Conference Connection HEARD IN RENO Find out what the conversations were during the STN EXPO Trade Show on July 11.
Mario Difoggio | Manager, Center of Education & Marketing | Thomas Built Buses “Two of the key things we’re primarily showing are DD5 and DD8 engines manufactured by Detroit Diesel. Both engines are premium performance, efficient and will be in production and availability late 2018. At this point we want to convey that the future is coming quickly with technology and we intend to be at the forefront whether it be for driver assistance, drive-train and other factors that ensure the safety, reliability and durability of any school bus.”
Susan Corscadden | Director of Marketing | Zonar “I think one of the optimistic trends we’re seeing is a great adop- tion into people’s space of the tablet technology. While sitting in general sessions for STN EXPO, it is still very clear that 60% of districts do not have confidence that their drivers are doing pre/ post trip inspections. Our basic EVIR (electronic verified inspec- tion reporting) solution is patented technology to configure inspection and eliminate any confusion from maintenance while recording the duration of the process through time stamp. Our core solution, EVIR, still resonates.”
Trish Reed | VP & GM | IC Bus “We aim to be preventive and predictable with our remote diag- nostics. A bus will always have its down-time, but to “schedule” that down-time makes all the more difference as opposed to unscheduled and unexpected down-time. The ability to see diag- nostics and pick up on fault codes is what we really try to do so the customer knows the issue with any bus before it ever leaves the lot.”
Jim Reynolds | President & CEO | Adomani “if you drove [the Type D all-electric Blue Bird school bus] today you wouldn’t know the difference performance-wise between it and diesel. It has the same torque, get-up-and-go. But if you look at older electric vehicles from 5 to 6 years ago, it would be oth- erwise, since they had a hard time getting out that way. We use USA-made components, like the battery made in Michigan, and generate braking so it saves on brake jobs. This bus is built for the school bus market. It’s not a pony but a full horse.”
Sula Beardon | Transportation Coordinator | Jordon School District | Jordon, Utah “I got a lot of good information at the STN sessions. Technology is fabulous. I can see that it’s beneficial, especially tracking students for parents. After attending the seat belt class, I could see how it is all integrated into the buses at the trade show.”
16 School Transportation News • SEPTEMBER 2017
Patricia Yazzie | Office Support Specialist/Bus Driver Kayenta, Arizona “I found that the class sessions related to the trade show. I at- tended the green bus seminar, which was quite interesting. After studying student tracking, I visited several trade show booths and noticed the differences between the products. The presentations of the safety harnesses and wheelchair safety were also very interesting.”
Herbert Hill | Director of Transportation | Muscogee County School District | Columbus, Georgia “I attended the green bus session and learned about alternative fuels. In other classes I learned about safety restraints, then en- joyed seeing those devices displayed at the trade show. I’d like to see more vendors from the central/southern part of the country.”
Ralph Knight | Retired Transportation Director | Napa Valley Unified School District | Napa Valley, California “The classes are very informative. STN brings in the right people to present the workshop sessions. Things are hands on when you’re able to attend the workshops, then see the products that you’ve learned about in the classes. The EXPO also provides a great opportunity for networking with peers.”
Nancy Jensen | State Certified Driver Instructor | Twin Rivers Unified School District | Sacramento, California “I was able to find information on special needs transportation at the workshop sessions, then I was able to relate that information to the equipment displayed at the trade show. Learning about the equipment will help me with my training procedures.”
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