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Thomas McMahon

Executive Editor

Thomas had covered the pupil transportation industry with School Bus Fleet since 2002. When he's not writing articles about yellow buses, he enjoys running long distances and making a joyful noise with his guitar.

Newsby Thomas McMahonSeptember 13, 2013

Washington state superintendent backs stop-arm cameras

More than 1,500 school bus passing violations were counted in Washington's one-day survey earlier this year. Under state legislation passed in 2011, school districts have the authority to equip buses with stop-arm cameras, and state Superintendent Randy Dorn is urging districts "to look into whether installing the cameras is the right thing for that community.”

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Newsby Thomas McMahonSeptember 12, 2013

Wisconsin senator pushes for school bus seat belts

When Tim Cullen was a board member for Janesville (Wis.) School District, he ushered in a policy to require seat belts on new school buses. Now, as a state senator, Cullen is pushing for a statewide mandate.

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Newsby Thomas McMahonSeptember 9, 2013

Police investigate bomb threat on school bus

One or more students on a school bus in Laurel County, Ky., reportedly say that there is a bomb on board, and the bus stops at a weigh station. Numerous law enforcement officers — including a hazardous devices unit with a dog — respond to the scene, but no bomb is found in backpacks or elsewhere on the bus.

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Newsby Thomas McMahonSeptember 4, 2013

Safety competition champ Antonio Perez joins California DOE

Perez will work for the state Office of School Transportation as bus driver instructor training program specialist. He previously served as instructor at San Dieguito Union High School District, and he has won the transit category in the School Bus Driver International Safety Competition for the past two years in a row.

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Newsby Thomas McMahonSeptember 3, 2013

Navistar adds Cummins ISB engine for school buses, trucks

IC Bus CE Series school buses and International DuraStar trucks with the Cummins ISB 6.7-liter engine will be Navistar's first medium-duty vehicles with selective catalytic reduction emissions aftertreatment.

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Newsby Thomas McMahonAugust 29, 2013

Architecture student turns school bus into living space

For his master's final project, Hank Butitta bought an old school bus for $3,000. With about 15 months of work and $6,000 in improvements, the bus became a mobile living space that includes a bedroom, a kitchen and a bathroom.

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Newsby Thomas McMahonAugust 27, 2013

Veteran director takes on transportation for 2 districts

Neighboring New York school districts Livonia and Geneseo recently signed an agreement to have Michael Dallessandro at the helm of both of their transportation operations. Here, the veteran director discusses the logistics and goals for his new role.

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Newsby Thomas McMahonAugust 26, 2013

Fine for stop-arm running rises to $1,250 in Texas

The increased maximum fine for a first offense of stop-arm running goes into effect Sept. 1. The director of the Texas Department of Public Safety says that his agency "will not tolerate individuals who disregard the law and illegally pass stopped school buses."

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School Bus Fleet Blogby Thomas McMahonAugust 22, 2013

A tribute to the school bus builders

It’s not just what the plant staff members do; it’s how they do it. There seems to be a great sense of pride and fulfillment in their work. Indeed, they’re building one of the safest vehicles on the road — a vehicle that millions of schoolchildren rely on to get ...

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Newsby Thomas McMahonAugust 19, 2013

Georgia sees drop in stop-arm violations

In this year's one-day survey, 6,807 vehicles illegally passed stopped school buses in Georgia. That's down from 8,102 in 2011. Still, State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge calls the numbers "very alarming" and urges the public to make student safety a priority.

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