Trans Group explores electronic maintenance
Ron Gambini, vice president of fleet maintenance
at The Trans Group LLC, details the
company’s move to paperless inspections.
2009 has been a year of many successful
technological innovations throughout
our companies. For me, one of the
most exciting of these innovations
comes from a maintenance department
pilot project called Paperless Inspection.
For years, I have embraced computers
in the shop and have always envisioned
performing my preventive
maintenance inspections electronically.
In early 2007, The Trans Group and
Ron Turley Associates (RTA) came to
an agreement that RTA would develop
an enhancement to its fleet maintenance
software package that would
accomplish my vision of electronic
inspections.
Since the first quarter of 2009, we
have been piloting Paperless Inspection
in our shops. During this time, we
have enhanced the software to accommodate
the needs and requests of the
shop supervisors and technicians. It is
obviously important that the tool is
useful in the real world, and by involving
them in the process, we believe we
have achieved that usefulness. Technicians
with all levels of computer skill
have commented on the ease of use,
and they welcome the structure that
the tool brings to their inspections.
In many instances, the checklist
items on an inspection are linked to
PDF documents that can be opened by
the technician for guidance pertaining
to that area of the inspection.
One of the real high points of the
system is the instant creation of work
order lines for all defects found during
the inspection. The shop clerk no longer
has to decipher a technician’s
handwriting, evaluate a VMRS code,
create a line for each defect and post
the parts and labor. Now, the clerk will
post the parts and labor and close the
work order. This eliminates a huge
amount of time that was previously
spent entering data.
The creation of the work order lines
also allows us to use another RTA tool
called Paperless Shop. Paperless Shop
will allow the shop office to assign the
defects found along with any other
work in the system to a specific mechanic.
The mechanics will sign in on a
computer and be presented with their
current assignments by priority.
Our inspections aren’t limited to vehicle
preventive maintenance. We can
do facility safety inspections, environmental
compliance inspections, machinery
inspections, etc. All of these inspections
result in a work order being
created before our inspectors leave the
facilities. This reduces the paperwork
for the inspector and ensures that the
operations managers and shop supervisors
have a detailed list of anything
that needs to be addressed.
We believe that the system will improve
productivity, improve the quality
and consistency of all of our inspections,
and reduce the use of paper in
the shop.
Conversion in Pa. provides 7-year contract for STA
CARNEGIE, Pa. — Student Transportation of America Ltd. (STA) announced in
early June that it has been awarded a contract to provide transportation services
for the Williamsport Area School District (WASD).
The new seven-year contract will generate more than $2 million in annual
revenue, beginning with the 2009-10 school year, and adds to the company’s regional
operations in Pennsylvania.
“This is another excellent customer we are partnering with and a positive step
in our efforts to increase our organic growth through conversions,” said Pete
Pearson, STA regional chief operating officer.
“School districts throughout the U.S. are realizing
that education is their core business. We
are providing cost-effective solutions to their
transportation needs in budget-friendly operations
while providing the necessary capital
investments for vehicles.”
STA said it plans to implement a new computerized
routing and planning system along with a
state-of-the-art digital video system in each bus.
WASD encompasses 98 square miles, with a
student population of 5,600.
National Express targets cutting-edge service
National Express Corp., which is made up of Durham School Services
in the U.S. and Stock Transportation in Canada, reports on
its project to provide “next-generation” student transportation.
At National Express Corp., we serve as
a consultant to our customers and help
them realize cost savings, greater efficiency and improved service.
Maintaining these promises means we
must stay on the cutting edge of our industry.
We are in the process of developing
the next generation of student
transportation services for our customers
— advances that will redefine what
school districts expect from student
transportation.
We are proud to be the first company
in the industry to develop these groundbreaking
technologies and processes. A
pilot program to test and refine our developments
is underway, and the feedback from our customers
is positive.
In particular, these improvements include:
Easy information sharing that keeps the right people
informed.
New technology on buses that provides consistent, real-time
data and allows for an even higher level of safety.
A team ready to respond at every level — locally, regionally
and nationally.
Higher selection standards to place
the most capable drivers behind the
wheel.
Continual driver training with a focus
on customer service.
Significant enhancements to our fleet
operations.
Our next-generation student transportation
service will soon allow school
districts to receive real-time data on our
buses that transport students in 29 states
and two Canadian provinces.
Our strong commitment to provide
quality transportation, outstanding
customer service, positive employee
relations and the highest level of safety is always top of
mind. It takes continual improvement to live up to our
mission, and with these latest innovations to school transportation
services, we are ensuring we reach those goals
every day.
First Student wins multiple new contracts
CINCINNATI — First Student Inc. announced
in early June that it was awarded
six new contracts to provide student
transportation for the following school
districts:
Adrian (Mich.) School District — The
three-year contract was set to begin July
1 for a 24-vehicle fleet.
Los Angeles County Office of Education
— This renewed contract for special-education
student transportation was
set to begin June 30 and nearly doubles
the existing fleet of First Student school
buses to approximately 235 vehicles. All
of the additional vehicles will be new
school buses that run on either propane
or ultra low emission gasoline.
Nashoba Regional School District in
Bolton, Mass. — The contract, which was
set to begin July 1, is a two-year agreement
with two one-year options. First
Student will provide a fleet of 33 new
vehicles to transport students at seven
schools throughout the district.
North DuPage Special Education
Cooperative in Bloomingdale, Ill. — The
three-year contract is for a fleet of 46
vehicles that will transport special-education
students at schools throughout
northern DuPage County. The contract
will commence August 1.
Troy (Mich.) School District — The
three-year agreement begins July 15 for
a 92-vehicle fleet.
Wayzata Independent School District
284 in Plymouth, Minn. — First
Student will expand its services to
include special-education transportation
throughout the district, beginning
August 1. The contract is a two-year
agreement, with a two-year option for
a fleet of 30 new vehicles.
“We are pleased to be able to provide
quality student transportation services
for these school districts,” said Linda
Bell, president of First Student. “By offering
leadership in sustainable transportation
services as well as an in-depth
driver training program, we deliver the
safest, most reliable transportation services
for the families and children who
rely on us each day.”
“First Student brings a number of
advantages to each school district we
serve, starting with cost savings that
allow administrators to reallocate tax
dollars into the classroom,” added
David Duke, senior vice president of
sales. “With the growth we are experiencing,
we are able to reinvest in new
technologies, such as GPS systems
on every bus. Our focus on customer
service and our stringent safety policies
clearly demonstrate First Student’s
core values of safety and customer
satisfaction.”
In late April, First Student announced
that it was awarded the full Cincinnati
Public Schools student transportation
contract, which had previously been
operated by three providers, including
First Student.
The five-year agreement includes the
operation and maintenance of all student
transportation services. First Student
will expand its current fleet serving
the district from 240 to 390 vehicles,
with service set to begin July 1.
Cook-Illinois subsidiary celebrates 50 years
CRESTWOOD, Ill. — In early May,
Cook-Illinois Corp.’s oldest subsidiary,
Illinois School Bus, celebrated 50
years in business.
The company employs almost 200
people and transports more than
12,000 students daily with its fleet of
165 buses.
Drivers were honored at a special
luncheon, and another event included
school officials, politicians and retired
drivers.
Cook-Illinois Corp. owner John Benish
emphasized the family-oriented nature
of the company and its subsidiaries.
Illinois School Bus was founded by Jackie
Stahl and her husband, Lee. Benish
and business partner Lee Stahl Jr. bought
the company from the Stahls in 1961.
Today, Cook-Illinois has a total of 11
subsidiaries and 2,300 employees, operates
1,850 buses and transports students
from more than 200 school districts.
In other news, Cook-Illinois recently
rolled out the state’s first hybrid school
bus from IC Bus. Cook-Illinois subsidiary
Kickert School Bus Line in Lynwood,
Ill., began running the plug-in
hybrid in the Chicago area in April.
Cook-Illinois has adopted environmentally-
friendly practices for many
years. In the 1970s, it powered its fleet
with compressed natural gas and it
currently powers more than 90 percent
of its school buses with biodiesel.
Birnie Bus Service acquires N.Y. company
ROME, N.Y. — Birnie Bus Service
Inc. announced that it acquired the
Arthur F. Mulligan Co. in January.
The Tillson, N.Y.-based company
has four locations and 200
employees, which brings Birnie
Bus’ total workforce up to 1,200.
Founded in 1946 by Martin K.
Birnie, the family business has
grown from 12 employees, one
motorcoach, two school buses
and a station wagon to 1,000
school buses, 23 motorcoaches
and 1,200 employees who work from 16 locations around the state.
School transportation is the majority of Birnie Bus’ business, along with transit
and charter contracts. Tim Birnie, president, said the company does all non-emergency
Medicaid transport in three counties and operates scheduled route service
between Syracuse and Little Falls.
The motorcoach division of Birnie Bus recently became a member of the Trailways
Transportation System, which is a North American network of independent,
privately-owned motorcoach companies.
“Birnie Trailways’ long business history in upstate New York and exemplary
operating standards make it a great addition to our team,” said Gale Ellsworth,
Trailways president and CEO.