Special Report


outside parts salesperson but, he added, “We have found that cus- tomers still like the personal contact of a sales rep calling on them.” McCool said a DTNA team is working to integrate the catalogs of its subsidiaries into a single format to make the online order- ing process even simpler for dealers and end-use customers. Te reason: Tomas Built Buses may include parts from other DTNA companies, such as Freightliner and Detroit Diesel. He anticipates that process will be complete this year. “It’s not a simple process. Tere’s a lot of information, but it is going


really well,” he said. “Customers will be able to go to a one-stop shop and look up everything on one site. Tat’s what they’ve requested.” Auto-Jet Mufflers, North America’s largest supplier of after-


market school bus exhaust systems, offers its latest, 221-page catalog online but continues to encourage its customers to call in to its Clive, Iowa headquarters. “If you’re ordering an elbow or a U-bolt, online is a nice option


Merten noted that most customers order parts directly from Blue Bird’s dealers via telephone, fax or through their dealer’s


to have. But there are so many buses with different engine, dif- ferent catalytic converters trucks and so many other features, that it’s literally a very challenging for the person in their shop,” said


28 School Transportation News • FEBRUARY 2017


CELEBRATING25YEARS


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