Cook-Illinois buys 20 Blue Bird propane buses
The new Propane-Powered Vision school buses will transport students in Berkeley (Ill.) School District 87. Cook-Illinois reportedly utilized the school bus industry’s first adaptation of propane technology back in the early 1980s.
Cook-Illinois Corp. recently purchased 20 new Blue Bird Propane-Powered Vision school buses. Pictured from left are Anthony Benish, John Knoelke and John Benish Jr. of Cook-Illinois and John Kwapis of Blue Bird.
BERKELEY, Ill. — Berkeley School District 87 is starting the new school year with 20 new Blue Bird Propane-Powered Vision school buses, thanks to a recent purchase by Cook-Illinois Corp.
Cook-Illinois, which is the seventh largest school bus contractor in the nation, provides transportation service for Berkeley School District. The contractor acquired the buses from Central States Bus Sales.
Cook-Illinois is no stranger to alternative fuels — the company has explored various technologies for the past 30 years.
In the 1970s, Cook-Illinois was one of the first school bus contractors to power school buses with compressed natural gas. In the early ’80s, it reportedly utilized the industry’s first adaptation of propane technology. Today, Cook-Illinois operates biodiesel and hybrid-electric school buses.
“Cook-Illinois is very excited to provide Berkeley School District with environmentally friendly school buses utilizing the industry’s most innovative propane autogas solution provided by Blue Bird,” said John Benish Jr., chief operating officer for Cook-Illinois Corp. “We are thrilled to get back to powering school buses with propane autogas, as it is a safe and efficient source of fuel that is a perfect fit for the yellow school bus industry.”
In a ceremony on Wednesday, dignitaries from the city of Chicago, Berkeley School District, Blue Bird, Central States Bus Sales, the Propane Education and Research Council, AmeriGas, and Chicago Area Clean Cities were in attendance as the keys to the newly delivered buses were presented. The event also offered school buses on display and a fueling demonstration.
“Blue Bird school buses fueled by propane autogas reduce emissions, lower operating costs, decrease noise and reduce our dependence on foreign oil,” said John Kwapis, chief operating officer of Blue Bird. “The Propane-Powered Vision is a smart choice for any school system, and Cook-Illinois is an emerging leader in this technology for the state of Illinois.”
The Propane-Powered Vision is equipped with a ROUSH CleanTech propane autogas fuel system and a Ford 6.8-liter engine. It meets all EPA and California Air Resources Board certifications.
Blue Bird officials said that customers typically save $3,000 to $3,500 on fuel per bus each year due to the lower price of domestically sourced propane autogas compared to diesel or gasoline.
Other recent news on Blue Bird buses:
More Alternative Fuels
Alt-Fuel Moves: Electric Bus Deployments, New Funding & V2G Expansion
School districts and transportation partners are adding electric school buses, securing new funding, and expanding charging infrastructure as alternative-fuel investments continue across the country.
Read More →
What's Underneath the Jouley Electric School Bus? Take a Look at This Chassis!
Get an inside, up-close look at Thomas Built Buses’ C2 electric bus chassis in this walkaround video on location at Freightliner Custom Chassis.
Read More →
Bipartisan Bill Seeks to Extend Clean School Bus Program Through 2031
The proposed legislation would renew federal support for cleaner school buses as districts navigate funding uncertainty, rising fuel and infrastructure costs, and fleet replacement needs.
Read More →
Alt-Fuel Moves: Electric Bus Rollouts, Bidirectional Charging & Propane Growth
See which fleets are adding electric and propane school buses as districts and operators invest in charging infrastructure, bidirectional technology, and alternative-fuel expansion.
Read More →
Nobody Told Diesel Prices They Were Supposed to Come Down
With diesel prices surging, school bus fleets have new reason to stress-test fuel costs, consider diversification, and calculate what each route really costs to operate.
Read More →
Why Gasoline School Buses Are Making a Comeback
Gasoline is gaining ground in full-size school buses. See how today’s options stack up against diesel on cost, maintenance, emissions, performance, and more.
Read More →
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 →
The Secret Life of an Electric School Bus Battery
Batteries change throughout years of daily routes, but degradation doesn’t necessarily mean the end. Here’s what operators should know about performance, safety, and second life.
Read More →
CALSTART and Forth Combine to Form Catalyst Mobility
The new name represents a renewed vision for the nonprofit focused on advancing clean, equitable, and affordable transportation solutions that move people and goods.
Read More →
Alt-Fuel Moves: New Buses, Charging Hubs & Real-World EV Testing
Propane and electric school bus deployments continue to grow as districts add new vehicles, expand charging infrastructure, and gather more real-world operating data.
Read More →