The Long and Short of Reliability
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busline0919.FINAL.qxp_Layout 1 9/4/19 10:25 AM Page 1 busline0919.FINAL.qxp_Layout 1 9/4/19 10:25 AM Page 2 The long and short of reliability. Introducing the 2019 J4500 and J3500 At MCI, we know that groups come in all different sizes. That’s why we now offer a 35-foot version of our best-selling J-Series coach. Impressive inside and out, both the J3500 and 45-foot J4500 offer best-in-class interior features, a smooth-riding suspension and leading ADAS (Advance Driver Assistance Systems) only from MCI. Add in great parts commonality, superior build quality, and an unsurpassed service and support network, these are the coaches that make MCI the top choice for driving your business. Discover the lengths we go ™ to be Reliability Driven for you. Visit mcicoach.com/J-Series busline0919.FINAL.qxp_Layout 1 9/4/19 10:25 AM Page 3 WHO’S DRIVING THE BUS? YOU ARE. WheWhenn you cchoosehoose FFreightlinerreightliner CCustomustom CChassis,hassis, you get the REAL COST OF powepower toto ccustomizeustomize yyourour ttransportationransportation to meet yyourour nneeds.eeds. OWNERSHIP™ And with its reputation for durability, reliability, automotive styling and maneuverability, the S2C chassis is the premier choice for public transportation, resort and hotel shuttles, day-tour operations, armored and utility applications, and any business FUEL EFFICIENCY 2 with special transport needs. Built in Gaffney, South Carolina by American workers, FCCC chassis are backed by the engineering and manufacturing excellence SAFETY of the Daimler Group. This gives you access to the industry’s largest factory-certifi ed service network, ensuring maximum uptime and hassle-free maintenance. QUALITY Learn how our customizable chassis can meet your needs at fcccbus.com. UPTIME t Specifi cations are subject to change without notice. Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation is registered to ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004. Copyright ©2016 Daimler Trucks North America LLC. All rights reserved. Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation is a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, a Daimler company. busline0919.FINAL.qxp_Layout 1 9/4/19 10:26 AM Page 4 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 Published by Rankin Publishing, Inc. www.buslinemag.com MAGAZINE Promoting Safety, Dignity & Respect For Passengers Suffolk Transportation Service, Inc....................8 Raleigh, NC EcoStyle Chauffeured Transportation ...............24 — Busline Buyers Guides — T Engines & Transmissions.......36 • Bus Shelters...............40 October 13 – 16, New York City APTA TRANSform Conference ...............................................39 BusCon Tradeshow September 23 - 25 In Indianapolis..........43 Busline Vehicle Showcase: Transit Buses • MCI 47 • BYD 48 • Prevost 49 • Nova Bus 50 • Alexander Dennis 50 • REV Group 51 ON THE COVER: Among the representatives of Suffolk Trans- portation Service/Suffolk Bus Corp., are, left to right, Ann Rosen- RAPID RESPONSE.........................Page 6 berg, center manager; Thomas W. Smith, vice president-school operations & business development; Wilber Bonillagonzalez, INDUSTRY NEWS........................Page 52 driver; Alex Compere, dispatcher; and Tom Cronau, senior center manager. They are shown next to one of the company’s Micro Bird buses. Photos courtesy of Paragon Advertising. See page 8. CONTENTS CALENDAR OF EVENTS EDITORIAL & CORPORATE OFFICES SEPTEMBER 2019 NOVEMBER 2019 MAY 2020 September 23-25 November 2-5 May 17-20 Rankin Publishing Co., Inc. BusCon 2019 National Association For APTA Mobility Conference Don Rankin and Linda Rankin, Publishers Indianapolis, IN Pupil Transportation (NAPT) San Antonio, TX 204 E. Main Street • P.O. Box 130 Conference & Trade Show Info: 800-576-8788 Info: 202-496-4800 Arcola, IL 61910-0130, USA Columbus, OH OCTOBER 2019 Info: 518-452-3611 May 31 - June 4 Email: [email protected] October 13-16 Community Transportation Website: www.rankinpublishing.com APTA JANUARY 2020 Association of America (800) 598-8083 (U.S.) • (217) 268-4959 Annual Meeting January 10-14 (CTAA) Expo Fax: (217) 268-4815 New York, NY American Bus Association Louisville, KY Info: 202-496-4800 (ABA) Marketplace 2020 Info: 800-891-0590 Editorial: Harrell Kerkhoff, Editor Omaha, NE October 21-23 Info: 202-842-1645 OCTOBER 2020 Rick Mullen, Associate Editor UITP & Busworld — October 11-14 Design: David Opdyke, Kris Bott The International January 19-23 APTA Annual Meeting Reception: Mary Jo Dunn Bus Conference United Motorcoach & Expo Brussels, Belgium Association (UMA) Anaheim, CA Advertising Info: busconference.com Motorcoach Expo Info: 202-496-4800 Contact Kevin Kennedy @ 813-502-6672 Nashville, TN Info: 800-424-8262 Email: [email protected] Or Busline Magazine is published 6 times a year by Rankin Publishing, Inc., 204 E. Main, P.O. Box 130, Arcola, IL 61910-0130. Publisher assumes no liability whatsoever for content of any advertisement or editorial material contained herein. Copyright 2019 Rankin Pub- Don Rankin @ 800-598-8083 lishing, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written consent of Rankin Fax: 217-268-4815 Publishing, Inc. Subscription Rates in United States: 6 issues $25. Single Copy rate: $10 including postage/handling; Buyer’s Guide $15 including postage/handling. International rates: 6 issue annual Air Mail Subscription $60 U.S. dollars net Email: [email protected] Page 4 BUSLINE September/October 2019 busline0919.FINAL.qxp_Layout 1 9/4/19 10:26 AM Page 5 KEEP YOUR BUSINESS CRUISING FORWARD WITH A PREVENTIVE SERVICE AGREEMENT. If your business is near one of our 15 service centers across the US and Canada, our factory-trained technicians will provide the expert maintenance you need to keep your coaches running smoothly. Talk with a Prevost service team member today about a Prevost Uptime® agreement. Think of it as a green light for your company profits. prevostcar.com Supported by the Prevost Parts & Service Network. busline0919.FINAL.qxp_Layout 1 9/4/19 10:26 AM Page 6 Company Website Page # Company Website Page # ABC Companies abc-companies.com 11 Micro Bird Commercial mbcbus.com 32 Altro altro.com 34 Midwest Bus Corporation midwestbus.com 41 AngelTrax angeltrax.com 17 MobilityTRANS MobilityTRANS.com 18 ARBOC Specialty Vehicles ARBOCsv.com 30 Motor Coach Industries (MCI) mcicoach.com 2 Atlantic Detroit Diesel-Allison atlanticdda.com 37 Motorcoach Tire Sales motorcoachtiresales.com 26 Bitimec Wash-Bots wash-bots.com 22 Onspot Automatic Tire Chains onspot.com 60 Bitzer bitzerus.com 52 Petro Stopping Centers ta-petro.com 61 BUS Advisors BUSadvisors.org 35 Prevost Car prevostcar.com 5 BusCon BusConExpo.com 45 ProAir, LLC proairllc.com 44 BYD byd.com 7 REV Coach, LLC revcoach.com 64 CBM NA cbmcompany.com/en/ 55 Reyco Granning reycogranning.com 12 CHTC Bus Group chtcbusgroup.com 21 Safety Step safetystep.net 59 Clean Seal cleanseal.com 42 Safety Vision safetyvision.com 29 Complete Coach Works completecoach.com 57 Sardo Bus & Coach Upholstery www.sardobus.com 27 Continental Corporation continental-corporation.com 14 Service Insurance serviceins.com 59 Diamond Manufacturing diamondmfg.com 60 Sutrak sutrakusa.com 40 Dixie Electric Ltd. delstar-hd.com 56 Teknoware Inc. teknoware.com 58 Driverge driverge.com 28 Temsa temsa.com 25 DriveWare Software driveware.com 54 Thermo King Thermoking.com/Bus 10 Freedman Seating Company freedmanseating.com 23 TIB tibinsurance.com 46 Freightliner fcccbus.com 3 Transign transignllc.com 15 Hometown Trolley hometowntrolley.com 9 TRP® Parts TRPQuality.com 36 Irizar USA irizarusa.com 63 UMA Expo motorcoachexpo.com 62 Kelderman Air Suspension Systems kelderman.com 16 Vanner Power vanner.com 6, 31 LiquidSpring liquidspring.com 13 WEH weh.us 38 Marathon Brake Systems MarathonBrake.com 20 electrifying THE WAY BUS AND COACH ACCESSORIES ARE POWERED INDEPENDENCE is a compact system that provides the majority of the benefits of hybrid and battery-powered buses without the upfront costs and expensive hybrid battery replacement – all the while reducing operational and maintenance costs. If you’re ready to declare independence from conventionally driven accessories and transform your bottom line, call us at 1.800.227.6937. 4282 Reynolds Dr, Hilliard, OH 43026 • 800-AC POWER For more information, visit vanner.com • @VannerInc Page 6 BUSLINE September/October 2019 busline0919.FINAL.qxp_Layout 1 9/4/19 10:26 AM Page 7 busline0919.FINAL.qxp_Layout 1 9/4/19 10:26 AM Page 8 Suffolk Transportation Service, Inc. By Harrell Kerkhoff, Busline Magazine Editor uffolk Transportation Serv- “Suffolk Transportation Service ice, Inc., a major transportation is a major school transportation op- provider in Suffolk County, eration involving buses and vans Long Island, NY, continues to build for public and private schools, chil- Supon its 70-plus year history of inno- dren with special needs and adult vative services while helping to meet transportation programs through- the needs of a variety of passenger “The ‘nuts and bolts’ of transportation out our county. This is referred as groups and communities. the school division,” Thomas Suffolk Transportation Service, success still comes down to providing Smith, Suffolk Vice President — Inc., along with its transit division, trips that customers want and need, School Operations and Business Suffolk Bus Corp., offers school and along with quality customer service.” Development, said. “Suffolk Bus transit bus/van services in Suffolk Corp., meanwhile, focuses on the County, NY, the fourth-most popu- — Thomas Smith