School Bus Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Blue Bird Names 2019 Dealer of the Year

Canyon State Bus Sales of Arizona is honored as the school bus manufacturer’s top dealer for 2019. The dealer also won the award in 2016.

December 20, 2019
2 min to read


HOLLYWOOD BEACH, Fla. — Blue Bird Corp. recognized dozens of its dealers at its recent annual dealer meeting here for their exceptional sales and service performance.

Canyon State Bus Sales took the top honor as the 2019 Blue Bird Dealer of the Year. This is the second time the Phoenix-based dealership has been recognized by the OEM, after first winning the award in 2016, Blue Bird announced in a news release. Canyon State Bus Sales made significant investments in a new facility that same year and has continued to grow and better support and service new and existing Arizona customers, according to Blue Bird.

“Canyon State Bus Sales is an outstanding Blue Bird dealer with terrific market share for Type A on up through Type C and D, along with an impressive service presence within their territory,” said Mark Terry, the chief commercial officer of Blue Bird Corp. “Their investment in their business through facilities, people, and inventories have enabled them to provide excellent customer service. This strategy has clearly been successful and is the sign of a winning dealer.”

Terry added that Canyon State Bus Sales employs several best practices that are critical to Blue Bird, their Arizona customers, and its employees.

“We are honored to be named this year’s Blue Bird Dealer of the Year for a second time,” said Michael McGrath, president of Canyon State Bus Sales. “Our team has worked diligently this year to provide the best for our customers and will continue to move forward in 2020 to offer exceptional customer support throughout Arizona.”

More Management

Graphic for School Bus Fleet’s September 2026 “Changing Lanes” personnel roundup featuring headshots of seven school transportation industry professionals who recently changed roles.
Management•by Staff and News Reports•October 2, 2026

Changing Lanes: BusWhere, EverDriven, InterMotive, Summit School Services, Switzer-Carty & Thomas Built Buses

Check out who's been hired, promoted, and appointed to leadership positions at various school transportation suppliers, contractors, and manufacturers.

Read More →
Graphic featuring several yellow school buses with the headline, “The Most Expensive School Bus Resale Mistake,” and images representing maintenance, auctions, and resale value.
Management•by Steve Mitchell•October 1, 2026

The Most Expensive Thing You Do Before Selling a School Bus: Wait

When should you sell an aging school bus? Learn how maintenance, mileage, corrosion, specifications, and timing can affect resale value long before the auction.

Read More →
A lineup of Krise Transportation vehicles, including Type A and conventional school buses and passenger vans, with one wheelchair-accessible van shown with its lift extended.
Management•by Staff and News Reports•September 30, 2026

American Student Transportation Partners Acquires AJ Myers and Sons

A new deal brings a 75-year Pennsylvania student transportation provider into one of the nation’s largest private school bus contracting groups.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Bernando Brown of DeKalb County Schools speaks during a session at the 2026 School Bus Fleet ConneX in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Management•September 29, 2026

What I Brought Home From SBFX: Relationships, Leadership, and Preparing What's Next

Who could lead your transportation operation tomorrow if you couldn't? Bernando Brown explores succession planning, mentorship, and preparing emerging leaders to step up.

Read More →
Collage from the 2026 School Bus Fleet Connex event showing attendees posing for a group photo, a presenter speaking onstage, two attendees taking a selfie, and participants meeting one-on-one.
Management•by Staff•September 29, 2026

Inside School Bus Fleet ConneX 2026: Industry Leaders Connect in Scottsdale [Photos]

See highlights from SBFX 2026 in Arizona, where school bus operators and suppliers gathered for meetings, education, networking, awards, and more.

Read More →
Attendees seated at banquet tables during a School Bus Fleet ConneX 2026 event, with a speaker at the podium and SBFX signage onstage.
Management•by Elora Haynes•September 28, 2026

School Transportation’s Biggest Pressures and Opportunities: SBFX Attendees Weigh In

School bus operators point to rising costs, staffing, and vehicle prices as immediate pressures while identifying technology, training, and routing as opportunities for growth.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Three Sunrise-branded student transportation vehicles — a black SUV, silver minivan, and white passenger van — parked together in a residential neighborhood.
Management•by News/Media Release•September 25, 2026

STA Acquires Sunrise Transportation

Student Transportation of America expands in Illinois and Connecticut through Sunrise's fleet of nearly 1,000 vehicles.

Read More →
EPA DERA funding graphic featuring a yellow school bus beneath a blue sky with the EPA logo and the words “DERA Funding Returns!”
Alternative Fuels•by Amanda Huggett•September 25, 2026

EPA Opens $180M DERA Funding Round for Diesel Upgrades

The 2026 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act program seeks applications from eligible organizations to accelerate the retirement of legacy diesel vehicles.

Read More →
A driver in an orange t-shirt uses a smartphone mounted on a vehicle dashboard to access HopSkipDrive’s app.
Technology•by Elora Haynes•September 24, 2026

HopSkipDrive’s CareEngine Targets the ‘Exceptions’ in Student Transportation

The new platform works alongside districts’ existing transportation management systems to coordinate specialized rides, automate last-minute changes, and turn ride data into operational improvements.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Student wearing a backpack stands beside an open passenger vehicle in an EverDriven alternative student transportation image.
Sponsored•by Staff•September 23, 2026

The Right Ride for Every Student: Navigating the New Student Transportation Ecosystem

How should districts blend school buses with small-vehicle transportation and other options? EverDriven CEO Mitch Bowling discusses safety, costs, partnerships, and strategy.

Read More →