School Transportation News Magazine | November 2009
SSS-39
assistance with their purchase did not receive funding. STN: COMMODITY PRICES HAVE BEEN ON A YO-YO FOR THE PAST YEAR. WHAT IS IC BUS DOING IN RESPONSE TO THESE COSTS FROM A MANUFACTURING STANDPOINT? IS THERE ANYTHING IC BUS IS DOING TO HELP ALLEVIATE SOME FI- NANCIAL STRAIN ON CUSTOMERS?
JM: From the manufacturing side, we are continually looking to control costs. Commonly through improving our manufacturing efficiencies or through supplier selection and negotiation, but also through product enhancement. For example, with our rede- signed seat frame, we are able to eliminate about 60 percent of our welds, which will dramatically improve the durability, reduc- ing the back-end costs for both IC Bus and our customers. For our customers on the sales side, we are able to offer budget con- strained school districts financing options, which allows them to manage their available budget to get them the buses they need. We have several options available and can work within a number of parameters.
STN: HOW DOES IC VIEW THE RECENT BANKRUPTCIES OF CHRYSLER AND GM AFFECTING ITS BUSINESS, EITHER DI- RECTLY OR INDIRECTLY? ITS SUPPLIERS?
JM: Te difficulties within the automotive industry do impact school bus OEMs, as we use a lot of the same suppliers. At IC
Bus, our purchasing division has been working to ensure our supply base is strong, and in areas where there may be some concern, find new suppliers that can meet our supplier and product standards, as well as help control costs. IC Bus has sev- eral hundred suppliers, which with the economic turbulence, we have seen some unable to continue to support us. But as some of the suppliers have dropped off, other, new, stronger suppliers have taken their place.
STN: RECENTLY,
WOULD RECEIVE A $39 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT TO COM- MERCIALIZE
WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF THIS MONEY ON IC BUS?
JM: Te $39 million grant from the Department of Energy will be focused on developing all electric delivery trucks. While IC Bus may be able to indirectly benefit from the technology develop- ment in energy storage and use, the delivery vehicles will be a different class vehicle than used in the school bus industry. I am excited about the opportunity presented for IC Bus through a grant awarded in April 2009 for $10 million to develop the next genera- tion plug in hybrid school bus. With this grant, we will be able to electrify accessories on the bus and turn the engine off, allowing the school bus to run in an all electric mode for a short time, drastically improving fuel economy and reducing emission output.
IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT NAVISTAR ELECTRIC VEHICLE TRUCK TECHNOLOGY.
Today’s Seat Tomorrow’s Standard.
C.E. White’s student safety seats meet and exceed all Federal FMVSS requirements including the Quasi Static Test required for all 3pt lap/shoulder belt school bus seats.
The New 39” Student Safety Seat
A moveable center buckle adjusts to fi t up to three passengers, regardless of their heights. It’s single frame construction allows the seat to be the same thickness as a standard seat yet, fi t 3 students, resulting in zero loss of occupancy.
PO Box 308, New Washington, OH 44854 | 419.492.2157 |
www.cewhite.com 46
CEW_0909_TodayTomorrow_HH.indd 1 Circle 102 on STN Product Info Card 8/13/09 11:58 AM Safest Seat on the Road
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