Blue Bird facility hosts propane road show, wins safety award
Blue Bird Corp.’s Fort Valley, Ga., manufacturing facility in December hosted the Georgia Propane Alternative Fuels Statewide Road Show.
The tour featured discussion of the alternative fuel tax credits available, as well as a ride-and-drive.
Attendees also had an opportunity to speak to vehicle representatives about the products on display, which included Blue Bird’s propane-powered Vision school bus.
The Fort Valley facility in December was also honored with The Traxis Group’s President Safety Award for 2008 to recognize the plant’s employees for safely working more than 3.4 million hours during the fiscal year.
Arsenault expands technology and development facility
Arsenault Associates has launched an expansion of its Technology and Development Center in West Chester, Pa.
Bob Hausler, vice president of marketing and technology, said that the company intended to double the size of the facility and add software developers to the staff immediately.
The center is responsible for product development, corporate technical infrastructure and operating systems, as well as software programming and customer-led innovations to the company’s Dossier fleet maintenance software.
The center opened in May 2007.
California district invests in VersaTrans system
San Diego Unified School District has signed a contract for the purchase of Tyler Technologies Inc.’s VersaTrans transportation management system.
The agreement includes software licenses as well as maintenance, support and related professional services. The district has invested in Tyler’s VersaTrans RP, OnScreen, TripTracker and e-Link products.
The company’s solution offers bus routing and planning software, real-time GPS fleet tracking and management, and Web-based field trip planning. The e-Link option enables a transportation department to share school bus information online with parents.
Safety Rules! contributes to environmental nonprofit agency
School transportation consulting firm Safety Rules! has become a member of 1% For The Planet, a nonprofit organization dedicated to sustainable business practices and civic engagement on environmental issues.
As a member, Safety Rules! has committed to contribute 1 percent of its total income to the organization’s fund for local environmental initiatives.
The move was prompted by a presentation at the National Association for Pupil Transportation conference by Rick Ridgeway of outdoor clothing supplier Patagonia, whose founder co-created 1% For The Planet.
Safety Rules! President Ted Finlayson- Schueler said he believes membership to 1% will broaden his organization’s understanding of what it means to transport students safely to and from school.
Birnie Bus Service motoroach division joins network of independent operators
The motorcoach division of Birnie Bus Service has become a member of the Trailways Transportation System.
Trailways is a North American network of independent, privately-owned motorcoach companies.
“I believe the buying power and road repair access the system offers us will be very valuable,” Birnie Bus Service President Tim Birnie said. “We are always looking for new business opportunities, and the Trailways brand will bring many to us because of its credibility with the traveling public.”
With a fleet that includes 1,000 school buses, school transportation is the majority of Birnie Bus Service’s business, along with transit and charter contracts.
Allison Transmission adds international distributors
Allison Transmission Inc. added six new distributors to its European and Asia Pacific network of partners in 2008.
The new distributor partners include Transmatic, serving Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States; IPO in Bulgaria; Tezana in Poland; Nimda in the Czech Republic; Heavy Automatics in Australia; and IIkerler in Turkey.
The criteria for becoming an Allison Channel Partner include solid financials, the ability to carry required parts and component inventories, and a willingness to involve employees and technicians in Allison training programs, according to company officials.
Speed-check sign slows motorists near Illinois school
Officials in Naperville, Ill., recently installed three SpeedCheck Auto-Change speed signs from Information Display Co. near an elementary school in the township’s Longwood subdivision.
The signs detect approaching cars and automatically display the speed of the vehicles.
The township’s commissioner set the units to operate only when school zone limits are in effect, and officials said they have witnessed a dramatic increase in driver compliance with posted speed limits since the signs were installed.
The SpeedCheck Auto- Change speed sign operates by solar or AC power and can be connected wirelessly to a laptop or PDA for scheduling.
Remy Inc. publishes white paper on alternator efficiency
Remy Inc. has published a white paper titled “Improving Alternator Efficiency Measurably Reduces Fuel Costs.” Its contents include an examination of where and how power losses can occur within the alternator and quantification of how efficiency plays a role in fuel consumption.
The white paper can be downloaded from the Delco Remy Website at www.delcoremy.com/AlternatorsHighEff.aspx. Visitors to the site can also access specifications for high-efficiency Delco Remy alternators.
Remy manufactures aftermarket and OE electrical components and aftermarket powertrain/drivetrain components.
Johnson Matthey filter receives EPA, CARB verification
The EPA and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) have verified Johnson Matthey’s signature technology — the CRT (Continuously Regenerating Technology) Filter — for reducing particulate matter, hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions by over 85 percent while meeting both agencies’ nitrogen dioxide slip requirements.
The CRT Filter oxidizes soot in the presence of nitrogen dioxide at a lower temperature than with oxygen. The lower temperature is compatible with typical diesel exhaust temperatures, so no supplemental heat is required.
STA to provide transportation services for Los Angeles district
Student Transportation of America Ltd. (STA) was recently awarded a contract to provide transportation services for the Los Angeles Unified School District, beginning with the 2009-10 school year.
The five-year contract is valued at just under $5 million per school year and covers student transportation in the San Fernando Valley area.
Under the contract, STA will purchase 71 new propane-fueled school vehicles.
In 2007, STA received South Coast Air Quality Management District grants toward the purchase of buses powered by compressed natural gas for the company’s operations in Riverside, Calif.