School Transportation News Magazine | Buyer’s Guide 2011


Data and Statistics and Perspectives “In addition to the state programs like [voter-approved] Prop 1b, MSRC [the Mobile


Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee], AB923 [the Car Moyer Prgram] and others, there are federal funding programs such as the American Recovery and Rein- vestment Act’s IDEA Part B that help fund special needs buses,” said Roselli. And it is not just the price of some alt-fuel buses that customers are shying away from


but the infrastructure costs as well. Mark Olson, president and general manager of Trucks of Bismarck, Inc., located in central North Dakota, said he has had a few customers inquire about propane or CNG buses. But since most of the schools are rural and much smaller than in other states, they do not have the necessary infrastructure in place for alternative fuels. “It becomes quite expensive to initiate use of them if the vehicle population is low,”


added Olson. Even with the recent and present push towards alternative-fueled school buses, most


districts seem to be looking but not buying, as they are interested in saving the money up front instead of in the future. “Tere are very few of our customers that are interested in alternative fuel buses,” said


Danny Evans, a bus fleet specialist with Nalley Motorsports in Atlanta, adding that the company’s service department has installed over 175 diesel particulate filters through- out Georgia thanks to federal programs providing funding for exhaust retrofits. During Evan’s trips to visit customers, he said he receives the same response time


“It’s not a pretty picture, but I see things getting much worse before improvement begins.” — Claude Reid, Virginia Truck Center


and time again — the money is not available for new bus purchases. Transportation directors aren’t buying new models for lack of wanting but because the states are cash- strapped and are trying to save in every way they can. Tis creates a win for Nalley’s bus refurbishing services, as many districts in Georgia and other states are trying to get the most out of each of their buses. “School systems in Georgia are doing everything possible to make their older buses


last longer. Tis is one reason our dealership had to look into other ways to help our customers with their transportation needs,” said Evans. At New England Transit Sales in Tyngsboro, Mass., Sales Manager Paul Zinck is pre-


dicting a 30 percent drop in new bus purchases, especially with customers that keep a close eye on past purchases. “Tey are going to squeeze more years out of their buses,’ said Zinck, who attributed


“top-notch maintenance” to his customers’ ability to realize the highest rate of return. But, for others, the sign of the times may spell an even bleaker future for the yellow bus.


Claude Reid at Virginia Truck pointed to the rise in the costs of buses tied to EPA emissions controls, something that is affecting all dealers no matter the vehicles they sell. “In 2005, $50,000 would purchase a new bus. In 2010, $50,000 will pay for 65 percent


of a bus,” said Reid. “School divisions set aside a certain dollar amount for bus purchases — not a particular number of buses. Te dollar amounts have decreased so districts that had $200,000 for buses purchases could purchase four units in 2005 now can pur- chase two units in 2010, if funding is available.” According to Reid, if the trend continues, it could spell an end for the yellow bus, with


only special needs transportation continuing to make the rounds. “It’s not a pretty picture, but I see things getting much worse before improvement


begins,” concluded Reid. With budgets diminishing over the last few years, some dealers are seeing a increas-


ing trend towards purchasing smaller buses. At Trucks of Bismarck, Mark Olson said he is seeing more school districts purchasing Type A buses as their student populations shrink or their routes become smaller. It’s a trend he’s seeing in North Dakota’s more rural areas. In metropolitan areas, his customers are trending towards Type D transit- style school buses, which allows the districts to transport more students per vehicle. For Richard Davis of Chalk’s Truck Parts, a mid- to heavy-truck industry parts supplier,


the purchasing trends in and around his home state of Texas are just part of the current economic landscape. “We are in a cycle and it will be changing — going up,” predicted Davis. “Te U.S. is the best country in the world, and we are improving the economy.” ■


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