MENU
SEARCHOrland School District contracts with Cook-Illinois Corp. to transport the district’s students on propane buses.
Cook-Illinois subsidiary American School Bus Co. won a bid to transport Orland School District students with propane school buses.
ORLAND PARK, Ill. — Orland School District 135’s transportation contract with Cook-Illinois Corp. includes 79 new Blue Bird Vision Propane buses, which are expected to lower the district’s carbon footprint while reducing operating costs.
The propane-powered buses make up 80% of the fleet that transports the district’s students.
“Cook-Illinois subsidiary American School Bus Company won the bid for our regular-education bus services for the 2016-17 school year,” said Jerry Hughes, director of risk management and safety for Orland School District. “They presented the benefits of propane-fueled buses that really appealed to us.”
Among those benefits, Hughes cited the propane buses’ better cold weather starts, ability to heat up fast, and the removal of diesel fumes around the students and community.
The new Blue Bird Vision Propane buses are expected to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by more than 98,000 pounds and particulate matter by almost 2,500 pounds each year compared with the diesel buses that they replaced. The buses are equipped with Ford’s 6.8L V10 engine and powered by a ROUSH CleanTech propane fuel system.
Thomas O’Sullivan, president of contracts and bids for Cook-Illinois, said that all of the company’s subsidiaries will eventually have propane buses available. He added that routine maintenance is quick, and the company’s 165 Blue Bird Vision Propane and Micro Bird Propane buses run efficiently in any type of weather.
Also, Cook-Illinois has deployed 25 new Blue Bird Vision Gasoline buses for area school districts.
To read more about Cook-Illinois’ fleet and fuel choices, see this feature from the November issue of SBF.
From EV charging growth to V2G testing and new bus deployments, districts and providers advance alt-fuel goals amid challenges.
Read More →
Searching for the right equipment, technology, or services for your school transportation program? This industry guide brings together manufacturers and suppliers across the entire school bus market, all in one place. Download it to find the partners who can help move your operation forward.
Read More →
The EPA will open a 45-day comment period and is planning a March 3 webinar as it reshapes Clean School Bus funding for 2026.
Read More →
Check out some of the latest moves where alternative fuels and school buses intersect, including electric bus and charging deployments, new funding opportunities, and a new management system.
Read More →
The federal administration called its 2009 Endangerment Finding rescission "the single largest deregulatory action in U.S. history." It eliminates greenhouse gas emission standards for all vehicles and engines for model years 2012 to 2027 and beyond.
Read More →
Check out some of the latest moves where alternative fuels and school buses intersect, including electric and propane bus deployments, new EV products, and an update from CARB.
Read More →
Keeping buses safe, reliable, and on schedule requires more than manual processes. This eBook explores how modern fleet software supports school transportation teams with automated maintenance scheduling, smarter video safety tools, and integrated data systems. Discover practical ways fleets are reducing breakdowns, improving safety, and saving valuable staff time.
Read More →
Check out some of the latest moves where alternative fuels and school buses intersect, including manufacturing expansions, major funding awards, and energy storage strategies.
Read More →
Electric school bus success hinges on long-term planning, which means smart financing, battery management, and service-based models that keep fleets reliable for years.
Read More →
Check out some of the latest moves where alternative fuels and school buses intersect, including new product announcements and bus deployments across the U.S.
Read More →
