INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS Industry THOMAS BUILT BUSES has redesigned its Type D forward engine cockpit. Te result is
an updated look and improved function, with an array of updates to be incorporated in Saf-T-Liner EF models available spring 2010. “We talked to customers, service technicians and our own production group, who
brought a uniquely practical perspective to design considerations,” said Tomas Built Se- nior Design Engineer David Blood. Among the updates are: redesigned engine cover, optimized driver’s seat placement and
dash size, switches and options grouped by function and moving the radio to the dash. STUDENT TRANSPORTATION INC., announced at the Annual and Special Meeting of
shareholders held on Nov. 12, 2009, the approval of a resolution to change its corporate name from Student Transportation of America Ltd., to Student Transportation Inc. “By changing our corporate name it better represents our North American footprint
and will serve us well as we continue to grow,” said Denis J. Gallagher, chairman and chief executive officer. “We will retain the names Student Transportation of America for our U.S. subsidiary and Student Transportation of Canada for our Canadian operations. On the local level, we will also continue to retain the identities of the many companies we have acquired, preserving the goodwill they have built with their customers and communities.”
HALDEX COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SYSTEMS announced that its brake relining network
is undergoing the next planned expansion at the Columbia, S.C., Friction Center. Te new facility will include the latest upgrades and equipment as well as an increase in manufacturing space. Haldex expects to be completely operational in the new facility in early January. Te Columbia facility will be the sixth Haldex Friction Center to undergo upgrade and expansion activity. Expansion activity is also being completed at the Little Rock, Ark., Friction Center. Te last facility, Harrisburg, Penn., is slated to undergo this transition in late 2010 or early 2011. Also, the company recently decided to merge the Brake Controls and Air Management Business Units into a new unit called the Air Con- trols Business Unit, which will be managed by Paul Bale.
THE NATIONAL TOUR ASSOCIATIONand the UNITED MOTORCOACH ASSOCIATION
announced their plan to co-locate their two annual business events, the NTA Conven- tion and the UMA Motorcoach Expo. NTA and UMA will introduce the first collab- orative event in the first quarter of 2013. Last year, NTA and UMA said the organiza- tions were exploring the possibility of co-locating their annual events and following months of due diligence. Lisa Simon, CTP, NTA president, said, “We had many details to resolve, but when your bottom line goal is to bring your members convenient and more affordable access to more business, it was easy for both the NTA and UMA leadership to make it happen.”
BLUE BIRD has also revamped its driver cockpit, which was unveiled at the NAPT
trade show in November. Key features include: ergonomic placement of switches and controls angled toward driver, easily readable instrument panel, easily accessible dual wiper motors, higher capacity defroster system, new foot-applied parking brake, rede- signed electrical panel, and an optional cup holder. “Te Vision cockpit redesign is another element of Blue Bird’s initiative for continual
product development,” said Roger Howsmon, Blue Bird’s chief marketing officer and senior vice president of sales.
Last year nearly 2,000 students nationwide competed for the title of AMERICA’S
GREENEST SCHOOL in the first annual contest sponsored by IC Bus. Tis year the con- test has expanded to include more opportunities for students to enter. Students are
16 School Transportation News Magazine January 2010
Alex Chen celebrates winning a $5,000 scholarship from IC Bus as the winner of the America’s Greenest School contest in June 2009.
approximately $20,000 for the school to use toward green initiatives. “Te America’s Greenest School con-
test is one way to help educate and influence eco-friendly behavior like riding the bus to school instead of us- ing a passenger car,” said IC Bus Presi- dent
John McKinney. For details
www.americasgreenestschool.com. STN contributor and SAFETY RULES
President Ted Finlayson-Schueler recently gave his seal of approval to SCHOOL BUS SAFETY COMPANY’S driver training course. “Tis is an outstanding course that can
be used to help every operation raise their safety practices and reduce their risk of incidents and liability,” said Finlayson- Schueler in a letter to School Bus Safety Company Vice President of School District Operations Jeff Cassell. “While this is a tough financial time for everyone, the cost of the program can be offset by a single ac- cident avoided.” Te course was also NAPT’s first-ever NAPT Recommended Product. n
encouraged to submit a variety of entries such as drawings, collages, videos, mu- sic, models or essays that illustrate the vision for how they’d make their school a greener place. IC Bus will select 10 fi- nalists and America will choose through online voting. Te school of the winning entrant will win a hybrid school bus from IC Bus, a green audit of their school and
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