& MOTORCOACH NEWS —MayApril 15,1, 2005 2005 — 1 INDUSTRY NEWS

WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE BUS INDUSTRY Consolidation of UMA, ABA wins overwhelming approval Separation of three decades to end Leaders eager to build new group WASHINGTON — For the first time in both associations who voted. Only about WASHINGTON — The two men who is eager to get going. “We’ve pulled it off, 35 years, the U.S. motorcoach industry is one-third of ABA’s operator members voted will do the most to guide the new organiza- now we have to pull it together,” he said. going to have one national trade association. and barely more than 30 percent of UMA’s tion born of the unification of the American Eyre, 59, will begin a one-year term as Members of the American Bus Associa- members returned their ballots. Bus Association and United Motorcoach the combined organization’s first chairman, tion and the United Motorcoach Association A half-dozen reasons were offered up to Association are ready to get to work. starting in January, and Scott, 36, will serve voted overwhelmingly — in an election that explain the light vote: And, they’re darn enthusiastic about it, a two-year term as chairman beginning lasted almost five weeks — to consolidate • Apathy and ambivalence too. January 2007. The chairmen who follow the two organizations. • Assumption it would pass “This provides us with great — and many Scott are also expected to serve two-year The margin of victory, roughly 90 per- • Lack of an aggressive campaign — opportunities to meet the needs of our terms. cent for unification and 10 percent against, against the idea memberships,” said ABA Chairman Ronald The two coach company executives, who seemed to surprise even the strongest advo- • The 20-page merger plan that accom- Eyre of Eyre Bus Service in Glenelg, Md. campaigned for the consolidation, said they cates of the consolidation effort. panied the ballots literally buried potential “We’re anxious to get the process started.” were delighted with the 444-46 combined Equally as surprising to some was the voters in details UMA Vice Chairman Brian Scott of vote in favor of joining the associations that relatively modest percentage of members of CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 þ Escot Bus Lines in Largo, Fla., said he, too, CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 þ Bus security grant program excludes much of industry, associations are apoplectic WASHINGTON — A decision conference last month in Albuquer- by the U.S. Department of Home- que, N.M., that the pool of compa- land Security to award bus security nies that can apply “will be limited grants only to fixed-route operators to line-haul operators that serve has been blasted by the United urban areas that have been deter- Motorcoach Association and the mined to be security threats.” American Bus Association. However, in announcing which For the past two years, any U.S. companies would be eligible for motorcoach company could apply funding, the department released a for the grants, which are to be used list of operators that appears to Mayor Michael Bloomberg pushed for two years for the ouster of the private operators. to upgrade operational security. have been cobbled together from a For fiscal 2005, however, the 1998 edition of the Bus Industry department decided to strictly in- Directory that was missing a few N.Y. bus takeover nearly complete terpret language in a congressional pages. The list not only contains — The sit routes operated by the private for up to one year for all nonunion report and limit the companies the names of many companies that decades-long campaign by the city companies. staffers. that can apply to fixed-route oper- are no longer in business but names of New York to get rid of the seven The city said it had successful- In addition, the city will rent ators. That means that more than many others that are based in such private bus companies that for 30 ly negotiated the contracts for the terminals from the companies for 95 percent of over-the-road bus security hotspots as central Ore- years have provided daily com- service away from the final four $7.5 million a year, with an auto- operators are excluded from the gon, northeast Wyoming and muter service for tens of thou- bus companies that had been hold- matic 10 percent increase every program. northern Wisconsin. (See list on sands of borough residents is ing out. five years over the next 21 years. ABA and UMA contend it Page 14.) finally coming to an end. Under the final agreement, the The rental agreement contains two makes no sense to leave so much of The department said these It was announced late last city will pay $25.5 million for the 14-year extensions at the option of the industry high and dry. companies will be permitted to month that the New York Metro- routes and assure that the MTA both the companies and the city. One senior federal transporta- apply for a total of nearly $10 mil- politan Transit Authority is taking hires all of the union employees of The pact allows the MTA to tion security official told a commit- lion in bus security grants. tee meeting at the Commercial Also in its announcement, the over the last of more than 80 tran- the companies and guarantees jobs CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 þ Vehicle Safety Alliance annual CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 þ

Bus & Motorcoach NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS May 15, 2005 3 Greyhound awards contract for rehabbing 400 coaches DALLAS — since 1996, and began adding “MCI is very pleased to have cushioning and upholstery, and rary Greyhound graphics treatment has awarded Motor Coach DL3s two years later. All of the won the contract,” said Jerry entry flooring, some also may after the coaches have been Industries a huge contract to refur- are smooth sided; they do not Cignarella, vice president of serv- require interior sidewall, window repainted white. bish 400 MCI D3 and DL3 coach- have stainless-steel fluting along ice center operations at MCI. “It’s a or ceiling refurbishing, as well as For some time, the industry has es. the exterior like the older-model testament to the confidence passenger-compartment flooring. been expecting Greyhound to The project, which includes MC-12s. Greyhound has in our capabilities.” Similarly, some coaches will launch a big-league rehab project installing new passenger seats and Although a dollar amount for Cignarella said his goal is to need more body work than others. because of cutbacks in its new- other interior upgrades, body work, the contract was not available, it quickly gear up the project so 40 Under the deal, Greyhound is coach buying. For a period of years complete repainting, and new easily could top $7 million, with buses are completed each month. contracting separately for the in the 1990s and early in this graphics, is expected to take the final figure hinging on the All buses will be inspected inside 21,000-plus seats that will be sup- decade, Greyhound purchased as upwards of a year to complete. extent of the body and interior and out against Greyhound stan- plied to MCI for installation in the many as 200 new coaches annually. Greyhound’s fleet includes 85 work needed to restore the buses to dards and the results reported to coaches. That stopped after 9/11. Its last D3 coaches and 660 DL3s, mean- Greyhound standards. Greyhound, which will decide the A key element of the project is new-coach buy of any significance ing more than half of the company The MCI Fleet Support Service extent of repairs, fixes or upgrades. new graphics for the coaches. was 20 MCI G4500s more than a D-models will be refurbished. Center in Loudonville, Ohio, will Although all buses will receive Turbo Images of Saint-George, year ago — after buying none in Greyhound has been operating D3s handle the project. new passenger seats, driver seat Quebec, will supply a contempo- 2003. Stolen motorcoach is recovered NEW YORK CITY — A late- City. It had accumulated a number model coach that was stolen from of parking tickets before it was a hotel parking lot in northern learned that it was stolen. at the end of March Godfrey Lebron of Paradise has been recovered. The bus was a Trailways of West Hempstead, 1998 MCI DL3 belonging to N.Y., bailed the bus out of the Coach Co. of Purcell- impound yard for Virginia Coach. ville, Va. He had it taken to his shop where The bus was discovered his maintenance staff inspected parked on a street in New York the bus. Correction Two motorcoach models that ing the first three months of 2005, were among the best sellers during as compiled by National Bus Trad- the first quarter of 2005 were not er magazine: included in a page one article in the 1. MCI J4500 May 1 issue. 2. MCI D4500 The Van Hool T2145 and the 3. Van Hool C2045 MCI D4000 were mistakenly left 4. Prevost H3-45 off the list of the top-seven selling 5. Van Hool T2145 coaches. Here’s a complete list of 6. Prevost LeMirage XLII the best-selling seated coaches dur- 7. MCI D4000 4 May 15, 2005 Bus & Motorcoach NEWS

British Columbia has N.Y. Thruway System for correcting new rules for coaches tolls jump by info in FMCSA safety VICTORIA, British Columbia inspection and display a state — A new inspection requirement inspection sticker that is no older for U.S. motorcoaches traveling in than six months. The six-months 35% for buses database is kept busy British Columbia may not be as requirement is important. ALBANY, N.Y. — Tolls for WASHINGTON — The Fed- information on more than 140,000 onerous as initially thought. • If a carrier is based in a state buses and motorcoaches using the eral Motor Carrier Safety Admin- truck and bus accidents and more The issue became a hot topic that does not have an inspection 641-mile New York State Thru- istration’s new tool for correcting than 3 million safety inspections. last month when it was reported program that meets FMSCA stan- way system rose by 35 percent bus and truck safety information Information open for correc- that any U.S. carrier entering and dards, and that includes Oregon effective May 15. in the agency’s electronic database tion includes accidents that were traveling in British Columbia had and Washington state, the carrier has been getting a workout since not reportable (no fatality, injury to have a provincial inspection. may meet the FMSCA require- The increase was the first for its introduction last year. or tow away), accidents assigned Worse, it was believed the inspec- ment through a federal inspection the highway system since 1988 In just 14 months of operation, to the wrong carrier, incorrect vio- tion had to be done every six or a self-inspection. Those compa- and will help fund a seven-year, months, and had to be completed nies using the self-inspection $2.6 billion capital spending plan DataQ — as the system is called lations, insurance information, — has received nearly 5,300 data federal enforcement actions, com- by an approved Canadian inspec- process should consider the J.J. that includes road and bridge im- tion station. Keller system and use the sticker challenges, or more than 375 a pliance review data and duplicate provements, upgraded connec- month. And of those, about 3,700, or incorrect data. This article, hopefully, will set that is supplied. Once again, the tions, and more and higher-speed the matter straight. sticker indicating the self-inspec- or more than two-thirds, were Errors in state information con- E-ZPass lanes. The nub of the problem is this: tion, or the federal inspection, closed with corrections made. tained in the database must be cor- Provincial law requires B.C.-based must have been completed within Under the plan, buses and Only about 50 of the com- rected at the state level before it can operators to meet broader and six months of time the bus will be other commercial vehicles that plaints, though, were filed by mo- be updated in the federal system. more frequent inspection stan- in British Columbia and dated use E-ZPass will receive a dis- torcoach operators, with the remain- The FMSCA said some data dards than most American opera- accordingly. count on tolls and be eligible for der filed by trucking companies. cannot be changed, including non- tors. Which, strangely enough, • A third option is for Ameri- additional volume discounts. The FMCSA developed the preventable crashes and dismissed B.C. operators didn’t think was can carriers to have their vehicles The toll increases were adopt- correction system in response to traffic tickets. It said state-report- fair. pass the same inspection, using the ed despite protests from the Bus concerns raised by operators who ed crashes are still used on a com- So, the Passenger Transporta- same process, required for B.C. Association of NewYork State, its said correcting erroneous informa- pany’s profile regardless if the tion Branch of the provincial carriers. That is, a semi-annual tion in the safety database was dif- crash was preventable or not. Also, members and truckers. However, Ministry of Transportation has provincial Commercial Vehicle In- ficult, and because the federal if a driver only received a warning the toll authority said the volume been working to find an equitable spection Program test/assessment agency wanted to improve its sys- or if a ticket was dismissed, the alternative. While a complete ans- conducted by a privately-owned discount structure was adopted at tem of tracking the numbers and original citation record remains in wer has not yet been developed, designated inspection facility in the request of commercial vehicle types of challenges and study how the database. here’s what American operators the province. operators. often corrections were made. Additionally, although DataQ need to do in the interim: Note: A CVSA roadside in- In the protest filed by BANY, Carriers maintained they need- receives challenges concerning • If a U.S. carrier is based in a spection does not qualify as meet- association president Stanley ed an easier way to correct errors registration information, the state that has a Federal Motor ing the FMCSA standard. Carrier Safety Administration– Every-six-months inspections Brettschneider said the toll in- because the database containing FMCSA suggests carriers follow approved inspection program, the are not unheard of in the U.S. For crease will “drive a number of the information is available to the this up with an updated (MCS- carrier’s vehicles must meet the example, New York and New small charter companies out of public and could have an impact 150) registration form, which can federal standard through a state Jersey require them. business and badly damage the on their businesses. be filed electronically at http:// state’s tourism industry.” Response from motorcoach safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. Under the new toll structure, a operators and others since the in- To use DataQ, a person first must troduction of DataQ has been out- register at http://dataqs.fmcsa.dot. Lift-grant deadline is near, three-axle coach using the Major standing, according to an FMCSA gov. Then log on, and click on the Deegan Expressway to travel the spokesperson who noted that more “Add a Challenge” button to bring application help available 497 miles from the New York than 60 percent of the disputes up a list of items that can be chal- City limit, to the were resolved in 10 days or less. lenged. Users then go through WASHINGTON — The dead- operators in applying for the state line would pay tolls totaling line is less than a month away to grants. The packet is available to Most of the challenges to the interactive screens, entering any $68.95, up from the previous apply for federal grants to help members of ABA and the United safety information — 95 percent supporting information. At the end $51.05. An E-ZPass would reduce pay for installing wheelchair lifts Motorcoach Association. — involved accidents and inspec- of the challenge an ID is provided in new and used coaches. ABA members wanting the the toll to $62.47. tions, the two areas in which most for future reference. The option of The U.S. Department of Trans- packet should send a request via e- Similarly, a three-axle coach of the data is collected. In 2004 uploading or faxing supporting portation and the Federal Transit mail to abainfo.org, and UMA traveling the 95 miles from the alone, the FMSCA collected, documentation is also available. Administration announced last members should send their request state line to New month that grants totaling more to [email protected]. Those York City would pay a toll of Transits seek charter firms than $6.89 million will be avail- members making the request must $22.70, up from $16.70. The following public transit Mills, Montgomery, Page, Potta- able this year for private motor- identify themselves and their com- Highlights of the spending providers have informed the wattamie and Shelby. Deadline: coach operators. The deadline is pany in their e-mails. plan include improvements to United Motorcoach Association of May 26, 2005. Write to: M.J. June 6. (See April 15 issue of Bus The federal money can be more than 500 miles of roadway their intent to provide charter bus Broomfield, Executive Director, & Motorcoach News.) used to add lifts, tie-downs, move- and more than 220 bridges; 15 service unless willing and able pri- Southwest Iowa Planning Council, Last year, 74 motorcoach com- able seats, doors and labor costs new dedicated E-ZPass lanes, 28 vate operators step forward to offer 1501 SW 7th St., Atlantic, Iowa panies in 26 states won grants associated with work needed to new higher-speed E-ZPass lanes. their services or to bid on contract 50022. through the Over-the-Road Bus make a coach accessible. The Tolls rise 25 percent for autos. opportunities. UMA urges appro- Columbia, S.C. Deadline: Accessibility Program. money can be used to retrofit priate operators to take the time to May 31, 2005. Write to: Director, For more information, and to use The American Bus Associa- coaches or help offset the cost of respond to these notices: Central Midlands Regional Transit the thruway’s toll calculator, go to tion has prepared a comprehensive having a lift installed in a new Atlantic, Iowa, and eight coun- Authority, P.O. Box 214, Colum- packet of information to guide coach. www.thruway.state.ny.us. ties: Cass, Fremont, Harrison, bia, SC 29202. Bus & Motorcoach NEWS DOCKET May 15, 2005 5 Washington, North Dakota fuel taxes rising; in N.Y.... With many state legislatures the Cascade Mountains — all win- In North Dakota, the assembly budget includes a number of tax- tomers or, as an alternative, tribes winding up their sessions, coach ter. Washington’s main east-west adopted an increase of two cents a related items, including an increase may reach revenue-sharing agree- operators soon will begin feeling mountain pass was closed several gallon in both diesel fuel and gaso- in several types of motor vehicle ments with the state. the impact — mostly in their pock- times this past winter even though line, and a $10 increase in registra- fees, including titling fees but not Tribes in New York have long etbooks — of new legislation the season was comparatively mild. tion fees for all vehicles. The fuel including vehicle registration fees, had a free hand in selling tax-free adopted this year. To finance the program, fuel tax goes to 23 cents from 21 cents and a requirement that Indian fuel at Indian-owned stations and In Washington state and North taxes rise 3 cents a gallon starting a gallon. tribes collect sales and fuel taxes truckstops to commercial vehicle Dakota, fuel taxes are going up, July 1, and increase another 3 cents And in New York, the new state on fuels sold to non-Indian cus- operators. and in New York several types of a gallon on July 1, 2006, 2 cents on 1 motor vehicle fees are increasing, July 1, 2007, and 1 /2 cents on July plus Indian tribes are expected to 1, 2008. start collecting sales and fuel taxes. In addition, a weight fee for for- The biggest fuel tax hike is hire vehicles capable of carrying coming in Washington where the six passengers or more and small 1 tax will rise 9 /2 cents a gallon dur- trucks (under 10,000 pounds) went ing the next four years. The current up by as much as 100 percent. But Washington fuel tax is 28 cents a the weight fee for vehicles the size gallon for both diesel fuel and of buses — 20,000 to 40,000 gasoline. pounds — remained unchanged. The Washington legislature Washington’s motor carrier adopted a massive highway and industry largely joined other state bridge rebuilding program that business groups and supported the calls for spending at least $8.6 bil- transportation package. Escaping lion during the next 16 years. the weight-fee increase was a One goal of the program is to major factor in gaining industry keep open — through support.

Takeover routes was too high and the service on many of the lines was not up to CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 par. The companies, however, said start as early as next month operat- they were saddled with 18- to 20- ing the routes now being run by the year old city-owned buses to use Transit Alliance and its four affili- on the routes and the city refused ates, , Command to either replace them or keep Bus Co., and them in good repair. . While the MTA The private companies accused plans to begin operating a few of the city of allowing more than the routes in June, the full takeover $150 million in federal money to is not expected to be complete sit in a bank account unspent in an until later in the summer. effort to create the false impres- “I am very pleased we have sion that the operators and their reached an agreement with the employees were not doing a good Transit Alliance,” said New York job for the public. Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who Jerome Cooper, the long-time hatched the plan to take over the chairman of Transit Alliance, who private companies. spent 45 years working in various Although the city has tried off capacities for the private compa- and for 20 years to sever its rela- nies, said the loss of the routes is tionship with the private bus oper- tough to take. “It is going to be a ators, Bloomberg kicked the effort sad day when we walk out after into overdrive just over two years 100 years in business,” he stressed. ago. “This was the final round of He said he still does not fully negotiations and we now have understand what the city and agreements with all of the fran- mayor accomplished with their chise bus operators,” said the “hostile takeover.” mayor. “It certainly is going to cost The MTA earlier this year took much more than if the private lines over the routes operated by the had continued to operate,” he other three private companies, asserts. Liberty Lines Express, Cooper said the companies Surface Corp., and New York Bus will remain in operation, but will Co. The seven companies were no longer do transit work. Instead, transporting about 400,000 daily Transit Alliance will maintain its commuters into from paratransit services, offer bus the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn repair work, and continue its bus under a series of contracts with the shelter maintenance operation. city, some of which dated back to In addition, he said he hopes to 1974. be able to do consulting work. “I Bloomberg had maintained don’t know if anyone will want to that the $100 million to $150 mil- use our services, but I can certain- lion the city was paying the private ly talk a lot about negotiations with companies each year to operate the municipalities,” he noted. 6 May 15, 2005 INDUSTRY NEWS Bus & Motorcoach NEWS

Consolidation association should largely be up redundancy and duplication,” said Holland & Knight will conduct the energy to this task. They represent- and running by January. Brown, who is president and CEO due diligence and present its find- ed their members admirably,” said CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The overarching goal of the of Holiday Tours in Randleman, ings to the UMA board at its regu- Eyre. • Little time to focus on the is- consolidation is to create an organ- N.C. lar semi-annual meeting June 2. Representing the ABA on the sue because of competing interests ization that will be much stronger “I am particularly pleased that ABA board members are being Unification Task Force were board • A general sense it was time and more representative and effec- the unification plan provides for invited to attend the UMA board members Eyre, Charles Zelle (im- for a change tive than the two associations have strong representation for small session. mediate past ABA chairman), Don Almost immediately, leaders of been separately, said ABA Chair- motorcoach operators,” added Brown and Eyre thanked the DeVivo, Doug Anderson and T.J. the committees set up to oversee man Ron Eyre and UMA Chair- Brown. other members of the Unification Morgan. Representing the UMA the consolidation were on the tele- man David Brown. During the run up to the vote, Task Force that developed the plan on the task force were board mem- phone arranging planning sessions “This (vote) presents ABA and Eyre, Brown and other advocates for combining the associations. bers Jeff Polzien, Godfrey Lebron, or conference calls to start the UMA with many opportunities to emphasized how the industry was “These individuals devoted hun- Rick Hillard (former UMA chair- process of executing the compre- develop a new, stronger association being hamstrung in Washington dreds of hours of their time and man), Brian Scott and Brown. hensive consolidation plan they that better serves our collective because it spoke with two, some- developed during more than a year members,” said Eyre, who is presi- times disparate, voices. of meetings and negotiations. dent of Eyre Bus and Travel in Among the odds and ends that Leaders They said it is difficult to say The unification plan, which is Glenelg, Md. must be completed as part of the what the first priorities will be for not a merger, requires the creation “Now, we can move forward — consolidation is that UMA must CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 the transition team because there’s of a new association that will have together — to build a new organi- conduct due diligence of the finan- have competed for members since so much work to do. “I think every- a new name, new bylaws, new zation that will represent the inter- cial operation of ABA. The ABA UMA was formed more than 30 body has thoughts in their minds of board, and new organizational ests of all members, give us a conducted similar due diligence of years ago. ABA members backed what is going to be most important, structure. A Search Committee is strong, single voice in Washington, UMA earlier this year. The Wash- the proposal by a 93-percent mar- but until we get all of those to find a chief executive. The new and end decades of confusion, ington office of the law firm of gin, 237 to 16, while 87 percent of thoughts down on paper it is kind the UMA members who voted of hard to say at this point,” said marked yes, 207-30. Scott. “The vote was truly amazing,” Eyre suggested that the Transi- said Eyre. “I never imagined it would tion Committee will have to focus be so overwhelming in support.” on a broad range of issues, includ- Scott said the results of the ing writing bylaws; integrating election were a loud sign of support staffs and settling on a staff struc- for the work the boards of the two ture; choosing office space; review- associations put into the merger ing publications; determining a effort over the past one and one- combined budget; looking for a half years. “The membership has new name, and discussing mem- clearly spoken on both sides that it ber-benefit plans. “We have many, is time for the industry to become many issues on the transition side one and move forward,” he said. to work on,” he said. “We’ve got direction.” The Search Committee, which UMA Chairman David Brown is likely to begin its work quickly, of Holiday Tours, also a strong sup- will hire a search or recruiting firm porter of the unification, said he to help find candidates for the chief was most pleased by the lopsided executive position. ABA CEO vote. Peter Pantuso and UMA CEO “My biggest concern was if it Victor Parra are being encouraged were close, it was going to be bad, to apply for the job. whether it passed or failed, because Scott said he wants to see it would be something the people someone in the job with a charis- would be second guessing for the matic personality who can be a next 20 years,” he said. “As long as good spokesperson for the group, it was going to pass I wanted it to motivate the membership and pull pass big and if it were going to fail the industry together. “We need I wanted it to fail big.” somebody solid who can really Now, he said, the tough task of focus our energy on moving for- working out the final details of ward on the things that we can bringing the two groups together accomplish now that we’re togeth- by a target deadline of January er,” he said. “Where are we going begins. “We have to start executing to find that? We may find it in an the steps we laid out to do this, and association executive. We may find that’s going to be bigger than it was it in an industry executive,” getting us to this point,” he said. Eyre said he leans toward find- Scott and Eyre (pronounced ing someone who has a strong air) agree, maintaining that every- background in association manage- one involved has a great deal of ment. “I think the CEO will have to work before them. “But we’re anx- have an emphasis on association ious to get started,” said Eyre. management, absolutely, because Eyre and Scott are the only indi- this is going to be a very big organ- viduals from the ABA and UMA ization now,” he said. “They can boards who are members of both always learn the industry.” the Transition Committee, which Most important, though, said will oversee the consolidation of the Brown, is responding to the vote in two organizations, and the Search a steady and positive manner. “The Committee, which will find and biggest deal here is that the mem- recommend to the new combined bership has spoken. We want one board a chief executive who will organization and we are going to manage the unified association. do it.”

8 May 15, 2005 OPINION Bus & Motorcoach NEWS Training, coaching employees for results 5,000th Van Hool By Fred Spears • Don’t waste time trying to put in what Perfect practice makes perfect. Make sure delivered in U.S. was left out the employees are practicing the right and Terry Herring WINTER GARDEN, Fla. — Every com- • Try to draw out what was left in things. pany seems to have a favorite customer. Jack Welch, the lionized former CEO of • That’s hard enough Finally, no teaching takes place until It may not be the biggest customer, or the General Electric, once commented: “Any Therefore, the primary focus within the learning occurs. Only when the first four oldest customer, or even the one that turns company trying to compete...must figure organization must be training, rather than principles are followed does the trainee out to generate the highest profit margin. out a way to engage the mind of every education. The difference between the two actually learn what was communicated. The But, for some reason, they’ve come to be employee.” is a matter of purpose: Education focuses greatest impediment to effective communi- a favorite. In previous articles, we have addressed on a level of knowledge for a subject, not cation is assuming that communication has three essentials for individual and organiza- directly related to any specific task or for a taken place. The individual(s) responsible Don Dinger may be that kind of customer tional success: Selecting the right person, subject common to several tasks. Training for conducting training must use appropri- at ABC Companies. setting clear expectations, and creating a on the other hand, focuses directly on ate measures to ascertain that those being That’s because when ABC marked two motivational climate. behavior change — specific skills applica- trained have received — and understood — milestones during the past six months, Building on Mr. Welch’s comment, we tion, action and defined results. the training message that was sent. Dinger happened to be the right customer at add a fourth essential for success: Develop- Adopting the following five principles While there are four essentials for orga- the right place at the right time. ing the person. assures effective employee training: nizational and individual success, there are Late last fall, Dinger was the first opera- Effective leaders and managers know Employees must be ready to learn. They twice that number of characteristics that ef- tor to take delivery of a Caterpillar-powered they are successful only when the values of must be alert, in the right place and have fective leaders and managers possess. They Van Hool coach. Then, a few weeks ago, the product or service delivered is greater met any prerequisites for the particular • are committed to a personal vision, Dinger bought two more new coaches and than the cost of delivering it. This is the training process. • are goals-directed (both personal and one of them turned out to be the 5,000th essence of productivity…and productivity The employees must benefit — and organizational), Van Hool delivered in the U.S. gains come from people. Organizational suc- understand they benefit — from the training • are action-oriented, The first Van Hools built to U.S. specifi- cess depends on getting high levels of per- process. If employees see no personal bene- • achieve by helping others achieve, cations were sent to this country from formance from other people — and frequent- fit from the training process, their motiva- • maintain a positive climate, Belgium in 1985. But sales didn’t accelerate ly the lowest paid people in the organization. tion to participate in the process will be • are enthusiastic and internally moti- until ABC Bus Cos. became the distributor Within a company, not all people may marginal, as will the results. vated, two years later. initially be matched to the right position. Feedback enhances learning. Contrary • work for constant improvement and, ABC honored Dinger by presenting him Additionally all people are unique and if to what the advertisements say, Wheaties is perhaps most critically, they with a plaque that commemorates the deliv- treated as a group, individual talents will be not the “Breakfast of Champions” — feed- • know the power of personal develop- ery milestone. The plaque was nice but wasted. Consequently, leaders and man- back is. Employees want to know how ment and encourage others to make the Dinger also received a trip for two to the agers need to identify the strengths of their they’re doing. Whether it’s in the classroom, most of their developmental opportunities. Van Hool factory and passes to Bus World people and capitalize on those strengths — or in the workplace, providing feedback — Today is an excellent time to use the Kortrijk, the giant European bus show held not spend time on trying to “improve” their and coaching on performance will generate foregoing to assess the effectiveness of your each October. weaknesses to be more successful. positive results for both the individual and organization’s training process to assure that Dinger is the owner of Gotta Go Trail- In their seminal book, First Break All the organization. it’s on the right track and achieving the ways, a coach company he founded 20 years the Rules, Marcus Buckingham and Curt Spaced repetition makes learning per- results you are expecting, and to evaluate ago. It has grown from 9 buses to a fleet of Coffman made the following points: manent. This is critical. Practice doesn’t your own characteristics and behaviors to 35 Van Hools. • People don’t change that much make perfect — it only makes permanent. evaluate your level of effectiveness. “Gotta Go Trailways has experienced phe- nomenal growth through its aggressiveness and willingness to expand into new markets,” Coach tire prices soar as demand skyrockets said ABC Senior Account Executive Bob AKRON, Ohio — All three of the major The company said it was forced to boost Michelin and BFGoodrich brands. Holloway. “Don takes pride in his employees tire suppliers to the over-the-road bus indus- prices because of persistent increases in the And in February, Goodyear raised prices and in his equipment. He’s a good friend and try have announced price hikes in recent cost of petroleum, steel, chemicals used in on its commercial tires by up to 6 percent. an excellent ambassador for ABC.” weeks, with the latest going into effect earlier rubber processing, polymers and utilities. It The huge demand for heavy-duty trucks Dinger’s two new C2045 Van Hools also this month. was Bridgestone’s second price hike this and trailers during most of the 18 months has have Caterpillar C13 engines, ZF AS-tronic Bridgestone Firestone North American year; a 7 percent increase went into effect reportedly stretched tiremakers’ production transmissions with intarders, Amaya Brasil Tire raised its prices for buses, trucks and Jan. 1. capacity, resulting in shortages, allocations seats, Alcoa wheels, REI A/V systems with other vehicles by as much as 8 percent on In March, Michelin increased replace- and disruptions in the procurement process 10-inch monitors, and Monogram flush-type May 1. ment-tire prices 6 percent for both its by fleets. recirculating toilets. How to contact us: ISSUE NO. 54 Dale Krapf To submit or report news, Letters to the Krapf Coaches To contact the West Chester, Pa. Editor, articles: United Motorcoach Association: A PUBLICATION OF THE UNITED MOTORCOACH ASSOCIATION E-mail: [email protected] Godfrey LeBron Call: (800) 424-8262 Paradise Trailways Fax: (866) 930-8426 Online: www.uma.org Staff Advisory Board West Hempstead, N.Y. Mail: 4930 W. Glendale Ave., Suite 6 To send advertisements or Editor & Publisher William Allen Bob Foley Joan Libby Glendale, AZ 85301 Sierra Trailways ABC Companies Cavalier Coach photographs via the Internet: Victor Parra Call: (623) 930-8423 Sacramento, Calif. Faribault, Minn. Boston, Mass. E-mail: [email protected] Larry Benjamin Steve Haddad Jeff Polzien Upload: www.jezac.com/uploads Sales Director Senior Editor To advertise or to mail advertising- Johnny Steger Northfield Lines Carl R. Bieber Tourways Red Carpet Tours Bruce Sankey Northfield, Minn. Kutstown, Pa. Oklahoma City related materials: To subscribe or inquire about your Call: Johnny Steger subscription: Government Editor Associate Editor Dave Bolen Rick Hillard Tom Ready (623) 930-8422 or (602) 980-0840 New World Tours Tri-State Tours Ready Bus Lines Call: (623) 930-8421 Norman Littler Ellen Balm Bristow, Va. Galena, Ill. LaCrescent, Minn. E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Mail: 4930 W. Glendale Ave., Suite 6 Editorial Assistant Editorial Assistant Bob Brisman Todd Holland Brian Scott Fax: (866) 930-8426 West Point Trailways Ramblin' Express Escot Bus Lines Glendale, AZ 85301 Tara Sheehan Amy Stalknecht Vails Gate, N.Y. Colorado Springs Largo, Fla. Mail: 4930 W. Glendale Ave., Suite 6 To complain: Glendale, AZ 85301 Accountant Editorial Assistant David Brown Robert Hume Michelle Silvestro Holiday Tours Travel Mates Trailways National Interstate Insurance Co. Call: (623) 930-8421 John Giddens Melissa Harden Randlemann, N.C. Harrisonburg, Va. Richfield, Ohio E-mail: [email protected] ©2005 by the United Motorcoach Association. Reproduction in whole or in part without Art Director Steve Brown Daryl G. Johnson T. Ralph Young written permission is prohibited. Brown Coach J & J Charters Young Transportation Mary E. McCarty Amsterdam, N.Y. Crosby, Texas Ashville, N.C. Bus & Motorcoach NEWS REHAB – SPECIAL SECTION May 15, 2005 9 Bus refurbishing companies find unique solutions Like the buses they work on, ABC’s regional sales and service including replacing the A/C duct the sophistication of coach industry center in Grand Prairie, Texas, chase. At the back of the buses, the rehabilitation and repair companies came up with an unusual solution. air starters on the is growing exponentially. He bought a dozen nearly iden- 6V-92 engines were switched to No longer are they mere body tical 1991 MCI 102C3 commuter electric starters. shops with 13-foot doors that patch coaches that had been operated by DART’s signature yellow-and- up 45-foot behemoths, sending the Dallas Area , and white exterior color scheme was them back out on the road. Today, refurbished them for use in Alaska. covered with dark — or forest they also help find and deliver The buses were perfect for green — paint and new graphics. unique solutions for their cus- transporting cruise ship passengers Some bumpers had to be replaced. tomers’ challenges, they tackle spe- because they had neither restrooms ABC handled all facets of the cial projects, and they give new nor extensive A/V equipment. In job. “They bought the buses sight definition to the term “extreme Alaska, it’s all about the scenery, unseen,” said Vaught. “We man- makeover.” not the video. aged the entire project for them.” Here are five examples of what Updating the coaches for use as The last of the dozen buses headed these creative companies can do. shuttles involved work inside and for Alaska last week. Seeing is believing…a hybrid-electric repower commuter bus They demonstrate capabilities, cre- outside the buses, plus the engine Separately, ABC announced ativity and offer food for thought in compartment. Before the refurbish- that its 6th Annual Collision Repair pulling, wiring harnesses, multi- Next year’s workshop will be coping with problems and finding ing began, the buses got a thorough Workshop for coach and transit plexing and — new this year — March 9-10, 2006. For informa- opportunities. going over. buses had record attendance, with collision repair techniques for tion, call (800) 222-2875, or to go The biggest aspect of the rehab more than 50 people attending. RV’s. Presentations were made on www.abc-companies.com. North to Alaska Caterpillar engines, the ZF AS- project, said Vaught, was the The workshop is conducted A hybrid solution JUNEAU, Alaska — When the removal of wheelchair lifts from each year at the company’s Winter tronic transmission and ABC/ owners of Alaska Coach Lines most of the coaches and installing Garden, Fla., locationand is attend- Van Hool products. ELK GROVE, Calif. — In Cal- decided to established a cruise permanent seats where the wheel- ed by claim adjusters/supervisors, Sonny Murianka, senior inves- ifornia, reducing exhaust emissions ship-shuttle business, they went to chair positions had been. Because safety officers, insurance execu- tigator from the National Highway isn’t a goal, it’s a way of life. Reg- ABC Companies to assemble a the lifts had been in the center of tives, transit managers and heavy- Traffic Safety Administration Of- ulations demand that public transit fleet. the coaches, the air conditioning equipment specialists. fice of Defects Investigation was systems operate environmentally Tim Vaught, vice president of system had to be replumbed, Workshops included frame the featured speaker. CONTINUED ON PAGE 11 þ 973 589-9265 • Toll Free 800-526-8055 FAX 973-589-2253 • P.O. BOX 5157 • NEWARK, NJ 07105 www.nimcobus.com Supplying the Transportation Industry with Used, Serviceable & Rebuildable Bus Parts for Over 25 Years! VOLUME DISCOUNTS • PRIDE IN PERFORMANCE DEEP DISCOUNTS! on all Detroit Diesel & Allison • 50,000 sq. ft. 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Call for a Quote PHONE: 800-264-1294 or 507-452-1294 FAX: 507-452-2701 Bus & Motorcoach NEWS REHAB – SPECIAL SECTION May 15, 2005 11 Hybrid The propulsion technology was expensive — $385,000 each — but The transit agency put its proj- The goal, said Leisen, was “to developed by the ISE Corp. of San substantially less than new, off-the- ect out for bids and CoachCrafters make the buses visually appear like CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 Diego. Because the system was assembly hybrid-electrics. Inc., a full-service bus remanufac- the newer buses, and improve their friendly buses. But transits and fully developed when Complete turing, maintenance and upgrade reliability.” their boards of directors have made Coach Works, Elk Grove and ISE No experience needed facility headquartered in North- Leisen is so pleased with the a fine art of projecting a “green” got together, it took just six months WOODBRIDGE, Va. — Like field, Minn., got the job. outcome that he expects the next- image in their communities and to get all 17 buses in service after many operators, the Potomac and The project involved exterior oldest buses, four 1995 D3s, will among their stakeholders. the city awarded the contract. Rappahannock Transportation Com- body work; repairs to seats along get the same treatment sometime in Buses powered by CNG and “As a new transit system start- mission in Woodbridge had no expe- with new upholstery; LED lights the future. LNG generally rule in California, ing with a clean slate, we wanted to rience with rehabilitating its buses. installed on the rear; brake, suspen- with hybrid-electric moving into get ahead of the technology curve,” But instead of buying new sion and air conditioning systems The High Life the picture, and fuel-cell systems says Elk Grove City Manager John buses the transit system decided to checked and repaired; flooring and MILWAUKEE — Jim Rem- seemingly on the horizon. Danielson. refurbish the oldest of its com- window upgrades as required; and linger remembers the phone call That has meant, of course, pub- “With gasoline hybrid-electric muter coaches, five 1993 MCI Twin Vision electronic destination well. Lane Manning, a project lic transit systems invariably have buses, we are giving our citizens 102A3s, that are used on daily, 25- signs installed. manager for an event marketing to buy new buses to get the latest the cleanest buses commercially mile commuter runs from Wood- Finishing off the buses were company whose client roster power systems. That is, until now. available, and making sure our bridge to Washington, D.C. new paint jobs and graphics, along includes the Miller Brewing Co., Working with Complete Coach transit system is in step with tech- “We’d never done rehab before,” with the installation of Alcoa was panic-stricken. Works of Riverside, Calif., the city nology.” said PRTC Manager of Contract wheels to replace the original steel Manning was the point person of Elk Grove, which is a dozen or The interiors of the former city Operations Bill Leisen. But after wheels. for a plan to recreate a bus called so miles south of Sacramento, buses also got a complete make- putting pencil to paper, the 75-bus The PRTC wanted to restore the Miller High Life Cruiser. The adopted the newest technology over. The transit seating was transit system decided that refur- the coaches to a first-class, func- cruiser was a 1953 Flxible that without having to invest a half-mil- replaced by high-back Freedman bishing made financial sense. Ba- tionally new condition. Plus, maxi- traveled across the U.S. in the early lion dollars or much more per bus. reclining seats, eight TV screens sically, it came down to $400,000 mize their comfort and safety, and mid-50s, showcasing a scale Complete Coach Works reman- with real-time programming and for each new bus vs. $121,000 for while upgrading operating charac- model of a new Miller brewery, the ufactured 17 buses for Elk Grove, news broadcasts were installed, each refurbished bus. teristics. CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 þ converting them to hybrid-electric along with parcel racks, individual power plants and giving the com- reading lights and an Internet con- munity of 17,000 people what may nection system. be the first 100 percent hybrid- “We want to provide every electric commuter fleet in the incentive possible to make riding nation. the bus the right decision for our Starting with 1991, 40-foot citizens,” said Danielson. Gilligs that had been equipped with During the remanufacturing Detroit Diesel 6V-92s, Complete process, Complete Coach Works Coach Works converted them to a stripped the buses down to bare hybrid-electric system that uses an their frames, made structural ultra-low-emission gasoline engine. repairs, and rebuilt the buses from The power plant produces zero the ground up. During the process, particulate matter and meets 2007 they replaced windows and installed California Air Resources Board LED destination signs and automat- and U.S. EPA standards for emis- ic stop-annunciation systems. sions of NOx. The remanufactured buses were CelebratingCelebrating 2020 YearsYears REBUILDINGREBUILDING BUSESBUSES

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11 most modern in the world. Miller had scoured the Internet for a Flxible Visicoach that could be fashioned into a new cruiser, finally finding one in its home state of Wisconsin. A company was located to do the work and the bus was trucked off to Florida — where it sat...for two months. Manning went down to check on the project and discovered nothing had been done. He was beside himself, but after a bit he remembered he had met Remlinger sever- The Miller High Life Cruiser was a challenging 1950s-era re-creation Frameless windows, restyled front end distinguish D-model retrofit kit al years earlier and toured his collision repair facility in Winona, Minn. they would be flexible and allow him to jump had 10-12 men working on the bus around Two types of D-Series retrofits have been That’s when he made the call to the cruiser project ahead of their work. the clock. developed. One is a restyling kit that Remlinger, president of Jim’s Truck & The rebuilding began. The bus was The night before the cruiser was to be in includes a frameless window sash; flared Trailer/Coachwerks. skinned and the frame lain bare. New side Milwaukee, about 225 miles away, test runs head and directional lights; new trim and “He asked for a miracle,” said Remlinger, panels, frame members and flooring were were being made but the bus wouldn’t shift driplines, and a sleeker door and bumper. which Remlinger and his staff promptly fabricated and installed. A 366-cubic-inch properly. Another near-all-night session got it The other kit includes the major updates delivered. Chevrolet engine, hooked to an Allison trans- operating and off to Milwaukee — in time. but without the frameless window sash. The hulk that had once been an operating mission, was installed. (The bus previously Since then, the High Life Cruiser has The costs for the complete retrofit kit, bus had to be rebuilt in roughly six weeks to had also been powered by a gasoline engine.) traveled across the U.S., showing up for including the side sash, are $18,000 for a 45- meet a deadline for a Miller open house. To say An air conditioner was installed, along events and on television. foot D-series coach, and $16,800 for a 40- the bus was a mess would be an understate- with generators to power the additional elec- “The cruiser is an absolute crowd stopper foot D-series coach. Cost for the kit without ment. All of the flooring and cross-members trics. It was rewired and new gauges installed. where ever it goes,” says Remlinger, the the frameless sash is $9,000 for either coach were rotted or rusted away. There was no way it Springs were made. It was found that Jeep pride showing. length. would run. The suspension was junk. It leaned headlight rings matched the originals. The price includes professional installa- about a foot to one side; the springs were bust- Inside, an old-fashioned bar was built, Sleek new look tion at an MCI service center. Quantity dis- ed. The air system and tank were trash. As for and a large-screen TV installed for showing SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — In January, counts also are available. the wiring; imagine a bowl of spaghetti. vintage Miller television commercials. Motor Coach Industries unveiled an updated “The kits have been designed with MCI Remlinger flashed into action. He had Polished stainless fluting was fabricated version of its best-selling D4500 coaches, factory input, and our technicians have been the Flxible trucked to Winona and set his to match the look of the original cruiser. and its shorter D4000 sibling. The revamping trained on their installation,” said Jerry team to work. He asked other customers if Towards the end of the project, Remlinger includes new styling and model designa- Cignarella, vice president of service center tions. The 45-footer is now called the D4505 operations. “The new fronts provide an oper- and the 40-footer is the D4005, and both will ator with a cost-effective way of achieving soon start rolling off MCI’s assembly line. up-to-date curbside appeal, while extending Now, MCI Fleet Support service centers a coach’s useful life.” Low operating cost are offering a retrofit kit so operators can MCI Sales will soon begin offering pre- Durable stainless steel structure give the D-model coaches in their fleets a owned D4500 coaches already retrofitted Great rider experience similar look. with the new look. Up to 47 seats

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14 May 15, 2005 INDUSTRY NEWS Bus & Motorcoach NEWS Security Grants coach Association. It’s pretty clear those funds to only designated oper- The associations are urging will work with our membership to from the language used by UMA ators,” ABA President and CEO their line-haul operator members to press that point with government CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 and ABA that isn’t exactly true. Peter J. Pantuso and UMA President apply for grants even if they are not officials,” Pantuso and Parra said. department said it designed this “While ABA and UMA support and CEO Victor Parra said in a on the list. In fiscal 2003 and 2004, bus year’s program in coordination both congressional and administra- statement. Representatives of the associa- security grants were awarded to vir- with a trio of “federal partner agen- tion efforts to promote motorcoach “Though fixed-route operators tions have met with DHS officials tually all segments of the industry cies,” as well as industry represen- security through the availability of are and should be a high priority and congressional staffers in recent and were used to purchase cell tatives, such as the American Bus federal security grants for our in- for security grant funding because weeks in an effort to drive home the phones and security barriers for Association and the United Motor- dustry, we strongly oppose limiting of the volume of passengers they point that by limiting eligibility to drivers, GPS equipment, fencing operate, it has been ABA and UMA’s line-haul operators the rest of the around bus lots, and training. UMA position that all operators should industry is put at greater risk. The and ABA created “Operation Secure C LASSIFIED A DVERTISING have access to the competitive associations also continue to insist Transport,” which distributed secu- FOR SALE: Call John @ 717-854-5511 or [email protected] process of applying for those funds that additional funds — with a wider rity training materials to more than based on the merits of their appli- distribution — must be allocated for 700 companies. Additionally, 300 cation and the intended use of the bus security grants in the future. bus professionals received training requested funds,” added Parra and “We are hopeful that those during a series of 10 “Train the Pantuso. efforts will be successful and we Trainer” security workshops. ‘Grant-eligible’ companies 1994 Vanhool 1995 Vanhool Vin #YE2TA73B2R2024873 – 757,000 miles Vin #YE2TA74B5S2027528 WASHINGTON — The U.S. Capitol Trailways, Harrisburg, Pa. New York Trailways, Hurley, N.Y. Model T-800, 4 Monitor VCR/AM/FM 544,000 miles, Model T-800 Department of Homeland Security Carolina Trailways, Raleigh, N.C. Northwestern Trailways, Cavalier Coach Corp., Boston Cummings L10 Engine rebuilt July 2004 Cummins , 3 Monitor VCR has announced that the following Spokane, Wash. Central Texas Bus Lines, Waco, Bailey Coach – York, Pennsylvania operators are eligible for consider- Orange Belt Stages, Visalia, Texas Calif. ation for the fiscal 2005 Intercity Chenango Valley Bus Lines, Pacific Coast Sightseeing Tours & Bus Security Grant Program. Binghamton, N.Y. Charters, Gillette, Wyo. The American Bus Association Coach USA Western N.Y., North Panhandle Trailways, Amarillo, and United Motorcoach Asso- Tonawanda, N.Y. Colonial Trailways, Mobile, Ala. Texas ciation are urging their members (Coach USA), Peoria Charter Coach Company, that aren’t on this list — but have Passaic, N.J. Peoria, Ill. fixed-route services — to apply Concord Trailways, Concord, Peter Pan Trailways, Springfield, for grants anyway. N.H. Mass. The list is reprinted here large- Decamp Bus Lines, Montclair, Pine Hill Trailways, Hurley, N.Y. N.J. Plymouth & Brockton Street ly as it was published by DHS. We El Expreso, Houston, Texas Railway Co., Plymouth Mass. For Sale / Unique Offering started correcting the mistakes but El Paso-Los Angeles Limousine gave up. One of the most common Express, El Paso, Texas Powder River Transportation Two 2001 MCI F3500s mistakes is the location of the Eyre Bus Service, Glenelg, Md. Services, Old Town, Maine company. For example, Pacific Franciscan Lines, San Francisco Prescott Transit Authority, Equipped w/Ricon ADA-compliant lifts. Seat 36 passengers Prescott, Ariz. Coast Sightseeing Tours & Fullington Trailways, Clearfield, w/two wheelchair securements. Silver paint, one w/green Pa. Quicks Commuter & Charter Bus Amaya seats, the other w/blue National seats. 130,000 miles Charters is not based in Gillette, Georgia Trailways Ltd., Macon, Service, Falmouth, Va. each. They have videos, roof-mounted A/C units, lavatories. Wyo., and the home of Powder Ga. Red and Tan Tours Inc., Jersey Gold Line Inc., Tuxedo, Md. Ready to go, w/tires. Making room for new arrivals. Call Joan at River Transportation Services is a City, N.J. long way from Old Town, Maine. Golden State Transportation, Inc., Albuquerque, N.M. (617) 330-1234, or e-mail [email protected] But they’re obviously close Westwood, N.J. Goodall’s Charter Bus Service, enough for government work. San Diego Saddle River Trails Inc., Gray Line of Denver, Commerce Maywood, N.J. 88 Transit Lines Inc., Charleroi, City, Colo. Systems, Hurley, N.Y. Pa. Greyhound Lines Inc., Dallas Southeastern Stages Inc., Academy Bus LLC, Hoboken, N.J. Grosvenor Bus Lines, San Atlanta Adirondack Trailways, Hurley, Francisco Suburban Transit Inc., New N.Y. Gulf Coast Transportation, Brunswick, N.J. All Aboard America, Odessa, Houston Suffolk Transportation Services, Texas Inc., Bay Shore, N.Y. Alpha Trailways, Cincinnati Southampton, N.Y. Americanos USA LLC, Hudson Transit Lines/Shortline, Sunset Stages Inc., Abilene, Texas Albuquerque, N.M. Mahwah, N.J. Susquehanna Trailways, Anderson Coach & Travel, Indian Trails, Owosso, Mich. Williamsport, Pa. Greenville, Pa. Industrial Bus Lines Inc., T.N.M.&O. Coaches, Lubbock, For Sale / Up to 6 1999 MCI E4500s Arrow Stage Lines Inc., Phoenix Binghamton, N.Y. Texas THESE ARE CHERRY COACHES! All are beyond EXCELLENT condition. You’ve never Arrow Trailways of Texas, International Bus Services Inc., Trans-Bridge Lines Inc., seen any this clean! Lovingly maintained by fanatical car-collector owner, with Killeen Hoboken, N.J. Bethlehem, Pa. 175K miles OR less. All w/58 reclining American seats, Series 60 w/B500R trans, Atlantic Express Coachways, J A T Inc., Birmingham, Ala. Trombly Bus Lines, Dracut, Mass. upgraded lavatory, upgraded sound system with AM/FM/8-Disc CD/cordless mic/6 Staten Island, N.Y. Jefferson Lines, Minneapolis Valley Retriever, Newport, Ore. Badger Coaches Inc., Madison, Keller Transportation Inc., monitors. All MCI updates. Gorgeous gold paint, polished aluminum wheels! Call for Valley Transit Company, Wis. Waldorf, Md. pictures! Hurry! Starting at $210,000, delivered to the West Coast. Call Carl R. Bieber Tourways, Kerrville Bus Company, San Harlingen, Texas Marc (808) 832-6261 Kutztown, Pa. Antonio Van Galder Bus Company, Black Hills Stage Lines Inc., K-T Contract Services, Elko, Nev. Janesville, Wis. Norfolk, Neb. Lake Front Trailways, Cleveland Vermont Transit Co., Inc., Business for Sale in South Florida Bonanza Bus Lines Inc., , Dover, N.J. Burlington, Vt. Providence, R.I. Lamers Bus Lines Inc., Green Bay, Virginia Coach Co Inc., Limo and Bus Charter Burlington Trailways, West Wis. Purcellville, Va. Very Motivated Seller Burlington, Iowa Lion Corp., Rio Grande, N.J. Wickkiser International, C & H Bus Lines Inc., Macon, Ga. Lone Star Bus Lines Inc., Tyler, Ferndale, Wash. C&J Trailways, Portsmouth, N.H. Texas Grossed $1.5 million last year, which was bad year. Wilson Bus Lines Inc., East Usually grosses $2.5 million annually. C-A-C Transportation Inc., Bend, Los Rapidos Inc., Albuquerque, Ore. N.M. Templeton, Mass. Call John for Camptown Bus Lines Inc., Martz Fredericksburg, Inc., complete details Newark, N.J. Fredericksburg, Va. Waukesha 772-528-7869 Capital Coachways, Princeville, Frank Martz Coach Co., Wilkes- Yellow Bus Service Inc., Or email: [email protected] Ore. Barre, Pa. Annapolis Junction, Md. Bus & Motorcoach NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS May 15, 2005 15 Driver of burned Utah coach operator is charged with theft SALT LAKE CITY — Steven Lewis, 56, sold the bus in January Lewis was charged with a sec- transit buses, and five midsize coach disclaims Orson Lewis, president of Lewis to Dawson Community College of ond-degree felony count of theft by buses and vans. Bros. Stages, was arrested and Glendive, Mont., for $85,000. But, deception and a class B misde- According to the Tribune, the passenger danger charged early this month with theft as of last month, the school had not meanor count of failure to deliver a company has the contract for the by deception and failing to deliver received the title. certificate of title. Bryce Canyon National Park shut- BRIGHTON, Mass. — The the title of a coach his company Lewis reportedly said the A resident of Park City, Utah, tle system, and recently shuttled driver of a coach that caught fire sold to a college in Montana, the coach’s title was still with the lien Lewis is the third generation of his runners during the Salt Lake City and was destroyed in a highly pub- Salt Lake Tribune and the holder because he had used the family to head the 90-year-old Marathon and 5K run. The compa- licized event two months ago, has Associated Press reported. money from the sale to pay other Lewis Bros. Stages, which operates ny also specializes in charter serv- denied he endangered his passen- According to court records, vendors rather than the lien holder. a fleet of 31 coaches, more than 20 ices for skiers. gers when he continued driving. Shitong Ou, 40, was released on personal recognizance after be- ing charged in Brighton District Court on charges of negligent oper- ation of a motor vehicle and equip- ment violations. Early on March 18, Ou was driving a coach for Kristine Travel, a Chinatown company that oper- ates between New York and Bos- ton, when the vehicle caught fire on the Massachusetts Turnpike. State Police said Ou endan- gered his seven passengers by driv- ing the bus even though he knew it had a serious defect that was pro- ducing smoke that was detectable inside the coach. A report written by Trooper David Bera said Ou “continued to operate the bus with- out due regard for the safety of the passengers.” Ou’s attorney, George Heos, said his client denies he knew the bus was unsafe. “It was just a tire that went flat and started a fire,” said Heos. The Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Ener- gy, the state agency that regulates buses, has been investigating Kris- tine Travel in the wake of the fire. Ronald Hue, dies suddenly Loaded with everything except the high price tag. SILVER SPRING, Md. — Ronald “Junior” Hue, owner of Family Tours LLC., a small tour and charter company based here, died suddenly late last month. He was 47. With a significantly lower price point than competitive coaches, virtually any application and environment. Mr. Hue was a native of St. the all new Express multipurpose coach has been An all stainless steel construction guarantees Thomas, Jamaica, and had operat- engineered from the ground up to deliver structural integrity. The independent ed Family Tours for the past half- exceptional performance and value in front suspension system delivers the commuter coach and shuttle mar- improved maneuverability. The dozen years. The company has a kets. The Express doesn’t compromise ergonomic driver area is designed for fleet of three coaches and is a on quality either. Available in two convenience. And the panoramic insulated member of the United Motorcoach lengths–40 and 45 feet–this American windows and wide passenger seats ensure Association. made coach is loaded with the very latest rider comfort. Mr. Hue is survived by his wid- performance and safety features demanded When you consider the cost savings, durability, comfort, ow, Kelly; his children, Ava-Gaye, by North American operators. driveability and overall value of the Express, you’ll realize this is Whitney and Justin; his mother, With seating for up to 55 passengers, the Express is 12-year one coach you can’t afford to pass up. and two brothers and a sister. Altoona designed and possesses the versatility to handle He was buried in St. Thomas. A memorial has been estab- To learn more about the Express contact lished for Mr. Hue’s two youngest Blue Bird Coachworks at 1-800-486-7122. BLUE BIRD children. Contributions may be sent to The Ronald Hue Memorial www.blue-bird.com ® Trust Fund, C/O Brown and Gould Blue Bird Corporation, Coachworks Division, One Wanderlodge Way, Fort Valley, GA 31030 Coachworks LLP, 7700 Old Georgetown Rd., Ste. 500, Bethesda, MD 20814. SMART SOLUTIONS

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www.prevostcar.com For sales inquiries: USA 877-773-8678 • Canada 418-883-3391 THE SMART CHOICE