Teno Gustavson – Director of Vehicle and Facilities Maintenance


Suffolk Transportation Services, New York Teno Gustavson has


Teno Gustavson (left) and mechanic Julito Almonte.


been working in pupil transportation for 35 years, starting at age 15 with a part-time job cleaning the maintenance facility at Suffolk Transpor- tation Service, where his cousin was a bus fueler at the time. He’s come a long way


as his current responsibilities include managing operations in three locations, 11 supervisors, 65 mechanics, three wash bays and eight fuel stations. “I like it all and especially like solving the challenges faced every


day with running three maintenance shops,” he said. A current project is electrifying the school bus fleet, working with utilities on charging stations, and developing training for the mechanics. He said the 11 EBS in the fleet have reduced mainte- nance by 75 percent. Thomas Smith, chief operating officer for Suffolk Transportation


on Long Island, New York, said in his nomination that Gustavson’s ability to quickly diagnose and resolve complex technical issues has enhanced the reliability of their fleet, resulting in significant cost sav-


Harvey Hawkins – Regional Maintenance Director, Southeast Region


Student Transportation of America, Florida


Total school buses/vans in fleet: 2,100 Total other district vehicles: 22 Total staff in the bus garage: 80


ings. “His initiative to improve parts purchasing saved the company over $500,000,” Smith said, adding that Gustavson is an industry expert and a pioneer in getting the fleet ready for EVs. “[He works] with our OEM to enhance product design, especially regarding infrastructure and charging software. His leadership toward a green future has been critical in our path towards zero emissions.” In addition to EVs, Gustavson said other technical shop


upgrades include changing service intervals to reflect newer vehicles, which reduces the amount of times they come to a shop. For example, a new wheel torque policy ensures all vehicles are safe, and about six years ago a parts and purchasing program was implemented into the fleet maintenance program. “It helps streamline the warranty and inventory process,” he explained. Gustavson added that he enjoys the changes and new tech- nologies being incorporated as buses evolve. And he said he’s looking forward to more enhancements. Smith added that Gustavson’s “ability to develop his team


inspires an unwavering commitment to excellence and collabo- ration,” he continued. “His planning and problem-solving skills are crucial in enhancing technical and operational efficiency and service quality. Teno’s extensive contributions have helped create a fleet that exceeds industry safety standards, greatly improved customer satisfaction and positioned the company as a leader in the transportation industry.”


Total school buses in fleet: 1,295 Total other district vehicles: 200 Total staff in the bus garage: 7 locations, 6 shop managers, 32 Techs, 1 RMD


and vehicle maintenance challenges. He also monitors KPIs and daily reports. Currently, he’s working on implementing and train- ing technicians on the updated PM program as well as improving the lighting and tooling needs in the shops. For parts inventory, Hawkins said he’s working on reducing on-


Harvey Hawkins started his journey in pupil transportation over


35 years ago as a school bus driver in a small upstate New York town. He joined Student Transportation of America as south- east regional maintenance director in 2017. “Unlike a traditional star, Harvey makes his teammates in the garage shine brighter and better with his expertise and dedication to them and their work,” wrote Denis Gallagher, Jr., the VP of operations for STA’s Southeast Region, in his nomination. “His thirst for knowledge, relentless study, and hands-on exploration have imparted a breadth of maintenance knowledge rarely seen in the industry, and he passionately shares his decades of wisdom by conducting comprehensive training programs for managers and technicians.” Hawkins noted that his day entails communicating with the Southeast region locations, working on solutions to any facility


hand stock and utilizing usage reports and PM to determine what to stock and at what levels. He said he’s setting levels to maintain a 90-day turnaround as well as implementing a purchase order approval process to allow him to verify diagnostic processes were followed along with the opportunity to prevent repairing a vehicle that may not be worth the expense. “What truly sets Harvey apart is his selflessness and adapt-


ability,” Gallagher wrote. “Whether on the garage floor or on the road, he tackles any task when needed, embodying the essence of a team player. Harvey embraces technological advancements and maximizes the capabilities of fleet management software to optimize performance, even innovating his own tracking methods to enhance efficiency.” Gallagher added that Hawkins fosters a culture of collaboration, ensuring that every facet works together for safe student trans- portation. Hawkins said his favorite part of the job is working with employees and passing on the knowledge he’s learned through- out his over three-decades-long career.


www.stnonline.com 41


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