As you can see, we’ve created a new blockbuster feature article for this issue that continues the theme of “greatness.” From 1999 to 2003, we published “Great Fleets Across America” in our October issue. Now it’s “Great Ways” instead of “Great Fleets.”

I have to admit, however, that I miss the Great Fleets concept. It was extremely uplifting to read profiles of exemplary fleets in every state in the nation and to see so many smiling faces of transportation employees in the photos.

Every Great Fleets issue was a keeper, with huge amounts of reference value. Of course, I think this issue is a keeper as well. Yes, I know, all issues of SCHOOL BUS FLEET are keepers. (I never tire of hearing school transportation managers tell me that they have decades of past issues on their book shelves.)

An unexpected response
When we announced the end of the five-year Great Fleets saga in last year’s October issue, I fielded several notes of disappointment from school bus operators who either enjoyed the feature article so much that they were saddened by its demise or who wanted to apply for inclusion in the following year’s installment.

Although I expected to get some feedback on this front, I was amazed by the volume and intensity of the reaction. It was almost like a death in the family.

We try to be sensitive to the needs of our readers and take every suggestion seriously. This magazine exists because you see value in the information we provide. It’s up to us to keep you satisfied.

To those of you who still are grinding your teeth about the loss of the Great Fleets, take heart — we will bring back a revised version next year. It’s too early to provide details on this resurrection, but suffice it to say that you’ll be thrilled with the results.

And let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. Please don’t start sending nomination forms yet. We might take a different tack in choosing the fleets. I hate to keep you in suspense, but I’ll be providing updates as needed.

Hard work brings greatness
Before I put the issue of greatness to rest, I’d like to recognize the hard work that went into this endeavor, both by our editors and our readers. It would be easy to take for granted the dozens of tips, tactics and strategies discussed in this issue. But I know how much time and effort our editors spent in compiling them and bringing them to life in these pages. It was a huge effort.

I mentioned the hard work of the readers as well because this issue reflects the ingenuity, inspiration and industry of the thousands of public and private school bus fleets across the nation.

Many of the Great Ways were contributed by you and your peers. Thank you for that. You took the time to explain the processes you’ve embraced to make your operation safer, more efficient and better prepared to tackle the challenges of the future.

These challenges are many — and growing. I’m hearing about stubborn budget problems, a return of severe driver shortages, expanding passenger rolls, special-needs transportation dilemmas and so many other things that I don’t have room to catalog them here. In the pupil transportation industry, a new challenge is always on the horizon.

Sometimes we speak of greatness too casually: “That was a great catch by the tight end.” “It’s great to meet you.” Well, what you do for a living — safely transporting millions of schoolchildren every day — is truly great. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

frank.digiacomo@bobit.com