busline0918.FINAL.qxp_Layout 1 8/17/18 10:20 AM Page 1 busline0918.FINAL.qxp_Layout 1 8/17/18 10:20 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 busline0918.FINAL.qxp_Layout 1 8/17/18 10:20 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. busline0918.FINAL.qxp_Layout 1 8/17/18 10:20 AM Page 4 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018 Published by Rankin Publishing, Inc. MAGAZINE www.buslinemag.com 200 Vehicles & 300 Employees Serve Canadian Provinces Coach Atlantic Group.....................................8 Transports 5 Million Annually Greater Lafayette CityBus ............................26 — Busline Buyers Guide — Engines & Transmissions ................................................40 September 23-26, 2018 APTA Annual Meeting In Nashville........................................42 BusCon Heads To Indianapolis October 1-3...........................50 — Busline Vehicle Showcase — Transit Buses.......................................................................53 Motor Coach Industries 53 • BYD 54 • Prevost 55 • Nova Bus 56 • Alexander Dennis 56 ON THE COVER: Coach Atlantic Group CEO Adam Doiron RAPID RESPONSE.........................Page 6 is shown with one of the company’s Micro Bird Commercial D-Series buses. The transportation provider services Atlantic INDUSTRY NEWS........................Page 44 Canada and beyond. See page 8. CONTENTS CALENDAR OF EVENTS EDITORIAL & CORPORATE OFFICES SEPTEMBER 2018 JANUARY 2019 March 19-21 September 23-26 January 6-10 Bus2Bus Trade Show Rankin Publishing Co., Inc. APTA Annual Meeting United Motorcoach & Congress Don Rankin and Linda Rankin, Publishers Nashville, TN Association (UMA) Berlin, Germany 204 E. Main Street • P.O. Box 130 Info: 202-496-4800 Motorcoach Expo Info: www.bus2bus.berlin Fort Lauderdale, FL Arcola, IL 61910-0130, USA September 30 - October 3 Info: 800-424-8262 MAY 2019 Email: [email protected] National Conference on May 19-22 Website: www.rankinpublishing.com Rural Public & Intercity January 25-29 APTA Bus & (800) 598-8083 (U.S.) • (217) 268-4959 Bus Transportation American Bus Association Paratransit Conference Fax: (217) 268-4815 Breckenridge, CO (ABA) Annual Meeting Louisville, KY Info: www.ribtc.org & Marketplace 2019 Info: 202-496-4800 Editorial: Harrell Kerkhoff, Editor Louisville, KY OCTOBER 2018 Info: 800-283-2877 May 23-29 Rick Mullen, Associate Editor October 1-3 Community Transporta- Design: David Opdyke, Kris Bott BusCon 2018 MARCH 2019 tion Association of America Reception: Mary Jo Dunn Indianapolis, IN March 17-19 (CTAA) Expo Info: 800-576-8788 APTA Legislative Palm Springs, CA Advertising Conference Info: 800-891-0590 Washington, DC Contact Kevin Kennedy @ 813-502-6672 Info: 202-496-4800 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 2018 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 2018 busline0918.FINAL.qxp_Layout 1 8/17/18 10:20 AM Page 5 OUR OUTSTANDING COASTTOCOAST SERVICE NETWORK COVERS A WHOLE LOT OF MILES. THAT IS A WHOLE LOT OF PEACE OF MIND. The world’s greatest coaches deserve the world’s greatest service. It’s why Prevost built the largest service network in North America. You can hit the road with confidence knowing our expert factory-trained technicians will be nearby to provide your coach with the best service available, anywhere. prevostcar.com Supported by the Prevost Parts & Service network. busline0918.FINAL.qxp_Layout 1 8/17/18 10:20 AM Page 6 Company Website Page # Company Website Page # ABC Companies www.abc-companies.com 21 Hometown Trolley www.hometowntrolley.com 23 Almott www.almottusa.com 6 Irizar USA www.irizarusa.com 59 Altro www.altro.com 36 Kelderman Air Suspension Systems www.kelderman.com 32 Amaya-Astron www.amaya-astron.com.mx 16 Lancer Insurance www.lancerinsurance.com 22 American Cooling Technology, Inc. www.actusa.us.com 29 Marathon Brake Systems www.MarathonBrake.com 33 AngelTrax www.angeltrax.com 11 Micro Bird Commercial www.mbcbus.com 30 ARBOC Specialty Vehicles www.ARBOCsv.com 25 Midwest Bus Corporation www.midwestbus.com 27 Atlantic Detroit Diesel-Allison www.atlanticdda.c om 41 Motor Coach Industries (MCI) www.mcicoach.com 2 Bitimec Wash-Bots www.wash-bots.com 35 Motorcoach Tire Sales www.motorcoachtiresales.com 10 Bitzer www.bitzerus.com 20 Onspot Automatic Tire Chains www.onspot.com 45 BusCon BusConExpo.com 51 Petro Stopping Centers www.ta-petro.com 57 BYD www.byd.com 7 Prevost Car www.prevostcar.com 5 CBM NA www.cbmna.com 47 ProAir, LLC www.proairllc.com 24 CHTC Bus Group www.chtcbusgroup.com 17 Safety Step www.safetystep.net 46 Clean Seal www.cleanseal.com 12 Sardo Bus & Coach Upholstery www.sardobus.com 9 Complete Coach Works www.completecoach.com 19 Service Insurance www.serviceins.com 45 Davey Coach Sales, Inc. www.daveycoach.com 60 Sutrak www.sutrakusa.com 44 Diamond Manufacturing www.diamondmfg.com 46 TIB www.tibinsurance.com 37 Dixie Electric Ltd. www.dixie-electric.com 48 Transign www.transignllc.com 15 DriveWare Software www.driveware.com 14 TransitWorks www.Transit-Works.com 28 EnerDel www.EnerDel.com 34 UMA Motorcoach Expo www.motorcoachexpo.com 49 Euramtec www.euramtec.com 38 Vanner Power www.vanner.com 18 Freedman Seating www.freedmanseating.com 13 WEH Technologies Inc. www.weh.us 39 Freightliner www.freightlinerchassis.com 3 Next Generation of Electric Power for Transit Bus www.almottusa.com 480-205-9338 400600 AMP ALTERNATORS WORKS WITH ALL EFAN SYSTEMS More Power - Higher output at idle Lower cost - Lowest price/power Longer Life - Long warranty Introducing DUCTLESS Technology Page 6 BUSLINE September/October 2018 busline0918.FINAL.qxp_Layout 1 8/17/18 10:20 AM Page 7 busline0918.FINAL.qxp_Layout 1 8/17/18 10:20 AM Page 8 Coach Atlantic Group President Mike Cassidy, left, and CEO Adam Doiron Coach Atlantic Group: 200 Vehicles & 300 Employees Serve nique beauty and contrasting landscapes are often present where land and sea Canadian Provinces meet. A prime example is Atlantic Canada, an area of worldwide appeal, & More Uconsisting of the Canadian Maritimes, which are the three provinces of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, as By Harrell Kerkhoff well as the easternmost Canadian province Busline Magazine Editor of Newfoundland and Labrador. Page 8 BUSLINE September/October 2018 busline0918.FINAL.qxp_Layout 1 8/17/18 10:20 AM Page 9 AVAILABLE IN ALL SEAT STYLES QUICK RELEASE INSERTS PATENTED Visit us at APTA! 1‐800‐537‐2736 Transit Markeng Booth www.sardobus.com #429 [email protected] busline0918.FINAL.qxp_Layout 1 8/17/18 10:20 AM Page 10 Coach Atlantic Group, headquartered in Charlotte- town, Prince Edward Island, provides both inbound and outbound bus/motorcoach charter transportation. This includes foreign tourists who come from as far away as Japan, Germany and the United States to see Atlantic Canada, as well as local Canadians wanting to visit other parts of their country, and different areas of the United States. There are also line run and transit customers serviced by the company on a daily basis. “We were formed in 2008 by my business partner, Coach Atlantic Group President Mike Cassidy, and I,” CEO Adam Doiron said. “Mike was the owner/op- erator of a small company called Trius Tours. I was gen- eral manager of Prince Edward Tours. We purchased Prince Edward Tours from the previous owners, which was the beginning of our business enterprise. “A lot has taken place over the past 10 years. We have either started, purchased or merged with many Coach Atlantic Group representatives pose near one of companies in the region. That is how we have grown, the many cruise ships that bring tourists to the area.