransit vehicleisn’t near capacity. They would be wrong. This paratransit vehicle has a front axle

weight of 3,500 pounds and a back axle weightof 7,000 pounds. The per-arm capacity of a12,000 pound-rated lift is 3,000 pounds. If theheavier rear end of a vehicle weighs 7,000pounds, each swing arm needs a minimum armcapacity of 3,500 pounds for safe lifting.Multiply this example by four swing arms

and the minimum capacity of your lift for thisvehicle should be 14,000 pounds.It’s easy to see why two-post, side-by-side

lifts are often overloaded, even though the totallift capacity hasn’t been exceeded. Lookaround your shop and determine if any lifts arebeing overloaded based on the heavy rear ends of certain vehicles, and divid-ing total lift capacity by four swing arms.

4. INSPECT EQUIPMENT ANNUALLYANSI/Automotive Lift Institute ALCTV Standard for Automotive Lifts

“Safety Requirements for Construction, Testing, and Validation” requires techni-cians perform a daily operational safety check. ANSI also requires an annualinspection by a qualified individual. Failing to do so exposes your shop to liabil-ities that could be associated with an injury, if an accident were to happen. Contactthe manufacturer or garage equipment sales company to schedule an inspection.

5. TRAINING AND TESTINGLike any product, lifts vary in style, type, capability, longevity, and warran-

ty. ANSI requires technicians to be trained annually in proper lift use. This mayseem unnecessary, yet think of everyone who drives a forklift in your facilitywho is required to take and pass an annual safety test. The test results are addedto each employee’s file in case of a forklift incident.The same applies to vehicle lifts. Contact the Automotive Lift Institute, your

lift supplier or a local lift inspection company for a copy of the 20-minuteLifting it Right video hosted by legendary NASCAR driver Richard “TheKing” Petty, and his son, Kyle Petty. Require technicians to watch the videoand pass a written test on lift operation and safety.

Visit www.mohawklifts.com for more information.

Mohawk Lifts Offers GuidelinesFor Maintaining Safety Standards And Maintenance Requirements

ADVERTORIAL


ARI-HETRA12775 Randolph Ridge LaneManassas, VA 20109 USA703-359-6265FAX: 703-359-6405Web Site: www.ari-hetra.comProducts: ARI-HETRA is a U.S. manufacturer of afull line of heavy-duty vehicle maintenance equip-ment. Known for products including its mobilelifting system, exhaust extraction system andheavy-duty wheel service equipment. ARI-HETRAMobile Lifting Systems are capable of servicing alltypes of heavy-duty vehicles and equipment. Thereare no limitations regarding vehicle weight, wheel-base or configuration. 08

Gray Manufacturing Company, Inc.3501 S. Leonard Rd.St. Joseph, MO 64503 USA816-233-6121 FAX: 816-233-7251Web Site: www.grayusa.comProducts: Gray Manufacturing is a family-ownedand operated company. It designs, manufactures,sells and services innovative, high-quality and reli-able professional service equipment for the auto-motive, truck, and service vehicle industries. Grayoffers a complete line of professional serviceequipment including: mobile column lifts, wheellift systems, transmission and component jacks, airjacks, floor jacks, vehicle support stands, shoppresses, wheel dollies, fluid handlers, forklift jacks,oil filter crushers, and truck tire changers. 09

MAHA USA2404 East Highway 134Pinckard, AL 36371 USA866-624-2872FAX: 334-983-1094E-Mail: [email protected]

Web Site: www.maha-usa.comCompany Officers: Wolfgang Raffler, ManagingDirectorProducts: MAHA USA unites German engineer-ing with American craftsmanship to produceheavy-duty mobile column lifts. MAHA USA man-ufactures vehicle lifting systems from its 90,000-square-foot production facility in Pinckard, AL. Itswireless mobile column lifts are powered by state-of-the-art ball-screw technology. MAHA USA alsooffers a full line of heavy-duty workshop equip-ment consisting of pantograph and parallelogramlifts, wheel lifting systems, various floor, transmis-sion and clutch jacks, wheel service equipment,emission testers, and PBBT-certified brake testers.15

Mohawk LiftsSee Ad At Right65 Vrooman Ave. \ P.O. Box 110Amsterdam, NY 12010 USA518-842-1431 FAX: 518-842-1289E-Mail: [email protected] Site: www.mohawklifts.comCompany Officers: Steve Perlstein, Sales &Marketing ManagerProducts: Mohawk offers environmentally safeabove-ground lifts ranging from 6,000 to 240,000pound capacities. Mohawk manufactures two postlifts, four post lifts, scissor lifts, turf lifts, mobilecolumn lifts, parallelogram lifts and many liftaccessories. As a lift supplier for garages; inde-pendent shops; and government, state, utility andfleet lifting requirements, Mohawk’s popularity isbased on a combination of safety systems, design,construction, and an inclusive warranty. MohawkLifts are designed, welded and manufactured in theU.S.A. 15




Omer North America Inc.2300 Speers Rd.Oakville, Ontario L6L 2X8 CANADA877-799-5438 FAX: 905-891-1214Web Site: www.karliftsolutions.comProducts: Omer North America offers the KARLIFT Pantograph lift in capacities of 44,000,55,000, 66,000, 77,000, 88,000 and 99,000 lb. TheKAR LIFT is available in runway lengths of 23’,26’, 30’, 33’, 36’, 48.5’ long powder coated or com-pletely hot-dipped galvanized. All of these modelshave been ALI/ETL certified. Omer has built KARLIFTS up to 57’ long and 121,000 lb. capacity.Omer holds several patented design features thatinclude a “Volumetric Control” that eliminates allelectronics on the lift, and AOS energy absorbingmaterial that eliminates the need for the lift scissorsto have “slide” to eliminate stress. For customerswho prefer electronic synchronization, Omer offersa four motor/pump control with industrial incli-nometers mounted on each scissor. 13

Rotary Lift2700 Lanier DriveMadison, IN 47250 USA800-640-5438 FAX: 800-578-5438E-Mail: [email protected]

Web Site: www.rotarylift.comProducts: Rotary Lift is a manufacturer of vehiclelifts designed to increase technician productivityand fleet uptime. Rotary Lift offers a full line ofheavy-duty vehicle lifts for servicing the wide rangeof buses on the road today. The line includes modu-lar inground; mobile column; scissor; parallelo-gram; and four-post lifts.The new MOD35 is thenext generation of Rotary Lift’s MOD30 modular,environmentally friendly heavy-duty inground lift.More than 1,100 MOD30 lifts have been installedsince the product’s introduction in 2002. RotaryLift’s patented universal style lifting saddles makeinground lift set-up faster and easier. Rotary Lift’sMach™ family of mobile column lifts can be usedvirtually anywhere to service almost any vehicle.Wired and wireless communication options areavailable. Rotary Lift is a Vehicle Service Group(VSG) brand. VSG’s global headquarters and ISO9001-certified North American manufacturing facil-ities are in Madison, IN. 15

Sefac, Inc.23 Fontana Ln., Suite 109Baltimore, MD 21237 USA443-730-1023 E-Mail: [email protected]

Website: www.sefac.comProducts: SEFAC, Inc. is a manufacturer ofheavy-duty mobile vehicle lifts, jack stands,transmission jacks and accessories. It also servic-es and refurbishes SEFAC brand lifts, as well assupplying parts for all lifts. 14

Stertil-Koni200 Log Canoe CircleStevensville, MD 21666 USA410-643-9001 FAX: 410-643-8901E-Mail: [email protected] Site: www.stertil-koni.comProducts: Stertil-Koni, based in Stevensville, MD,has an extensive inventory of lifts, and workingthrough an exclusive network of distributors,Stertil-Koni sells its complete line of heavy-dutyvehicle lifts throughout the United States andCanada. Stertil-Koni has expanded manufacturingof its broad range of mobile column lifts in theUnited States with manufacturing facilities inStreator, IL.

Stertil-Koni manufactures all types of heavy-duty lifts, including mobile column lifts, platformlifts, parallelogram lifts, in-ground axle engaginglifts, and two-post lifts. Stertil is ISO 9001 certi-fied, and most lifts are ALI/ETL certified. 12

Four bus drivers for Indian Trails, Inc., wererecently honored with the company's MillionMile Award for driving more than 1 millionmiles without an avoidable accident — and oneof the four was recognized for safely driving 2million miles.Indian Trails operates 33 daily scheduled

motorcoach routes throughout Michigan'supper and lower peninsulas and into Chicago,Duluth, and Milwaukee. Five routes are operat-ed in partnership with the MichiganDepartment of Transportation. In addition, thecompany operates a large group charter busi-ness, as well as the Michigan Flyer-AirRideshuttle service, which makes 12 round trips aday between East Lansing, Ann Arbor andDetroit Metro Airport."Reaching these milestones accident-free is a

real testament to the professionalism and skillsof our drivers, and our foremost goal of gettingpassengers safely to their destinations," saidIndian Trails President Gordon Mackay.This year's Million Mile Award recipients

are Carl Briggs, Luis Garcia, and JerryVanDeusen, Jr. The Two Million Mile Awardrecipient is Phillip "Al" Kline. They join 24previous award winners since Indian Trailsestablished the recognition in 1989. The fourdrivers were honored at a luncheon where theyreceived crystal awards and special jackets andname badges recognizing their million-mileachievements. In addition, the drivers eachreceived a State of Michigan Special Tributesigned by Gov. Rick Snyder, Sen. Joe Hune,and Rep. Ben Glardon.For perspective, 1 million miles equates to 40

trips around the Earth, two trips to the moonand back, or 180 round trips between New Yorkand Los Angeles. For the motorcoach drivers, itmeans averaging 50,000 miles annually for 20years. The number of miles driven by eachmotorcoach driver is tracked through FederalDepartment of Transportation records main-tained by the company.Indian Trails Vice President Chad Cushman

estimates that each one-million-mile driver hassafely transported about 300,000 passengers totheir destinations, and made 6,500 trips. Kline,the two-million-mile driver, has safely carriedsome 600,000 passengers to their destinations.

"Our million-mile drivers are true profes-sionals," said Daniel Tomlinson, Indian Trails'director of safety and training, "and they alsoserve as instructors for new drivers coming intothe company. Among the skills they teach arefive keys to good driving. The first four involvereally paying attention to what's going onaround you on the road at all times. The fifth ismaking sure other drivers see you."Indian Trails, Inc., which has served as

Michigan's premiere, family-owned, inter-city motorcoach carrier for more than 100years, and is based in Owosso, MI. Visitwww.indiantrails.com for more information.

Indian Trails Honors 4 Bus Drivers For Safely Transporting 1.5 Million Passengers

Million-mile safe drivers Luis Garcia, Carl Briggs, Al Kline, and Jerry VanDeusen Jr. were honored byIndian Trails bus company and the state of Michigan for collectively transporting 1.5 million passengers

more than 5 million miles without an accident. (PRNewsFoto/Indian Trails, Inc.)



Home of the Best Full-ServiceTravel Plaza in Northern Illinois

Featuring…

(815) 562-5840

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

Designated Bus Parking and Pull-Thru Fueling Island

Bus Drivers & TourGuides Eat free!Mini-Mall — 2 Stores

with over 5,000 sq. ft. of shopping!

ATM, Major Credit Cards accepted.

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

OPEN 24 HOURSPlease call ahead!

(815) 561-9595

Seating for 40, Specialty Sandwiches,Stromboli, Fresh Salads & Pizza,

Hand-Dipped Ice Cream!

Montreal MCI Sales And Service Center

Moves To Expanded Location

MCI will move its Montreal MCI Sales and Service Center to anexpanded location at 3500 St. Patrick St. The new downtown location, a few miles from the current site, is

easily accessible from the expressway and allows MCI to expand itsparts, service and repair capacity. The new location will also featurenew MCI and Setra coaches; pre-owned coach inventory; parts forMCI, Setra and other-make coaches and buses; and an MCI MobileMaintenance unit.The center will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The

telephone number remains 1-800-663-3328. During the move, oper-ators may continue to schedule appointments by calling ServiceManager Marc-Andre Ouellet or by emailing [email protected]. MCI plans to retain and add to its present staff toaccommodate recent sales growth.

The new site will offers state-of-the-art equipment and diagnos-tics. Renovations to the new site, which have begun, will continueover several months. The new location includes on-site fueling;complete repair and retrofit; quick-service oil change station andlavatory services and parts pick up counter. MCI is adding a paintbooth; an indoor bus wash station and a drivers’ area with loungechairs, television, Wi-Fi and refreshments; and a customer partspick-up counter.The MCI Mobile Maintenance unit will be manned by a techni-

cian and will carry diagnostic tools, repair essentials and partsrequired for the inspection, maintenance and repair of all motorcoach makes and models. The MCI unit will travel to serveMontreal-area customers at their own facilities Monday throughFriday, with services including roadside diagnostics, brakes, airleaks, lights, belts, hose replacements and more.MCI also plans to implement Quality at the Source at the service

center. QAS is a lean-principle program MCI has employed at itsmanufacturing plants. The new Montreal location follows last year’s Des Plaines, IL,

service center move and is part of MCI’s plan to expand its servicecapabilities at existing sites. In addition to Montreal and DesPlaines, MCI operates service centers in Winter Garden, FL; LosAlamitos, CA; Blackwood, NJ; and Dallas, TX. All MCI ServiceCenters offer complete mechanical repair services, including chas-sis, suspension, brakes, air conditioning and steering; coach modifi-cations; paint and body repair; wheelchair lift installations; insur-ance estimating and appraisal services; and immediate access toreplacement parts on-site. MCI service centers are also approved forDetroit Diesel, Allison Transmission, ZF ASTronic Transmissionand HVAC systems warranty service.

Visit www.mcicoach.comfor more information.


MOTORCOACHESBusline Vehicle Showcase:


MOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHES


Prevost

Prevost H3-45With its striking appearance, the H-Series illustrates Prevost’s pas-

sion for continuous improvement. Prevost AWARE Adaptive CruiseBraking, the Prevost Electronic Stab ility Program, and the PrevostWelded Rail System take safety to a new level.

Volvo’s D13 engine has smooth, quiet operation and drastically low-ers emission of air pollutants. The Volvo D13 with advanced SCR exceedsEPA emissions standards to bypass the industry in terms of environ-mental care.

Using its multiplexed architecture, Prevost moved controls for keyfunctions from the dashboard to the steering wheel, helping toincrease safety for all on board. Prevost’s Cluster showcases an insight-ful Driver Information Display (DID), providing significant advantages todrivers and operators. Important information is easily communicated,offering several valuable tools such as fuel data management, data log-ging and clear text display messages.

Visually, the H-Series grabs public attention and embodies thePrevost brand and its unique DNA in a highly recognizable and memo-rable way. Its elegance and prestige confirm a company’s status andreputation.

Model............................................................................................Prevost H3-45Seating Capacity .............................................................................................56Length ...............................................................................................................45’Width ...............................................................................................................102”Height........................................................................................................146.25”Wheelbase......................................................................................................314”Overhang (front/rear) ......................................................................75” - 107”Inside Height (min./max.)..........................................Floor to Ceiling - 77”Turning Radius ............................................................................................45.6’Tire Size..........................................................................................315/80 R22.5Engine................EPA Compliant Volvo D13 w/DPF and SCR, 435 HP, 13L Transmission ..................Allison World, 5th Gen., 6-Speed Auto. Trans.;

Volvo I-Shift, 12-Speed Automated Manual Brakes..........................................................All-Wheel Disc Brakes with ABSFuel Tank Capacity .......................................................................230 U.S. gal.Air Conditioning..........................................................................Bitzer 4FNCYBaggage Capacity ............................................................................580 cu. ft.Wheelchair Lift Option...............................Interchangeable Swap & PlugSteering ........................................Steering Wheel w/Integrated Controls,

Tilt & Telescopic, and Integral Power Steering,Variable Assistance Power Steering

Suspension ..........Wide-Stance Tuned Suspension w/Liftable Tag Axle

Prevost

Prevost X3-45 The X3-45 carries on the Prevost tradition of innovation, showcas-

ing advanced technologies. The Prevost Welded Rail System and PrevostElectronic Stability Program take safety to a new level.

Volvo’s D13 engine has smooth, quiet operation and drastically low-ers emission of air pollutants. The Volvo D13 with advanced SCR exceedsEPA emissions standards.

The Prevost X3-45 has the longest wheelbase in the touring coachmarket (334.5 in.), giving passengers a smooth ride, and features thelargest under-floor surface area (139 sq. ft.) in the industry. At 134 inch-es, the Prevost X3-45 has the lowest overall height of all seated coach-es, providing easy access to virtually any pick-up or drop-off site.

Equipped with the Prevost Advanced Multiplex System, the PrevostX3-45 delivers dependability and maximizes operational efficiency. Theuser-friendly system features a multitude of benefits, including easiermaintenance, faster troubleshooting and quick and accurate diagnosisof problems with vital components.

Prevost 35 Gagnon Blvd., Ste-Claire, Quebec GOR 2VO CANADA

Tel: 418-883-3391 Toll-Free: 877-773-8678 Fax: 418-883-4157 Website: www.prevostcar.com

Model ............................................................................................Prevost X3-45Seating Capacity .............................................................................................55Length ...............................................................................................................45’Width ...............................................................................................................102”Height..............................................................................................................134”Wheelbase .................................................................................................334.5”Overhang (front/rear) ...........................................................72.30” - 86.60”Inside Height (min./max.) .........................................Floor to Ceiling - 80”Turning Radius ............................................................................................42.6’Tire Size..........................................................................................315/80 R22.5Engine ................EPA Compliant Volvo D13 w/DPF and SCR, 435 HP, 13LTransmission ..................Allison World, 5th Gen., 6-Speed Auto. Trans.;

Volvo I-Shift, 12-Speed Automated ManualBrakes..........................................................All-Wheel Disc Brakes with ABSFuel Tank Capacity ........................................................................192 U.S. gal.Air Conditioning..........................................................................Bitzer 4FNCYBaggage Capacity .............................................................................513 cu. ft.Wheelchair Lift Option...............................Interchangeable Swap & PlugSteering ........................................Steering Wheel w/Integrated Controls,

Tilt & Telescopic, and Integral Power Steering,Variable Assistance Power Steering Available

Suspension ..........Wide-Stance Tuned Suspension w/Liftable Tag Axle



MOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESBusline Vehicle Showcase:


Prevost

Volvo 9700

The Volvo 9700 is a coach that makes an impression. A modern exte-rior with characteristic Volvo feel is matched by an elegant interior fea-turing soft, gentle shapes and well-designed trim.

Exceptional comfort abounds throughout the Volvo 9700.Electronically controlled air suspension and a rigid frame design makefor a confident, reassuring ride. A low interior noise level and comfort-able seats also ensure an enjoyable journey, and large tinted windowsprovide excellent visibility all around.

High-efficiency brakes, electronic stability program, three-pointseat belts and Volvo-unique impact protection for the driver and theother road users are just some examples of its safety equipment. Withall its service points grouped together logically, the Volvo 9700 is easyto maintain. Highly integrated components – like the D13 engine and I-Shift Transmission – simplify service scheduling and make for conven-ient “one-stop shopping” when vehicles require maintenance.

The I-Shift is an intelligent transmission system that combines therobustness and dependability of a manual gearbox with the comfortand convenience of an automatic transmission. Its latest generationensures substantially improved performance and fuel economy.Productivity, efficient design and safety define the Volvo 9700.

Model .................................................................................................Volvo 9700Seating Capacity .............................................................................................54Length ...............................................................................................................45’Width ...............................................................................................................102”Height..............................................................................................................145”Wheelbase ......................................Between front and tag axle - 254.84”Overhang (front/rear) .....................................................................112” - 109”Inside Height (min./max.) .................................Front - 77.2”; Rear - 72.8”Turning Radius ..........................................................................................42.83’Tire Size..........................................................................................315/80 R22.5Engine ................EPA Compliant Volvo D13 w/DPF and SCR, 435 HP, 13LTransmission.........................Volvo I-Shift, 12-Speed Automated ManualBrakes...............................All-Wheel Disc Brakes w/ABS double circuitryFuel Tank Capacity........................................................................210 U.S. gal.Air Conditioning .........................................................Carrier - AC353 GenIVBaggage Capacity................................400 cu. ft. (under-floor capacity)Wheelchair Lift Option .........................................................................Built inSteering .....................Tilt and Telescopic, and Integral Power SteeringSuspension ..........Wide-Stance Tuned Suspension w/Liftable Tag Axle

Prevost

Prevost X3-45 Commuter Coach

The X3-45 Commuter Coach is designed from the Prevost platformknown for durability, reliability, and lifetime value. The X3-45 coaches areconstructed to be used in a demanding commuter application whichrequires reliable vehicle performance, and the coach has been 12-yearStructural Integrity Tested. Developed with a focus on transit operation con-cerns such as passenger safety, accessibility, low operation costs and easeof maintenance, the X3-45 Commuter features a very reliable structure.

The Prevost Electronic Stability Program is the first system withrollover and under/over-steer protection and electronically compen-sates for quick reactions in adverse conditions, according to Prevost.The Prevost X3-45 includes three-point seat belts on a 20G rated weld-ed rail system for an exceptionally secure passenger environment.Passengers of the X3-45 Commuter immediately notice the large entryarea through the bi-part doors with the lowest steps and shortest stair-way, making it easier on mobility challenged passengers. Another fea-ture noticed by passengers is the high interior space – a full 80-inchesof space from floor to ceiling. Additionally, the commuter can be outfit-ted with a Wi-Fi system, state-of-the-art sound and video, and electricaloutlets at each seat to keep passengers plugged in and in touch whilecommuting.

Model .........................................................Prevost X3-45 Commuter CoachSeating Capacity .............................................................................................57Length ...............................................................................................................45’Width ...............................................................................................................102”Height..............................................................................................................134”Wheelbase .................................................................................................334.5”Overhang (front/rear) .............................................................72.30”; 86.60”Inside Height (min./max.) .........................................Floor to ceiling - 80”Turning Radius ............................................................................................42.6’Tire Size..........................................................................................315/80 R22.5Engine.................EPA Compliant Volvo D13 w/DPF and SCR, 435 HP,13L Transmission ....................Allison World, 5th gen., 6-speed auto. trans.Brakes...........................................................................All-Wheel disc. w/ ABSFuel Tank Capacity ........................................................................192 U.S. gal.Air Conditioning..........................................................................Bitzer 4FNCYBaggage Capacity .............................................................................513 cu. ft.Wheelchair Lift Option...............................Interchangeable swap & plugSteering.........................................Steering wheel w/integrated controls,

Tilt & telescopic, and integral power steering,(Variable Assistance Power Steering Available)

Suspension.................................................Wide-stance tuned suspensionw/liftable tag axle



AAAO HR HAO ORM RR ESSH SESEHHM EEC AOACR CC HEC SM CHTMOMMM TT ROT RMotor Coach Industries

MCI J4500

Reliability Driven: The MCI J4500 continues to win fans for itsgood looks, premium workhorse reliability, low total cost of oper-ation, and significant fuel economy gains. Now, the MCI J4500includes a new ZF independent front suspension and a Bendixbraking system, to deliver an unbelievable ride, car-like controland ease of service.

Motor Coach Industries; 200 East Oakton St., Des Plaines, IL 60018; 847-285-2000; 800-428-7626; Fax: 847-285-2013 • Email: [email protected];

Website: www.mcicoach.com

Motor Coach Industries

MCI D4505

The workhorse. Reliable and economical, the 40- and 45-footMCI D-Series coaches consistently deliver low-cost, high-quailityperformance. Built with MCI quaility to deliver a unique combina-tion of dependability and passenger comfort.



Model...............................................................................................MCI D-SeriesSeating Capacity ......................................................................................55; 47Length.......................................................................................................45’; 40’Height..............................................................................................................137”Headroom. .................................................................................................78.25”Turning Radius ..................................................................................47’; 44.70’Wheelbase (s).....................................................................................318”; 279”Floor - Low or Standard...................................................................StandardEngine ....................................................................................Cummins ISL, ISXTransmission.................................................................................Allison B500Chassis .............................................................................................MonocoqueFuel Tank Capacity ................................................................................164 gal.Fuel Options ................................................................................................ULSDBrakes.............................Air or Hydraulic: Meritor all-wheel EX-225 discGVWR...........................................................................50,000 lbs.; 46,000 lbs.

Model ..................................................................................................MCI J4500Seating Capacity .............................................................................................56Length .........................................................................................................45.58’Height ........................................................................................................140.74”Headroom ..................................................................................................78.25”Turning Radius ...................................................................................40 ft 11 inWheelbase......................................................................................................315”Floor - Low or standard ...................................................................StandardEngine Options .......................................Cummins ISX 12L, 425 HP engine

w/engine brake; optional Detroit Diesel DD 13

Transmission................................................................Allison B500 6-speed automatic transmission with prognostics

capability with fuel saving(RELS-Reduced Engine Load at Stop)

Chassis .............................................................................................MonocoqueFuel Tank Capacity ................................................................................183 gal.Fuel Options ................................................................................................ULSDBrakes....................................................Bendix® ADB22X™ Air Disc BrakesGVWR ..................................................................................................54,000 lbs.


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AAAO HR HAO ORM RR ESSH SESEHHM EEC AOACR CC HEC SM CHTMOMMM TT ROT R


MCI Commuter Coach

Designed for the highway. The MCI Commuter Coach hasearned its position as a leader in longer-distance express servicefor public transit by offering low cost of ownership; a lower per-seat cost with 42 percent more seating capacity versus a typical40-foot transit bus; and an excellent MDBF rate, measured as theNo. 1 performer with the fewest failures per vehicle among all bustypes.




Setra S 417 TC

With luxury plus personalized design, operators can differenti-ate their fleet with the Daimler-built Setra S 417, now with morechoices including an optional second door; 2-1, reversiblie execu-tive or club-corner lounge seating; premium fabrics; galleys; andthe optional TopSky and rear window. The front collision guard,cornering lights and rain/light sensors are just a few of the fea-tures contributing to the model’s safety standards.



Model ...........................................................................................TopClass S 417Seating Capacity .............................................................................................56Length ...............................................................................................................45’Height.................................................................................................................12’Headroom .......................................................................................................6.6’Turning Radius ..........................................................................................481.7”Wheelbase.....................................................................................................280”Floor - Low or Standard...................................................................StandardEngine .............................................Mercedes-Benz OM 471 EPA 10 450 hpTransmission..............................Allison B 500R or, ZF Astronic 12-speedChassis .............................................................................Monocoque IntegralFuel Tank Capacity................................................................................180 gal.Fuel Options................................................................Ultra low sulfur dieselBrakes - Air or Hydraulic.................................................Knorr disc brakesGVWR...................................................................................................50,534 lbs.

Model ..............................................MCI® Commuter Coach D4500/D4000Available in CNG, Hybrid & Clean-Diesel

Seating Capacity........................................57 Passengers; 49 PassengersLength.......................................................................................................45’; 40’Height..............................................................................................................137”Headroom ..................................................................................................78.25”Turning Radius ..................................................................................47’; 44.70’Wheelbase...........................................................................................318”; 279”Engine Options....................................................Cummins ISL, ISX or ISL GTransmission ...........................Allison B500, Allison EP 50, Hybrid driveChassis .............................................................................................MonocoqueFuel Tank Capacity .................................................164 gal. CNG 114.6 (DGE)

Diesel Gallon EquivalentFuel Options..........................................................Clean-diesel, hybrid, CNGBrakes...........................................Air, disc with unitized hubs and presetGVWR...........................................................................50,000 lbs.; 46,000 lbs.


0115Busline.FINAL_Layout 1 12/22/14 11:02 AM Page 61



MOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESABC Companies

Van Hool TX

With its retooled chassis design, the TX motorcoach featuresexpanded baggage capacity and a host of luxury appointments.Offering advanced technology and European design, the Van HoolTX class delivers high-style to American operators.

For high-end tour operators, the TX 40’ and 45’ coach modelsintegrate Van Hool’s most advanced European technology anddesign, now offering many new standard features including thesehighlights: taller overall height (12’ 2 1/4”) expands underfloorbaggage capacity to 464.39 cu. ft.; baggage door seals mountedon luggage doors for less maintenance; Detroit Diesel DD13 (450HP) EPA 2013 engine; Goodyear Marathon LHS II 315/80 R22.5 + HLtires; power driver’s toll-window, heated, with tinted temperedglass; new passenger courtesy shelves in restroom back wall;exterior lighting upgraded to include integrated light clusters anddaytime running lights and static aiming lights integrated in frontbumper; interior LED lightstrips cover full length of ceiling leftand right; standard back-up camera with in-dash display; 56 VanHool Bodyline reclining passenger seats offer straighter backcushions and headrests, plus 2 up-folding armrests (fixed on wallside) and 3-point seat belts FMVSS 210 compliant; and new slidingpassenger multisets.

Standard safety features include: daytime running lights; stat-ic aiming lights; Kidde fire suppression system; back-up camera;and 3-point seat belts FMVSS 210.

Model................................................................................................Van Hool TXSeating Capacity....................40’ - 48 Passengers; 45’ - 56 PassengersLength.......................................................................................................40’; 45’Width ...............................................................................................................102”Height......................................................................................................12’ 2.25”Inside Height (min./max.) ...........................................................................77”Engine .......................Detroit Diesel DD13 (450HP) EPA 2013 – Standard;

Cummins ISX 12.9 (425 HP) EPA 2013 – OptionalTransmission .........................Allison B500 Six-Speed Automatic (Gen5)Chassis .......................................................................................Stainless SteelAir Conditioning ................Integrated HVAC system / 134a RefrigerantWheelchair Lift Option .............................................................Braun NL-502Steering................................................................ZF Variable Ratio SteeringSuspension............................Independent Front & Tag Axle Suspension

ABC Companies

Van Hool CX

Added style and enhanced features redefine the hard working,versatile Van Hool CX. Along with the introduction of sleek newbody styling, the new CX model has evolved to offer operatorsmore standard features including key safety improvements,added serviceability, interior cabin comforts and more.

For operators focused on fleet versatility, the improved CXbrings charters, tours, line hauls and more to the next level. Thenew CX45 offers a significant style upgrade and includes a widerange of expanded passenger and driver-friendly features fortours, charters and commuter operators including: updated frontand rear bumpers featuring integrated light clusters at headlightand taillight positions, and added daytime running lights; LED lug-gage compartment lighting; Detroit Diesel DD13 (EPA2013) engine;Goodyear Marathon LHS II 315/80 R22.5 + HL tires; Eberspacherhydronic L30 auxiliary heater; upgraded driver seat — ISRI6800/348 (US, self-leveling/adjustable air suspension, plusadjustable arm and headrest, 3-point automatic seat belt); 56seats/Van Hool Bodyline reclining passenger seats w/straighterback cushion and headrest, spring-loaded footrests, 2 up-foldingarmrests (fixed at wall side) and 3-point seat belts FMVSS 210compliant; and new sliding passenger multisets.

Standard safety features include: daytime running lights; stat-ic aiming lights; Kidde fire suppression; back-up camera; and 3-point seat belts FMVSS 210.

Model ...............................................................................................Van Hool CXSeating Capacity........................................................................56 PassengerLength ...............................................................................................................45’Width ...............................................................................................................102”Height ............................................................................................................11’ 6”Inside Height (min./max.) ......................................................................75.75”Engine .......................Detroit Diesel DD13 (450HP) EPA 2013 – Standard;

Cummins ISX 12.9 (425 HP) EPA 2013 Emission – Optional Transmission ........................Allison B500 Six-Speed Automatic (Gen 5)Chassis .......................................................................................Stainless SteelAir Conditioning ................Integrated HVAC system / 134a RefrigerantWheelchair Lift Option........................Braun NL-501 or Ricon (BayLift®)Steering................................................................ZF Variable Ratio SteeringSuspension............................Independent Front & Tag Axle Suspension





Glaval Bus

Glaval Legacy

The Legacy is built on the heavy-duty Freightliner S2C chassisand powered by the proven Cummins 6.7L ISB diesel engine andAllison transmission. Built with rear air-ride suspension, theLegacy is sure to impress with stylish beauty, outstanding ridequality and rugged durability.

Whether looking for first-class transportation or even publicshuttle service, the Legacy is just the answer. The Legacy can seatup to 45 passengers and is available with a wide variety of ADA-compliant paratransit options. Also available with rear luggage,overhead and under floor storage, the Legacy has the versatilityto fit all transportation needs.

Glaval Bus914 CR #1 NorthElkhart, IN 46514

800-445-2825Website: www.glavalbus.com

Model ............................................................................................Glaval LegacySeating Capacity ....................................................................................45 MaxLength................................................................................32’, 35’, 37’ and 40’Width...............................................................................................96” and 102”Height..............................................................................................................129”Engine..............................................................................Cummins 6.7L DieselTransmission ...............................Allison 2200 PTS w/Park Pawl 5-SpeedChassis.....................................................................................Freightliner S2CAir Conditioning ..............................Carrier/Mcc, ACC, Trans Air and ACTWheelchair Option.................................................Accommodates up to 14Steering ......................................................................................Tilt/TelescopicSuspension ........................................................Front Spring, Rear Air Ride

ABC Companies

Van Hool TD925

The highline Van Hool TD925 double deck coach makes a boldstatement. With passenger seating up to 81, this coach is anindustry frontrunner in reduced carbon emissions and fuel con-sumption — providing an additional 43 percent more passengercapacity and up to 486 passenger miles per gallon. Featuring anupper deck sky view rooftop, centrally located restroom, amplestorage, front and rear stairs, dual-deck entertainment systemand more, the TD925 offers one of the most innovative coachdesigns offered to the U.S. traveling public.

The proportioned steps and wide doorways provide easyaccess and easy loading and unloading from both the front andthe rear staircases. The lowered aisle and increased interiorheight enable every passenger to walk upright through thecoach. Three point seat belts are standard on all seats.Individual lighting and ventilation, together with state-of-the-art, integrated heating and air conditioning systems with upperand lower controls at each level, provide a comfortable environ-ment for all the passengers.

ABC Companies; 1506 30th Street, NW; Faribault, MN55021 USA; 507-334-1871 Fax: 507-334-0246

E-mail: [email protected]: www.abc-companies.com

Model.........................................................................................Van Hool TD925Seating Capacity...............59 Upper & 22 Lower Deck (81 Passengers);

Restroom Deletion – Add 2 seats (83 Passengers) – OptionalLength................................................................................................44’ 4-9/32”Width ...............................................................................................................102”Height ....................................................................................................13’ 1-1/16”Engine ......................................................Cummins ISX 11.9L 2010 EmissionTransmission .............................................................Allison B500R (Gen IV)Chassis .......................................................................................Stainless SteelAir Conditioning...........................Eberspacher Integrated HVAC systemWheelchair Lift Option ........................Foldable Wheelchair (ADA) Ramp

with two tie-down positions in lower deckSteering .................................................................................ZF Variable RatioSuspension...................................................Independent Front & Tag Axle





MOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESMOTORCOACHESTemsa

Temsa TS 30

The Temsa TS 30 coach is manufactured in Turkey and is dis-tributed in the United States exclusively by CH Bus Sales, Inc.The TS 30 is a fully integral designed mid-size coach that pro-vides the same level of comfort and amenities as a full sizecoach.

The TS 30 has independent front suspension and automatictransmission, contributing to a smooth, comfortable drive. Withan American driveline (Cummins/Allison), the TS 30 providespower and serviceability. These are combined with Europeanquality and craftsmanship to create a high quality driving expe-rience. It is stringently tested to ensure the highest standards.

Despite its compact dimensions, the TS 30 has a tough, inte-gral stainless steel chassis for extra durability and safety. Theluxury interior integrates a high quality heating and air condi-tioning system, abundant luggage space, a restroom and reclin-ing seats.

The TS 30 is appropriate for smaller groups and is more eco-nomical to purchase and operate than a larger coach, accordingto the company. It is fuel efficient and kind to the environmentas well as an operator’s finances.

CH Bus Sales/TEMSA1645 Lyndale Avenue N., Suite 102, Faribault, MN 55021

Phone: 507-331-7911; Fax: 507-331-1338Website: www.chbussales.com

Model...............................................................................................Temsa TS 30Seating Capacity .........................................34 passengers with restroomLength .........................................................................................................30.64’Width...........................................................................................................94.64”Height.......................................................10.89’ (including air conditioner)Engine .........................................................Cummins ISB 6.7 250 HP-EPA 13Type of Fuel ...............................................................................................DieselChassis ......................................Frameless monocoque in stainless steelAir Conditioning ...........................Full auto HVAC system/roof type unit

(27 KW cooling, 39 KW heating)Wheelchair Lift Option.................................................................................YesSteering .............................................................................................................ZFSuspension..............Independent front suspension w/shock absorber

Temsa

Temsa TS 35

The Temsa TS 35 coach is manufactured in Turkey and is dis-tributed in the United States and Canada exclusively by CH BusSales, Inc. The TS 35 is a fully integral designed mid-size coachthat provides the same level of comfort and amenities as a fullsize coach. This mid-size coach offers a luxurious and spaciousinterior for passengers and driver.

With an American driveline (Cummins/Allison), the TS 35 pro-vides power and serviceability. These are combined withEuropean quality and craftsmanship to create a high qualitydriving experience.

The TS 35 is constructed from stainless steel for extra dura-bility and safety. It is stringently tested to ensure the higheststandards. The TS 35 is appropriate for smaller groups, moreeconomical to purchase and operate than a larger coach, butwith the same high-end features, according to the company.



Model...............................................................................................Temsa TS 35Seating Capacity.........................................40 passengers with restroomLength ...............................................................................................................35’Width............................................................................................................100.4”Height ..............................................................................................................11.5’Engine .........................................................Cummins ISL 8.9 345 HP-EPA 13Type of Fuel ...............................................................................................DieselChassis ......................................Frameless monocoque in stainless steelAir Conditioning..................................Full automatic convector system/

Roof type air conditioning unit 32 KW/Carrier 05GWheelchair Lift Option.................................................................................YesSteering ....................................................................................Power SteeringSuspension .................................................Independent front suspension

w/adjustable shock absorber





Temsa

Temsa TS 45

The Temsa TS 45 is manufactured in Turkey and is distributedexclusively in the United States by CH Bus Sales, Inc. The TS 45is a fully integral full size coach constructed from stainless steeloffering strength and stability. This coach is tested to ensure thehighest quality performance.

With an American driveline (Cummins/Allison), the TS 45 pro-vides power and serviceability. These are combined withEuropean quality and craftsmanship to create a high qualitydriving experience.

This 56 passenger coach ensures the safety of passengers byoffering the highest safety features on every coach. Standardfeatures include an engine fire suppression system, lane depar-ture warning system, tire pressure monitoring system, ABS, ATC,ESC, RSC, brake pad wear monitoring and warning system, and 3-point safety belts. Also installed on this coach is laminated +tempered window glass that is an excellent safety feature.



Model...............................................................................................Temsa TS 45Seating Capacity.........................................56 passengers with restroomLength ...............................................................................................................45’Width ...............................................................................................................102”Height ..............................................................................................................11.6’Engine................................................................Cummins ISX 425 HP-EPA 13Type of Fuel ...............................................................................................DieselChassis ......................................Frameless monocoque in stainless steelAir Conditioning ...........................................Full automatic HVAC system/

6 cylinder Bitzer A/C compressorwith brushless evaporator and condenser

Wheelchair Lift Option ................................................................................YesSteering..............................................................................ZF Servocom 8098Suspension .......Independent front suspension w/2 shock absorbers;

Rear suspension w/4 shock absorbers; Tag suspension w/2 shock absorbers


From Bitimec:

Fleet Washing Made EasyEveryone knows a clean fleet is good business. The problem has

always been how to achieve that goal affordably. Bitimec’s SpeedyWash machines are the sector's leading line for busy coach and busoperators needing to provide consistently good, fast washing in gen-erally tight spaces. Bitimec has evolved the single brush wash sector with many

“firsts.” The company’s new state-of-the-art battery 626-EZ hasproven to be a workhorse of a machine, and as comfortable support-ing very large transit bus depots (such as the MTA’s Eastchesterdepot in New York), as it is supporting detail-conscious high-endcoach operators. Bitimec firsts, such as combination foam brill brushes or all-

closed-pore-foam Bus-Lite brushes, have become the standard forwashing high-end coaches, maintaining them clean with a lighttouch on the clear-coat.

A single operator walks the machine around the vehicle while itapplies soap, power-brush-washes, and rinses, using minimal waterand detergent. Turning is easy on four heavy casters, and themachine has two controls for working in two directions for betterwashing. Typically, a single operator can wash a full size coach insix to eight minutes and do so effortlessly.The Speedy Wash starter model 101-BB costs under $20,000,

needs to be connected to electricity and water and is usuallyinstalled in a fixed wash bay with a trolley line (festoon) system thatkeeps the cord and hose above the vehicle and out of the way. But the line’s forte are the market leading autonomous versions

powered by battery, diesel or hybrid power. These are totally self-contained, mobile washers that take the wash to the vehicle, frombay to bay and from indoors to outdoors. They store 112 gallons of rinse-water and 13 gallons of deter-

gent pre-soak. All functions are operated at the touch on a button,from either one of the two controls, including traction through aspring mounted centrally located traction wheel for effortless selfpropulsion. The ability to operate the machine in both directions, and to turn

the brush clockwise or counter-clockwise, allow the machine to per-form a first rate wash consistently. Effortless washing leads to morefrequent washing and cleaner fleets. When this can be achievedaffordably, in house, and have every vehicle leave the premisessparkling clean every day (even the day after a slushy snow storm),then the job is well done. Bitimec’s high-quality products are made in Florence, Italy,

where high-end craftsmanship is the norm. Market leading “produc-tion mass” with exports to 30 countries on five continents allowsBitimec to offer affordable prices for the best features. Visit www.bitimec.com for more information.

ADVERTORIAL


Tell us you saw this ad in Busline Magazine, and 1 driver and 1 tour guide will receive a

FREE MEAL!Please call ahead to the phone number listed by

the McDonald’s of your choice.

BOWMANSDALE2112 Bumble Bee Hollow Rd.Off Rt. 15 • Mechanicsburg, PA

717-697-5383CAMP HILL

4230 Trindle Road • 717-737-3896CARLISLE

60 Noble Blvd. in Super Walmart717-960-9400

608 E. High St. • 717-249-77211176 Harrisburg Pike • 717-243-7774905 Walnut Bottom Rd. • 717-249-0694

CEDAR CLIFFExit 19 off I-83 • Camp Hill, PA

717-737-6404CHAMBERSBURG

1075 Lincoln Way East • 717-263-4601NORTH CHAMBERSBURG

2891 Philadelphia Avenue (US 11 N.)717-263-2970CLEONA

493 W. Penn Avenue • 717-272-5677COLUMBIA

1788 Columbia Ave., off Rt. 30717-684-7048DILLSBURG

898 North US Rt. 15 • 717-432-9500EAST MANCHESTER

4245 North George St. • 717-266-3170ELIZABETHTOWN

1284 S. Market St. • 717-367-6471ENOLA

Enola Rd., Exit Rt. 1115 S. off Rt. 81 • 717-732-4228

EPHRATA140 N. Reading Rd.• 717-733-1660

GETTYSBURG517 S. Steinwehr Ave., Bus. Rt. 15

717-334-59201090 York Rd.• 717-337-1030

GREENCASTLERt. 16 and I-81 • 717-597-2589

HALIFAX3761 Peter's Moutain Rd.• 717-896-2535

HANOVER991 Carlisle St., Rt. 94 • 717-632-7531350 Eisenhower Dr.• 717-632-00051448 Baltimore St. • 717-630-0337

HARRISBURG2929 Paxton St. • 717-561-8050

4605 Jonestown Rd. 717-652-7035

7845 Linglestown Rd.717-545-8580

Rt. 83 and Union Deposit Rd.717-564-9320

4403 N. Front St. • 717-238-1048Harrisburg East Mall/Rt. 83 & Paxton St.

717-561-0703Eisenhower Blvd. I-283, Exit 1

717 -939-69725590 Allentown Blvd., Rt. 22Exit 26 off I-81 • 717-652-9123Kline Plaza, 101 S. 25th St.

717-232-0008Uptown Shopping Center

720 Division St. • 717-236-6226Harrisburg Airport • 717-948-39006535 Grayson Rd. in Wal-Mart

717 -561-0445HERSHEY

Rts. 39 and 322 • 611 E. Main St.,Hummelstown • 717-566-6041

JONESTOWNRt 72 & I-81 • 610-562-8462

LANCASTER1880 Hempstead Rd. • 717-509-6988Willow Valley Square • 717-464-51191829 Oregon Pike • 717-569-78981434 Manheim Pike • 717-394-3417

Rt. 30 and Centerville Rd.Lancaster, PA • 717-393-952368 East Town Mall, Rt. 30ELancaster, PA • 717-394-8957

1755 Columbia Ave.Millersville Exit off Rt. 30, Rt. 462

717-397-5112575 N. Franklin St., next to McCuskey

High School • 717-394-79382034 Lincoln Hwy East in Wal-Mart

717-390-1099King & Water Streets • 717-299-6699

Manor Shopping Center1296 Millersville Pk. • 717-293-5706

LEMOYNERts. 11 and 15 North across fromRadisson Hotel • 717-761-7992

LEBANON1202 W. Maple St. • 717-273-8691

757 E. Cumberland St. • 717-273-90231725 Quentin Rd., Lebanon, PA

717-306-6565LEWISTOWN

US 522 & US 22 • 717-248-5255121 Electric Avenue • 717-248-4447

LITITZ990 Lititz Pike, Rt. 501 N.

717-627-4666LITTLESTOWN

430 North Queen St. • 717-359-8946LYKENS VALLEY

4660 Rt. 209 • 717-362-8416MANHEIM

711 Lancaster Rd., Rt. 72717-664-4944

MECHANICSBURGWesley Dr. Exit, Rt. 15

717-761-7525KMart Plaza, 5600 Carlisle Pike

717-766-96756250 Carlisle Pike in Wal-Mart

717-591-9864MERCERSBURG

11924 Buchanan Trial West717-328-0111

MIDDLETOWN2270 W. Harrisburg Pike • 717-944-9535

MIFFLINTOWNRt. 322 and Rt. 35, Mifflintown Exit

717-436-9779MYERSTOWN

295 West Lincoln Avenue (Rt. 422)717-866-2278

NEW CUMBERLAND101 Limekiln Rd. • 717-774-1027

NEW HOLLAND828 W. Main St. • 717-354-9300

NEW OXFORD6040 York Rd., Rts. 30 and 94

717-624-4266

NEWPORTRt. 322 and Rt. 34, Newport Exit

717-567-9344PALMYRA

901 E. Main St. • 717-838-6815PINE GROVE

l-81 , Exit 31 • 717-345-6400RED LION

897 West Broadway • 717-246-1802655 Lombard St., Cape Horn Plaza

717-246-7801SCOTLAND

3347 Black Gap Rd. • 717-263-7507SHIPPENSBURG

333 East King St. • 717-532-7945SHREWSBURY

Exit 1 off I-83 • 717-235-4663SILVER SPRING

Rt. 114 and Shadow Oak Dr.Mechanicsburg, PA • 717-697-3460

SPRINGETTSBURYHallam Exit off Rt. 30, Rt. 462

717-757-9655WAYNESBORO

302 East Main St. • 717-762-9201YOCUMTOWN

Exit 14A off I-83 • 717-938-5705YORK

2125 York Crossing Dr & Rt 74717-767-1381

Exit 4, I-83, 133 Leader Heights Road717-747-9191

York Galleria Mall • 717-757-302660 Arsenal Rd. • 717-699-4600Exit 6W off I-83 • 717-845-93603141 Carlisle Road, Dover

717-767-2594144-158 S. George St. • 717-846-1021

Rts. 30 & 74 in Wal-Mart717-764-8923

380 Memory Lane • 717-757-2912



A motorcoach is only as good as the people who stand behind it. Every Prevost is supported by a professional service team with over 500 years of bus and motorcoach service experience, knowledge, and integrity. Our field service experts are dedicated to doing whatever is necessary to keep you on the road. What’s more, every Prevost motorcoach is backed by the Prevost Action Service System (PASS) 24-hour emergency assistance line, our eleven Prevost service centers across North America, and more than 150 Prevost-certified service providers who are experts in the Volvo Powertrain. While unforeseen downtime is inevitable, Prevost will have you up and running in no time at all.

ONE TEAM WITH ONE JOB:TO HELP YOU KEEP DOING YOURS.

www.prevostcar.comSee us at UMA Expo Booth #401


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