Business Watch

STA participates in philanthropic efforts
Collegeville, Pa., Student Transportation of America Ltd. (STA) employees raised nearly $4,200 by hosting an Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation fundraiser in June.

Employees at subsidiary Student Transportation of Canada participated in a Canadian Cancer Society relay, raising $2,500.

In other news, the STA Education Foundation, which will host the Professional Golfers Association Tour’s Nationwide Tour Championship in Charleston, S.C., in October, announced in June that more than 30 groups will participate in TICKETS Fore CHARITY, a program that invites nonprofits to sell tournament tickets and retain the proceeds.

Tournament proceeds will help the foundation extend college scholarships to high school students.

First Student wins four new contracts
First Student Inc. was awarded three contracts that began on July 1.

The company now operates, maintains and manages 15 vehicles for Avon (N.Y.) Central School District.

Its five-year contract with the Merced County (Calif.) Office of Education includes the operation and maintenance of a fleet serving 86 routes.

First Student’s contract with Benton Harbor (Mich.) Area Schools is also a five-year agreement that includes the operation and management of 54 vehicles.

Finally, under a three-year agreement with Homewood (Ill.) School District 153 that began on Aug. 31, First Student will operate 20 vehicles.

AngelTrax sponsors GAPT fishing tournament
Mobile surveillance designer and manufacturer AngelTrax Bus Video sponsored a fishing tournament held on June 25 during the 45th Annual Georgia Association for Pupil Transportation (GAPT) Conference and Trade Show in Pine Mountain, Ga.

Twenty-four two-person teams participated in the tournament, and two prizes were awarded — one for the most fish caught and another for the largest fish.

Danny Roundtree of Washington County School District caught the largest fish of the day. The team that caught the most fish was Kevin Richardson and Lee Dendy of Walker County Schools. The duo caught 17 fish.

Texas districts purchase propane-powered buses
Alvin Independent School District (ISD), Angleton ISD and Lindale ISD have added Blue Bird Corp. Propane-Powered Vision school buses to their fleets.

Blue Bird distributor Rush Enterprises issued Alvin and Angleton a reimbursement of $161,000 for 23 buses, and Lindale a reimbursement of $21,000 for three buses.

Additionally, because the districts are located in Brazoria and Smith counties, the buses are eligible for state grants from the Texas Railroad Commission’s (TRC) Propane Equipment Initiative.

TRC Commissioner Michael Williams said Alvin ISD received $129,680 from the initiative, while Lindale ISD received approximately $40,890.

Telecommunications company to use Everyday Solutions GPS unit
Everyday Solutions Inc.’s EveryPoint GPS tracking unit has been network-approved by Toronto-based TELUS Mobility Solutions for its MIKE network.

“Now transportation services that support school boards across Canada have access to an end-to-end integrated suite of GPS-driven applications that are specific to their unique needs,” said Sean Lloyd, vice president of Ty- Route Communications, a TELUS authorized service provider. “When you combine that with wireless voice and data services from TELUS and support services and training from TyRoute Communications, you have an unbeatable combination.”

Everyday Solutions manufactures school bus tracking and rider attendance solutions.

Nitrogen tire inflation provider to serve fleet vehicles
NitrogenMan, a company that provides onsite nitrogen tire inflation, is making its services available to the fleet vehicle and trucking industries.

The company currently provides its services to such organizations as Central Arizona Project, Total Transit and the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Nitrogen tire inflation tests have shown an up to 40-percent increase in tread life because they run cooler and maintain a more consistent tire pressure in spite of fluctuations in outside temperature. This reduces maintenance and blowouts.

Nitrogen-inflated tires can also increase fuel economy between 4 and 10 percent.

Saft, ESMA to develop new supercapacitors
Battery manufacturer Saft has signed an agreement with ESMA Co. to cooperate in the development and commercialization of supercapacitors based on ESMA’s technology.

The agreement enables Saft to add new supercapacitors to its portfolio, the results of which will be seen later this year when the company’s manufacturing facility in Valdosta, Ga., begins production of new asymmetrical nickel supercapacitors that will work in combination with heavy-duty vehicle batteries.

The supercapacitors will provide effective starting power for large diesel engines at low temperatures or in frequent start-stop usage, optimizing the vehicle battery.

MacAllister Machinery Co. joins Blue Bird dealer network
Blue Bird Corp. has added MacAllister Machinery Company to its list of authorized dealers. MacAllister will serve northern and central Indiana.

Roger Howsmon, chief marketing officer and senior vice president of sales for Blue Bird, said that the signing of MacAllister — which has been in business for more than 64 years — will be a value-added benefit of doing business with Blue Bird for its Indiana customers.

MacAllister will support Blue Bird customers with seven full-service facilities strategically positioned throughout its territory.

Channellock proud of its American-made products
Channellock Inc. has committed to continue to manufacture American-made tools through new initiatives.

“We’ve injected more agility into our system to be more responsive to real-time customer demands,” said Terry Farrell, director of engineering and manufacturing services.

Moreover, Channellock has developed videos that demonstrate the quality of its product lines — tongue, groove, cutting, long-nose and lineman’s pliers, and adjustable wrenches.

The videos can be viewed at www.channellock.com/videos.cfm.

Finally, the company launched a print ad campaign, dubbed “Fiercely Made in Meadville, Pa.”

First Student drivers compete in NSTA safety competition
Sixteen First Student Inc. drivers from the U.S. and Canada participated in the National School Transportation Association’s (NSTA) 39th Annual International School Bus Driver Safety Competition in Greensboro, N.C., July 19.

A total of 106 drivers participated, having placed among the top drivers in state and province competitions.

During the NSTA competition, drivers are required to maneuver through a course that tests safe driving skills, including parallel parking, diminishing clearance and right turns.

Contestants must also complete a written exam that tests knowledge of operational and safety standards.

STC expands biodiesel fleet; STA completes leasing transaction
Student Transportation of Canada (STC), a subsidiary of Student Transportation of America Ltd. (STA), has increased its fleet of biodiesel-powered school buses sevenfold to more than 900 operating throughout Ontario.

STC began its biodiesel initiative in 2008.

In other news, STA has finalized its new fleet leasing program for the company’s 2010 fiscal year, which began July 1.

The completed leasing transaction with two major financial institutions totaling $11 million for approximately 200 vehicles carries an effective fixed interest rate of 5.9 percent for six years.

Budget Truck and Auto renovates Lamers motorcoach
Vehicle repair and restoration services provider Budget Truck and Auto Inc. recently completed a day coach conversion for Lamers Bus Lines Inc. of Green Bay, Wis. Lamers will use the updated vehicle to expand its executive coach services in Green Bay. The refurbished coach features large- and flat-screen televisions, a projector with PowerPoint capabilities and a projector screen, recliners, sofas, lounge seats with tables, a DIRECTV satellite system, onboard Wi-Fi service, an AM/FM stereo with CD players, a twin DVD system and a public address system.

Lamers Bus Lines also provides school bus service.