1115Busline.FINAL_Layout 1 11/6/15 11:36 AM Page 1 Busline Motorcoach Feature DIXIELAND Tours Baton Rouge, LA Busline Transit Feature “Happy Employees Make For Happy Customers” SORTA Cincinnati, OH CEO/ General Manager Dwight A. Ferrell 1115Busline.FINAL_Layout 1 11/6/15 11:36 AM Page 2 Leading the industry starts with a winning team. MCI J4500 Setra S 417 MCI D-Series Top-selling private sector model for Worldwide luxury leader First in total market sales for 2014, with 2014 and for 11 years running more on the road than any other model Parts Support Training Manufacturing Performance World-class fill rates and 24/7 via in-house ERSA, Online LMS, LEARN Quality-at-the-source Lowest total operating inventory for all makes Technical Call Center and webinars and Technical transformation cost, maximum uptime and models extensive field support Tune-ups rom head-turning good looks to the market’s from our team to troubleshoot your problem, get you Flowest cost of ownership, and safety technologies your part, and get you on your way, thanks to second- like adaptive cruise control and optional collision to-none service and support. It’s what MCI has been mitigation, our coaches lead the industry not just in doing better than anyone for the last 80 years. And it’s sales, but in features, amenities and value. Plus, we what we’re still doing better today. See what an MCI offer the assurance that there will always be someone J4500, MCI D-Series, or Setra coach can do for you. Discover what it means to be Reliability Driven. To learn more about the MCI J4500’s lowest total cost of operation advantage, scan here. mcicoach.com ©2015 MCI 2:55 PM 1115Busline.FINAL_Layout 1 11/6/15 11:36 AM Page 3 GREAT BRANDS THINK ALIKE. When it comes to power, maneuverability, comfort and reliability, Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation sets the standard. Backed by the legendary engineering strength of the Daimler Family, FCCC is the only manufacturer to offer 24/7 Direct support and the largest nationwide service network. Visit www.freightlinercustomchassis.com to learn more about the chassis that will back your fl eet for life. T e M o Specifi cations are subject to change without notice. Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation is registered to ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001:2004. Copyright © 2015 Daimler Trucks North America LLC. All rights reserved. Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation is a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, a Daimler company. 1115Busline.FINAL_Layout 1 11/6/15 11:36 AM Page 4 NovEMbEr/DEcEMbEr 2015 Published by Rankin Publishing, Inc. www.buslinemag.com MAGAZINE IN THIS ISSUE New Generation Leads Dixieland Tours..........................................8 Analytics: “What Gets Analyzed Helps You Grow” ......................20 For Cincinnati’s SORTA: “Happy Employees Make For Happy Customers” .......................22 Busline’s Buyers Guide To Replacement Parts Suppliers ......................41 Busline’s Buyers Guide To Bus Flooring..................................................42 Busline Vehicle Showcase RAPID RESPONSE ..................................Page 6 TROLLEY BUSES, INDUSTRY NEWS.................................Page 44 TRAMS & ON THE COVER: Dixieland Tours' owners Norman "Bubbie" Augusta III and Lori Guyton are shown with one of their company's all-black MCI STREET CARS motorcoaches. The brother and sister team took over the company after the death earlier this year of their father, Norman Augusta Jr. 36 – 40 Dixieland is based in Baton Rouge, LA. See page 8. CONTENTS CALENDAR OF EVENTS EDITORIAL & CORPORATE OFFICES JANUARY 2016 May 15-18 AUGUST 2016 January 9-12 APTA Bus & August 2-4 Rankin Publishing Co., Inc. American Bus Association Paratransit Conference International Motorcoach Don Rankin and Linda Rankin, Publishers (ABA) Marketplace Charlotte, NC Group (IMG) Strategic 204 E. Main Street • P.O. Box 130 Louisville, KY Info: 202-496-4800 Alliance Meeting Arcola, IL 61910-0130, USA Info: 202-842-1645 Norfolk, VA Email: [email protected] May 22-27 Info: 888-447-3466 January 31 - February 4 Community Transportation Website: www.rankinpublishing.com United Motorcoach Association of America SEPTEMBER 2016 (800) 598-8083 (U.S.) • (217) 268-4959 Association (UMA) (CTAA) Expo 2016 September 11-14 Fax: (217) 268-4815 Motorcoach Expo Portland, OR APTA Annual Meeting Atlanta, GA Info: 800-891-0590 Los Angeles, CA Editorial: Harrell Kerkhoff, Editor Info: 800-424-8262 Info: 202-496-4800 JULY 2016 Rick Mullen, Associate Editor MAY 2016 July 16-20 September 19-21 Design: David Opdyke May 14-18 National School Transport - BusCon 2016 Reception: Gina Volk Canadian Urban Transit ation Association (NSTA) Indianapolis, IN Association (CUTA) Annual Meeting & Convention Info: 800-576-8788 Advertising Annual Conference Greensboro, NC Contact Kevin Kennedy @ 623-434-8959 Halifax, Nova Scotia Info: 703-684-3200 Info: 416-365-9800 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. 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 November/December 2015 1115Busline.FINAL_Layout 1 11/6/15 11:36 AM Page 5 1115Busline.FINAL_Layout 1 11/6/15 11:36 AM Page 6 NovEMbEr/DEcEMbEr 2015 Published by Rankin Publishing, Inc. www.buslinemag.com MAGAZINE Hometown Trolley 36 Specialty Vehicles 38 41 42 Company Website Page # Company Website Page # Alexander Dennis www.alexanderdennis.com 5 Motorcoach Tire Sales.com www.motorcoachtiresales.com 15 Altro Transflor www.altrotransflor.com 23 PEX German O.E. Parts LLC www.pexna.com 33 Amaya-Astron www.amaya-astron.com.mx 32 Prevost Car www.prevostcar.com 52 Atlantic Detroit Diesel-Allison www.atlanticdda.com 14 Protective Insurance Company www.protectiveinsurance.com 13 Bauer’s Intelligent Transportation www.bauerscertifiedpreowned.com 29 Relational Bus Systems www.rbs2000.com 18 Better Life Technology, LLC www.blt-transit.com 9 Safety Step www.safetystep.net 34 Bitzer www.bitzerus.com 19 Service Insurance www.serviceins.com 33 Carlyle Compressor www.carlylecompressor.com 10 Specialty Vehicles www.specialtyvehicles.com 26 Complete Coach Works www.completecoach.com 30 Sutrak www.sutrakusa.com 28 Dixie Electric Ltd. www.dixie-electric.com 31 TEMSA www.temsa.com 21 Freightliner www.freightlinerchassis.com 3 TSO Mobile www.tsomobile.com 25 Hometown Trolley www.hometowntrolley.com 11 Turtle Top www.turtletop.com 7 Marathon Brake Systems www.MarathonBrake.com 24 UMA Motorcoach Expo www.motorcoachexpo.com 50 Midwest Bus Corporation www.midwestbus.com 20 Vanner Power www.vanner.com 17 Mile-X www.mile-x.com 31 Willingham Inc. www.willinghaminc.com 12 Motor Coach Industries (MCI) www.mcicoach.com 2 Read or Download Complete Issues Of Busline Magazine Online At: www.buslinemag.com Page 6 BUSLINE November/December 2015 1115Busline.FINAL_Layout 111/6/1511:37AMPage7 9 GŏXG) QV;QW% QXGTGF 3 W C N K V [ 5 C H G V [ +PPQXCVKQP (QTQXGT[GCTU 1115Busline.FINAL_Layout 1 11/6/15 11:37 AM Page 8 New Generation Leads DIXIELAND Tours Brother/Sister Team Norman “Bubbie” Augusta III And Lori Guyton Steer The Company By Harrell Kerkhoff, Busline Magazine Editor Transition can be difficult, but it’s often necessary in business just as in life. Case in point is a brother and sister team now in charge of a family motorcoach operation after the death earlier this year of their father. Their ongoing efforts at Dixieland Tours, locat- ed in Baton Rouge, LA, serve as a testament to a desire for success product in the transit industry. G-Floor Transit is tested and proven for long and short-term use. in the wake of difficulty. resistance standards. Custom safety graphics available. traffic loads in mind. Backed by the toughest warranty in transit applications, our flooring offers Siblings Lori Guyton and Norman “Bubbie” Augusta III have taken over the family business following the unsurpassed floor protection with a 100% waterproof covering. death of their father, Norman Augusta Jr., who died in January after a five-year battle with cancer. Guyton now G-Floor Transit boasts wall to wall flooring with no seams necessary in most transit applications. serves as president of the company, while Augusta III is director of operations. “The company has been in a transition period over the past five years since our father was diagnosed. Lori has been a very integral part of that transition, having taken over the day-to-day operations. All of this, however, would not have been possible without the overall vision for the company from our father,” Augusta III said. Page 8 1115Busline.FINAL_Layout 1 11/6/15 11:37 AM Page 9 THE NEW DIRECTION IN BUS & TRANSIT FLOORING LIGHTER - STRONGER - LASTS LONGER · CUSTOM IMAGE With promotions & revenue generating applications, G-Floor Transit offers the most durable product in the transit industry. G-Floor Transit is tested and proven for long and short-term use. · SAFETY Safety is our first priority. All G-Floor Transit flooring meets and exceeds all ASTM C-1028 slip resistance standards. Custom safety graphics available. · SOLID VINYL With the thickest wear-layer in the industry, G-Floor Transit was engineered with the heaviest traffic loads in mind. Backed by the toughest warranty in transit applications, our flooring offers unsurpassed floor protection with a 100% waterproof covering. · SEAMLESS G-Floor Transit boasts wall to wall flooring with no seams necessary in most transit applications.