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0515Busline.FINAL_Layout 1 5/1/15 8:09 AM Page 1 Busline Transit Feature Capital Area Transit System Baton Rouge CEO Bob Mirabito 0515Busline.FINAL_Layout 1 5/1/15 8:09 AM Page 2 YOU’RE INVITED! WIN MCI All-StarÌ an MVP Baseball O pen Ho us e Package luding inc y, snacks/ s, jerse us & R e l i a b i l i t y R a l l y seat ks, pl drin reat other g ! Join MCI as we celebrate our all-stars: the prizes D-Series, overall top-seller for the year, and the MCI J4500, top sales leader for 11 consecutive years. Learn how Setra’s “The Sign of Excellence” slogan reects the Daimler coach brand’s focus on perfection and aesthetics — • IntelliSYNC R electronically controlled smart suspension system for increased stability exemplied by the Setra S 417 TopClass. a Bring your teams to meet ours. Enjoy • O • Automatic self-leveling, single-slope Equalizer Ramp T food, friends and fun at these MCI Service X Tour and learn about MCI’s Service Center Center Open-House Celebrations... X Overview of MCI’s and Setra’s latest product updates X Take a test drive of our new and pre-owned coaches 10:00 am to 3:30 pm X Aftermarket support and service—meet with your team! May 13 Des Plaines, IL X Virtual Technical Diagnostics can maximize uptime May 21 Winter Garden, FL X Learn how to improve fuel economy X Nominate your driving team for driver of the month June 9 Blackwood, NJ X Tips on servicing Bendix and ZF systems for J4500 June 30 Los Alamitos, CA X Q&A on regeneration and preventing road failures October 13 Montreal, Canada X Wheelchair lift service and preventative maintenance SPECIAL OFFERS Special A discounted Receive down-payment 10% OFF all parts $59 per hour** $5,000 OFF the discounts* on MCI purchased in-person labor rate on all price of a pre-owned demos and in-stock on day of event service scheduled coach purchased on 2015 inventory during open house the day of the event RSVP to: mcicoach.com/open-house *Speak to your MCI sales representative for details. **Certain restrictions apply. PLATINUM SPONSORS GOLD SPONSORS 0515Busline.FINAL_Layout 1 5/1/15 8:10 AM Page 3 THE HIGH STANDARD IN LOW-FLOOR TRANSPORT. The Champion LF Transport TM. We’ve combined quicker, easier and safer low-floor passenger access with the legendary high standards and structural integrity of a Champion to bring you uncompromising performance. What’s more, this true flat-floor transport is available on multiple 102”-wide chassis platforms and features available FLEXBUS TM technologies. • IntelliSYNC R electronically controlled smart suspension system for increased stability and ride quality • OverRise system that lifts the vehicle 2.5” higher than standard OEM ride height • Automatic self-leveling, single-slope Equalizer Ramp TM All delivered with the innovation, quality assurance and customer support that continues to lead the industry. Get the lowdown at championbus.com or call 800-776-4943. CNG and propane packages available. EQUALIZER RAMPTM Champion Bus is the first manufacturer to offer the Equalizer Ramp™ which automatically senses the height of the ramp deployment surface and adjusts to equate all sections of the ramp to provide passengers with the easiest possible single-grade slope accessibility. 0515Busline.FINAL_Layout 1 5/1/15 8:10 AM Page 4 MAY/JUNE 2015 Published by Rankin Publishing, Inc. www.buslinemag.com MAGAZINE IN THIS ISSUE Premier Coach Co. Provides Luxury Motorcoach Service In Northeast.......8 Capital Area Transit System Serving 430,000 In Baton Rouge & Beyond ....................18 Busline’s Buyers Guide To Software Systems.................................34 Busline’s Buyers Guide To Brakes & Tires .....................................37 CTAA Expo 2015 Set For May 31 Through June 5 In Tampa.....50 Busline Vehicle Showcase: RAPID RESPONSE ..................................Page 6 ALTERNATIVE FUEL & INDUSTRY NEWS.................................Page 43 ON THE COVER: Premier Coach Company General Manager Randy HYBRID VEHICLES Charlebois stands in front of one of their Temsa TS 35 motorcoaches. He and 46 - 49 his father, Ron Charlebois, are co-owners of the Vermont-based company. See page 8. CONTENTS CALENDAR OF EVENTS EDITORIAL & CORPORATE OFFICES MAY 2015 JULY 2015 OCTOBER 2015 May 30 - June 3 July 18-22 October 4-7 Rankin Publishing Co., Inc. Canadian Urban National School APTA Don Rankin and Linda Rankin, Publishers Transit Association Transportation Association Annual Meeting (CUTA) (NSTA) Annual Meeting San Francisco, CA 204 E. Main Street • P.O. Box 130 Annual Conference & Convention Info: 202-496-4800 Arcola, IL 61910-0130, USA Winnipeg, MB Minneapolis, MN Email: [email protected] Info: 416-365-9800 Info: 703-684-3200 JANUARY 2016 Website: www.rankinpublishing.com January 9-12 (800) 598-8083 (U.S.) • (217) 268-4959 May 31 - June 5 AUGUST 2015 American Bus Fax: (217) 268-4815 Community August 4-6 Association (ABA) Transportation International Motorcoach Marketplace Association of America Group (IMG) Strategic Louisville, KY Editorial: Harrell Kerkhoff, Editor (CTAA) Expo 2015 Alliance Meeting Info: 202-842-1645 Rick Mullen, Associate Editor Tampa, FL Verona, NY Design: David Opdyke Info: 800-891-0590 Info: 888-447-3466 January 31 - February 4 Reception: Misty Douglas United Motorcoach SEPTEMBER 2015 Association (UMA) Advertising September 28-30 Motorcoach Expo BusCon 2015 Atlanta, GA Contact Kevin Kennedy @ 623-434-8959 Indianapolis, IN Info: 800-424-8262 Email: [email protected] I Info: 800-576-8788 Or Busline Magazine is published 6 times a year by Rankin Publishing, Inc., 204 E. Main, P.O. Box 130, Arcola, IL 61910-0130. Don Rankin @ 800-598-8083 Publisher assumes no liability whatsoever for content of any advertisement or editorial material contained herein. Copyright 2015 Rankin Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written con- Fax: 217-268-4815 sent of Rankin Publishing, Inc. Subscription Rates in United States: 6 issues $25. Single Copy rate: $10 including postage/handling; Email: [email protected] Buyer’s Guide $15 including postage/handling. International rates: 6 issue annual Air Mail Subscription $60 U.S. dollars net Page 4 BUSLINE May/June 2015 0515Busline.FINAL_Layout 1 5/1/15 8:10 AM Page 5 IN AN INDUSTRY THAT VALUES QUALITY, IT’S NICE TO BE NUMBER ONE. The coaches we build are designed to win accolades from passengers. But we were especially proud to learn that Prevost recently ranked first in seated coach sales. It’s proof that our industry is increasingly committed to passenger comfort, convenience and safety. And it affirms our dedication to building coaches that deliver the superior quality that tour operators need in today’s competitive marketplace. www.prevostcar.com 0515Busline.FINAL_Layout 1 5/1/15 8:10 AM Page 6 MAY/JUNE 2015 Published by Rankin Publishing, Inc. www.buslinemag.com MAGAZINE Relational Bus Systems Motorcoach Manager Sys2K 28 29 30 Distinctive Systems busHive American Trans-Data, Corp. (ATD) 31 32 30 Busline Buyers Guide To Software Systems 34 Motor Coach Industries ..46 ABC Companies .............47 Champion Bus ...............48 Nova Bus.......................49 Glaval Bus.....................49 Company Website Page # Company Website Page # Alexander Dennis www.alexanderdennis.com 13 LaFrance Industries www.mvmills.com/lafranceindustries 21 Altro Transflor www.altrotransflor.com 20 Marathon Brake Systems www.MarathonBrake.com 38 American Cooling Technology, Inc.www.actusa.us.com 25 Midwest Bus Corporation www.midwestbus.com 14 American Trans-Data, Corp. www.americantransdata.com 33 Mile-X www.mile-x.com 42 Atlantic Detroit Diesel-Allison www.atlanticdda.com 16 Motor Coach Industries (MCI) www.mcicoach.com 2 Bauer’s Intelligent Transportation www.bauerscertifiedpreowned.com 26 Motorcoach Manager www.motorcoachmanager.com 29 Bitzer www.bitzerus.com 12 Motorcoach Tire Sales.com www.motorcoachtiresales.com 39 Bridgestone www.bridgestonefirestonemileagesales.com 37 Prevost Car www.prevostcar.com 5, 56 busHive www.bushive.com 32 Protective Insurance Company www.protectiveinsurance.com 17 Champion Bus Inc. www.championbus.com 3 Relational Bus Systems www.rbs2000.com 28 Chestnut Ridge Foam www.chestnutridgefoam.com 40 Safety Step www.safetystep.net 42 Complete Coach Works www.completecoach.com 27 Service Insurance www.serviceins.com 41 Crosspoint Kinetics crosspointkinetixs.com 11 Sutrak www.sutrakusa.com 23 CTAA www.ctaa.org/expo 51 Sys2K www.sys2k.com 30 Diamond Manufacturing www.diamondmfg.com 41 TEMSA www.temsa.com 7 Distinctive Systems www.distinctive-systems.com 31 Turtle Top www.turtletop.com 15 Dixie Electric Ltd. www.dixie-electric.com 44 Vanner Power www.vanner.com 22 Freightliner www.freightlinerchassis.com 9 VDO www.vdoroadlog.com 10 Handi-Hut, Inc. www.handi-hut.com 45 Willingham Inc. www.willinghaminc.com 24 Read or Download Complete Issues Of Busline Magazine Online At: www.buslinemag.com Page 6 BUSLINE May/June 2015 0515Busline.FINAL_Layout 1 5/1/15 8:10 AM Page 7 0515Busline.FINAL_Layout 1 5/1/15 8:10 AM Page 8 1 4/13/15 4:59 PM Since its founding in 1992 with two buses, Premier Coach Com - pany, of Milton, VT, quickly grew to be an important regional play- er in the motorcoach industry. The company now serves riders in Vermont; New Hampshire; upstate New York and New York City, and parts of Massachusetts, includ- ing Boston. hen my father, Ron Charlebois, started the company, his goal was to fill the need for Wluxury motorcoach transportation in Vermont, as there weren’t many carriers here at the time,” said Premier General Manager Randy Charlebois, during a recent interview with Busline Magazine. “He began with two coaches, and put an aggressive growth model in place to ensure the com- pany would have two coaches for just a short time.