bus important information for the school bus industry...
TRANSCRIPT
IN THIS ISSUE:
• Saf-T-Liner® EF Cockpit Redesign . . . . . . . . . . . 1 & 2
• Type D Electrical Enhancements . . . . . . . . . 2
• Thomas Built Institute . . 2
• What’s Happening at Thomas Built . . . . . . . . . . . 3
• Green Technology Website . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
• Driver of the Year . . . . . . 4
• Hybrids Hit the Road . . . 4
With a stated focus of delivering the
smartest and most innovative school buses
in North America, the engineers who design
Thomas Built buses recognize that the men
and women who drive and service those
vehicles offer a unique perspective.
So, when faced with the upcoming
technology change, Thomas representatives
talked to customers, service staff and its
own production group to research how to
also improve the driver experience. The
result: an updated look and improved
function of Thomas’ Saf-T-Liner® Engine
Forward (EF) cockpit. The 2010 EF models,
available in spring 2010, will incorporate
those changes.
Senior design engineer, David Blood, reports
that the redesigned engine cover itself may
be of particular interest to customers. The
new cover now allows drivers and service
personnel to easily check belts and fluid
levels without removing it. Resizing the
engine access hatch allows for a roomier
passenger entry. Engine access is easier as
well. Just open the access door, undo the
latch and pull up the engine cover. No tools.
Easy in and out.
The driver’s seat placement and dash size
were optimized to create more knee room
and comfort for the driver.
The left side dash, which was previously
Driver ergonomics was a main focus in redesigning the cockpit of the Saf-T-Liner® Engine Forward (EF), transit-style school bus.
Continued on page 2
BUS REPORTImportant Information for the School Bus Industry Winter 2010
THOMAS REDESIGNS SAF-T-LINER® EF COCKPITUpdate Focuses on Driver Comfort and Passenger Safety
BUS REPORT | p.2
THOMAS EF COCKPIT REDESIGN continuedmetal, is now made of plastic with inter-
changeable plates to accommodate the
five to nine switches typically needed. The
switch placement is more intuitive and the
overall interior look is cleaner and neater.
Switches and options were grouped by
function, creating a more natural operating
experience. The air conditioning, defroster
and driver’s air/heater switches were
relocated to one area. The radio is now in
the dash, rather than overhead, allowing
the driver’s eyes to stay on the road. Below
the radio, all mirror switches are together
for ease of use. Door switches, gear shift
and parking brake are standard to the right
of the driver for easy load and unload
operations. All chassis switches also are
grouped together.
“Basically,” says Blood, “there is something
for everyone in this redesign. We think
customers will be pleased with our
response to their suggestions.”
The electrical system for Thomas’ transit-
style Saf-T-Liner® EF and Saf-T-Liner HDX
models for 2010 will include features
designed to enhance the overall functionality,
reliability, diagnostic capability and packaging.
The electrical center has been patterned
for a streamlined appearance and easy
identification and access to system
components. This is accomplished with
the strategic routing of updated wire and
harness packages.
Fuse relay centers provide circuit
protection and logic for each option,
allowing for easy diagnostics with
standard shop test equipment.
A customer accessory module with a
battery and ignition output, protected
by a 30 AMP fuse, provides a dedicated
location to simplify the process of
adding aftermarket components to the
electrical system.
SPOTLIGHT
THOMAS TO OFFER TYPE D ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ENHANCEMENTS
New switch placement on the left dash is more intuitive for drivers.
Before: The old wiring system on Thomas’ Type D.
After: The new wiring system is streamlined for easy identification and access.
THOMAS INSTITUTE: CONTINUING EDUCATION
Staying current on the latest in bus
maintenance is no small task since today’s
fleet technicians must inspect, maintain,
diagnose and repair bus and chassis
systems on school buses from delivery to
20 years old. To help its customers meet
their employees’ training needs, Thomas
developed the Thomas Built Institute for
service technicians. Based on its success
in the first year, Thomas is offering the
training again this year, May 11-14, 2010.
“The design of the Institute — a rotation
of small classes — allows participating
technicians to get extensive, hands-on
training and first-hand experience in less
than a week’s time,” said Mike Stotler, service
education manager for Thomas Built Buses.
The 2010 Institute curriculum includes:
• 2010 emissions system
• Advanced electrical
• Coolant maintenance and cost savings
• Type C: Multiplex, service link and troubleshooting
• Type D: Electrical and fan drive
• Utilizing websites, resources and wire diagrams
• Factory tours
Sessions also educate technicians on how to
fully utilize the resources available through
Thomas Built Buses and its parent company,
Daimler Trucks North America.
To register for the Thomas Built Institute, visit
www.thomasbus.com. Early enrollment is
recommended as registration is limited to 100
participants to ensure small class sizes and
personalized attention. Cost for the training
is $250 and includes lunch each day.
Institute participants will receive a certificate
of completion for 28 credit hours of
continuing education.
BUS REPORT | p.3 Winter 2010
WHAT’S HAPPENING AT THOMAS BUILT BUSES
UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS
DATE EVENT LOCATION
Jan. 16-20 NSTA Mid-Winter Meeting La Jolla, Calif.
Mar. 8-9 Transporting Students with Disabilities Conference Orlando, Fla.
May 11-14 Thomas Built Institute High Point, N.C.
May 12-14 National Boys & Girls Club Conference New York, N.Y.
May 16-19 Canadian Pupil Transportation Conference Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Dear Readers:
There’s an old saying in this business: “The
salesman sells the first bus. The service
department sells the second.” Since the
company began 94 years ago, customer service
has been a priority at Thomas Built Buses,
and I believe that commitment has played a
significant role in our continuing success.
We strive to ensure customer satisfaction
with every Thomas Built contact. This means
we can never sit still. To meet and exceed
customer expectations, we have adopted
increasingly sophisticated methods to
measure our process improvement.
We are currently employing the internationally-
recognized Six Sigma methodology to improve
processes throughout our company, including
our service processes. Issue resolution is just
one Six Sigma project we are working on
currently. It is helping us focus our attention
on how departments such as sales, quality,
engineering and service work together
to ensure a timely response to customer
concerns or issues. On-time customer
delivery has already been a hugely successful
project in our Six Sigma program, and we
will continue to dedicate our attention to the
Thomas Customer Experience.
In addition to our Six Sigma projects, we
stepped up our pre-delivery inspections of
new buses, affording dealers the opportunity
to inspect more buses before they’re
delivered. The increase in pre-delivery
inspections allows us to better meet and
As part of Thomas Built Buses’ ongoing drive to
serve its customers, a Green Technology section
has been added to the company’s website with
detailed information on the many components of
Thomas’ green offerings and innovations, such as:
• Hybrid Saf-T-Liner® C2e: Powered by a diesel
engine and an electric motor/generator, the
C2e offers impressive fuel efficiency.
• Compressed Natural Gas (CNG): A fossil fuel
substitute for gasoline, diesel and propane,
the CNG is cleaner and more environmentally
friendly than alternatives.
• Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR): Using
SCR helps Thomas and its engine partner,
Cummins, Inc., meet 2010 emissions
requirements, while maintaining fuel
efficiency and engine performance.
Learn more about what’s green at Thomas
Built Buses in one convenient location:
www.thomasbus.com/green-technology.
GREEN TECHNOLOGY CLICKS ON THOMAS’ WEBSITE
exceed customer expectations at the
time of delivery.
Thomas also is working to improve its
internal process to clarify and simplify
extended warranties. Because every mile
matters.SM Our tagline really speaks to who
we are as a school bus manufacturer.
It’s in the interest of the company, the
dealer and the customer to improve
communications, work together and
incorporate feedback from the field
to reach a common understanding and
to stay focused on our common interest:
the kids on our buses.
Best regards,
John H. O’Leary
President and CEO
Thomas Built Buses
P.S. As of January 4, 2010, I’ll be in a
new position in the Daimler Trucks North
America corporate office as vice president
of service and parts.
I’m excited to begin this new role, but I
can’t leave without saying how much I’ve
enjoyed working with all of the wonderful
people at Thomas Built Buses, our dealers
and our customers. I know you’ll join me
in offering a warm welcome to the new
president of Thomas Built Buses.
BUS REPORT | p.4 Winter 2010
1408 Courtesy Rd., High Point, NC 27260 Tel 336.889.4871 Fax 336.889.2589 www.thomasbus.com
Competitive financing available through Daimler Financial. For your nearest Thomas Built Bus dealer, call 336.889.4871 or visit us at www.thomasbus.com. TBB/MC-B-053. Specifications are subject to change without notice. Thomas Built Buses is registered to ISO 9001:2008. Copyright © Daimler Trucks North America LLC. All rights reserved. Thomas Built Buses, Inc. is a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, a Daimler company. CG 33M 12/09
BUS REPORTPERSONAL EXPERIENCE LEADS 2009 DRIVER OF THE YEAR TO HER CAREER
“What really makes her special is her inside kindness,” wrote Luke,
a second-grader at Paine Primary School
in his essay nominating Renea Cataldo of
Trussville, Alabama, in the fourth annual
Thomas Built Buses Children’s Choice
School Bus Driver of the Year essay contest.
More than 15 years ago, Cataldo began her
career as a bus driver after observing the
quality of care a bus driver gave her own
special needs daughter. That attentiveness
encouraged Cataldo to pursue a job as a driver
so she could do the same for other children.
Cataldo began driving high school students
and eventually transitioned to driving
elementary school students. “These kids
are so adorable. They are so little you
can hardly see them in their seats! All my
passengers are very special to me,” said
Cataldo. “Just like anyone, I can wake up
not feeling good, but when the first student
steps on my bus, it makes me smile and
then I’m feeling just fine.”
Cataldo is grateful that she gets to drive
the same route year after year, allowing
her to watch her small passengers grow
up. “Just the other day I was going through
the drive-through at a fast food restaurant
and heard, ‘Ms. Renea? Is that you?’ It was
one of my students from years ago, who
remembered me and asked if I was still
driving. He must have graduated from high
school at least four years ago, which made
me feel a little old, but also special that he
still remembered me.”
Ashley Stehr, Luke’s mother, described how
her son wrote his essay from the heart,
expressing his sincere admiration for his
driver. “Ms. Renea goes above and beyond to
make us feel good about sending our kids with
her. At the beginning of every school year,
she sends a letter to the parents of all her
passengers, providing her contact information.
It is just one of the ways she helped assure
me that Luke was in good hands.”
Thomas Built developed the Children’s
Choice School Bus Driver of the Year essay
contest as a way to recognize drivers for
the important role they play in the lives of
children. In 2009, more than 1,000 drivers
were nominated by students across North
America. More information on the contest,
photos, winning essays and illustrations may
be viewed at www.thomasbus.com/contest.
Grand prize winner Renea Cataldo, from Trussville, Alabama
HYBRIDS HIT THE ROADThomas Built Buses has been building on
its commitment to shaping the future of
transportation by continuing to introduce
innovations that contribute to cleaner
cities. The introduction of the new hybrid
Saf-T-Liner® C2e has allowed more school
districts to meet their demands to reduce
emissions and improve fuel economy.
“As a transportation provider, it is appropriate
for us to constantly be looking for environ-
mentally friendly, alternative solutions,” said
Donald Tudor, state transportation director for
South Carolina. “When the economic stimulus
program began, we were excited to be able
to purchase more hybrids for our fleets,
and the hybrid-electric from Thomas was
an easy move that didn’t disrupt our fueling
system. We want to do our part to reduce
emissions and to be a good steward in the
industry by using the best technologies to
provide transportation service.”
Thomas already has received orders for more than three dozen hybrid units.